10 Friday Night Games To Watch
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As you have already noticed – three weeks into the high school football season – the matchups this season are going to be amazing. Over the first two weeks of the 2022 season, we have watched big wins, upsets and…
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Continue ReadingAs you have already noticed – three weeks into the high school football season – the matchups this season are going to be amazing.
Over the first two weeks of the 2022 season, we have watched big wins, upsets and tremendous action that has captured the attention of football fans and analysts from coast-to-coast.
In the coming weeks, you will get the chance to see some quality contests that will determine rankings as well as playoff positions at the end of the season.
Tonight, there will once again be some games that are so worth attending in your area. Here are 10 that we believe have the chance to be classics:
No. 23 Cocoa at No. 3 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 7:00. At the start of the season, this is one of those games that many were marking on the calendar for a number of reasons. One being that Tigers’ head coach Ryan Schneider is from Broward County, playing at Plantation High and also serving as Offensive Coordinator for a Raider team that has gotten out to a 2-0 start and are making a solid bid to get themselves in the national championship talk under head coach Roger Harriott.
No. 5 Tampa Jesuit at No. 21 Miami Christopher Columbus, 7:00. Huge matchup against the defending state champion Tigers under Matt Thompson, but do not sell the Explorers short. Being at home and loaded with as many high-level prospects as any school, head coach Dave Dunn and his football team have taken care of both opponents to start the year and are hungry for a signature win.
Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast at No. 8 Sanford Seminole, 7:00. On the surface, the Titans come in at 0-2, after losing to a pair of impressive programs to start the year. Head Coach Irvin Jones believes his team can turn things around against one of the premier programs in the state. Coach Eric Lodge and his Seminoles rarely lose – let along at home and are ready for another big win to start out 2022.
No. 13 Orlando Edgewater at Winter Garden West Orange, 7:00. For Cameron Duke and his Eagles this game represents yet another hurdle as his team looks to get back in the state championship talk. After a huge win against New Jersey and national power Don Bosco Prep, they are on the road against an unbeaten team that has many new faces on both sides of the ball. First year head coach Geno Thompson knows that a win this evening can set the tempo for the remainder of the season.
No. 14 Davie Western at Coconut Creek, 7:00. While the state is still learning about head coach Adam Ratkevich and his Wildcats, who have been slowly building toward elite status, the Cougars are out to prove that what happened last year and throughout the summer is no fluke. Western opened with a win in the Broward County Football Showcase two weeks ago – while head coach Johnnie Sloan and his team have not yielded a point through the first two weeks. This is a barometer game for both teams.
No. 21 Fort Lauderdale Dillard at Miramar, 7:00. After opening the season with a huge win in the Broward County Showcase, head coach Tyler Tate and his Panthers dropped a road game to national powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna. This Dillard team is loaded and heads south to play a Patriots’ team that spent last week off after a huge opening night win against Plantation. If head coach A.J. Scott and his team are going to get any notoriety, this is certainly the forum they have been looking for. Once again, both teams will get plenty out of this evening’s contest.
Homestead at No. 24 St. Petersburg Lakewood, 7:00. As just about every football fan knows exactly who the Spartans are, very few – if any – have a clue about head coach Philip Simpson’s Broncos, who hot the road and are looking to show the state what kind of football is being played in southern Miami-Dade County. After losing a home game last week, head coach Cory Moore and his team are anxious to show that they have what it takes to win it all this season. Two programs on a mission tonight.
South Sumter at Wildwood, 7:30. Two unbeaten teams with so much to prove this evening as head coach Ty Lawrence and his football team are out to show that the two wins this season is a signal that this program is one to watch in 2022. For unbeaten Wildwood, head coach Vincent Brown has certainly made a huge impact over the past few years and knows that a win and a 3-0 start can turn heads throughout the state.
St. John’s Bartram Trail at Daytona Beach Mainland, 7:00. Of all the games tonight, this is truly one that many are not talking about – and that is a mistake. Both programs are searching for respect and a Top 25 state ranking, and truly have the talent and coach to accomplish that. For veteran head coach Darrell Sutherland and his Bears, it’s all about staying focused on the road. For second year head coach Travis Roland, this is yet another game that will have the chance to showcase his many gifted prospects. If you are in town for this, get there and enjoy!
Jacksonville Bolles at Brunswick, Georgia, 8:00. One of the Florida-Georgia matchups this weekend that will match two solid programs who have started the season unbeaten. The Bulldogs, coached by Matt Toblin, always have marquee football talent and this year is no exception. If they are to get back in the state title mix, a win here is very important. For first year head coach Larry Harold Jr. this is certainly a game where his team can get a signature victory against a perennial Florida state powerhouse.
THURSDAY STATEWIDE SCOREBOARD
American (Hialeah) 14, Goleman 13
Creekside (St. Johns) 21, Glynn, Georgia 20
Destin 28, North Bay Haven 21
Fivay (Hudson) 29, Anclote 16
Florida High (Tallahassee) 48, Taylor County 0
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy 28, Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 24
Glades Day (Belle Glade) 30, Jupiter Christian 21
Gulf (New Port Richey) 21, Wesley Chapel 0
IMG Academy Blue (Bradenton) 28, North Port 10
John I. Leonard (Greenacres) 21, Spanish River 13
Lakeland Christian 28, Fort Meade 14
Lecanto 26, Citrus 0
Marathon 22, NSU University School 19
McIntosh, Georgia 42, West Nassau 8
Mosley (Lynn Haven) 42, Panama City Arnold 7
North Miami Beach 30, Delray Beach Atlantic 28
Palm Beach Christian Prep 58. B oca Raton Christian 0
Plantation 40, Douglas 26
Pompano Beach 21, Miami Country Day 3
Santaluces (Lantana) 42, Olympic Heights 6
Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 48, Gainesville 3
Wakulla (Crawfordville) 43, Munroe Day 13
Williston 49, Dixie County 0
Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel) 33, Land O’Lakes 6
Monday Games
Bartow 20, Kathleen 16
Cape Coral 40, Gateway 5
Frostproof 42, Hardee County 20
LaBelle 56, Marco Island Academy 6
Mariner (Cape Coral) 17, East Lee County 7
UPDATED CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/florida/rankings/2023-rankings/
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/08/updated-2024-florida-rankings/
Tracking Florida’s Football Teams For 2022 – https://prepredzone.com/2022/04/tracking-florida-football-teams/
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.