Teams taking aim at playoff spots

Battle of unbeatens heads up list of this week’s top games

Only four weeks of the high school football regular season are left and teams are fighting for playoff spots. There are several key games this week that will help determine who has a chance to get to Tallahassee or Daytona Beach.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Adam Lichtenstein predicts the outcome of this week’s most interesting contests involving teams from Broward and Palm Beach. He is 55-13 this season.

Plantation (6-0) at St. Thomas Aquinas (5-0)

This will decide who wins District 14-7A. Both teams enter not only undefeated but largely unchallenged. Since beating California’s De La Salle by 10, the Raiders, ranked No. 1 in Broward County, have beaten their last four opponents by a combined score of, 198-52.

The Colonels, ranked No. 9, have done the same, beating their six opponents by a combined 282-35. But Aquinas is deeper than Plantation, and the Raiders should be able to outlast the Colonels. St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Plantation 20 Palm Beach Lakes (5-0) at Seminole Ridge (4-1)

The Rams are the newly minted No. 1 team in Palm Beach County, and they look to keep rolling against No. 6 Seminole Ridge. Lakes has won all five of its games by at least 17 points, and the smallest margin of victory came against a good Palm Beach Central team.

Ridge’s four wins have come against teams with a combined record of 7-16, so the Rams will be tougher than anyone it has faced. Palm Beach Lakes 38, Seminole Ridge 17 American Heritage (5-1) at Stranahan (4-2)

The Patriots got a big win last week against Cardinal Gibbons, a former district opponent. This week, they face a current district opponent, Stranahan.

The Patriots had a scare against a team they were expected to beat as North Miami Beach kept the game close before Heritage pulled away. Stranahan has the potential to do something similar if Heritage isn’t careful. But a Mighty Dragons victory would be a mighty upset. American Heritage 42, Stranahan 14 Palm Beach Central (4-2) at Forest Hill (4-2)

The Broncos had a chance to make the case that they were the top team in the county, but they fell short against Lakes. There’s no time to grieve over that missed opportunity as now they face district opponent Forest Hill.

The Falcons really need a win in this game as they already have two district losses. A win will help their RPI and get them closer to a playoff spot. Palm Beach Central 35, Forest Hill 24 Miami Columbus (4-2) at University School (5-1)

U-School has looked good in wins over talented small schools such as Hialeah Champagnat and Miami Christian, but taking on Columbus is a different animal. The 2018 Class 8A state runners-up have recovered from back-to-back losses against Class 8A No. 1 South Dade and Class 4A No. 1 Miami Booker T. Washington.

If the Sharks can contain electric running back Henry Parrish Jr., they can get the win. If he breaks out, USchool’s chances dwindle. University School 24, Columbus 21 Benjamin (4-2) at Miami Gulliver Prep (6-0)

Benjamin is in the middle of the toughest part of its schedule, and so far it has not gone well. The Buccaneers have lost two straight games to American Heritage-Delray and Calvary Christian, falling by a touchdown each time.

Things don’t get easier as Benjamin travels to face Gulliver Prep, which features four-star defensive end Donnell Harris Jr., among others. Gulliver Prep 28, Benjamin 21 McArthur (3-2) at Cardinal Gibbons (4-2)

The Chiefs host another tough team at home this week after falling to American Heritage on Friday. McArthur recovered from a loss to Miramar with a dominant win against Hialeah American. Both of these teams have good defenses, so this should be a low-scoring game.

Cardinal Gibbons bounced back well from its first loss, and I think the Chiefs will again. Cardinal Gibbons 17, McArthur 13 Monarch (6-1) at Boca Raton (3-3), Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

The Knights have been rolling since their loss to Stoneman Douglas. Monarch’s high-flying offense has averaged about 43 points per game and shows no signs of slowing down.

Quarterback Pete Zamora and wide receivers Jaden Alexis and Brady Brauner have been the stars of the offense so far, but the Knights can win with the ground game — Jerell Mash Jr. has 10 touchdowns this season already.

Expect the offense to keep firing this week. Monarch 48, Boca Raton 14 Miramar (4-3) at Everglades (1-5)

Without coach A.J. Scott, the Patriots could have fallen apart. Instead, they’ve rallied, picking up wins over McArthur and Hallandale. The team should be especially motivated this week as they face crosstown rival Everglades. Miramar 24,

Everglades 10 Calvary Christian (7-0) at King’s Academy (4-3)

Calvary will look to continue its undefeated season against the reigning Class 3A state runners-up. King’s has struggled over the last month, dropping three of four. The Eagles won’t make things easier. Calvary Christian 32, King’s Academy 20

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/SUN SENTINEL American Heritage lineman Andy Mestre protects his running back by keeping Cardinal Gibbons’ Jertavis Black away from him during the second half of last Friday’s game.