“You are what your record says you are.” — Bill Parcells
The super bowl winning coach coined the phrase and it has lived on sports lore. No one wants to be considered as “ducking” competition, so to be the best, play the best and live with the results. South Florida has no shortage of top competition, so there really is no excuse to make your schedule one of the toughest in the state or country.
After the preseason games (week 0), we now have a better gauge of which teams are the contenders and which teams are the pretenders. In ranking the toughest schedules in South Florida I took into account the week 0 kickoff classics because, in my opinion, it adds to the strength of schedule.
Here are the toughest schedules from South Florida:
1. American Heritage (Plantation)
Toughest Games: IMG Academy (Bradenton), St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood), Edna Karr (LA), Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville)
The Heritage Boys are not scared of anyone. Opening the season with the national champions was the ultimate measuring stick for the 2020 5A state champions. Although the Patriots fell short of defeating IMG, 35-15, the Patriots are confident that they can run the table. Heritage added the back-to-back 7A state champions St. Thomas Aquinas to the schedule this week, which gives their schedule a significant bump to the top spot. Heritage will play Aquinas on September 10th. In addition to Aquinas, Heritage takes on two more Florida state champions in Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) and Trinity Christian (Jacksonville).
2. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)
Toughest Games: Dillard (Fort Lauderdale), Western (Davie), American Heritage (Plantation), Seminole (Sanford), Champagnat (Hialeah), Buford (GA), Gulliver Prep (Miami)
It’s hard to fathom that a team that has been in five straight 3A state championship games would have a chip on their shoulder. It certainly feels as if the Lions have something to prove and their schedule exemplifies that. The 16-0 shutout of Dillard in game one definitely conveys that the Lions are up to the task to make another championship run. But this team barely takes a breather all season.
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
Toughest Games: St. Frances (MD), American Heritage (Plantation), Dillard (Fort Lauderdale), Western (Davie), Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), Monsignor Pace (Miami)
Also, getting a significant bump to the schedule this week was naturally St. Thomas Aquinas with the scheduling of American Heritage. St. Thomas, like Heritage, starts its season with a national title contender. St. Frances (MD) comes to town with national title hopes, but it will not be easy against the perennial South Florida powerhouse Saturday afternoon. St. Frances dominated Miami Central two years ago so St. Thomas will be up for the challenge. Saturday’s game will be televised on ESPN. Kickoff set at noon.
4. Miami Northwestern
Toughest Games: Venice, Champagnat, Miami Central, IMG Academy, Miami Booker T. Washington, Miami Norland
Miami Northwestern was humbled to start the season with a 56-34 loss to 8A state title contender Venice, but never count the Bulls out in games this season. Game two against the 2A state champions Champagnat (Hialeah) will be challenging and look for the Bulls to play with a chip on their shoulder. “The West” travels to Bradenton to take on the defending national champs in IMG Academy and will hope to put up a better fight than the last meeting between the two schools.
5. Miami Central
Toughest Games: St. John Bosco, (CA), Bishop Gorman (NV), Miami Northwestern, Miami Edison, Miami Booker T. Washington
To go on the road to play back-to-back games would be tough for any team. Central added west coast power St. John Bosco (CA) to its schedule and will play Bishop Gorman (NV) to start the season. If there is any South Florida team that can handle that type of start it’s the Central Rockets. Couple that with your normal rivals and you have a top-five schedule. Unfortunately, Central started its season with a 35-12 loss but has a chance to bounce back in a big way against Gorman. Gorman is the 11th ranked team in the nation according to MaxPreps.
Next Five
6. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale)
Toughest Games: Miami Palmetto, American Heritage (Plantation), Cardinal Newman, Venice, St. Thomas Aquinas
7. Champagnat (Hialeah)
Toughest Games: Miami Northwestern, Chaminade-Madonna, Monsignor Pace (Miami), Gulliver Prep (Miami), Benjamin (West Palm Beach)
8. Gulliver Prep (Miami)
Toughest Games: Miami Palmetto, Benjamin (West Palm Beach), Champagnat (Hialeah), Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood), Cardinal Newman, Manatee (Bradenton)
9. Miami Palmetto
Toughest Games: Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), Homestead, Gulliver Prep (Miami), Columbus (Miami), Miami Edison
10. Miami Booker T. Washington
Toughest Games: Miami Central, Miami Northwestern, Miami Edison, Homestead
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