Northwestern Bulls wide receiver Nicsaint Joesph Jr. (7) celebrates a touchdown against Miami Central Rockets during their football game on Friday, October 4, 2024 at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami. ANDREW ULOZA FOR THE MIAMI HERALD
The Miami Hurricanes missed the College Football Playoff.
The Miami Dolphins are clinging to hopes of sneaking into the NFL playoffs.
This week, though, nearly a handful of South Florida high school football teams have a chance to win championships in their own backyard.
The state finals are back in Miami for the next three years at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of FIU starting this week.
Four teams, including three from Broward County, advanced to the finals, marking the 15th consecutive season that Miami-Dade and Broward have had at least four teams make it in the same season.
If all four win, it would mark the second time in three seasons that Dade and Broward teams win four state titles in the same season.
None of the four programs are strangers to this stage and each are chasing more milestones for their respective programs.
▪ Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas is looking to add to its state records for overall state championships (15) and consecutive state titles (5 in a row).
▪ Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna is making its state record ninth consecutive appearance and is looking to win four state titles in a row for the first time in school history while winning its ninth overall and seventh in the past nine years.
▪ Miami Northwestern is vying to win its first state title since winning three in a row from 2017 to 2019, its eighth FHSAA state title, and ninth overall counting its 1964 state crown in the segregation-era Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association.
▪ And after two seasons of disappointing finishes in the state final in 2022 and semifinals in 2023, Plantation American Heritage is chasing its first state championship since 2020 and sixth overall, which is second only to Aquinas and Chaminade among Broward schools.
Here’s a look at the final obstacle to overcome for each of these South Florida powerhouses:
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
NOTE: All games at 7:30 p.m. at Pitbull Stadium.
▪ Class 1A — Chaminade (12-2) vs. Clearwater Central Catholic, (12-2), Wednesday.
This will be the third consecutive meeting in the state final between these two teams. To say Chaminade has dominated the series so far is an understatement as the Lions have won 48-14 in 2022 and 56-0 in last year’s title game. At the start of the season, there was some speculation if Chaminade was still the mighty juggernaut it’s typically been, following major roster changes and an eye-opening 0-2 start.
Chaminade-Madonna Lions running back Camari Hall (9) runs with the football against the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders during the first quarter of a high school football game at Pitbull Stadium at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, Friday, October 11, 2024. SAM NAVARRO Special for the Miami Herald
The Lions have since won 12 in a row, stabilized their quarterback position with transfer and Penn State commit Bekkem Kritza and playmakers such as wide receiver J-Roc Lopez and running back Derrek Cooper have flourished as well as Donta Simpson and others on defense.
Illinois signee Jershaun Newton, the Marauders’ starting quarterback, is a dangerous dual-threat who has started each of those past two championship games against Chaminade. The only way CCC has a chance is if it can control the line of scrimmage and create sustained drives with Newton (1,073 yards rushing), Indiana signee Sean Cuono (938 rushing yards) and senior Nasir Hutchinson (1,039 rushing yards) on the ground.
That’s a tall order against a defensive front anchored by Simpson, a Miami signee, and RJ Alphonse. Dre’s pick: Chaminade 38, Clearwater Central Catholic 14.
▪ Class 5A — St. Thomas Aquinas (11-3) vs. Lakeland (13-0), Thursday.
If you had to pick one matchup historically in the state finals that creates excitement just on name value alone, it’s St. Thomas vs. Lakeland.
As I mentioned above, the Raiders lead the state in state titles and are chasing their sixth in a row. The Dreadnaughts aren’t far behind with nine state crowns, and are chasing their third straight.
St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders running back Virgil Lemons (28) runs the ball against Columbus Explorers during football game on Friday, September 6, 2024 at St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Fort Lauderdale. ANDREW ULOZA FOR THE MIAMI HERALD
These two have played some classics including the memorable 2006 double-overtime, 45-42 thriller at then-Dolphin Stadium won by Lakeland on a goal-line stand that Raider fans still argue was a touchdown.
Aquinas would like to shift the balance of power in this series as five of Lakeland’s state titles have come at the Raiders’ expense. Aquinas has only defeated the Dreadnaughts once at state — a 56-7 payback rout in 2008. Lakeland won the last meeting in 2018 a year before the Raiders began their current state championship streak.
That run has been in jeopardy two consecutive weeks and needed two dramatic comebacks against Delray Beach Atlantic and Bradenton Manatee for Aquinas to keep it intact.
Lakeland’s offense has been struggling of late in the playoffs, but its defense should be a handful for the Raiders especially in the secondary, which has three FBS signees playing safety with Ole Miss signee Keon Young, West Virginia signee Sammy Etienne and USF signee Jermichael Gillis. The offense is led by Maryland signee Ben Beymer, a 6-8, 300-pound tackle.
This is a game where turnovers could become paramount and Aquinas needs to establish its ground game behind Cedric Wyche and Chance Washington to give quarterback Andrew Indorf a chance to pick his spots and make big plays. Dre’s pick: Aquinas 27, Lakeland 24.
▪ Class 4A — American Heritage (11-2) Orlando Jones (14-0), Friday.
Team of destiny? Redemption?
Pick whichever word you want to describe the Patriots and it likely applies. Heritage isn’t just motivated by those last two painful playoff defeats. They’re driven to win it for their injured starting quarterback Dia Bell and have overcome plenty on and off the field over the past couple of years, fueling this potential championship story.
At the heart of it is Miami signee and wide receiver-turned-starting quarterback Malachi Toney, who has shined in relief of Bell behind center and led the Patriots to three huge playoff wins.
American Heritage Patriots defenders tackle Norland Vikings running back Maurice Clark (23) during Region 4-4A final on Friday, November 29, 2024 at American Heritage HS in Plantation. ANDREW ULOZA FOR THE MIAMI HERALD
Standing in the way is a Jones squad which is still chasing its first state title and making its first appearance in the finals since 2019. Senior receiver Vernell Brown III, a Florida signee, is one of the best in the nation and is one of two 1,000-yard pass catchers in this Tigers offense along with junior Larry Miles. Junior quarterback and Miami commit Dereon Coleman has thrived in this offense (3,238 yards, 28 TDs, 4 INTs). Heritage’s defensive backs need to play well. But watch for other key contributors such as Florida signee Byron Louis, who could help Heritage control the ball and keep Jones’ offense on the sideline as much as possible. Dre’s pick: American Heritage 34, Orlando Jones 31.
▪ Class 3A — Northwestern (11-2) vs. Jacksonville Raines (13-0), Saturday.
In coach Teddy Bridgewater’s first season, the Bulls have put together one of the most dominant playoff runs in recent memory as they have outscored their first four opponents 221-12. Their most recent 40-0 win on the road at Melbourne Eau Gallie raised the competition level and it didn’t matter. Northwestern’s defense allowed only five total yards for nearly the entire first half and set the tone until its explosive offense broke the game open behind four touchdown passes from quarterback Leon Strawder.
King Davis anchors the backfield while Strawder has an array of receivers to throw to including Calvin Russell and Nicholas Lenneer.
But if the Bulls are to wrap up a state championship, it will depend on winning the trenches. Northwestern’s defense will have to slow down a high-powered Raines offense led by junior quarterback Timothy Cole and anchored up front by LSU signee and interior lineman Solomon Thomas, a four-star recruit ranked No. 6 in the state by 247Sports. The Vikings’ defense is led by Rutgers signee and defensive tackle Jyon Simon (11 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss).
Expect this to be a true Northwestern home game as it’s likely it will bring the largest throng of fans to Pitbull Stadium this weekend reminiscent of the glory days of Bulls football and fit for their return to the top. Dre’s pick: Northwestern 37, Jacksonville Raines 20.
ANDRE’S RECORD
Last week — Top 20 games: 5-2; Overall: 5-2; Season — Top 20 games: 154-33 (.824); Overall: 463-112 (.805).
Andre C. Fernandez
Miami Herald
Andre Fernandez is the Deputy Sports Editor of the Miami Herald and has covered a wide variety of sports during his career including the Miami Marlins, Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, University of Miami athletics, and high school sports.