By James Oyola
MaxPreps.com
St. Thomas Aquinas, No. 7 according to this week’s MaxPreps National Rankings, looks to defend its 5A championship and make a run for a second consecutive state title.
Booker T. Washington (4A), Pahokee (2B), American Heritage-Delray (1A) and Jupiter Christian (1B) will also try to defend their championships against a stout group of competitors within their respective classifications.
Glades Central (10-0), North Broward Prep (10-0) and University School (10-0) are also viable contenders for a championship.
Class 5A
McArthur (6-4) vs. Dillard (8-2)
McArthur enters the game led by running back Marqueze Williams. Williams, a senior, leads the team with 900 yards rushing on 172 carries and six touchdowns.
The Panthers are led by running backs Trabis Ward and Otis Wright. Ward, a senior, leads the team with 1,158 yards rushing on 194 carries with 10 touchdowns. Wright, a sophomore, has gained 514 yards rushing on 32 carries and six scores, averaging an amazing 16 yards per carry. Dillard's defense leads Broward County (among large schools) allowing only 156.5 yards per game.
Coconut Creek (7-3) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (10-0)
Coconut Creek features an exceptional rushing attack that has amassed 1,492 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Justin Williams, a senior, leads the team with 703 yards rushing on 133 carries and four scores, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
St. Thomas, the reigning Class 5A champs, has outscored its opponents 464-67 and are averaging 46.4 points per game this season. Running backs Giovanni Bernard and James White lead a ground game that has totaled 2,445 yards on 339 carries and 40 touchdowns this season. Bernard, a junior, leads the team with 1,050 yards rushing on 122 carries and 12 touchdowns, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. White, also a junior, is second on the team with 631 yards rushing on 87 carries with 13 scores, averaging 7.2 yards per carry.
Class 4A
Barron Collier (7-3) vs. Hallandale (7-3)
Collier has a star in senior running back Quin Thornton who has rushed for 1,565 yards on 171 carries and 24 touchdowns, averaging 9.2 yards per carry.
Hallandale features a special runner of its own in Korvic Neat. Neat, a senior and Florida International University verbal, leads the team with 1,175 yards rushing on 95 carries and 14 touchdowns, averaging 12.3 yards per carry.
Booker T. Washington (8-2) vs. Gulf Coast (7-3)
Booker T. Washington, the reigning Class 4A champs, likes its backfield of Torrance Moise and running back Eduardo Clements. Moise, a senior, has completed 112-of-174 passes for 1,594 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. Clements, a junior, leads the team with 668 yards rushing on 136 carries and 11 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Junior receiver Quinton Dunbar has helped the Tornadoes with 27 catches for 507 yards and six scores, averaging 18.8 yards per catch.
Running back Sebastian Zuluaga and receiver Zac Rittberg are the primary weapons for Gulf Coast. Zuluaga, a sophomore, leads the team with 577 yards rushing on 94 carries and five touchdowns. Rittberg, a junior, also leads the Sharks with 44 receptions for 756 yards and 10 scores, averaging 17.2 yards per catch.
Class 3A
Belen Jesuit (7-3) vs. Glades Central (10-0)
Belen is averaging 30 points per game and led by the tandem of running backs Javi Sosa and Manny Sicre. Sosa, a senior, leads the team with 673 yards rushing on 114 carries and 16 touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Sicre, a sophomore, has chipped in with 524 yards rushing on 43 carries and three scores, averaging 12.2 yards per carry.
Glades Central has an emerging star at quarterback in Leron Thomas and running back Antonio McCloude. Thomas, a junior, has completed 93-of-159 passes for 1,921 yards with 24 touchdowns and four interceptions. McCloude, a senior, leads the team with 712 yards rushing on 102 carries and seven scores.
Cardinal Gibbons (6-4) vs. Monsignor Pace (8-2)
Cardinal Gibbson will look to Dareyon Chance, a senior who leads the team with 732 yards rushing on 104 carries and seven scores, averaging 7 yards per carry. Chris Schirippa, a senior, has completed 79-of-120 passes for 1,187 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Pace has a nice running back tandem in Deandre Johnson and Ronnie Dickens. Johnson, a junior, leads the team with 758 yards rushing on 98 carries and six touchdowns, averaging 7.7 yards per carry. Dickens, a senior, added to the mix with 504 yards rushing on 72 carries and five scores, also averaging 7 yards per carry.
Class 2A
North Broward (10-0) vs. Gulliver Prep (8-1)
North Broward faces a tough Gulliver Prep defense that is considered one of the best in Dade County. Senior quarterback Brandon Doughty has completed 93-of-162 passes for 1,764 yards with 21 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Gulliver has a multitude of weapons on offense. Senior running back Darian Mallary leads the team with 1,174 yards rushing on 97 carries and eight touchdowns, averaging 12.1 yards per carry. Quarterback Michael Strauss, a senior, has done his best in taking the pressure off of Mallary by completing 127-of-192 passes for 2,146 yards with 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Senior receivers Conner Vernon, Danny Rodriguez and Justin Mills have totaled 103 catches for 1,783 yards and 18 touchdowns for Gulliver Prep. Junior receiver Tacoi Sumler has also done well with 26 catches for 443 yards and six scores, averaging 17.5 yards per catch. The Raider defense, led by linebacker Frank Telfort, has only allowed 186.3 yards per game.
Archbishop Carroll (8-2) vs. American Heritage (8-2)
Running backs Jeff Scott and David Gonzalez are the focal point of the Archbishop Carroll offense. Scott, a freshman, leads the team with 1,129 yards rushing on 118 carries and 18 touchdowns, averaging 9.6 yards per carry. Gonzalez, also a freshman, has chipped in with 888 yards rushing on 85 carries with nine scores, averaging 10.4 yards per carry. Senior receiver Rodney Smith has also helped the Bulldogs with 30 catches for 662 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging an outstanding 22.1 yards per catch.
The Patriots are led by running backs Brent Singleton and Justin Goldberg who have combined for 594 yards rushing on 116 carries and nine touchdowns.
Class 2B
Pahokee (8-2) vs. Parkway (7-2)
Parkway’s offense ranks second in Broward County (among small schools) averaging 348.4 yards per game. Chris Williams, a senior, has 1,362 yards rushing on 119 carries and 17 touchdowns, averaging 11.5 yards per carry. Receiver Thomas Farrell also leads the team with 28 catches for 528 yards and eight scores, averaging 18.9 yards per catch.
Pahokee, the reigning Class 2B champs, will rely on Vincent Smith. Smith, a senior, leads the team with 1,362 yards rushing on 136 carries and 20 touchdowns, averaging 10 yards per carry. Receiver Dexter Holmes, also a senior, has also done a standout job for Pahokee with 16 catches for 452 yards and seven scores, averaging an amazing 28.3 yards per catch.
University School (10-0) vs. King’s Academy (8-2)
University School is unbeaten and features a ground game that has gained 2,327 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. Senior Travis Moore leads the team with 863 yards rushing on 114 carries and four scores, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Erik Applegate, a junior, has also chipped in with 692 yards rushing on 94 carries and seven touchdowns, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. University School’s defense is No. 1 in Broward County (among small schools) only giving up 109.6 yards per game.
Kings Academy comes into the contest led by a stout rushing attack that has amassed 1,643 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. Lee Bussey, a senior, leads the team with 594 yards rushing on 66 carries and seven touchdowns, averaging 9 yards per carry. Tyler Toulson, a senior, leads the team with 10 rushing touchdowns, but has only gained 131 yards on 33 carries.
Class 1A
Palmer Trinity (6-3) vs. American Heritage (Delray Beach) (7-3)
Palmer Trinity has a solid receiver in Steven Marbert. Marbert, a senior, has 54 catches for 601 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 11.1 yards per catch.
Heritage, the reigning Class 1A champs, has piled up 2,042 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground this season. Junior running back James Potts leads the team with 547 yards rushing on 69 carries and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Billy Strode, a sophomore, has also done a fine job for Heritage by completing 82-of-143 passes for 1,213 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Cavalry Christian (5-5) vs. Dade Christian (7-3)
Receivers Kyle Whitley and Shawn Lashbrook lead the way for Cavalry Christian. Whitley, a senior, leads the team with 32 catches for 522 yards and three scores. Lashbrook, a junior, has chipped in with 15 catches for 364 yards and four scores, averaging 24.3 yards per catch.
Dade Christian running back Chris Elliott leads the team with 448 yards rushing on 37 carries and five touchdowns, averaging 12.1 yards per carry.
Class 1BGames
Hollywood Christian (4-6) vs. Jupiter Christian (10-0)
Upperroom Christian (4-5) vs. Sheridan Hills (8-2)
