Bald Predictions - High School Football Week Six
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As we enter the second half of the regular season, this is the time of the year where every game from here on out will have a direct effect on each team's playoff fortunes.
Even if teams still have some non-district games remaining, you have to think coaches will have the nightmare of losing players to injuries playing in the back of their heads.
While it isn't quite the time to have reached your peak, you do want to at least be halfway to the mountaintop.
For me, week five was a more than solid week. But I look at week six and once again see a slate of games that will require my predictive juices to be flowing at full mass in order to be successful.
Also, I hope everyone has done their part in supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness throughout the month of September. Just because September is coming to an end, the fight against prostate cancer is not. Men, especially those over 40 years old, please speak to your doctor about your prostate health if you have not already. Regular testing and screening can lead to early detection. And early detection could be the life-saving factor needed to be prostate cancer.
Record last week: 40-5
Season record: 211-34 (.861 Correct Pick Percentage)
47 games picked this week with three games in the Bald Predictions Spotlight
(1) Miami Central (5-0) vs. (17) Carol City (2-2)
Friday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Here's a game that I circled on my calendar as soon as the Miami-Dade schedule was released.
This matchup became exponentially more intriguing after last week's happenings.
Carol City won its second straight game – after opening the season 0-2 – with a shutout against Southridge. The Chiefs appeared to have righted the ship and found an offensive formula that works. After scoring just 20 total points in the first two games of the season, Carol City has outscored its last two opponents by a score of 58-7.
Defense has never been the problem the Chiefs. Associate head coach and defensive coordinator Damon Cogdell's fingerprints all over Carol City's defense and he's bringing the best out of his playmakers.
With that being said, Central put everyone on notice that it is the top team in Miami-Dade County. It's hard to argue otherwise – given the Rockets are four-time defending Class 6A state champs and just manufactured a 42-14 victory over rival and fellow four-time defending champion Booker T. Washington.
Central is a complete team that can make life difficult for opposing teams – on either side of the ball.
Looking at the matchup this time around, I will be interested in seeing how Carol City plans to attack the Rockets' defense.
The Chiefs have a good – not great – offensive line and a pair of very talented running backs in Camron Davis and Nayquan Wright. Carol City will have to get creative in how they get Davis and Wright the ball, though. Perhaps the Chiefs will watch the film from the Norland game and try to replicate what the Vikings did to create running lanes.
If Carol City is unable to run the ball and sustain drives, it'll put the Chiefs defense in tough situations having to be on the field for extended series' colliding with Central's big offensive line. Eventually, Carol City's defensive unit will wear down and give up a handful of those "back-breaking" runs by one of the Rockets' many running backs.
Ultimately, I think that's the theme of this game. Carol City will show early that it is – despite its record – still one of the better teams in South Florida, however, Central will start to wear down the Chiefs on both sides of the ball.
And don't think that winning a district championship doesn't mean anything to the Rockets. They were reminded – a lot – about how Carol City won the district crown in 2015 and it's something that'll be in the back of their minds Friday.
Bald Prediction = Central wins 28-14
(3) St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1) vs. Las Vegas Bishop Gorman (5-0)
Friday at Bishop Gorman Fertitta Field, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
As soon as this game was confirmed, the talk began of how this would be a "clash of the titans".
Fast forward to the actual week of the game and I'd venture to say that it has lost just a hint of its luster. St. Thomas Aquinas' week one loss to Booker T. Washington and subsequent fall in the national polls are the culprits, no doubt about it.
But I think people are being a bit too quick to dismiss and discount the Raiders.
How quickly some are forgetting that St. Thomas Aquinas still has one of the most talent-laden rosters in the country and still have exceptional high school football players at just about every position on the field – on top of having one of the better coaching staffs, too.
So as Aquinas rolls into Las Vegas, they will be taking on an undefeated Bishop Gorman team that has climbed to the top of almost all the national polls and is playing a very good brand of football at this point in the season.
The Gaels' offense runs through dual-threat quarterback Tate Martell – an Ohio State commit. Martell has thrown 13 touchdowns this season – against zero interceptions – and is second on the team in rushing yards (406) while leading in rushing touchdowns (6).
Amod Cianelli is now Gorman's top rusher since an injury took down Biaggio Walsh – the grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Still, Bishop Gorman's offense is quite potent – scoring at least 35 points in all five victories this season.
What St. Thomas Aquinas must do to be successful in this game is, you guessed it, run the ball.
Run.
The.
Ball.
I think It would greatly benefit the Raiders to give Bishop Gorman a heavy dose of Mike Epstein and Kyshaun Bryan. Getting the run game going would allow for some play-action passes downfield to Trevon Grimes or up the seams with Mike Harley and Jorden Merrell.
Defensively, I think St. Thomas should make Martell beat them as a passer. Use his smaller, 5-foot-10 frame against him and make him throw from the pocket while trying to bat down as many passes as possible. Perhaps the Raiders use linebacker Drew White as a spy and let the defensive back rely on their skills.
I believe Aquinas has the personnel to knock off Bishop Gorman, they just have to go in with the right mindset – dare I say, they have to go in there and play with some South Florida swag.
I think Aquinas gets it done.
Bald Prediction = St. Thomas wins 33-31
(11) Boyd Anderson (3-1) vs. (17) Dillard (3-1)
Friday at Boyd Anderson, 7 p.m.
Here's a big-time district showdown that always produces a great atmosphere and very competitive game.
I don't anticipate this year's game being any different.
On paper, this is a quintessential matchup of potent offense going up against a stingy defense.
Boyd Anderson's offense has been very good so far this season – save for last week's zero-point output against "The Monstars" also known as Bradenton IMG Academy – scoring 39 points or more in all three of its wins.
Quarterback Shabazz Telfort continues to show that he's one of the top passers in South Florida. He has a lot of tools in his bag – standing 6-foot-3, with a strong arm and deceptively quick when breaking – and Telfort's leadership qualities have made a positive jump this season.
Dillard's defense is built around its defensive line. Defensive tackle Jon Ford and defensive end Jordan Wright get much of the attention, but the Panthers have a couple other athletic players – Jordan Zayas and Braylen Ingraham – they can throw in the mix and still generate a major pass rush.
The matchup of BA's offense against Dillard defense will be a chess match. The coaches will spend much of the night trying to find a way to get something done against the other.
Where this game will be decided, I think, will be on the flip side of that matchup – meaning how Dillard's offense will fare against Boyd Anderson defense.
Dillard's offense is good, but it's no insult to say that the Panthers are a more defensive-centric team.
The Cobras' defense has a lot of talented players. Talent-wise, BA's secondary is one of the best in South Florida, with Daniel Wright, Raheme Fuller, Michael Nesbitt and Rennard Bozeman. But the Cobras defensive unit got a Man-Sized gift when defensive tackle Daniel Walker (6-foot-5, 270 pounds) came over from Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy.
That's where I think this game will turn in Boyd Anderson's favor. The Cobras defense will come up with enough stops and give their offense the extra possession – or possessions – needed to manufacture a win.
Bald Prediction = Boyd Anderson wins 28-21
Other Games
(2) Plantation American Heritage vs. Stranahan = American Heritage wins by 28
(5) Coral Gables vs. Miami High = Coral Gables wins by 18
(6) Booker T. Washington vs. Keys Gate Charter = Booker T. wins by 30
(7) Flanagan vs. (20) Miramar = Flanagan wins by 8
(8) Cardinal Gibbons vs. Coconut Creek = Cardinal Gibbons wins by 24
(9) McArthur vs. Cooper City = McArthur wins by 17
(10) Edison vs. Hialeah-Miami Lakes = Edison wins by 27
(12) Southwest vs. Belen Jesuit = Southwest wins by 2
(13) Miami Palmetto vs. Homestead = Palmetto wins by 21
(14) Chaminade-Madonna vs. Somerset Academy Silver Palms = Chaminade wins by 14
(16) Piper vs. Monarch = Piper wins by 21
(18) Southridge vs. South Dade = Southridge wins by 4
(21) Columbus vs. Coral Park = Columbus wins by 38
(22) South Broward vs. Nova = South Broward wins by 16
(24) Hallandale vs. Miami Jackson = Hallandale wins by 7
(25) Champagnat vs. Village Academy = Champagnat wins by 14
American vs. Dr. Krop = American wins by 12
North Miami Beach vs. Hialeah = North Miami Beach wins by 16
Ransom Everglades vs. Miami Country Day = Ransom wins by 21
Deerfield Beach vs. Taravella = Deerfield Beach wins by 34
Palm Glades Prep vs. Scheck Hillel = Palm Glades Prep wins by 13
Miami Springs vs. A&T Mourning = Miami Springs wins by 28
North Miami vs. Hialeah Gardens = North Miami wins by 40
Doral Academy vs. Sunset = Doral Academy wins by 37
Westland Hialeah vs. South Miami = South Miami wins by 42
Highlands Christian vs. Palmer Trinity = Palmer Trinity wins by 3
Somerset Academy Pines vs. Belle Glade Glades Central = Glades Central wins by 27
Fort Lauderdale vs. Blanche Ely = Fort Lauderdale wins by 25
Archbishop McCarthy vs. Coral Springs Charter = Archbishop McCarthy wins by 18
Coral Glades vs. Pines Charter = Coral Glades wins by 12
Stoneman Douglas vs. Coral Springs = Douglas wins by 14
Cypress Bay vs. Western = Western wins by 10
Plantation vs. Everglades = Plantation wins by 4
Boynton Beach vs. Northeast = Boynton Beach wins by 14
University School vs. Clewiston (Fl.) = U-School wins by 8
International School of Broward vs. Colquitt County (Ga.) = Colquitt County wins by 21
Coral Reef vs. Ferguson = Ferguson wins by 6
Pine Crest vs. St. Andrews = Pine Crest wins by 20
Coral Shores vs. LaSalle = LaSalle wins by 7
Marathon vs. Florida Christian = Marathon wins by 13
Pinecrest Prep vs. Miami Community Charter = Miami Community Charter wins by 14
Ronald Reagan vs. Barbara Goleman = Reagan wins by 1
Varela vs. Braddock = Varela wins by 13
Everglades Prep vs. Westminster Christian = Westminster Christian wins by 8
