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High School Football Week Five: Week Of Marquee Games

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BY J.T. WILCOX | Senior Writer

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – For those of you scoring at home, we're at the halfway point of the high school football season.

As teams play 10 regular season games over 11 weeks, there are a select few who have only reached the one-third mark of their season – those who'll go on to play for a state championship will play four to five extra games.

District play started last week, which turned up the heat across both counties because games now have major playoff implications.

Another factor that turned up the intensity for week four was the then-pending release of the South Florida High School Sports Top 20 Rankings.

Like college's old BCS system, SFHSSports releases preseason rankings and doesn't update them until the conclusion of week four. They have an algorithm and everything – it's pretty cool.

Check it out here.

As a whole, South Florida High Schools does a great job covering prep sports in the area – not just football either.

If you haven't been to a high school football game so far this season though, this is the perfect week. The undefeated Hurricanes are at home running their jerseys through the old sewing machine and the Dolphins are across the pond in London – so why not go see the stars of tomorrow compete on this week chocked full of classic-rivalry matchups.

Broward County Special
St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Hallandale
Friday at Hallandale High School, 7pm

This is the biggest football game in Hallandale history.

The Chargers are undefeated and are ranked as the No. team in Class 5A by the AP. Now they welcome in nationally rated St. Thomas Aquinas, the consensus No. 1 team in South Florida.

Hallandale specializes in offense. Senior quarterback Tyler Huntley, who's started on the varsity team since his freshman year, owns all of the school's major passing records and is committed the University of Utah.

His weapons are all bound for major colleges too. Josh Hammond, the brother of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Frankie Hammond, is a smooth pass catcher committed to Florida; speedster Demari Simpkins is following Huntley to the Beehive State; and utility man Chris Cotto – a relative of boxer Miguel Cotto – is committed to Western Kentucky.

St. Thomas Aquinas is a football machine that is just rolling along, mowing down opponents by an average margin of 30 points per game.

For Hallandale, this is a chance to jump into the national conversation. If the Chargers come away with a victory, it would be a major upset and further propel an already record-setting Hallandale team.

Look for St. Thomas to control the game with its running game – courtesy of its big offensive line and the running of Devontae Henry-Cole – and the defense, which is anchored by Nick Bosa (brother of Ohio State All-American Joey Bosa) and future star linebacker Drew White (brother of new Auburn starting quarterback Sean White).

Dade County Special
Booker T. Washington vs. Central
Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7pm

This game has been must-see action for the past three seasons – and this season shouldn't be any different.

These teams have accounted for six state titles in the past three years.

Although people are ready to write off Booker T. after their 2-2 start, which includes a first-ever lost to Miami Jackson, this is the kind of game that the Tornadoes will be more than ready for and the type of game that can cure any and all ills if they come out victorious.

Conversely, since the Rockets came back from the nation's capital, they've been all of the dominant team that everyone expected. Central has shutout its past three opponents and is zeroing in on its offensive identity – putting the ball in its best players' hands early and often.

Central's defense is one of the country's best and it'll be interesting to see how Booker T.'s freshman sensation quarterback Daniel Richardson does against a group that has allowed just 199 passing yards.

Booker T. has won the past two meetings between the powers, but Central just may have the upper hand this time around.

Extra Dade County Special
Belen Jesuit vs. Columbus
Friday at FIU South, 7:30pm

You're talking about one the biggest rivalries in South Florida.

These two all-boy Catholic schools both have long-standing history and when they meet on the football field – expect more than 10,000 fans to show up.

Sure the game brings them out, but it's more just the rivalry and the pregame tailgate – which looks like a Calle Ocho warmup celebration – that makes the game so unlike any other.

On the field, Columbus has never lost to Belen. The Explorers are ranked in the top five of SFHSSports' Top 20 Rankings as well as being ranked in the state in Class 8A.

Belen is a solid team with an even more solid coaching staff, but Columbus is on a mission to return the state championship game – where it finished as runners-up last year.

Even if can't get a ticket to the game, go to check out the epic tailgate party that goes on in the parking lot.

For more information and coverage of high school sports in South Florida, visit www.SFHighSchoolSports.com

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