Football Hotbed Week 9 Florida High School Football Rankings

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Marcus Benjamin @_benjaminmoney

The game of the year has arrived!  We have #1 Miami Carol City vs. #2 Miami Central set to do battle Friday night for Dade County supremacy.  Both teams avoided upsets last week against bitter rivals to set up a prime-time match-up Friday night at what is known as “The Mecca,” Traz Powell Stadium.

Carol City comes into the game undefeated with their most impressive wins over American Heritage (Plantation) 38-16 and Miami Columbus 35-0.  Last week, the Chiefs did not pull away until the fourth quarter to emerge with a 39-17 victory over Miami Booker T. Washington.  Junior receiver Thaiu Jones-Bell had the play of the game when he took a 50-yard screen pass to the house in the fourth quarter.

Check out this TD reception by @ssnapppp Thaiu Jones Bell. 😲 #hotbedworld https://t.co/6MwMeMGQJy

— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) October 19, 2018

Miami Central also did not pull away until the second half in their rival game against Miami Northwestern.  The Rockets were able to overcome a penalty riddled game with a strong running attack and deep passing plays in the second half.  Lexington Joseph ran the wildcat in the second half and broke a 32-yard run in the fourth quarter to make it a 24-10 game with 9:18 left to play.

Senior Running Back Lexington Joseph

Central has strong wins at Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) 48-21 and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 43-27. Central’s one loss of the season was at St. Johns (DC) in five overtimes.  St. Johns is still undefeated and ranked 5th in the nation according to USA Today.

Can a kicker get some love?  Senior Tyler Larco went four of five on field goal attempts for Miami Palmetto and kicked the game winner in overtime to beat South Dade (Homestead) 33-10.

@FootballHotbed’s MVP Tyler Larco on Friday night! He had @PantherPride305 GW field goal in OT. Congrats on the win! Fun game to cover. pic.twitter.com/wy6VBgeYDN

— Giselle (@GiselleSports) October 22, 2018

The win puts Palmetto in position to win back to back district titles.  If South Dade is able to beat Miami Southridge we will have three-way tie with the title coming down to points in the final week.

Clearwater Central Catholic has now won 22 straight regular season games with their 14-6 victory over previously undefeated Tampa Jesuit.  The Marauder defense came up with back to back sacks to force a turnover on downs on the potential game tying drive.

Plant City solidified their position as one of the contenders in 7A with their victory over previously unbeaten Bloomingdale (Valrico) 24-10.  Senior quarterback Braxton Plunk‘s 43-yard run late in the game sealed the win for Raiders.

Columbia (Lake City) are champions of district 7-2A with their narrow victory over Fletcher (Jacksonville) 21-20.  Two defensive stands late helped the Tigers secure their first league title since 2015.

Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) secured the district 16-5A title with their 21-0 shutout of Hallandale.  Defensive back Sidney Porter has now scored in back to back weeks, this time on a 34-yard fumble return.

Top Performers

Rory Hicks, QB, Clearwater Central Catholic – Hicks went 14-21 for 163 yards and is 21-1 as a starter.

Isaiah Washington, WR, Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) – The senior scored two touchdowns in the win over Ponte Vedra.

Travis Cooper, CB, and Tarian Lee, Godby (Tallahassee) – Both defenders intercepted Pine Forest (Pensacola) passes and returned for touchdowns to seal the victory for the Cougars.

Antavious Lane, S, Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) – The senior had nine tackles and two pick sixes in the 48-0 shutout of Royal Palm Beach.

TJ Smith, QB, McArthur – The senior quarterback passed for 345 yards and four touchdowns in a 61-15 rout of Cooper City.

Games To Watch This Week

Miami Carol City vs. Miami Central At Traz Powell Stadium Friday 7:00 PM

Plant City Vs. Tampa Bay Tech Friday 7:30 PM

Wekiva (Apopka) vs. Apopka Friday 7:00 PM

Miami Southridge vs. South Dade (Homestead) Friday 7:30 PM

Raines (Jacksonville) at Lincoln (Tallahassee) Thursday 7:00 PM

Venice at Palmetto Friday 7:30 PM

Navarre vs. Gulf Breeze Friday 7:30 PM

Lee (Jacksonville) vs. Fletcher (Jacksonville) Thursday 7:00 PM

Clearwater Central Catholic vs. Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota) Friday 7:00 PM

Top 25

1. Miami Carol City (6A) (8-0)

Last week: Defeated  Miami Booker T. Washington 39-17

This week:  At Traz Powell Stadium Vs. Miami Central Friday 7:00 PM

2. Miami Central (6A) (8-1)

Last week: Defeated Miami Northwestern 38-10

This week: At Traz Powell Stadium Vs. Miami Carol City Friday 7:00 PM

3. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (7A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes) 54-6

This week: Vs. Blanche Ely (Pompano) Friday 7:00 PM

4. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5A) (9-0)

Last week: Defeated Ponte Vedra 35-7

This week: At Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) Friday 7:00 PM

5. Atlantic (Delray) (8A) (8-0)

Last week: Defeated Lake Worth 38-6

This week: Vs. Boca Raton Friday 6:00 PM

6. Vero Beach (8A) (8-0)

Last week: Idle

This week: Vs. Central (Fort Pierce) Friday 7:00 PM

7. Lakeland (7A) (9-0)

Last week: Defeated South Broward 58-0

This week: At Kathleen (Lakeland) Friday 7:00 PM

8. Miami Columbus (8A) (8-1)

Last week: Defeated Miami Coral Park 48-0

This week: Vs. Coral Gables Friday 7:30 PM

9. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (7-1)

Last week:  Defeated Fletcher (Jacksonville) 21-20

This week: At First Coast (Jacksonville) Thursday 7:00 PM

10. Deerfield Beach (8A) (8-1)

Last week: Defeated Monarch (Coconut Creek) 40-0

This week: At Piper (Sunrise) Friday 7:00 PM

11. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) (5A) (6-2)

Last week: Defeated Hallandale 21-0

This week: At Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale) Friday 7:00 PM

12. American Heritage (Plantation) (5A) (6-2)

Last week: Defeated Miami Jackson 37-20

This week: At Hallandale Friday 7:00 PM

13. Clearwater Central Catholic (3A) (9-0)

Last week: Defeated Tampa Jesuit 14-6

This week: At Cardinal Mooney Friday 6:00 PM

14. Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) (7A) (8-1)

Last week: Defeated Royal Palm Beach 48-0

This week: At West Boca Raton Friday 7:30 PM

15. Armwood (Seffner) (6A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated Brandon 56-0

This week: At Hillsborough (Tampa) Friday 7:30 PM

16. Godby (5A) (Tallahassee) (8-0)

Last week: Defeated Pine Forest (Pensacola) 43-28

This week: At Florida State University High Friday 7:00 PM

17. University School (Davie) (4A) (8-0)

Last week: Defeated Archbishop McCarthy (Southwest Ranches) 58-0

This week: At Melbourne Central Catholic Friday 7:00 PM

18. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (6-1)

Last week: Idle

This week: At Fletcher (Jacksonville) Thursday 7:00 PM

19. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (8-0)

Last week: Defeated  Lake Weir (Ocala) 49-14

This week: Vs. Forest (Ocala) Friday 7:30 PM

20. Pinellas Park (Largo) (7A) (8-0)

Last week: Defeated Dunedin 62-0

This week: Vs. Countryside (Clearwater) Friday 7:30 PM

21. Edgewater (Orlando) (7A) (8-0)

Last week: Defeated  East Ridge (Clermont) 49-3

This week: At Hagerty (Oviedo) Friday 7:00 PM

22. Plant City (7A) (8-1)

Last week: Defeated Bloomingdale (Valrico) 24-10

This week: Vs. Tampa Bay Tech Friday 7:30 PM

23. Bloomingdale (Valrico) (7A) (7-1)

Last week: Lost to Plant City 24-10

This week: Vs. Durant (Plant City) Friday 7:30 PM

24. Tampa Bay Tech (7A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated Durant (Plant City) 52-14

This week: At Plant City Friday 7:30 PM

25. Wekiva (Apopka) (8A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated University (Orlando) 41-0

This week:  Vs. Apopka Friday 7:00 PM

Also Receiving Votes:

Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (3A) (6-2)

Last week:  Defeated Doral Academy 47-17

This week: At Flanagan (Pembroke Pines) Friday 7:00 PM

Jones (Orlando) (5A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated Eustis 51-0

This week: Vs. Tavares Friday 7:00 PM

Madison County (1A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated University Christian (Jacksonville) 19-17

This week: At Suwannee (Live Oak) Friday 7:30

McArthur (Hollywood) (7A) (8-0)

Last week: Defeated Cooper City 61-15

This week: At Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes) Friday 7:00 PM

Miami Christian (2A) (6-0)

Last week: Idle

This week: Vs. Everglades Prep (Homestead) Friday 4:00 PM

Miami Palmetto (8A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated South Dade (Homestead) 33-30

This week: Vs. Miami Killian Thursday 7:30 PM

Navarre (6A) (7-1)

Last week: Idle

This week: Vs. Gulf Breeze Friday 7:30 PM

Osceola (Kissimmee) (8A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated Haines City 42-6

This week: Vs. George Jenkins (Lakeland) Friday 7:30 PM

Palm Beach Central (Wellington) (8A) (7-1)

Last week:  Defeated Jupiter 42-0

This week:  At Palm Beach Gardens Friday 6:00 PM

Plant (Tampa) (7A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated Freedom (Orlando) 42-3

This week: Vs. Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel) Friday 7:30 PM

Plantation (8A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated Coral Glades (Coral Springs) 40-2

This week: At South Plantation Saturday 7:00 PM

Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated Rickards (Tallahassee) 47-0

This week: At Lincoln (Tallahassee) Thursday 7:00 PM

South Dade (Homestead) (8A) (7-1)

Last week: Lost to Miami Palmetto 33-30

This week: At Miami Southridge Friday 7:30 PM

Tampa Jesuit (5A) (7-1)

Last week: Lost to Clearwater Central Catholic 14-6

This week: Vs. Tampa Middleton Friday 7:30 PM

Venice (7A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated Sarasota 49-6

This week: At Palmetto Friday 7:30 PM

Western (Davie) (8A) (7-1)

Last week: Defeated South Plantation 37-20

This week: At Miramar Friday 7:00 PM

Winter Park (8A) (8-1)

Last week: Defeated Boone (Orlando) 38-3

This week: Idle

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