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Marcus Benjamin @_benaminmoney
Florida has a long history of great high school football teams. Dynasties are teams that have sustained success for an extended period of time. Lakeland won back to back national titles in 2008 and 2009, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) almost completed a three peat of national titles winning in 2008 and 2010 and Miami Booker T. Washington completed a four peat winning four straight state titles culminating with a national crown in 2013. These Florida teams are the models for success in the sport. The following are the most dominant programs in the last five years in Florida. Based on recent success, there are no signs of these programs completely disappearing any time soon.
American Heritage (Plantation) (5A)
Overall Record: 65-6
Best Season: 2017 (14-0)
State Championships: 4
National Championships: 0
The last team to defeat American Heritage was Hallandale in the 2015 Playoffs. It was the only season in a five year span that the Patriots did not win a state championship. Since then Heritage has reeled off 28 straight wins. This season, they face three teams that will be considered favorites to win state championships in their respected classes: Miami Carol City, Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) and rival Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale). If they somehow are able to win another state championship this year, this will be one of the greatest runs South Florida has ever seen.
Miami Booker T. Washington (4A)
Overall Record: 51-15
Best Season: 2013 (14-0)
State Championships: 3
National Championships: 1
Last season was certainly an anomaly as the Tornadoes failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Last year, they had a tough schedule and battled through some key injuries and managed to win just four games. This year, Washington is certainly looking to bounce back but the schedule does not get any easier as they will face Chaminade, Central, Carol City, Miami Northwestern and Miami Southridge.
Miami Central (6A)
Overall Record: 53-10
Best Season: 14-1 (2014)
State Championships: 3
National Championships: 0
Central plays in the toughest district in South Florida and arguably the toughest in the country. Yet the “Roc Boys” continue to churn out championships and NFL caliber players. They open against 5A favorite Cardinal Gibbons and also play St. Thomas September 21st. Central additionally travels to D.C. to face a tough St. Johns (Washington D.C.) team. If they are able to get through their schedule unscaved they should be crowned as national champions.
Miami Booker T. Washington (4A)
Overall Record: 51-15
Best Season: 2013 (14-0)
State Championships: 3
National Championships: 1
Last season was certainly an anomaly as the Tornadoes failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Last year, they had a tough schedule and battled through some key injuries and managed to win just four games. This year, Washington is certainly looking to bounce back but the schedule does not get any easier as they will face Chaminade, Central, Carol City, Miami Northwestern and Miami Southridge.
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (7A)
Overall Record 63-10
State Championships: 3
Best Season: 2014 (15-1)
National Championships: 0
The Raiders quest for a four peat came to an abrupt end when Venice, FL upset the defending champions 27-20 in 2017. The program has been one of the most dominant programs South Florida has ever seen and are the overwhelming favorites to win the 7A state title once again. St. Thomas will play South Florida powers Deerfield Beach and Central this season. They open against DMV power DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD) at home.
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A/5A)
Overall Record: 58-10
Best Season: 2015 (14-0)
State Championships: 4
National Championships: 0
The only team to successfully complete a four peat on this list. Trinity made the jump from 3A to 5A in 2017 and was humbled quickly with an opening loss to 4A Cocoa. Trinity would make the playoffs, but would lose to West Florida in the regional final. Trinity will look to continue their recent dominance as they continue to adjust to the new class this season.
Teams Most Likely to Build a New Dynasty in Next Five Years
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (3A)
Overall Record: 32-23
State Championships: 1
Best Season: 2017 (11-2)
National Championships: 0
Last year clearly was Chaminade’s best season in school history as they defeated Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach) in a thrilling state championship game in Orlando. This year they are the clear cut favorite to go for back to back championships in 3A. If they fail to do so this will be one of the biggest surprises of the season. They would have to run the table and dominate each game if they want to be considered for the national championship. They host Deerfield Beach to open the season.
Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) (5A)
Overall Record: 38-17
State Championships: 0
Best Season: 2017 (11-2) Lost to American Heritage in Regional Final
Gibbons has produced the best teams in their history the two previous years and this 2018 team should be better than the previous two. Their last four losses were all to their rival American Heritage. If Gibbons can somehow get over the Heritage hump, they have a great chance of building championship teams for years to come. They will get a great opportunity to prove themselves against Miami Central in the first game of the season.
Cocoa (4A)
Overall Record: 55-10
State Championships: 1
Best Season: 2016 (12-1)
National Championships: 0
Definitely the best team listed with the least of amount of championships. If it was not for run-ins with Booker T. Washington in the playoffs for three straight seasons, the Cocoa Tigers might by looking at a four-peat in the past five years. Cocoa will be considered the favorite for 4A going into this season despite losing in a thriller to Raines (Jacksonville) in the state title game last season.
Deerfield Beach (8A)
Overall Record: 43-14
State Championships: 0
Best Season: 2016 (9-2) Lost to Southridge in the state semifinals
Deerfield seems destined to take home the 8A state championship as they are loaded with talent. If they are able to conquer this feat, they have the young talent to sustain that success for the next few years. The 8A class is the class with the most parity in Florida, so you never know.
Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) (7A)
Overall Record: 55-11
State Championships: 1
Best Season: 2013 (15-0)
National Championships: 0
Booker T. Washington was not the only team in South Florida to go undefeated in 2013. Dwyer completed a flawless record that year and has been more than just competitive every year after. They suffered a rather surprising loss to Doral Academy in the playoffs last year and is hungry to bounce back. In addition, the end of the Oxbridge Academy football program a few months ago has seen many transfers become Dwyer Panthers including dynamic 2019 quarterback Gio Richardson.
Miami Carol City (6A)
Overall Record: 40-22
State Championships: 1
Best Season: 2016 (11-3)
National Championships: 0
The Chiefs were dominant during their 2016 state championship run outscoring opponents 168-48. Carol City should have one the strongest if not the strongest team in the entire class of 6A this season as result of some key transfers. The first game of the season will be a great indicator as to how strong they are as they will open on the road against American Heritage.
Miami Northwestern (6A)
Overall Record: 38-20
State Championships: 1
Best Season: 2017 (13-2)
National Championships: 0
The defending 6A champions play in a district that is considered the SEC of all of high school football. They have two quarterbacks in 2019 Isaiah Velez and 2020 Kemani “Showtime” Brown, that could be starters at a number of programs in South Florida. They will have plenty of opportunities to continue to build on a dynasty this season with opponents like Miami Columbus, Booker T. Washington and IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL).
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