Sun Sentinel predictions: State semifinals

Our preps reporters rebounded off a 4-3 second round of the postseason to go a perfect 5-0 in Round 3. Wells Dusenbury and David Furones picked Chaminade-Madonna and Pahokee to advance to state title games, and both liked Deerfield Beach, St. Thomas Aquinas and American Heritage reaching state semifinals. Overall, DF remains one game up on Duse at 87-33. They predict the fate of Broward’s three state semifinalists in the FHSAA’s large-schools classifications.

VENICE AT ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Duse: STA 28, Venice 13 So far, St. Thomas Aquains has cruised through its first three playoff games, winning by a combined margin of 122-10. Unbeaten Venice provides a tougher challenge for the Raiders, however. The biggest objective for STA will be to slow down Indians’ standout RB Matthew “Speedy” Laroche, who’s rushed for an eye-popping 2,665 yards and 37 touchdowns this season. If the Raiders contain him, it’s tough to envision a scenario where they lose. DF: STA 38, Venice 7 “Speedy” might be looking for a new nickname after the fast and physical Raiders defense bottles him up. Laroche has reached triple-digit rushing yards in every game this season, but I don’t see him hitting the century mark here. .

SOUTHRIDGE AT DEERFIELD BEACH

Duse: Deerfield 14, Southridge 13 If you’re a fan of defense, Deerfield Beach is the place to be tonight. The Bucks and Spartans boast two of South Florida’s most dominant units, so points should be at a premium. The X-factor will likely be Deerfield Beach WR and Alabama commit Jerry Jeudy, who’s been a revelation on defense and special teams this postseason, scoring touchdowns on both sides of the ball. DF: Deerfield 13, Southridge 10 After passing by Bucks practice Wednesday, I’m convinced this team rallies — rallies around Jeudy, whose sister tragically passed away, and coach Jevon Glenn, whom players truly admire and see as a father figure as he returns after missing the regional final with a stomach virus. QB Nick Holm will be pivotal in leading the offense to enough points against a Southridge D that shut out seven consecutive opponents before surrendering 10 points to Coral Gables in regional finals.

TAMPA JESUIT AT AMERICAN HERITAGE

Duse: AH 17, Jesuit 10 Of the three Broward teams playing, American Heritage is the only one that remains unbeaten. That, in large part, has to do with the Patriots defense, which held explosive offenses in Cardinal Gibbons and Bishop Moore to 7 points each in the past two weeks. Jesuit (12-0) possesses a high-octane offense as well, having scored at least 34 points in each of their victories, but the Tigers haven’t faced a defense of Heritage’s caliber all year. DF: AH 24, Jesuit 17 Going up to Georgia to take down Colquitt County, beating New Jersey national power Don Bosco, visiting Traz Powell Stadium to edge Miami Northwestern and handling Cardinal Gibbons twice has prepared the Patriots to return to states after earlier-than-expected elimination last year. Heritage stops the run, then has some fun.