If you are looking for a high school football game that compares to the marquee matchups that took place in college football this past weekend, there’s one place to be — No. 34 Chaminade-Madonna at No. 7 American Heritage in Plantation.
The game pitting two nationally ranked opponents (by MaxPreps) and defending state champions promises to be an exciting contest. No. 10 St. Thomas at Miami Columbus, and Monarch at Don Bosco Prep (NJ) head up the undercard for Broward County schools.
In Palm Beach County, defending Class 6A state champion West Boca Raton, ranked 43rd in the country, hosts No. 16 Bergen Catholic (NJ) in another clash of nationally ranked teams, while Benjamin travels to rival Cardinal Newman.
I rebounded from an average first week to go 13-2 last week despite the inclement weather forcing several postponements. I stand at 23-9 (72%) for the season.
No. 34 Chaminade-Madonna (1-1) at No. 7 American Heritage (1-1) (Friday 7 p.m.): American Heritage leads the series 9-8 dating back to 2004, but has dropped the past three games. The defending Class 4A state champion Patriots had the week off after it rallied from a 28-0 deficit to take down St. Joseph’s Prep (Penn.) 31-28. Five-star quarterback and Texas signee Dia Bell leads a potent offense, including RB Jonathan Bueno, who scored three TDs in the opener. The four-time defending Class 1A state champion Lions still employ a quarterback by committee with Malik Leonard and Tyler Chance, and counter with a 5-star Texas commit of their own in running back Derreck Cooper. Both teams feature standout wide receivers and stout defenses. American Heritage 31, Chaminade-Madonna 27.
No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas (1-1) at Miami Columbus at Tropical Park (Friday, 7:30 p.m.): In a battle of two perennial state contenders, the six-time defending Class 5A state champion Raiders got healthy in a hurry last week in a 72-6 thrashing of Boyd Anderson. St. Thomas Aquinas lost 26-23 to three-time national champion and national No. 1 Mater Dei (Calif.). Miami Columbus fell 14-7 in Maryland to Our Lady of Good Counsel in their season opener. St. Thomas Aquinas won last year’s game 42-6. St. Thomas Aquinas 40, Miami Columbus 10.
No. 16 Bergen Catholic (NJ) (1-0) at No. 43 West Boca (1-0) (Friday 6:30 p.m.): Defending Class 6A state champion West Boca rolled to a 50-7 win over Palm Beach Central last week as UM commit senior running back Javian Mallory ran for 119 yards and three touchdowns. The Bulls, riding a state-best 16-game winning streak, were bullish on the ground, rushing 30 times for 329 yards and five TDs. The defense also held the high-flying Broncos to 139 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, the Crusaders, the top-ranked team in New Jersey, are the four-time defending state champions and have won 20 straight contests. West Boca Raton 21, Bergen Catholic 20.
Pahokee (2-0) at Seminole Ridge (0-1) (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.): The host Hawks opened the season with a 38-14 loss to Glades Central and hope to even their record against another team from Belle Glades. The Blue Devils scored a narrow win over Palm Beach Central in the opener and then picked up a forfeit win over Cypress Lake on Friday. Pahokee 27, Seminole Ridge 14.
Glades Central (2-0) at Palm Beach Lakes (1-0) (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.): The visiting Raiders picked up a second straight lopsided victory on Friday, while the Rams also rolled to a 37-10 victory over Forest Hill. Glades Central 31, Palm Beach Lakes 20.
St. John Paul II Academy (0-0) at Jupiter Christian (2-1) (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.): Senior running back Randolph Wilkerson is averaging 126 yards per game and has scored three TDs, while senior WR Cayden Aluia is averaging 112 yards receiving for Jupiter Christian. Jupiter Christian 28, St. John Paul II Academy 17.
Cardinal Gibbons (0-1) at Calvary Christian Academy (2-0) (Friday, 7 p.m.): Cardinal Gibbons came up short in its season opener against Archbishop McCarthy, while the host Eagles have opened the year undefeated. Chiefs sophomore running back Jeremy Douglas ran for 137 yards and a TD, while senior quarterback Jayden Torres threw for 280 yards and four scores. Senior wide receiver Troy Ganter leads the Eagles with 136 yards and four TDs, while junior quarterback Jackson Stroud has thrown for 337 yards and six TDs with no interceptions. Cardinal Gibbons 28, Calvary Christian 24.
Northeast (1-1) at Dillard (2-0) (Friday 7 p.m.): Dillard has won its opening two games by an 82-6 margin, while Northeast is coming off a road win against Taravella, sending the Trojans to a 19th consecutive loss dating back to 2023. Dillard 48, Northeast 6.
Benjamin (1-1) at Cardinal Newman (1-1) (Friday 7 p.m.): The two schools meet for the District 12-1A championship, and the Crusaders hope to regain their footing following a 49-35 home defeat against Roman Catholic (Pa.). The Buccaneers lost several key transfers to Cardinal Newman in the offseason and are highly motivated. Their defense will also need to tighten up after allowing 64 points in its opening two games. Cardinal Newman 33, Benjamin 17.
Flanagan (1-0) at Everglades (1-1) (Friday, 7 p.m.): Flanagan is coming off a 40-24 victory over Cypress Bay thanks in part to junior Jacob Thomas’ 123 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Everglades was manhandled last week against host Richmond Hill (Ga.) 49-0 and is 11-7 in the series dating back to 2006. Flanagan 27, Everglades 14.
Monarch (1-1) at Don Bosco Prep (NJ) (1-0) (Friday, 7 p.m.): Monarch scored on every possession of the game in a 48-10 win over host Deerfield Beach as senior QB Florentino Lopez accounted for three scores, two passing and one rushing. The Ironmen are the No. 2-ranked team in New Jersey. Don Bosco Prep 21, Monarch 20.
Spanish River (1-0) at Palm Beach Central (0-2) (Friday, 6:30 p.m.): The Sharks started off the year with a 22-0 victory over host Park Vista and received a stellar defensive performance from sophomore DT Zachary Stelus (8 tackles, 3 sacks). Palm Beach Central has limped out of the gate, falling to Pahokee and West Boca, but still has senior quarterback Chance Rouston at the helm. Palm Beach Central 28, Spanish River 17.
Suncoast (0-2) at Royal Palm Beach (2-0) (Friday, 6:30 p.m.): The visiting Chargers have been blanked in five straight quarters and scored just six points this year. The lone bright spot has been senior linebacker Thomas Horner (11 tackles per game). Royal Palm Beach senior running back Tyree Pearson is averaging 101 yards a game and has scored three times, and the Wildcats have yet to allow a point this season, outscoring the opposition, 99-0. Royal Palm Beach 48, Suncoast 0.
Jupiter (2-0) at Palm Beach Gardens (0-1) (Friday, 6:30 p.m.): The Warriors had another solid performance on both sides of the ball in a 27-3 victory over Park Vista. Senior quarterback Andrew Embick threw for 142 yards and two scores, while senior Caden Kimbrell piled up 11 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Palm Beach Gardens started the season off with a 30-point loss at home and will look to hand Jupiter its first loss of the season. Jupiter 28, Palm Beach Gardens 21.
Atlantic (2-0) at Dr. Joaquin Garcia (2-0) (Friday, 6:30 p.m.): Atlantic is coming off a 26-20 overtime win over Jonesboro last week, and sophomore quarterback Pedro Martinez has accounted for four TDs in the first two games of the season. Dr. Joaquin Garcia enters the game averaging 42.5 points, while the defense hasn’t given up a point all season, in defeating Lake Worth (38-0) and Suncoast (47-0). Atlantic 24, Dr. Joaquin Garcia 21.
