South Florida’s southern-most district continues to be a hotbed for football talent. All of that talent translated into a state championship for one team from “down south” this past season but the other teams would want nothing more than to knock them off this year. There are genuine rivalries in this district and elite prospects – a combination for an exciting season.
Homestead Broncos
2016 Record: 1-8
Coach: Ahmad Ward
2017 Outlook: Things haven’t gone great for Homestead over the past handful of years.
Frankly, Homestead has long been a program that could never live up to its full potential because too many athletes would begin their careers as Broncos but would take their talents elsewhere and then there are the ones who were naturally supposed to attend the school because they lived in the neighborhood but were poached by other programs before they could even walk into the door.
Even through all of that, Homestead would find a way to still be a productive team. From 2010 to 2013, the Broncos hovered around the .500 mark but they were a competitive team that could still point to a couple of near-elite level prospects.
Since 2014, Homestead’s win total dwindled from the year before. Three games won in 2014, down to two wins in 2015 and just a single victory this past season.
Head coach Ahmad Ward enters his second season leading the team and he has his work cut out for him.
The Broncos’ top offensive producer from 2016 – Gary LaCount Jr. – was taken away by graduation, so Ward will need his defense to be as stingy a unit as it can while the offense tries to gain its footing.
Homestead’s secondary has a couple of nice pieces in senior safety Jaeden Suarez and junior cornerback Jamel Brunson. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Suarez has moved around a bit – having stints at Killian and Keys Gate Charter – but he’s returned to the Broncos and should the team’s defensive centerpiece.
Senior lineman Anthony Chavis (6-foot-4, 325 pounds) has the size needed to be an anchor on either the offensive or defensive line, but he’d have to show the effort and maturity needed to lead.
Also, if Homestead is to have any success this season, they’ll need major contributions from athletes Kevin Butler and Greg Pruitt each week.
Miami Killian Cougars
2016 Record: 4-6
Coach: Steve Smith (1st year)
2017 Outlook: Here is another school that has a legitimate gripe when it comes losing players.
Without going down a lengthy list and to illustrate it in a microcosm – two of what would have been Killian’s top returners for the 2016 season (athlete Antoine Collier and running back Bentavious Thompson) transferred to district rival Southridge and played vital roles in it win the Class 8A title this past season.
Spinning it forward to this season, the Cougars lost four-star offensive line Delone “D.J.” Scaife to the Spartans as well.
But for all Killian has lost, it gained a lot when it brought in Steve Smith to serve as the next head coach. It was Smith, who replaced Javi Valdes, who coached the team during some of its better days – including the stretch where it had future NFL running back Lamar Miller in the backfield.
Smith left Hialeah High to return to Killian and represents a step in the right direction for a program that has access to a natural vein of talented athletes but has to find a way to keep them wearing green and gold.
2017 shouldn’t be a total rebuild for Smith, though. Especially not on the defensive side of the ball.
Killian’s defense has a pair of upperclassmen leaders in defensive back Jeffry Charlemangne – a Palmetto transfer – and defensive lineman Trayvonne Jackson.
Jackson (6-foot-1, 295 pounds) can be a disruptor in the interior with his powerful bull-rush – capable of standing up centers and guards or collapsing the pocket.
6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback Jalon Ferrell has the physical tools to be a very good boundary defender and should work well opposite Charlemangne.
The Cougars offense will have a new starting quarterback since Cairiq Rackley took his talents to rival Palmetto. Sophomore Kelvin Durham appears to be the man tabbed for the job of leading Killian’s offense.
His best friend will surely be 6-foot-7, 310-pound offensive senior offensive lineman Ryan Sanchez. If Sanchez and the rest of the line can hold up against opposing pass rushers, Durham can spread the ball around to athletes like running back Nick Macias and receiver Jovon Smith, who transferred in from Hialeah.
Miami Palmetto Panthers
2016 Record: 9-2 (2016 District runner-up)
Coach: Mike Manasco
2017 Outlook: Up until this past season, Palmetto was another one of those programs that would see too many of its top players up and leave for “greener pastures”.
That all seemed to change when the school brought in alumnus Mike Manasco to be the head coach. It was Manasco who led Westland Hialeah, which had routinely been a lesser program, to marginal success – including its first-ever Division-I football signee.
That alone shows Manasco and his staff knows how to build up a program, then you mix in the fact that he’s back at the same high school he attended – and it is easy to see why the Panthers were a 9-2 playoff team in 2016.
Palmetto had one of the more potent offensive attacks in Miami-Dade County this past season – averaging 28.5 points per game – and those numbers have a good chance of being replicated in 2017.
Returning to the lineup is running back Trey Flowers and receiver Ivan Thomas.
Flowers, a powerful 5-foot-10, 210-pound runner, rushed for a team-high 1,110 yards and 12 touchdowns this past season and proved himself as someone who could produce even against stacked defensive fronts. Flowers should be able to remain fresher throughout the season because senior Jordon Donaldson transferred in from Coral Reef and he has the talent to be a feature back if he was called upon to do so.
The 6-foot-4 Thomas, who led the team with 34 receptions and nine receiving touchdowns, had a very productive offseason – earning offers from Iowa, Kentucky and Bowling Green before verbally committed to FIU in July.
Palmetto will have to replace quarterback Hugh Lowson, who graduated, but two capable replacements transferred in. Junior Cairiq Rackley came in from Killian and senior Shamar Munroe came in from Coral Gables High. Both are capable passers and could be used in tandem if neither surpasses the other as a clear-cut No. 1.
Also, senior Kane Vandemark came over from South Dade. Vandemark played quarterback for South Dade in 2016 but plans on playing receiver for the Panthers.
Palmetto’s defense is the unit that has to show its ready to carry its share of the weight if the Panthers want to live up to their own lofty expectations.
After allowing just 14 points through the first five games of the season in 2016, Palmetto’s defense surrendered 122 points in the final six games – including 46 points in two meetings with rival Southridge.
Juniors Cornelius Nunn Jr. (safety) and Eddie Williams (linebacker) will be counted on as well as senior linebacker Chris Wright and 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior defensive end Jason Vaughn, who transferred in from John A. Ferguson High.
The Panthers have the playoffs in their sights, but rivals Southridge and much-improved South Dade will be in their way all season. Palmetto will need to win most – if not all – its non-district games and find a way to knock off either Southridge (on Sept. 28) or South Dade (on Oct. 20) to put itself in the best position to earn a playoff spot.
Homestead South Dade Buccaneers
2016 Record: 4-5
Coach: Nate Hudson
2017 Outlook: The old adage rings true here: it is hard to keep a good man down.
The good man in this instance is South Dade head coach Nate Hudson. Since taking over the program in 2011, Hudson has worked to continue the tradition that his father – Nate Sr. – began years before.
It seems like a distant memory, but it was just four years ago that the Buccaneers were standing in Orlando as Class 8A state champions – in just Hudson’s second season at the helm.
South Dade had a rough 2016 season. After winning the first game of the season, the team went on a five-game losing streak – being outscored 118-26 in those contests and falling into the third spot in the district.
The Bucs would turn things around and win their final three games of 2016 and they’ll be looking to carry that momentum into 2017.
What will help South Dade this season will be the arrival of a handful of talented transfers.
The biggest addition came in the small package of freshman athlete Torey “Scooter” Morrison. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Morrison starred for nearby Keys Gate Charter School as an eighth grader this past season but has decided to showcase his talents on the big stage (Class 8A) with South Dade. Morrison can contribute as a receiver or defensive back, but he’s probably best when he has the ball in his hands as a quarterback.
He has a good arm but he’s most dangerous when he uses his lightning quickness to move around in the pocket and make plays with his legs or with a throw downfield. South Dade also has senior quarterback Fralon Warren in the mix, and may elect to start Warren as the No. 1 quarterback and take advantage of Morrison’s athleticism by using him as a receiver.
Also coming over from Keys Gate was 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker/rush end Patrick Joyner. Joyner is a disruptive pass rusher off the edge and he has the muscle to put the hurt on quarterbacks when he arrives in the backfield.
Three-star tight end prospect Christopher Carter (a University of South Florida commit), also came in from Keys Gate and will provide his quarterback a safety blanket in the middle of the field while also being able to line up inline and help in run blocking.
South Dade’s offense took a hit when it lost running back Darius Brown to transfer. The three-star back announced his decision to go to independent football powerhouse Bradenton IMG Academy – the second Miami-Dade County player to do so this offseason.
Not having Brown will likely mean a larger role for receivers Frank Ladson (6-foot-4, 175 pounds) and Najeh Baker.
The Buccaneers defense will be buoyed by its secondary in 2017.
Senior D.J. Ivey is considered a top 50 cornerback in the country. The 6-foot-1, University of Miami commit has good speed and good cover skills – but what makes him special are his ball skills. Ivey has an innate ability to get his hands on the ball and can create takeaways by himself.
Locking down the other side is 6-foot, 180-pound junior Tyrique Stevenson. Rated a four-star prospect for the 2019 class, Stevenson recently committed to Florida over Alabama, Florida State Georgia, Miami, and Auburn.
South Dade’s road to a district title is hard enough with Palmetto and Southridge standing in the way. But the Buccaneers’ road to the playoffs is also treacherous – with non-district tilts against Coral Gables High (Aug. 25), Miami Northwestern (Sept. 9) and North Miami Beach (Oct. 6).
The Bucs’ main objective this season is to earn as many points as possible so that they can earn a playoff spot under the new FHSAA playoff point system.
Miami Southridge Spartans
2016 Record: 12-2 (2016 District champion; Class 8A State champion)
Coach: Billy Rolle
2017 Outlook: The defending Class 8A state champion – Southridge put everything together to have a magical 2016 season.
With so many new pieces, the Spartans got better as the season wore on and leaned on its veteran head coach Billy Rolle to capture its first football state title in 23 years.
In Coach Rolle, Southridge has a leader that has been there and done that. He’s also the first and only coach in FHSAA history that has led three different programs (Miami Northwestern, Miami Killian & Southridge) to state football championships.
Even though the Spartans will miss former offensive coordinator David Cooney, who took a job on the University of Miami’s coaching staff, they still have veteran coaches like Rolle and Joe Brown to keep the train rolling.
Looking at the 2017 season, Southridge should still be considered a title contender in Class 8A. Even though graduation hit hard, the Spartans have practically reloaded and will once again be able to “out-talent” most of the teams they play this season.
The crown jewel of Southridge’s roster is senior receiver Mark Pope. Pope, or “Noodles”, is one of the top wide receivers in the nation. The 6-foot-1, speedster can gain separation against just about any defensive back he lines up against, has very good hands, and makes his biggest plays when it matters most.
It was Pope, a University of Miami commit, who caught the game-winning touchdown for the Spartans in the Class 8A title game this past season and he’s put on a show in every major offseason event he attended.
Lining up opposite “Noodles” will be 6-foot-3 senior Daquris Wiggins. Another University of Miami commit, Wiggins is a big target in the redzone that also has the speed and burst to work underneath and hurt teams with his ability to run after the catch.
Providing the balance to the offense will be Darren Davis Jr. Davis Jr., who’s dad played for Southridge, transferred in from Christopher Columbus High and has the ability to handle the load of being the primary ball carrier.
Miami Killian transfer offensive lineman Delone “D.J.” Scaife, another Miami commit, has emerged as one of the top linemen in the state. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound guard has routinely bullied the competition at offseason events and will anchor Southridge’s line in 2017.
The man in charge of managing it all is senior Michael Cox Jr. Since coming over from Miami Sunset High, Cox has shown himself to be a solid quarterback that knows how to win games. He’s much more than the “game manager” that a lot of people try to label him as. Cox has good arm strength and is an above-average athlete and is an asset to the Spartans offense.
Southridge’s defense will be relying on its front seven to lead the charge this season.
Defensive ends James Head Jr. (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) and Randy Charlton (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) are both imposing forces coming off the edge. While linebackers Diamante Howard (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and Greg Franklin (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) will patrol the second level.
The Spartans secondary will be relying on Traquan Butler and Herman Jackson to step up since it lost a lot of leadership and playmaking due to graduation.
Southridge’s road to a title defense begins with a cross-county showdown against Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (Aug. 26) and will go through non-district opponents Miami Booker T. Washington (Sept. 8) and Miami Carol City (Oct. 6) while it also battles with district foes Palmetto (Sept. 28) and South Dade (Oct. 27).
Bald Prediction
Despite all that South Dade and Palmetto did to improve and ready themselves for the 2017 season, Southridge will still reign supreme in this district this season.
The Spartans are still just too talented on both sides of the ball. And that talent will be able to make up for a lot of deficiencies, just like it did last season.
It gets interesting after that. Both South Dade and Palmetto are playoff caliber teams. And once the automatic playoff bid awarded to the district champion is off the table, the Bucs and Panthers will be in a points race.
Their non-district schedules are almost equally favorable – except South Dade’s Sept. 9 showdown with Class 6A powerhouse Miami Northwestern and Palmetto’s Sept. 1 visit to Naples High.
It’s my belief that District 15-8A will only qualify its district champion (Miami Belen Jesuit) for the playoffs – creating an “open spot” in region 4-8A. Palmetto and South Dade would be – theoretically – competing with whoever is the two non-district championship winners are from district 14-8A (Coral Gables, Columbus & Miami High) for that one open spot.
Another spot could come open if teams from district 13-8A have a down year and aren’t able to a rack up a sufficient amount of points.
Making a tough call right now, I’d say the Buccaneers would claim that spot – but this point system will make it very interesting down to the wire.
Beyond that, Killian should take the fourth spot and Homestead will bring up the rear.
Predicted Champion: Southridge
Predicted Playoff Team(s): South Dade AND/OR Palmetto
Bold Prediction
James Head and Randy Charlton will combine for 15 sacks this season. I can see quarterbacks trying to run away from one of them and running right into the other one.
Opposing coordinators will spend the majority of the week figuring out how to stop these two from disrupting their passing game.
District MVP
The real MVP of this district will be the offensive line of the team that ultimately wins the district championship and goes the farthest.
The group of “big uglies” that can gel together and prove itself to be a cohesive unit that can run block and pass protect in the crucial moments will have the most value in this district full of elite skill players.
Top Players
Anthony Chavis – Homestead
Cairiq Rackley – Palmetto
Chamal Hunter – Southridge
Christopher Carter – South Dade
Christopher McDonald Jr. – Southridge
Cornelius Nunn Jr. – Palmetto
Courtney Reese – Southridge
D.J. Ivey – South Dade
Daquris Wiggins – Southridge
Darren Davis Jr. – Southridge
Delone Scaife – Southridge
Dervon Marius – South Dade
Diamante Howard – Southridge
Eddie Williams – Palmetto
Fralon Warren – South Dade
Frank Ladson – South Dade
Greg Pruitt – Homestead
Gregory Franklin – Southridge
Herman Jackson – Southridge
Ivan Thomas – Palmetto
Jaeden Suarez – Homestead
Jalon Ferrell – Killian
Jamal Anderson – South Dade
Jamel Brunson – Homestead
James Head Jr. – Southridge
Jeffry Charlemange – Killian
Jermaine Thomas Jr. – Killian
Joe Smith – Southridge
John Lockee – South Dade
Jonathan Denis – South Dade
Jonathan Howe – Southridge
Jordan Dillard – Southridge
Jordan Donaldson – Palmetto
Jorge Martinez – Southridge
Joseph Hardy – Palmetto
Jovon Smith – Killian
Kane Vandemark – Palmetto
Kelvin Durham – Killian
Kevin Butler – Homestead
Malique Newberry – Homestead
Mark Pope – Southridge
Michael Cox Jr. – Southridge
Nick Macias – Killian
Patrick Joyner – South Dade
Rahmod Smith – Homestead
Randy Charlton – Southridge
Ryan Sanchez – Killian
Shamar Munroe – Palmetto
Torey “Scooter” Morrison – South Dade
Traquan Butler – Southridge
Trayvonne Jackson – Killian
Trey Flowers – Palmetto
Tyrique Stevenson – South Dade
Vernon Williams – Palmetto
Wilbeni Jean-Baptiste – South Dade
Williams Coracelin Jr. – Homestead
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