People are too quick to discount and overlook this district. Contrary to popular belief, the programs in this group are solid and they play pretty good brands of football. What’s better, all the schools in this district want to see their football programs excel – which means the talent level will steadily increase.
Cooper City Cowboys
2016 Record: 4-6 (2016 District runner-up)
Coach: Brandon Walker
2017 Outlook: One of South Florida’s “lunch pail” programs, Cooper City will enter the 2017 season like it has just about every other season it has under head coach Brandon Walker – a team that relies on its work-ethic, attention to detail and senior leaders.
The Cowboys made the playoffs in 2016, riding the shoulders – and legs – of running back Tyler Brown. Brown epitomized what Walker wanted from his players – a hard-worker that made most of what he had – and he was among Broward County’s top rushers with 1,208 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Losing Brown to graduation means that the door is open for one or more upperclassmen to take the reins of the team.
The early candidate for that role would have to be senior quarterback Michael DiLiello. Entering his third year under center, DiLiello should have a complete grasp of the Cowboys’ offense and should have everyone’s attention in the huddle. He had a productive offseason, spending time with national 7-on-7 powerhouse team Florida Fire, and is hoping to carry that momentum into the regular season.
Senior receiver Mark Brent should be DiLiello’s top target in the passing game again this season – he led the team in receiving yards in 2016.
The Cowboys defense doesn’t have much size up front – and could benefit from playing offensive linemen Dillan Mornay and Tyler Vives on both sides – but it does have a diamond in the rough in senior athlete Kobie Simmons.
Simmons is 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, has good speed and is quick to react to the ball as a pass defender and a tackler. Cooper City uses Simmons as a receiver, too. On offense, he’s a deep-threat that can either stretch a defense over the top or rack up yards-after-catch on a short route.
Hollywood Hills Spartans
2016 Record: 2-7
Coach: Brandon Graham (1st year)
2017 Outlook: Not a lot of folks know that Hollywood Hills was once a top-notch program in Broward County. The Spartans even hold the distinct and prestigious honor of being the first Broward team to win a football state championship – circa 1973.
Things haven’t been quite the same since then. Over the past five seasons, Spartans have gone just 17-33 and only once in that span (2014) did Hollywood Hills win at least five games.
But the Spartans are hoping that the naming of longtime assistant Brandon Graham to head coach will breathe new breath into the program. Graham, a Hollywood Hills alum, replaces Al Lang – who had two stints at the school totaling 10 years.
2017 could be a year that Hollywood Hills reaches for the .500 mark. The Spartans have a solid group of upperclassmen that will need to put the team on their backs in order for the program to reach its ultimate goal.
Senior athlete Alexander Shelton could end up being the “big man on campus”. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 195 pounds, Shelton is both a physical receiver capable of making tough catches in traffic and an athletic cornerback that can stick with speedy receivers while also being able to disrupt receptions.
Defensive lineman Nathaniel Parker and linebacker Daniel Gauntlett (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) should anchor their respective position groups.
Offensively, the Spartans will need senior quarterback Ramon James to contribute with timely playmaking and leadership while he distributes the ball to Shelton, converted receiver Ronald Scriven Jr. and scatback Dwayne Bender.
Hollywood McArthur Mustangs
2016 Record: 11-1 (2016 District champion)
Coach: Laron Culpepper
2017 Outlook: Success in South Florida high school football can sometimes be fleeting.
McArthur was one of just two programs in South Florida (Miami-Dade or Broward counties) that had an undefeated regular season. The Mustangs won the district title and stormed into the playoffs with high hopes. McArthur’s season ended – in the regional semifinals – much sooner than it anticipated, but optimism was still at a high level heading into 2017.
Unfortunately for head coach Laron Culpepper, things took an adverse turn during the offseason. There was what can only be described as a “mass exodus” or both players and coaches.
Assistant coaches T.J. Johnson and A.J. Scott both left the program to pursue other jobs and the team lost more than a handful of players to transfer – including four-star athlete Dominick Watt; 2016 leading rusher Craig Cooper; quarterback Deon Jones; defensive end Hansky Paillant; and receivers Jaquan Denson, Estmane Lucdor and Demarco Harris.
Because of these losses, Culpepper will have to hit the reset button and a new crop of players will have ample opportunities to step up and be thrust into the spotlight.
Sophomore receiver Jahvante Royal should be one of the new players that’ll have large roles in the Mustangs’ offense in 2017. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound youngster has the physical tools to be successful – evident by his offers from Bowling Green and Cincinnati – he just needs the seasoning of playing a high number of snaps on a regular basis.
The same goes for the offensive line duo of sophomore Joseph Habinowski (6-foot-4, 265 pounds) and junior Damion Powell (6-foot-5, 240 pounds). Both possess the size, they just need to continue adding functional strength and learn from their playing experience.
Davie Nova Titans
2016 Record: 3-7
Coach: Kevin Huntley
2017 Outlook: Nova enters the 2017 season looking to plant positive seeds that the program can harvest.
Like its district counterpart Hollywood Hills, Nova is a program that has a tangible football history but has seen lean times in recent years. Since 2010, the Titans have won five or more regular season games just once – the 2015 season when the team went 5-6 and lost in the opening round of the playoffs.
But head coach Kevin Huntley continues to invest in his players and the program.
The Titans’ 2017 fortunes will be heavily tied to senior running back/linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr.
Peterson, who is still filling out his 6-foot-3, 215-pound, has earned offers from South Florida and Mississippi State – and could pick up some more scholarships once colleges see all that he brings to the table as a football player.
Nova also has a couple of hidden gems in 2018 offensive lineman Dane Ferguson and 6-foot-2, 175-pound cornerback Charles Lewis.
While players like Peterson, Lewis, and Ferguson can shoulder the load, Coach Huntley and his coaching staff will have to develop more players that can contribute on a consistent basis and sustain the momentum that the leaders create.
Hollywood South Broward Bulldogs
2016 Record: 6-3
Coach: Keith Franklin (1st year)
2017 Outlook: Things did not go the way South Broward thought it would in 2016. The Bulldogs began 2016 with much optimism thanks to a retooled roster, but a late-season loss to district rival Cooper City left South Broward on the outside of the playoffs looking in and dealt the program a blow it was not ready for.
The Bulldogs are hoping to regroup and give it another shot in 2017.
Keith Franklin was brought in to replace DeVon Georgia as head coach. Franklin has an impressive track record in Broward County. He coached at McArthur (1998-2003) and Dillard (2004, 2007-08) and helped those programs reach the postseason six times over those nine total years.
Moreover, Franklin began his coaching career at South Broward – in 1991 as an assistant – and was a “consultant” on last year’s Bulldogs team.
Franklin will serve as a new – yet familiar – voice in the locker room and is looking to change the culture.
Once again, South Broward’s roster is well-stocked with talented athletes.
Standing in front is 2019 quarterback Terrance “T.J.” Smith. Smith was the steady hand on the tiller on the Bulldogs offense in 2016 – throwing 15 touchdown passes compared to just five interceptions – and should be even more dynamic in 2017. He possesses great arm talent and should flourish in Coach Franklin’s offensive system.
Running backs Jeremiah Coleman and Allen Crawford – both of whom have led the team in rushing in consecutive years – will provide balance while Coral Springs Taravella transfer and three-star receiver Wayne Parrish and 6-foot-3 senior Timothy Nelson will be Smith’s top targets.
Defensively, South Broward will be counting on senior defensive end Davon Strickland and defensive back Victor Harvey Jr. to set the tone.
Strickland (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) can be very disruptive off the edge because of the effort he plays with and Harvey might be the hardest worker in a secondary that is full of athletes.
West Broward Bobcats
2016 Record: 4-6
Coach: Monte Dilworth
2017 Outlook: Fear the wing.
That is West Broward’s new mantra – nodding towards head coach Monte Dilworth’s decision to install the single wing offense.
Without giving away any of Dilworth’s trade secrets, the single wing offense is a variation of the more familiar “wing-T” offense, but the single wing is essentially a compact – with more players lined up on the line of scrimmage – version of a spread option.
It worked wonders for the Bobcats towards the end of the 2016 season. West Broward won its final three games of the season – including an upset of playoff-bound Cooper City – by scoring 142 total points and outscoring opponents by an average margin of 23 points.
West Broward has fully committed to the single wing for 2017 and it should pay dividends.
Senior running back Gary Banks will be one of the primary ball carriers this season, which should allow him to put big enough rushing yards numbers to potentially earn him a look from various colleges.
Also look for seniors Bran Alvarado, Eric Hoff and Devin Broughton to all receive carries this season. Hoff and Broughton also double as wide receivers in addition to playing some snaps on defense, where Alvarado is a safety.
6-foot-5, 275-pound senior offensive lineman Joseph Ortiz will anchor up front and will likely be the player the Bobcats run behind in crucial situations.
Avoiding double-digit deficits and minimalizing offensive penalties are two things that will be crucial for West Broward because of their offense.
Bald Prediction
The second time should be the charm for South Broward. The Bulldogs should have an overall better appearance because of the structure Coach Franklin will bring, allowing them to earn the district champions’ automatic playoff bid.
Also, talent wise, South Broward may be the most athletically deep team in the district and should be able to smooth over deficiencies because of it.
I think West Broward will be the surprise team and take the No. 2 spot. Call their “single wing” offense a gimmick or whatever else you want to, I’ve seen other programs wreak absolute havoc by running a “gimmick” offense.
Cooper City finishes third while Nova makes a one spot improvement on its finish from 2016 and finishes fourth.
The key for the Cowboys and the Bobcats will be non-district wins. Region 4-7A has some wiggle room in terms of the number of teams that will truly contend for playoff spots. Both teams can control their own playoff destiny if they take care of business.
After that, I think McArthur falls to fifth as it rebuilds and regroups and Hollywood Hills brings up the rear.
Predicted Champion: South Broward
Predicted Playoff Team(s): West Broward OR Cooper City
Bold Prediction
West Broward will carry the momentum it built towards the end of the 2016 season into 2017 and capitalize on its favorable schedule to get over the .500 mark this season.
District MVP
South Broward quarterback T.J. Smith earns this honor. If South Broward is going to earn that district championship spot, Smith’s performance each week will have a lot to do with it.
A season with 20 touchdown passes isn’t that farfetched of an idea for a player with his talent.
Top Players
Alexander Shelton – Hollywood Hills
Allen Crawford – South Broward
Billy Pierre – South Broward
Bran Alvarado – West Broward
Charles Lewis – Nova
D’Armoni Battee – McArthur
Damion Powell – McArthur
Dane Ferguson – Nova
Daniel Gauntlett – Hollywood Hills
Davon Strickland – South Broward
Devin Broughton – West Broward
Dillan Mornay – Cooper City
Dontae Lunan – McArthur
Dwayne Bender – Hollywood Hills
Eric Hoff Jr. – West Broward
Evans Louis – Hollywood Hills
Floyd Cooper – South Broward
Gary Banks – West Broward
Ja’Corey Washington – West Broward
Jahvante Royal – McArthur
Jahvante Royal – McArthur
Jeremiah Coleman – South Broward
Jermaine Hart – South Broward
Jerrold Pough – South Broward
John Mortimer – Hollywood Hills
Jonathan Silva Jr. – McArthur
Joseph Habinowski – McArthur
Kobie Simmons – Cooper City
Lance Hollis – Nova
Landon Segarra – Cooper City
Malcolm Denbow – West Broward
Manuel Almanzar – Cooper City
Mark Brent – Cooper City
Matthew Mesidor – McArthur
Michael DiLiello – Cooper City
Mike Hapsas – West Broward
Nathaniel Parker – Hollywood Hills
Roger Lewis – Nova
Ronald Scriven Jr. – Hollywood Hills
Shaun Peterson Jr. – Nova
Tajarvis Edwards – South Broward
Terrance “T.J.” Smith – South Broward
Thomas Armstrong – West Broward
Timothy Nelson – South Broward
Troy Vives – Cooper City
Victor Harvey – South Broward
Wayne Parrish – South Broward
Willie Bullock – South Broward
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