By James Oyola
MaxPreps.com
Until somebody steps up to take it away, the Class 6A state title still belongs to Miami’s Northwestern High School.
The Bulls are in the midst of a dominant run, entering this fall riding a 30-game winning streak – including 12 shutouts in that span – with back-to-back state titles.
But head coach Roland Smith’s squad won’t be favored to three-peat as several contenders have emerged.
With kick-off just days away, we take a look at the contenders in Florida’s largest classification, including Associated Press preseason No. 1 Deerfield Beach.
Deerfield Beach (11-2)
Twelve starters are back from a team that defeated 5A champion St. Thomas Aquinas in the regular season and went down to the wire before losing, 19-14, to 6A titlist Miami Northwestern in the playoffs. The Bucks’ offense has a chance to be explosive with senior quarterback Denard Robinson at the controls. Last season, Robinson passed for nearly 2,000 yards and ran for 500 yards and has legitimate 4.4 speed. Running backs Matt Whitfield and Cassius McDowell led the Bucks last season on the ground, totaling 2,882 yards rushing and 36 touchdowns. Whitfield rushed for 811 yards on 154 carries for eight scores, while McDowell gained 889 yards on 115 carries with 15 touchdowns. Receiver Josh Philpart also contributed to the Bucks success last season. The 6-foot-1 receiver caught 46 passes for 726 yards and nine touchdowns.
Toughest Games: Oct. 17 at St. Thomas Aquinas, Nov. 1 vs. Boyd Anderson
Key Players: QB Denard Robinson (5-11, 180, Sr.), DB/WR Adrian Witty (5-11, 185, Sr.), RB Cassius McDowell (5-9, 165, Jr.), OT Amos Dewey (6-4, 285, Sr.), DT/OT Jordan Miller (6-2, 240, Sr.), LB Fernando Dorrius (5-10, 210, Sr.), WR Travis McDonald (6-2, 185, Sr.), DT Johnny Seays (6-1, 235, Sr.) WR Josh Philpart (6-1, 180, Sr.)
North Miami Beach (12-1)
Once a Dade County football powerhouse, North Miami Beach is again a challenger for the 6A state title. The Chargers enter the season with great momentum after walloping defending state titlist Miami Northwestern, 25-0, in a spring scrimmage. But the biggest reason to believe that NMB will be a contender in 2008 is the return of quarterback Nico Flores. Flores, who also plays defensive back, accounted for over 1,700 total yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Receivers Kemal Ishmael and Terrance Kinchen are two reliable talents for Flores to throw to. Markeith Russell absolutely flies to the football at linebacker. A young offensive line will be behind returning starter Maurice
Anderson.
Toughest Games: Sept. 11 vs. Killian, Oct. 4 at John Curtis Christian (La.), Oct. 10 vs. Norland, Nov. 8 vs. Miami Central
Key Players: QB/DB Nico Flores (6-2, 195, Sr.), LB/RB Markeith Russell (6-0, 200, Sr.), WR/DB Kemal Ishmael (5-8, 170, Sr.), WR Terrance Kinchen (5-9, 170, Sr.), OL Maurice Anderson (6-1, 235, Sr.)
Boyd Anderson (9-2)
The Boyd Anderson High School football team had an impressive 9-2 season last year. At one point, it was considered one of the best squads in the south Florida, but fell off down the stretch. The Cobras’ only losses of the season came at the hands of then-defending Class 5A state champion Lakeland and against Douglas in the postseason. Boyd Anderson’s signature win came against Deerfield Beach, 24-20. Unfortunately, the loss of running back Chris Anderson, who graduated, leaves a gap in their offensive scheme. Anderson set the bar for Cobra backs, rushing for 1,030 yards and 12 touchdowns. Now they must find someone else to fill that void. Senior quarterback Kenny Graham struggled a little last season, but made progress throughout the year. Graham finished the season, after sharing time with fellow signal caller Jackie Wilson, throwing for 863 yards and eight scores. Wilson threw for 700 yards and seven scores.
Toughest games: Sept. 26 vs. Lakeland, Nov. 1 vs. Deerfield Beach
Key Players: QB Kenny Graham (5-9, 165, Sr.), QB Jackie Wilson (6-1, 175, Sr.)
Cyrpess Bay (9-2)
After an impressive beginning, the Cypress Bay High School football team managed to claim its place as one of the top football teams in South Florida last season. The Lightning began the 2007 campaign under the leadership of a new conductor. This is the second year at Cypress Bay for head coach Mark Guandolo, who previously led Chaminade (Hollywood) to state titles in 2003 and 2005 and brought Miami Southridge to the 6A final in 1999. Guandolo brought his philosophy to Cypress Bay and took the Lightning from an average football team to the top rushing team in Broward County. Running backs Mike DeCaro and Jason Douglas led the offense. DeCaro rushed for 1,565 yards on 188 carries adding 19 touchdowns. Douglas rushed for 1,250 yards on 170 carries for 16 scores. DeCaro has moved on but Douglas is back. The Lightning feature one of the top linebackers in the talent-rich Sunshine State, All-Stater Shane Gordon (6-0, 226). Gordon finished last season with 63 tackles, nine sacks and one interception.
Toughest Games: Oct. 4 vs. Katy (Texas), Oct. 11 vs. Miramar
Key Players: RB Jason Douglas (5-6, 175), LB Shane Gordon (6-0, 226, Sr.), LB Phil Walker (6-2, 215, Sr.)
Miramar (7-4)
With star quarterback Eugene Smith under center, the Patriots had an explosive offense a year ago, scoring 40 or more points five times. Despite missing several games, Smith still managed throw for 2,101 yards and 25 touchdowns against just six interceptions. Smith also made some plays with his feet, rushing for four touchdowns. Making life easy for Smith will be senior receiver Stedman Bailey. Bailey caught 41 passes for 981 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall, averaging an amazing 23 yards per catch.
Toughest Game: Nov. 14 vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Key Players: QB Eugene Smith (6-3, 195, Sr.) and WR Stedman Bailey (6-0, 185, Sr.)
Douglas (8-4)
Despite living in the shadows of the school’s dominant soccer program, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas football team managed to make a little noise last season. The Eagles were led by all-purpose quarterback David Noshay, who totaled 2,710 yards and 27 touchdowns. Noshay completed 110 of 194 pass attempts for 1,697 yards passing and 14 scores, while also chipping in with 1,013 yards rushing on 155 carries for 13 scores, single-handedly carrying the offense. Senior receivers Chris Robinson and Matt Harvey are back on board as Noshay's biggest targets. Last season, Robinson caught 39 passes for 575 yards and two scores, while Harvey caught 21 passes for 497 yards and seven scores.
Toughest Games: Oct. 11 vs. Deerfield Beach, Nov. 14 vs. Coconut Creek
Key Players: QB David Noshay (6-1, 190, Sr.), WR Chris Robinson (6-4, 170, Sr.), WR Matt Harvey (5-10, 175, Sr.)
Miami Central (7-3)
The Rockets expect to overtake rival Miami Northwestern as the top 6A team in Dade County this season under first-year coach Gary Lockett, who happens to be a former Northwestern assistant. Central was beaten 54-46 by Glades Central in a spring scrimmage, but the Rockets offense showed just how explosive it could be this season. QB Jeff Godfrey, a third team All-Dade selection as a sophomore, should have a big year throwing to receivers Jerious Williams and Jamaal Fleming. Running back Brandon Gainer made an impact as a freshman, averaging eight yards per carry and scoring four touchdowns. With the return of Fleming, Williams and Gainer, look for the Rockets to have one of the most potent offenses in Miami-Dade County this season.
Toughest Games: Sept. 12 vs. Booker T. Washington, Oct. 31 vs. Miami Northwestern, Nov. 8 vs. North Miami Beach
Key Players: QB Jeff Godfrey (6-1, 185, Jr.), Jerious Williams (5-10, 175, Sr.), Jamaal Fleming (6-2, 200, Sr.), Brandon Gainer (5-9, 185. So.)
Miami Northwestern (15-0)
Perhaps no team in the country was hurt as much by graduation as the Bulls, who finished last year ranked No. 1 in the country by some media outlets. Ten Northwestern players signed with Division I schools in February, including eight with the Miami Hurricanes. West Virginia verbal commit RB Daquan Hargrett is the top returning weapon on offense and big-hitting S Tevin McCaskill will lead the defense. The Bulls have much to defend this season as last year's national champion and two-time Class 6A state champ. Northwestern has notched 31-straight regular season wins.
Toughest Games: Sept. 19 vs. Booker T. Washington
Key Players: S Tevin McCaskill (6-1, 190, Sr.), RB Daquan Hargrett (5-9, 170, Sr.), RB Tyresse Jones (5-10, 175, Sr.)
Other Notable 6A Players
American- Olivier Vernon, DE (6-4, 245 Sr.)
Miami Norland- Xavier Rhodes, WR (6-0, 185, Sr.)
Miami Southridge- Branden Oliver, RB (5-7, 185, Sr.)
Plantation- Brandon McGee, DB (6-0, 175, Sr.)
Plantation- Josh Robinson, DB (5-10) 165, Sr.)
Plantation- Ronnie Kennedy, WR (5-9, 165)
South Florida’s Defending State Champions
6A: Northwestern 41, Boone 0
5A: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Osceola 20
4A: Booker T. Washington 23, Nease 15
2B: Pahokee 53, Newberry 14
1A: American Heritage (Delray Beach) 31, North Florida Christian 28