Playoff battles ahead for seven
Challenges get tougher this week for the surviving teams on road to state finals.
Thirteen Palm Beach County teams began postseason play last week under the FHSAA’s new playoff format, and seven have moved on after posting first-round wins.
Park Vista, Atlantic, Dwyer and Palm Beach Central won their regional quarterfinals to advance to Friday’s regional semifinals round. Benjamin, Pahokee and Oxbridge Academy won their regional semifinals and will play for regional championships.
Davie-Western (9-2) at Palm Beach Central (8-2): The Broncos and their dominant defense face a Wildcats team that is coming off an upset of Deerfield Beach — the state’s top-ranked Class 8A team — in last week’s regional quarterfinals. Central has posted shutouts in its last four games. Combined with an 8-3 win over Seminole Ridge Oct. 13, the Broncos have allowed an average of 0.6 points in their last five games. Last Friday in their rematch against the Hawks, Palm Beach Central forced four turnovers in a 32-0 shutout. But offense played as big a role as defense in the win, with Nick Atkins throwing four TD passes and running for another score. Western has momentum after its upset win, but the Broncos do too, and they have the home field.
Park Vista (8-2) at Atlantic (9-1): The Cobras, coming off a huge upset of heavily favored Miramar in the regional quarterfinals, get a second crack at the Eagles after dropping a 10-3 decision on Sept. 22. That game ultimately decided the District 10-8A championship for Atlantic, which has won nine straight after dropping its season opener to Palm Beach Central. The Eagles defeated Plantation 29-14 last week in the regional quarterfinals, marking their 10th straight game allowing 14 points or less. Defense has been a strength for Atlantic, and the Eagles will rely on that unit in their rematch against Park Vista, which has a pair of Division I commits on offense in athlete John Smith and wide receiver Atorian Perry. The pair connected on two touchdowns in the win over Miramar.
Doral Academy (9-2) at Dwyer (8-2): For the first time in three seasons, the Panthers face a second-round postseason opponent that is not Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas (though that could come next week if both win their games Friday). Dwyer has been inconsistent this season but posted a convincing win last week against Hialeah Gardens-Mater Academy in the regional quarterfinals. The Panthers rushed for 274 yards in that contest, with Bobby Armes contributing 151, plus three scores. Dwyer’s defense played well against Mater Academy. The unit will need another big performance against Doral Academy, the region’s third seed (Dwyer is No. 2), and an offense that has averaged 44 points during its past three games.
Melbourne Central Catholic (8-3) at Oxbridge Academy (8-1): The streaking ThunderWolves didn’t have the best first quarter against King’s Academy in their Class 3A regional semifinal, but Oxbridge kicked things into gear over the final three quarters. Like they have all season, the ThunderWolves were dominant on defense against the Lions, allowing 54 total yards. It’ll be interesting to see how Melbourne Central Catholic, coached by former American Heritage coach Stacy Sizemore, matches up. The Hustlers, ranked fourth in the Class 3A state poll — Oxbridge is No. 2 — are averaging 50.4 points in their last five games, and scored 55 Friday against state-ranked Orlando-First Academy in their regional semifinal.
Benjamin (8-2) at Hollywood-Chaminade Madonna (8-2): The Lions already beat one Palm Beach County team in the postseason, shutting out American Heritage last week in a Class 3A regional semifinal. State-ranked Chaminade gets a second area team this week in the Bucs, who are coming off a pair of statement wins. Benjamin snapped King’s Academy’s 20-game winning streak to close the regular season, then got four touchdown passes from Jordan Travis in a rout of Homestead-Everglades Prep Academy. But the Bucs face a big challenge on the road in Chaminade Madonna, which already counts wins against powerhouses Miramar and Fort Lauderdale-University this season, and features Auburn commit Shaun Shivers at running back.
Frostproof (7-4) at Pahokee (7-2): The Blue Devils kicked off the postseason with a convincing win over Williston, rushing for nearly 400 yards despite the absence of injured running back Jateri Washington. They’ll face a Bulldogs team that knocked off unbeaten Wildwood in their regional semifinal contest. Pahokee’s defense came up big against Williston, shutting down highly touted running back Gerard Williams III. But the unit could be tested against Frostproof, which scored 59 points against Wildwood last week and is averaging 44 points over its last three games. A win for Pahokee would lift the Blue Devils into the Class 1A state semifinals for the second straight year.