BY J.T. WILCOX | Senior Writer
This must be “big game” week.
There are a handful of marquee games that should each draw capacity or near-capacity crowds and have some pretty awesome atmospheres.
I ride into week five with a nice amount of momentum after a strong week four. As district play has started for a majority of the teams, the games get tougher to pick. I can’t live in the past; I have to continue to move forward.
This is the point in the season where attention to overall details begins to play an even bigger part in the outcomes. Everyone has film on everyone and at this point there’s little that a team can do to surprise their opponent.
Game planning starts to become more intricate and detailed, so a player understanding and executing the concepts that coaches went over in practice is a big key.
And can you guys believe, after spending what felt like 17 years for football season to return – we’re already halfway through the regular season?
It goes fast, folks.
Record last week: 45-5
Season record: 157-42 (.788 Correct Pick Percentage)
45 games picked this week with four games in the Bald Predictions Spotlight.
(1) St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (4-0) vs. (T4) Hallandale Chargers (3-0)
Friday at Hallandale HS, 7pm *Game Of The Week*
This is a marquee game. This actually is probably one of the better high school football games going on in the nation Friday night.
It’s definitely the biggest football game in Hallandale football history.
The Chargers enter this game as a top five team in both South Florida and in Class 5A statewide. Head coach Dameon Jones has built the program up to an elite level and no matter how the 2015 season pans out, this is by far Hallandale’s most talented football team ever.
No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas is a steady force. There aren’t any weaknesses on this team and the Raiders can overwhelm and dominate opponents with their offense or defense.
Hallandale has an elite offense. Quarterback Tyler Huntley is arguably the best senior quarterback in Broward County and he has multiple weapons to distribute the ball to – and that’s without the services of Neru N’Shaka.
On the flip side, while the Chargers’ defense is solid – especially at the linebacker position and in the secondary – I am not sure that they can keep up with the Aquinas offense for 48 minutes.
The Raiders can spread teams out and attack vertically through the passing game with Jake Allen throwing to Sam Bruce, Trevon Grimes, Michael Irvin Jr. or Dominic Thieman. Or they can roll out a power running game and chew up both yards and time off the clock.
Hallandale will score some points, but I know the Aquinas defense will put pressure on Huntley and contain Chargers running back Zack Moss.
The Raiders continue to roll.
Bald Prediction = St. Thomas Aquinas wins 34-23
(2) Central Rockets (3-1) vs. (9) Booker T. Washington Tornadoes (2-2)
Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7pm
Call me cynical, but this game has lost a bit of its luster.
I mean, this game used to be the “without a doubt, must-see, be there or be square” game of the year.
Now, it’s just kind of – meh.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a marquee game and I expect a pretty big crowd but that extra special ingredient is missing.
Booker T. avoided matching a stat that went back five seasons last week – defeating Southridge to avoid losing two consecutive games for the first time since 2010.
The Tornadoes have a young roster – and it shows. The talent is there, but Booker T. is relying on a lot of underclassmen to make big plays at crucial moments and they just don’t have the seasoning needed to do that on a consistent basis yet.
Central has rebounded well since its week one loss to Maryland DeMatha. The Rockets haven’t allowed a point in the state of Florida this season and slowly – but surely – they’re finding out who they are offensively.
This game plays out pretty simply in my mind. Central’s defense is one of the best units in the country, hands down. And that “Roc Boy” Defense will put constant pressure on Booker T. freshman quarterback Daniel Richardson.
I could see the Rockets getting points from its defense – a fumble return, an interception return or a safety.
Booker T. will fight and this game will probably be fairly close throughout because of the Tornadoes talent and pride. But Central’s defense will prove too strong, too physical and too talented for F5.
Bald Prediction = Central wins 22-13
(3) American Heritage Patriots (3-1) vs. (18) Norland Vikings (2-2)
Saturday at North Miami Stadium (FIU North), 7pm
This is an interesting game.
It’s the third game in what has been a treacherous stretch for Norland – facing South Dade and Central respectively in the two previous weeks. The Vikings lost both of those games despite strong performances by their defense.
American Heritage comes in fresh off a big district win and feeling confident because of the battles that they’ve gone through with its tough schedule.
The Patriots are a complete team – very few weaknesses for opponents to try to exploit. I especially was impressed with – and became a fan of – running back Khalil Herbert. He runs hard and is a guy who can be a 20-plus carry ball carrier. Add in the running of Jason Brown and the healthy return of Kyshaun Bryan, and American Heritage’s offense is hard to stop.
There are zero questions about Norland’s defense. All the concerns lie with the offense.
While American Heritage’s defense may not be on the exact level as Central’s, the Pats know how to tighten and can bring pressure on the edge with defensive end Brian Burns or up the middle with defensive tackle Decarlo Hamilton.
Norland’s defense will make its presence felt but points – therefore victory – will be hard to come by for the Vikings.
Bald Prediction = American Heritage wins 21-7
(T4) Columbus Explorers (4-0) vs. Belen Jesuit Wolverines (2-2)
Friday at FIU South Stadium, 7:30pm
I’ve been waiting for this game since the season started. I had it circled on my calendar for a while.
Not so much for the game, but for the epic pregame tailgate.
There are so many levels of awesome reached during the Belen-Columbus pregame tailgate that it’s almost mind-blowing.
As far as the game goes, this rivalry is a lot of “big brother getting the best of little brother”.
Columbus has dominated this series since it began – never losing to Belen.
I don’t see the Wolverines getting the best of the Explorers this season either. Columbus is too talented and too well-coached for a potential letdown.
Belen has won its past two games and have seemed to find their groove, but the Wolverines are still the little brother in this matchup.
Bald Prediction = Columbus wins 31-14
Other Games
(6) South Dade vs. Northwestern = South Dade wins by 11
(7) Carol City vs. Southridge = Carol City wins by 10
(8) Flanagan vs. Western = Flanagan wins by 16
(T11) Plantation vs. Cypress Bay = Plantation wins by 9
(T11) Deerfield Beach vs. Jacksonville Bolles = Bolles wins by 3
(15) Boyd Anderson vs. Blanche Ely = Boyd Anderson wins by 12
(16) Piper vs. Nova = Piper wins by 13
(17) South Plantation vs. Miramar = Miramar wins by 5
(19) Chaminade-Madonna vs. Monsignor Pace = Chaminade wins by 16
Champagnat vs. International School of Broward = Champagnat wins by 21
Sunset vs. Reagan = Sunset wins by 14
Ferguson vs. Miami High = Miami High wins by 6
South Miami vs. A&T Mourning = South Miami wins by 22
Everglades Prep vs. Miami Community Charter = Everglades Prep wins by 17
Boca Raton St. Andrews vs. Archbishop Curley = St. Andrews wins by 3
Westminster Christian vs. Gulliver Prep = Westminster Christian wins by 5
Somerset Academy Silver Palms vs. Palmer Trinity = Somerset Silver Palms wins by 30
Homestead vs. Coral Park = Homestead wins by 18
Westland Hialeah vs. Goleman = Goleman wins by 38
Florida Christian vs. Boca Raton Pope John Paul II = Pope John Paul wins by 28
Miami Beach vs. Naples Golden Gate = Naples Golden Gate wins by 2
Cooper City vs. Stoneman Douglas = Douglas wins by 7
Calvary Christian vs. Coral Springs Charter = Calvary Christian wins by 1
Coral Reef vs. Venice (FL) = Venice wins by 12
Coral Glades vs. Taravella = Taravella wins by 35
Marathon vs. Ransom Everglades = Ransom wins by 3
Hollywood Hills vs. Everglades = Everglades wins by 6
North Broward Prep vs. Riviera Beach Inlet Grove = North Broward Prep wins by 20
West Broward vs. Fort Lauderdale = Fort Lauderdale wins by 10
Stranahan vs. Northeast = Stranahan wins by 4
Pembroke Pines Charter vs. Archbishop McCarthy = Archbishop McCarthy wins by 19
Miami Country Day vs. Pompano Beach = Pompano Beach wins by 17
Palm Beach King’s Academy vs. LaSalle = LaSalle wins by 11
Hialeah Gardens vs. Hialeah-Miami Lakes = Hialeah Miami Lakes wins by 27
Varela vs. Killian = Killian wins by 8
Doral Academy vs. Mater Academy = Mater Academy wins by 17
Dr. Krop vs. Lake Gibson (FL) = Lake Gibson wins by 21
American vs. North Miami = American wins by 28
Braddock vs. Edison = Edison wins by 14
Keys Gate Charter vs. Somerset Academy Pines = Keys Gate Charter wins by 14
Westminster Academy vs. Pine Crest = Westminster Academy wins by 8
