Well, we are getting close to the end of the regular season and what we know is that we don’t know anything.  Who had Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) beating Venice in Venice besides Head Coach Matt Dubuc, the team, and the Gibbons faithful? I surely didn’t.  

Venice stunned Miami Northwestern in a preseason opener 56-24 and then went on to play a tough schedule beating Orlando Edgewater 41-7 and Cocoa 21-20 so surely they could take care of a Gibbons team that was beaten by a field goal three-loss American Heritage Plantation and manhandled by St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) at FAU stadium right? 

Wrong!

The Chiefs of Broward traveled up I-75 and commanded the Indians to the tune of a 28-22 win.   The game, originally scheduled for week one, was decided late in the contest. Quarterback Dylan Rizk’s 76-yard pass to Davon Kiser extended a two-point lead to nine mid-fourth quarter. 

Venice would add a field goal to cut into the Gibbons lead, but the Chiefs offense was able to convert two first downs to run out the clock. 

The officials played a big role in this game throwing 36 flags in this game 21 against Venice and 15 against Gibbons.   

Rizk completed 15-of-18 for 215 yards passing for two touchdowns.  The junior quarterback also rushed 9 times for 43 yards.

Kizer had two catches for 87 yards and the touchdown and senior Chief defenders Tray Brown and Mason Thomas combined for 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack in the upset win.

The other two premier programs in Fort Lauderdale faced off last Friday night at Brian Piccolo Stadium.  This was a battle of two heavyweights that may meet again in the 7A playoffs.  St. Thomas would win a potential round one with a hard-fought 23-13 win over Dillard.  

The Raider defense led by senior Derrion Craig registered 15 tackles and held the explosive Panther offense to just 13 points.  

Other notable games around the state raising eyebrows were 7A Bucholz (Gainesville) handing 4A Bolles (Jacksonville) its first loss of the season 14-7.  Merritt Island knocked fellow 5A squad Rockledge from the platform of the unbeaten with a 26-6 win, and 3A Berkley Prep (Tampa) destroyed highly recruited Arch Manning and Newman (LA) 49-24 on national television on ESPNU.

Games To Watch This Week

Miami Central Vs. Miami Northwestern

Chaminade-Madonna Vs. Lakewood (St. Petersburg)

Miami Palmetto Vs. Miami Columbus

Miami Killian Vs. Miami Booker T. Washington

Miami Edison Vs. Miami Norland

Cocoa Vs. Lake Minneola

Pahokee Vs. Lehigh

State Rankings

1. Tampa Jesuit (8-0) (6A)

Last Game: Beat Blake 44-0

Best Win: St. Thomas Aquinas 24-21

Next Game: King (Tampa) 

2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (8-1) (7A)

Last Game: Beat Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) 23-13

Best Win: Beat Cardinal Gibbons 39-14

Next Game: Nova (Davie)

3. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (6-1) (3A)

Last Game: Beat Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale) 51-0

Best Win: Beat Gulliver 31-16

Next Game: Lakewood (St. Petersburg)

4. Venice (7-1) (8A)

Last Game: Lost to Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) 28-22

Best Win: Cocoa 21-20

Next Game: Riverview (Sarasota)

5. Miami Central (6-2) (5A)

Last Game: Beat North Miami Beach 41-6

Best Win: Miami Northwestern 24-21

Next Game: Miami Northwestern

6. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) (6-2) (4A)

Last Game: Beat Venice 28-22

Best Win: Venice 28-22

Next Game: Flanagan (Pembroke Pines) 

7. Cocoa (6-1) (4A)

Last Game: Beat Spruce Creek 27-14

Best Win: Treasure Coast 56-55

Next Game: Lake Minneola 

8. Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie) (6-1) (8A)

Last Game: Beat Inlet Grove 48-16

Best Win: American Heritage Plantation 29-21

Next Game: Centennial (Port St. Lucie)

9. Seminole (Sanford) (8-1) (8A)

Last Game: Beat Lake Mary 29-12

Best Win: Mainland (Daytona) 27-13

Next Game: DeLand

10. Gulliver (Miami) (5-1) (4A)

Last Game: Lost to Chaminade-Madonna 31-16

Best Win: Champagnat 52-27

Next Game: Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach)

Top Four Teams By Class

8A

1. Venice (7-1)
2. Treasure Coast (6-1)
3. Seminole (Sanford) (8-1)
4. Miami Palmetto (6-1)

7A

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (8-1)
2. Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) (7-1)
3. Orlando Edgewater (8-1)
4. Tampa Bay Tech (8-0)

6A

1. Tampa Jesuit (8-0)
2. Miami Northwestern (7-2)
3. Orlando Jones (6-2)
4. Naples (8-0)

5A

1. Miami Central (6-2)
2. American Heritage Plantation (4-3)
3. Miami Killian (9-0)
4. Merritt Island (7-1)

4A

1. Cardinal Gibbons (6-2)
2. Cocoa (6-1)
3. Gulliver (Miami) (5-1)
4. Bolles (Jacksonville) (6-1)

3A

1. Chaminade-Madonna (6-1) 
2. Berkeley Prep (Tampa) (8-0)
3. Florida High (Tallahassee) (6-1)
4. Miami Edison (4-3) 

2A

1. Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) (6-2)
2. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (6-3)
3. Dade Christian (4-4)
4. University Christian (Jacksonville) (5-3)

1A

1. Madison County (5-3)
2. Pahokee (6-1)
3. Hawthorne (7-0)
4. Chiefland (8-0) and Union County (8-0)