Top district showdowns on tap
Week 8 is an important one for area teams that hope to challenge for district
championships. This week’s games include a key district battle between No. 8 Dwyer
and No. 10 Forest Hill; No. 5 Palm Beach Central and No. 4 Seminole Ridge; and Palm Beach Lakes and Olympic Heights. The Broncos and Hawks are unbeaten in District 9-8A play, and the winner will have the edge in the race for the district championship. The Falcons and Lions also are unbeaten in District 13-7A but face tough opponents in the Panthers and Rams, respectively. All games are at 7 p.m. Friday, unless otherwise listed.
Hollywood-West Park Prep (0-2) at No. 2 Pahokee (4-1):
The Blue Devils have been rolling lately, winning three straight. West Park Prep is a first-year program getting its feet underneath it and will likely struggle in the Muck. Jodie: Pahokee 26-12; Adam: Pahokee 35-10.
No. 3 Atlantic (4-1) at John I. Leonard (0-5):
The Eagles haven’t lost in nearly two months, while the Lancers dropped their fifth game last week. Finding the end zone won’t be easy for John I. Leonard. Atlantic has given up just nine total points in its past three games. Jodie: Atlantic 37-0; Adam: Atlantic 30-7.
No. 5 Palm Beach Central (3-2) at No. 4 Seminole Ridge (6-0):
The Hawks have been one of the surprising teams in Palm Beach County this year. If they keep rolling, they likely clinch District 9-8A. Same goes for the Broncos, though, who have won their past two and are looking to make the playoffs. Jodie: Palm Beach Central 20-19; Adam: Seminole Ridge 21-18.
Spanish River (2-5) at No. 6 Park Vista (4-2):
Since the Cobras failed to score a touchdown against Atlantic on Sept. 22, they’ve made sure offense is not a problem. Park Vista has put up 140 points in its past three games. Spanish River, on the other hand, has struggled on offense, failing to score double-digit points in every game except their blowout of John I. Leonard last week. Jodie: Park Vista 30-12; Adam: Park Vista 30-7.
No. 7 Glades Central (3-2) at Boynton Beach (1-4), 7:30 p.m.:
The Tigers went out to the Glades a few weeks ago, and now the Glades comes to them. Pahokee
shut Boynton out a few weeks ago, and it’ll be another tough night for the Tigers offense, as the Raiders boast a solid defense. Jodie: Glades Central 25-12; Adam: Glades Central 21-10.
No. 8 Dwyer (3-2) at No. 10 Forest Hill (5-0):
The surprising Falcons can move one step closer to clinching the District 13-7A championship with a win over the Panthers, but expect Dwyer to be up for the challenge. Though it has struggled at times this season, the Panthers are on a roll defensively, having shut out their past two opponents. Jodie: Dwyer 28-14; Adam: Dwyer 23-17.
Palm Beach Lakes (2-5) at Olympic Heights (3-2):
This will likely be a big game when it comes down to deciding the District 13-7A champion. Heights is one of two teams (Forest Hill is the other) with no district losses, so Lakes could deal the Lions a big blow here. Jodie: Palm Beach Lakes 17-16; Adam: Olympic Heights 14-13.
Jupiter (0-5) at Wellington (2-4):
The Wolverines have had a rough go of it lately, with coach Tom Abel down to his thirdstring quarterback. Jupiter still is winless on the year (and in its past 31 games), but this could be a chance for them to get a victory. Jodie: Wellington 20-14; Adam: Wellington 17-14.
Boca Raton (3-3) at Lake Worth (0-5):
The reeling Trojans have given up 172 points this season, including 50 to Glades Central last week. Boca Raton was held to a touchdown by Park Vista last week and will be eager to get its offense going. Jodie: Boca Raton 33-6; Adam: Boca Raton 38-10.
Royal Palm Beach (0-6) at West Boca Raton (2-3):
The Bulls look like they have improved from last year and have already doubled their win total. The Wildcats have
had an abysmal stretch of losses, dropping their past four games by a combined 10821. Jodie: West Boca Raton 20-10; Adam: West Boca Raton 28-13.
Fort Pierce Westwood (4-1) at Suncoast (4-2):
The Chargers will retire the jersey of former standout Devin Hester prior to kickoff of this district contest
and then hope to wrap up their fifth consecutive win. But they face a surging Panthers team that has won three in a row. Jodie: Fort Pierce Westwood 23-21; Adam: Fort Pierce Westwood 28-24.
Miami-Gulliver Prep (3-1) at King’s Academy (5-0):
The Lions faced one of their toughest opponents last week in Fort Lauderdale-Pine Crest but still came away with a 14-point win. The Raiders also could cause some trouble. Gulliver Prep has won three straight and outscored its opponents 105-41 during that span. Jodie: King’s Academy 31-21; Adam: King’s Academy 35-21.
Fort Myers-Bishop Verot (3-2) at American Heritage (3-3):
The Stallions have played a tough schedule but face a Vikings team that dropped a 49-0 decision to Cypress Lake in its last game. Bishop Verot has struggled to score points this season, and its offense will be tested by Heritage. Jodie: American Heritage 27-13; Adam: American Heritage 21-17.
Saint John Paul II Academy (1-3) at Coral Springs Charter (2-3), 7 tonight:
The Eagles have had two weeks to prepare for the Panthers, who are coming off an eight-point win over Class 5A Pompano Beach. St. John Paul was shut out by Cardinal Newman in its last outing and has struggled to score points this season. Jodie: Coral Springs Charter 29-18; Adam: Coral Springs Charter 20-10.
St. Andrew’s (5-0) at Miami-Ransom Everglades (3-1), 7:30 p.m.:
The Scots’ high-powered offense kept rolling last week, scoring 43 against Pembroke Pines Charter. But Ransom Everglades has held Florida opponents to only 10 points all season. Jodie: St. Andrew’s 27-20; Adam: St. Andrew’s 20-17.
Benjamin (4-1) at Fort Lauderdale-Calvary Christian Academy (2-3):
The Bucs scored 71 points combined in their past two games and are averaging nearly 43 points per game. The Eagles, who have lost their last two, will be challenged to slow them down. Jodie: Benjamin 34-14; Adam: Benjamin 28-20.
Inlet Grove (1-4) at Glades Day (0-4):
The Gators have gotten off to a tough start but have played a difficult schedule. Their four opponents are a combined 15-3. The Hurricanes broke a 21-game losing streak Sept. 28 before being shut out by Jupiter Christian last week. Jodie: Glades
Day 27-12; Adam: Glades Day 21-10.
Village Academy (0-5) at Fort Pierce-John Carroll (1-5):
Rod Huggins has had a rough time since taking over the program at Village Academy, and his team has scored only 20 points all season. The Rams haven’t played well, but they notched a big win over Pompano Beach. Jodie: John Carroll 17-9; Adam: John Carroll 24-13.
Boca Raton Christian (3-2) at Jupiter Christian (5-1), at Jupiter High:
The high-scoring Eagles are averaging nearly 44 points per game, while their defense has shut out four opponents. The Blazers have played well in recent weeks, winning three in a row. Jodie: Jupiter Christian 38-16; Adam: Jupiter Christian 45-35.
Records:
Jodie: 87-27; Adam: 90-24