Bald Predictions - High School Football Week Two
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How about that first week?
Just add another reason to the list as to why South Florida high school football as a whole is the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.
Picking games in the opening week of the season is tough. You're not 100 percent sure what certain teams will be yet and believe it or not, injuries already start to play a factor in outcomes – we saw that with Carol City.
And, while I won't go another rant, I'll just offer up these three words to a couple of teams out there:
Run.
The.
Ball.
You know who you are.
Still, 44 correct picks out of 53 games isn't bad.
Week two, like week one, is a week of discovery. We will discover this week which teams can handle early adversity and which coaching staffs can make the small adjustments and tweaks that will make this week better than the last.
Also, we'll see which teams can handle success. It sounds funny, but you'd be surprised how players will take their foot off the pedal just because things went well in week one.
As a reminder, the SFHSSports Preseason Rankings will hold until after week four. That's why certain teams – whether you feel they should be moved up or down or now be ranked or unranked – are still where they are.
Record last week: 44-9 (.830)
48 games picked this week with three in the Bald Predictions Spotlight
(1) St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (0-1) vs. Miramar Patriots (1-0)
Friday at Miramar, 7 p.m.
I've already ranted about what I felt St. Thomas Aquinas should've done in the final seconds of its week one game against Booker T. Washington.
Moving on to this week, we will get a chance to see what this Raiders team is really made of. They've come upon adversity right out of the gate and now it'll be interesting to see how everyone responds.
Looking at this game, you have to ask the question: "will St. Thomas be in a haze from last week?". I can see why some would think that. But I don't think Roger Harriott would allow his team to go in the tank.
Miramar, on the other hand, comes into this game riding the high of a week one win. The Patriots performed at a level that some doubted they'd be able to reach this early in the season. It shouldn't come as that much of a surprise as Pierre Senatus is a very good coach and all he knows is winning.
There is a bit of cruel irony at work in this game.
Remember, it was Miramar that beat St. Thomas Aquinas three straight years from 2011 to 2013. Also remember that in 2012, the Patriots' 27-24 overtime was marred by a controversial call that awarded Miramar the game-winning touchdown although some felt the ball carrier was down short of the goal line.
Conspiracy theories aside, I think St. Thomas Aquinas will be fine in this game. The Raiders are still a very talented team – one of the most talented teams in the country. I think Mike Epstein has solidified himself as the team's top running back and I expect Aquinas' defense to play much better this week.
Of course, Miramar won't back down. That's not in their DNA.
But St. Thomas gets things right this week.
Run the ball.
Bald Prediction = St. Thomas Aquinas wins 28-14
(7) Columbus Explorers (1-0) vs. (12) Northwestern Bulls (1-0)
Thursday at Tropical Park, 7 p.m.
This is definitely one of those games that you have to get excited about.
Two programs that have a bit of history with one another and a lot of intriguing player matchups to watch.
Columbus earned a week one victory over a very tough Miami Jackson team. By their own standards, the Explorers have been a bit sluggish – looking at their preseason classic loss to Boyd Anderson and their hard-fought triumph over the Generals.
I think having a new quarterback at the helm of the offense sometimes facilitates disjointed performances. Marcelo Rodriguez has the physical tools to successfully lead, but he's got to build more rapport with his receivers and become more comfortable running coach Chris Merritt's offense.
Playing against this Northwestern team this week – now is not the time to be unsure about what you're doing.
The Bulls looked very good in their 47-0 dismantling of American. Granted, the Patriots are a team in the midst of a big rebuild – Northwestern did what it was supposed to do in a game like that.
Northwestern's defense is one of the stingiest units in the state. It has size up front, it has great linebacker play and it has an underrated secondary that's equipped with speed and is well-coached by Torrie Cox.
One of the things to watch for is the health of Columbus running back C.J. Henderson. He left the Explorers' preseason game with an ankle injury and didn't play in week one. If he's not 100 percent, trying to run against the Bulls' stout defense will be an even more daunting task.
On the other hand, Northwestern's offense showed that it can up plenty of points behind running back Kai Henry and quarterback Chatarius "Tutu" Atwell.
Ultimately, I think the Bulls will be too much for a Columbus team that's still finding its groove. It could end up being a close game, just because Merritt and his staff will have a solid game plan, but Northwestern's coach Max Edwards is a defensive maestro and he'll have his squad ready too.
Bald Prediction = Northwestern wins 22-17
(11) Coral Gables Cavaliers (1-0) vs. (18) South Dade Buccaneers (1-0)
Thursday at Harris Field, 7 p.m.
This is one of those games where whoever comes away with the victory, the win can really help propel that team through the first half of the season.
South Dade took home a shutout win over Coral Reef in week one. The Buccaneers manufactured the win with efficient offense and solid defense. While it wasn't an overwhelmingly impressive performance – a win is a win.
Coral Gables earned its week one victory over a highly-regarded Carol City team, showing a defense capable of clamping down against the run and the pass and an offense that has is sparked by junior running back Johnny Ford.
Looking at the matchup, Coral Gables should have the upper hand as the more complete team.
The Buccaneers have a pair of cornerstone players in offensive lineman Kyron Taylor and linebacker Chei Hill. Both will likely make their presence felt during this game but I think Gables enters this game as the more confident team and the team with more positive x-factors.
Yes, Ford is a big-play threat whenever he touches the ball; but Kevin Romer is too. And Romer didn't do much in the Cavaliers' win over Carol City – so I'm sure he'll be out to leave a mark on the game.
Also, I think Gables' defense will be able to slow down South Dade's Darius Brown just enough get the Bucs' offense out of rhythm.
I'm drinking the Coral Gables Kool-Aid this week.
Bald Prediction = Coral Gables win 19-14
Other Games
(2) Miami Central vs. Killian = Miami Central wins by 21
(3) Booker T. Washington vs. Monsignor Pace = Booker T. wins by 27
(4) Plantation American Heritage vs. Don Bosco Prep (NJ.) = American Heritage wins by 4
(5) Carol City vs. Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy = Oxbridge Academy wins by 1
(6) Southridge vs. Dr. Krop = Southridge wins by 35
(8) Flanagan vs. Coconut Creek = Flanagan wins by 13
(10) Boyd Anderson vs. Stoneman Douglas = Boyd Anderson wins by 10
(13) Chaminade-Madonna vs. North Miami Beach = Chaminade wins by 6
(15) Belen Jesuit vs. Marist (Ga.) = Belen Jesuit wins by 3
(16) Dillard vs. Hallandale = Dillard wins by 2
(17) South Broward vs. Northeast = South Broward wins by 28
(19) Piper vs. South Plantation = Piper wins by 14
(20) McArthur vs. Western = McArthur wins by 5
Hialeah-Miami Lakes vs. Keys Gate Charter = Keys Gate Charter wins by 20
Palm Glades Prep vs. Everglades Prep = Everglades Prep wins by 10
Westland Hialeah vs. Sunset = Sunset wins by 18
Taravella vs. Cypress Bay = Cypress Bay wins by 14
Stranahan vs. Monarch = Stranahan wins by 9
Miami Springs vs. Barbara Goleman = Goleman wins by 14
Norland vs. American = Norland wins by 20
Southwest vs. Miami High = Southwest wins by 12
Coral Park vs. Hialeah Gardens = Hialeah Gardens wins by 6
Mater Academy vs. South Miami = Mater Academy wins by 21
Somerset Academy Pines vs. Gulliver Prep = Gulliver Prep wins by 17
Ransom Everglades vs. Marathon = Ransom wins by 6
Miami Jackson vs. Jacksonville Bolles = Miami Jackson wins by 5
Inlet Grove vs. Calvary Christian = Calvary Christian wins by 35
Archbishop McCarthy vs. Westminster Academy = Archbishop McCarthy wins by 14
International School of Broward at University School = University School wins by 7
North Miami vs. Miami Beach = North Miami wins by 8
Plantation vs. Blanche Ely = Blanche Ely wins by 2
Coral Shores vs. Miami Country Day = Coral Shores wins by 28
Everglades vs. Cardinal Gibbons = Cardinal Gibbons wins by 24
Westminster Christian vs. Sebring (Fl.) = Sebring wins by 17
Cooper City vs. Coral Springs = Coral Springs wins by 1
Pompano Beach vs. Coral Glades = Coral Glades wins by 14
North Broward Prep vs. Coral Springs Charter = North Broward Prep wins by 7
Naples Golden Gate vs. Fort Lauderdale = Fort Lauderdale wins by 14
Hollywood Hills vs. West Broward = West Broward wins by 3
Key West vs. Pines Charter = Key West wins by 23
Coral Reef vs. Miami Palmetto = Miami Palmetto wins by 16
Edison vs. Homestead = Edison wins by 30
Doral Academy vs. Ronald Reagan = Doral Academy wins by 20
LaSalle vs. Florida Christian = LaSalle wins by 18
