In rivalry games, throw the records out of the window.  Anything can happen in these types of games and as we saw last weekend, the team that wants it more wins.  South Florida powerhouses needed field goals to beat its cross-town rivals but the best game of the weekend featured two teams that last year played for state championships in Tallahassee.  

Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) traveled to Sanford to take on the Seminoles of Seminole.  The defending 8A state champions were winners of 17 in a row before the Lions came to town.  The 3A state runner-ups took advantage of Seminole’s red-zone turnovers in the second half to secure the victory.  

Cedric Bailey found Brian Dilworth in the end zone late in the game for the go-ahead score. The Chaminade defense would stop Seminole at the Lion 26-yard line with 49 seconds remaining to hold on for a 26-23 road win. The workhorse back Davion Gause had 34 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

Miami Central has been on a rollercoaster ride this season.  It started with the lows of losing its starting quarterback to a hand injury in a season-opening loss to St. John Bosco in Los Angeles. Next, Central would suffer a heartbreaker losing to Bishop Gorman (NV) missing a field goal in the final seconds.  Central would rebound with dominant wins over Miami Springs and Miami Booker T. Washington leading up to the annual showdown with rival Miami Northwestern.  

Miami Hurricanes commit Lamar Seymore broke free down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown to extend the Rocket lead to 21-7 with 5:49 left.

‘The West’ would battle back as Jamari Ford scored with 4:12 left from four yards out. Central would attempt to run out the clock, but the Bulls stripped the football away and Kareem Mayock muscled his way into the end zone to tie the game with just under two minutes to go.

With the game tied at 21, Central quarterback Dyllan Tulloch connected with Seymore for a 22-yard pass to set up the potential game-winning field goal. This time the kick would go through the uprights as the Rockets beat the Bulls 24-21.

Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) and American Heritage Plantation always turns out to be a fun game.  After losing starting quarterback Blake Murphy in the St. Thomas game, five-star wide receiver Brandon Inniss takes over under center and manages the game against Gibbons to pull out a close victory. 

FINAL: American Heritage @AH__Athletics defeats Cardinal Gibbons with this field goal as time expires, 23-20. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/m3QqQzlJeD

— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 2, 2021

The win keeps the Patriots in the top ten and the win over Chaminade earlier in the season looks better every week.  

In 4A it seems to be a four-team race with Gibbons, Cocoa, and new to the top ten Gulliver (Miami) and Bolles (Jacksonville).  Gulliver and Bolles had their way with likely the two teams to meet in the 2A state championship game.  Gulliver smashed Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) 52-27 and Bolles blanked Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 35-0.  

Gulliver running back, fresh off his commitment to Notre Dame, burned the Lions for 123 scrimmage yards scoring four touchdowns.  Quarterback Carson Haggard passed for 327 yards connecting with DeCarlo Donaldson seven times for 96 yards. The Tulane commit Donaldson also scored on a 70-yard punt return.  

Bolles put a running clock on the 3A state champions Trinity Christian behind the power running of Kade Frew.  It was the first time a Jacksonville area team beat Trinity by 35 since 1992 (University Christian).  The senior running back and Air Force commit Frew scored three touchdowns and rushed for 184 yards on 24 carries. 

Games To Watch This Week

Treasure Coast Vs. Pahokee

American Heritage Plantation At Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)

Miami Edison At Niceville

State Rankings

1. Venice (5-0) (8A)

Last Game: Beat Lakewood Ranch 61-7

Best Win: Cocoa 21-20

Next Game: Manatee (Bradenton) 

2. Tampa Jesuit (5-0) (6A)

Last Game: Beat Plant City 35-13

Best Win: St. Thomas Aquinas 24-21

Next Game: Clearwater Central Catholic 

3. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (5-1) (7A)

Last Game: Beat Cooper City 69-0

Best Win: American Heritage Plantation 24-16

Next Game: South Plantation

4. Miami Central (4-2) (5A)

Last Game: Beat Miami Northwestern 24-21

Best Win: Miami Northwestern 24-21

Next Game: Hialeah Miami Lakes 

5. Cocoa (3-1) (4A)

Last Game: Beat Treasure Coast 56-55

Best Win: Treasure Coast 56-55

Next Game: Dr. Phillips (Orlando) 

6. Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie) (4-1) (8A)

Last Game: Beat Fort Pierce Central 35-7

Best Win: American Heritage Plantation 29-21

Next Game: Pahokee

7. American Heritage Plantation (2-2) (5A)

Last Game: Beat Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) 23-20

Best Win: Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) 26-24

Next Game: Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)

8. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (4-1) (3A)

Last Game: Beat Seminole (Sanford) 26-23

Best Win: Buford (GA) 7-0

Next Game: Fort Lauderdale

9. Gulliver (Miami) (5-0) (4A)

Last Game: Beat Champagnat 52-27

Best Win: Dade Christian 43-0

Next Game: Chaminade-Madonna (10/15)

10. Bolles (Jacksonville) (6-0) (4A)

Last Game: Beat Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 35-0

Best Win: Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 35-0

Next Game: Clearwater Academy International

Top Four Teams By Class

8A

1. Venice
2. Treasure Coast
3. Seminole (Sanford)
4. Osceola (Kissimmee)

7A

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

6A

1. Jesuit
2. Miami Northwestern
3. Orlando Jones
4. Naples

5A

1. Miami Central
2. American Heritage Plantation
3. Miami Killian 
4. Rockledge

4A

1. Cocoa
2. Gulliver
3. Bolles
4. Cardinal Gibbons

3A

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

2A

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

1A

1. Madison County 
2. Pahokee
3. Baker
4. Hawthorne