Whew!
What a weekend in high school football in the state of Florida! We had statement wins, upsets, surprise shutouts, road conquests, and close calls. If this is a prelude to the playoffs, get your popcorn ready! Plenty of movement in the rankings overall as we have some teams making a return to the rankings while some had to be pushed out.
We know so much yet so little. The top nine remain the same in our rankings with Jones moving into the top ten and Chaminade-Madonna moving out. Quality of wins and lack of losses is the formula, but with so many teams with tough schedules, it is difficult to determine who should deserve the higher ranking. Thank goodness we have an expanded playoff system in high school football. Take notes college football.
Raiders Take Bucks Down
This was a close game until late in the second half. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) found themselves down by seven to Deerfield Beach just moments before halftime when senior Colby Dempsey returned a blocked punt for a touchdown that would ignite a 28-point surge. The Raiders would defeat the Bucks 28-7 on their home field to remain undefeated scoring two non-offensive touchdowns. The Raider defense is clearly the strength for Aquinas as senior Philjae Bien-Aime scored on a pick-six and stand-out Florida commit Derek Wingo registered four sacks out of the Raiders seven total.
Former Raider and University of Miami commit Xavier Restrepo scored on a 54-yard catch and run for the Bucks’ only touchdown of the game.
Panthers Claw For Win Over Explorers
Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) continues their stellar season with a 21-20 triumph over Columbus (Miami) Friday night. Head Coach Eddie Frasier was doused with a Gatorade shower at the end of the game and had an emotional post-game interview. Dillard (6A) has already wrapped up the district title and are looking to put a cap on their season with a win over their rival Blanche Ely (Pompano) in two weeks.
More from @high_dillard Head Coach Eddie Frasier on how his Panthers will prove the doubters wrong. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/89dzvysuLC
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 22, 2019
Vero Shuts Out State Champs
One of the surprise scores of the weekend was Vero Beach’s 21-0 shutout of back-to-back 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood). The yearly 8A contender reminded all of us that they have a historic regular-season winning streak and will be a team to be wreckoned with just as any other in the playoffs. The Indians tied the state record for consecutive regular-season wins with Lakeland at 60 games. Vero will look to break Lakeland’s record next week versus Fort Pierce Central. The Vero defense recorded six sacks in the game and held Miami commit Thaddius Franklin to under 100 yards with 94. Junior linebacker Davon Hicks had one of the six sacks and an interception as well.
Eagles Soar In Lake City
The Eagles of Atlantic (Delray) flew over to Lake City to take on 6A contender Columbia and took down the Tigers 35-21 in a business-like fashion. Bry’yon Jones’s three rushing touchdowns help lift 7A Atlantic over 6A Columbia. The Eagles get the one-loss Blanche Ely Tigers next week while the Columbia Tigers are on the road to Middleburg.
Sharks Out Of Water
In another surprising score, University School (Davie) traveled to the bay area of Florida and was schooled by Clearwater Central Catholic 36-15. An hour-long rain delay in the midst of a tropical storm seemed to revitalize the Marauders on their home field. CCC harassed U-School quarterback Nick Vattiato forcing three key turnovers. Jerzhan Newton’s strip-sack set the tone early leading to a score and Newton’s second sack set up a Jarquez Green (2021) interception. The senior and Maryland commit Newton would close the game with a one and 49-yard touchdown runs.
Jerzhan Newton University School Game Film
Bucs Stop Here
The Buccaneers South Dade (Homestead) are undefeated no more after being trounced by Miami Carol City Friday 33-17 Friday night. The Chiefs have all but secured a playoff berth with the win over South Dade as they can guarantee a spot with a win next week versus American (Hialeah). Freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to senior Maxeau Joseph and a 47-yard run by junior Katravis Geter on the ground would prove to be the difference late in the game.
South Dade can rebound with a district title triumph if the can beat Miami Palmetto Thursday night at Harris Field.
Indians Ambush Tigers
Do not forget about Venice in 7A. The Indians get a huge 48-31 win over back-to-back 4A state runner-up Cocoa over the weekend. Senior Venice quarterback Ryan Overstreet threw for 247 yards and five touchdowns in the pouring rain on the west coast of Florida. Quarterback play does not stop there as the Indians also run the wildcat with Steffon Johnson who ran 27 times for 111 yards. Venice can clinch a district title with a win over Manatee (Bradenton) this week.
Top Performers
Jermaine Dawson, WR, Vero Beach – The junior had four catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including scores of 57 and 74 yards.
Jermaine Dawson Chaminade-Madonna Game Film
Marquis Lymon, DB, Atlantic (Delray) – The sophomore’s two interceptions helped Atlantic get a two-score win over Columbia on the road.
Marquis Lymon Columbia Game Film
Jordan Niles, RB, Clearwater Central Catholic – The senior’s 160 yards rushing and an interception helped lift CCC to a big upset win over University School (Davie).
Jordan Niles University School Game Film
Charles Brantley, DB, Venice – The junior had three interceptions and 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the win over Cocoa.
Charles Brantley Cocoa Game Film
Games To Watch This Week In Florida
(All Game Times Eastern)
#7 Miami Central At #16 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) Friday 7:00 PM
#24 Miami Palmetto Vs. South Dade (Homestead) Thursday 7:00 PM At Harris Field
#25 Gulliver (Miami) Vs. Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) Friday 4:00 PM
#8 Miami Booker T. Washington Vs. Miami Edison Thursday 7:00 PM At Curtis Park
Top 25
1. Lakeland (7A) (9-0)
Last Week: Defeated Bloomingdale (Valrico) 36-0
This Week: Vs. Kathleen (Lakeland) Friday 7:30 PM
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (7A) (7-0)
Last Week: Defeated Deerfield Beach 28-7
This Week: Vs. Fort Lauderdale Friday 7:00 PM
3. Miami Northwestern (5A) (6-2)
Last Week: Defeated Key West 49-14
This Week: Vs. Miami Jackson Friday 7:00 PM
4. American Heritage (Plantation) (5A) (7-1)
Last Week: Defeated American Collegiate (Clearwater) 64-13
This Week: Vs. Hallandale Friday 7:30 PM
5. Armwood (Seffner) (7A) (7-1)
Last Week: Defeated Jefferson (Tampa) 49-0
This Week: Vs. East Bay (Gibonston) Friday 7:30 PM
6. Edgewater (Orlando) (7A) (7-1)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: At Forest (Ocala) Friday 7:00 PM
7. Miami Central (6A) (7-2)
Last Week: Defeated South Miami 41-6
This Week: At Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) Friday 7:00 PM
8. Miami Booker T. Washington (4A) (7-2)
Last Week: Defeated North Miami Beach 53-8
This Week: Vs. Miami Edison Thursday 7:00 PM
9. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) (4A) (6-2)
Last Week: Defeated Coral Springs Charter 64-7
This Week: Vs. Piper (Sunrise) Friday 7:00 PM
10. Jones (Orlando) (5A) (7-1)
Last Week: Defeated Mount Dora 61-7
This Week: Vs. Tavares Friday 7:00 PM
11. Rockledge (5A) (7-1)
Last Week: Defeated Palm Bay 42-6
This Week: Bye
12. Seminole (Sanford) (8A) (8-0)
Last Week: Defeated Spruce Creek (Port Orange) 35-15
Next Week: Vs. University (Orange City) Friday 7:00 PM
13. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8A) (8-0)
Last Week: Defeated Oakleaf (Orange Park) 31-24
This Week: At Sandalwood (Jacksonville) Friday 6:00 PM
14. Vero Beach (8A) (7-0)
Last Week: Defeated Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) 21-0
This Week: At Fort Pierce Central Friday 7:00 PM
15. Lakewood (St. Petersburg) (4A) (8-0)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: At Largo Friday 7:30 PM
16. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (3A) (6-2)
Last Week: Lost to Vero Beach 21-0
This Week: Vs. Miami Central Friday 7:00 PM
17. Madison County (1A) (7-2)
Last Week: Defeated Clearwater Academy International 42-34
This Week: Bye
18. Atlantic (Delray) (7A) (5-2)
Last Week: Defeated Columbia (Lake City) 35-21
This Week: Vs. Blanche Ely (Pompano) Friday 6:30 PM
19. Venice (7A) (5-3)
Last Week: Defeated Cocoa 48-31
This Week: Vs. Manatee (Bradenton) Friday 7:30 PM
20. Cocoa (4A) (5-2)
Last Week: Lost to Venice 48-31
This Week: Vs. Holy Trinity (Melbourne) Friday 7:00 PM
21. Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) (6A) (9-0)
Last Week: Defeated Columbus (Miami) 21-20
This Week: Bye
22. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (6-2)
Last Week: Lost to Atlantic (Delray) 35-21
This Week: At Middleburg Friday 7:00 PM
23. Gaither (Tampa) (6A) (8-0)
Last Week: Defeated Tampa Bay Tech 25-8
Next Week: At Freedom (Orlando) Friday 7:30 PM
24. Miami Palmetto (8A) (7-1)
Last Week: Defeated Miami High 35-0
This Week: Vs. South Dade (Homestead) Thursday 7:00 PM At Harris
25. Gulliver (Miami) (4A) (8-0)
Last Week: Defeated Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale) 35-7
Next Week: Vs. Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) Friday 4:00 PM
Others Receiving Votes:
Apopka (8A) (6-1)
Last Week: Defeated Evans (Orlando) 28-0
This Week: Vs. Lake Mary Friday 7:00 PM
Bloomingdale (Valrico) (7A) (6-2)
Last Week: Lost to Lakeland 36-0
This Week: Vs. Strawberry Crest (Dover) Friday 7:30 PM
Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) (2A) (6-2)
Last Week: Defeated American Heritage (Delray) 20-15
This Week: At Gulliver (Miami) Friday 4:00 PM
Deerfield Beach (8A) (5-3)
Last Week: Lost to St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 28-7
This Week: At Monarch (Coconut Creek) Friday 7:00 PM
Dunnellon (5A) (7-1)
Last Week: Defeated Lake Weir 44-7
This Week: Vs. North Marion (Citra) Friday 7:30 PM
Escambia (Pensacola) (6A) (7-0)
Last Week: Fort Walton Beach 14-0 Postponed
This Week: Vs. Washington (Pensacola) Friday 8:00 PM
Florida State High (Tallahassee) (3A) (8-1)
Last Week: Defeated Rickards (Tallahassee) 28-16
This Week: Bye
Lake Wales (5A) (8-0)
Last Week: Defeated Sebring 30-23
This Week: At Lake Region (Eagle Lake) Friday 7:30 PM
Miami Carol City (4A) (4-5)
Last Week: Defeated South Dade (Homestead) 33-17
This Week: Bye
Miami Edison (3A) (6-3)
Last Week: Defeated Miami Christian 24-17
This Week: Vs. Miami Booker T. Washington Thursday 7:00 PM
Naples (6A) (8-0)
Last Week: Defeated Golden Gate (Naples) 49-14
This Week: At Immokalee Friday 7:00 PM
Niceville (7A) (9-0)
Last Week: Defeated Chiles (Tallahassee) 57-8
This Week: Vs. Leon (Tallahassee) Friday 8:00 PM
Palm Beach Lakes (7A) (7-0)
Last Week: Defeated Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) 53-27
This Week: Vs. Martin County Friday 6:30 PM
Palmetto (6A) (8-0)
Last Week: Defeated Southeast (Bradenton) 28-0
This Week: At Lincoln (Tallahassee) Friday 7:00 PM
Plantation (7A) (6-1)
Last Week: Bye
This Week: Vs. Cypress Bay (Weston) Friday 7:00 PM
South Dade (Homestead) (8A) (7-1)
Last Week: Lost to Miami Carol City 33-17
This Week: Vs. Miami Palmetto Thursday 7:00 PM At Harris Field
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (4-5)
Last Week: Defeated Lee (Jacksonville) 21-12
Next Week: At Raines (Jacksonville) Friday 6:00 PM
University School (Davie) (4A) (6-2)
Last Week: Lost to Clearwater Central Catholic 36-15
This Week: At Bishop Verot (Fort Myers) Friday 7:30 PM
8A
Seminole (Sanford)
Bartram Trail (St. Johns)
Vero Beach
7A
Lakeland
St. Thomas Aquinas
Armwood (Seffner)
6A
Miami Central
Dillard (Fort Lauderdale)
Columbia (Lake City)
5A
Miami Northwestern
American Heritage (Plantation)
Jones (Orlando)
4A
Miami Booker T. Washington
Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale)
Lakewood (St. Petersburg)
3A
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)
Florida State High (Tallahassee)
2A
Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah)
University Christian (Jacksonville)
Victory Christian (Lakeland)
1A
Madison County
Baker
Blountstown
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