Cardinal Gibbons-Aquinas tops an intriguing week of matchups

It was quiet last weekend in terms of marquee matchups around South Florida but that’s not an issue weekend.

How does No. 2 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas against No. 4 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons on Saturday night grab you? You will have to travel a little farther as the game is scheduled to be played at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, but might be well worth the trip.

Want something Friday? We’ve got No. 5 Miami Gulliver Prep. traveling to Hollywood to take on-top ranked Chaminade-Madonna at 7 p.m.

If you want something in Miami-Dade County, Traz Powell will be the spot as No. 13 Miami Edison challenges No. 3 Miami Central.

Want to get an early start to the weekend? Thursday night will offer a delicious matchup as No. 12 Homestead travels to No. 15 Doral Academy in a game that will decide the District 16-7A champion.

This weekend is another example of high-powered quality programs not ducking each other but meeting each other headon in an effort to prepare for the postseason. Enjoy the action.

THIS WEEK’S TOP 20

1. Chaminade-Madonna; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas; 3. Miami Central; 4. Cardinal Gibbons; 5. Gulliver Prep. 6. Fort Lauderdale Dillard; 7. Miami Killian; 8. Miami Northwestern; 9. Plantation American Heritage; 10. Davie Western; 11. Deerfield Beach; 12. Homestead; 13. Edison;

14. Miami Palmetto; 15. Doral Academy; 16. Hialeah Champagnat; 17. Miami Columbus; 18. Miami Florida Christian; 19. Miami LaSalle; 20. South Broward.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

Miramar, Miami Dade Christian, Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale Stranahan, Plantation, Miami Belen Jesuit, Miami Booker T. Washington, Dr. Krop.

THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES

No. 12 Homestead (5-1) at No. 15 Doral Academy (6-0), Thursday, 7 p.m.: A showdown to determine who will emerge as the District 16-7A champion. It worked out nicely that this game is on Thursday as it gets a stand-alone platform and won’t get lost with the other big games.

Cudos to Philip Simpson at Homestead and Eddie Delgado at Doral who have done a magnificent job of reviving programs that were struggling bigtime as recently as two seasons ago. This is a one-possession game if I’ve ever seen one, and Doral will enjoy a big advantage as the Firebirds regularly get huge and loud home crowds. BD’s Pick: Doral 27-24.

No. 13 Edison (4-2) vs. Central (4-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Traz Powell: It was a long, tough trip home for Edison last week following a close loss to top-ranked Niceville in the panhandle, and it doesn’t get any easier for the Red Raiders this week. After two difficult losses to nationally ranked teams to open the season in St. John Bosco (California) and Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, the Rockets are hitting their stride and getting ready to make a go at a third straight state title.

Edison might challenge but look for Central to find a way to emerge victorious. BD’s Pick: Central 34-20.

No. 5 Gulliver Prep. (5-0) at No. 1 Chaminade-Madonna (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: Perhaps still looking for a little more respect than it has been getting, Gulliver has had this game circled on its calendar for a while. Now the Raiders will have a golden opportunity to prove that they belong with the other elite teams in South Florida.

Chaminade meanwhile, when it isn’t playing a killer schedule, has been struggling just to play games. The Lions had their second contest in the past three weeks postponed last week when

Fort Lauderdale canceled citing a COVID issue. Champagnat was forced to do the same two weeks earlier. The good news for the Lions is that has allowed them to get some well-earned rest from a really tough schedule. Fresh legs and playing on their home field for the first time this season should allow the best team in South Florida so far in 2021 to emerge with a big win. BD’s Pick: Chaminade 27-17.

No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1) vs. No. 4 Cardinal Gibbons (5-1), Saturday, 7 p.m. at FAU Stadium: Undoubtedly, the top matchup of the week in South Florida and even though it’s up in

Boca Raton, playing it on a Saturday night gives it a stand-alone platform.

This is Gibbons’ home game but because of an anticipated huge crowd, the Chiefs gave up their home field to move it to a larger venue. It’s St. Thomas that will be looking for revenge here as the Raiders were stunned on their home field a year ago when Gibbons recorded its first ever victory over

St. Thomas. This one’s a coin-flip game if there ever was one. Heads Aquinas. Tails Gibbons. It came up heads. BD’s

Pick: Aquinas 24-22.

THE REST OF THE TOP 20

6. Dillard (6-0) at Hallandale (0-3), Friday, 7 p.m.: This is an RCS (Running Clock Special) if there ever was one. Hallandale has had trouble even putting a team on the field this season and Panthers will name their score. BD’s Pick: Dillard 48-0.

7. Killian (7-0) at St. Brendan (0-6), Friday, 3:30 p.m.: Coach Derrick Gibson will empty the bench quickly in this one.

BD’s Pick: Killian 49-6.

8. Northwestern

(5-2) vs. South Miami (2-3), Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Traz Powell: A rare Wednesday night game which means Northwestern will get some extra rest before next week’s game. BD’s Pick: Northwestern 44-8.

9. Plantation American Heritage (2-3) at Jensen Beach (1-3), Friday, 7 p.m.: With a schedule nearly as tough as Chaminade’s, it has been a rough six weeks for the Patriots, but it finally catches a break this week with an easy one and will roll to a lopsided win.

BD’s Pick: Heritage 41-8.

10. Western (4-2) at Taravella (0-6), Thursday, 7 p.m. at Coral Springs HS: Following last week’s solid win over Coconut Creek, Wildcats get an easy one this week.

BD’s Pick: Western 44-6.

11. Deerfield Beach (4-2) vs. Coral Springs (1-4), Thursday, 7 p.m.: Bucks had a week off and are well-rested for a game where they should name their score. BD’s Pick: Deerfield Beach 44-7.

14. Palmetto (5-1) vs. Southridge (3-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Tropical Park: Panthers need to be careful as Southridge is competitive and could challenge here. BD’s

Pick: Palmetto 34-17.

16. Champagnat

(4-2) at Palm Beach Benjamin (4-2), Thursday, 7 p.m.: Another challenging road game for Champagnat as Benjamin is good. But the homeless Lions will do what they always do on the road each week — just win.

BD’s Pick: Champagnat 30-20.

17. Columbus (3-3) vs. Coral Reef (4-2), Thursday, 7 p.m.: After dropping three of their first four, Explorers should roll to third win in a row.

BD’s Pick: Columbus 42-13.

18. Florida Christian (6-0) vs. Somerset Silver Palms (3-2), Thursday, 4 p.m.: Silver Palms could challenge here, but too much talent on FC’s side of the ball. BD’s Pick: Florida Christian 33-14.

19. LaSalle (7-0): Bye.

20. South Broward (5-1): Bye.

OTHER GAMES

Wednesday Miami-Dade: Mater

Academy vs. Hialeah (Ives Estates), 7:30: Hialeah 19-13. Thursday Miami-Dade: American vs. Westland Hialeah (Hialeah Gardens), 3:30: WH 20-18; Hialeah Gardens at Sunset, 3:30: Sunset 20-14; Reagan at Ferguson, 3:30: Ferguson

14-12; Belen Jesuit vs. Norland (Traz Powell), 7: Norland 24-20; Braddock vs. Varela (Tropical), 7: Braddock 22-16; North Miami Beach vs. Booker T. Washington (Curtis), 7: BTW 24-19; Broward: Boyd Anderson at Plantation (PAL), 7: Plantation 41-8; Everglades Prep. vs. Hollywood Avant Garde (Lockhart Park), 7: AG 40-12; Westminster Academy at North Broward Prep., 6: WA 28-23; Stranahan at Boynton Beach, 7: Stranahan 30-21. Friday Miami-Dade: Mourning at Goleman, 3:30: Goleman 49-0; Northeast at Coral Park, 3:30: CP 27-12; Palm Beach Berean Christian at Archbishop Carroll, 3:30: ABC 37-8; Westminster Christian at Palmer Trinity, 4: PT 20-17; Coral Gables at Miami Beach (Memorial), 7: Beach 23-17; Dade Christian at Bainbridge (Ga.), 7:30: DC 28-20; Palm Glades Prep. at Marathon, 7: Marathon 12-10; Everglades vs. North Miami (Betty Ferguson), 7: NM 30-12; Somerset South Homestead at Ransom Everglades, 7: RE 35-13; True North Academy at Coral Shores, 7: TN 33-6; Key

West vs. Miami Jackson (Curtis), 7:30: KW 21-19; Miami High vs. Krop (Ives Estates), 7:30: Krop 24-20; Southwest vs. South Dade (Harris), 7:30: South Dade 34-9. Broward: Blanche Ely vs. Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart Park), 7: FTL 37-8; Coconut Creek at Hollywood Hills, 4: Creek 40-13; Coral Glades vs. West Broward (Pines Charter), 7: WB 18-17; Coral Springs Charter at Pine Crest, 7: CSC 28-17; Cypress Bay at Flanagan, 7: CB 33-16; Miramar at McArthur, 7: Miramar 34-13; Boca Raton vs. Monarch (Coconut Creek), 7: Boca 24-21; Pompano Beach at Nova, 7: Nova 26-20; Delray Atlantic at Piper, 7: Atlantic 38-9; West Boca Raton at Douglas, 7: Douglas 30-14; WPB King’s Academy at Calvary Christian, 7: Kings 27-23.

Last week top 20: 13-1.

Last week overall: 37-7.

Season top 20: 74-10.

Season overall: 198-43.

Bill Daley can be reached at:billd@curtispub.net.Follow him on Twitter: @Billykid11