The Coral Gables Cavaliers challenge the Columbus Explorers on Thursday night at Tropical Park in a Class 8A regional quarterfinal. It is the first FHSAA playoff game to be played in South Florida.
It will be a rematch between both schools. The Explorers captured the District 15 title two weeks ago with a 42-26 victory over the Cavaliers.
Coral Gables(4-6) struggled at the beginning of the season as they lost four of their first five games. They bounced back winning three of their last five and defeated Southwest 21-7 last week. The Cavaliers look toward quarterback Tyous Taylor to guide their offense down the field. He can connect passes to wide receivers Alex Bell and Tamaris James. Running back Maurice Jones is expected to get the majority of carries from the backfield.
Columbus(6-4) played their last five games of the 2019 regular season on the road. The 2018 Class 8A state finalist handled the Atlantic Eagles 27-7 in Delray Beach last week. The main emphasis for the Explorers offense will be their rushing attack led by running back Henry Parrish Jr. Wide receivers Xzavier Henderson, Christopher Gilbert, Trynyty Conway, Jahvar McSween and Ken Moore can make catches downfield. Expect quarterback Brandon McDuffey to call the signals for them and they have Fernando Mendoza as a backup.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Nuggets Chop Heat
The Miami Heat fell to the Denver Nuggets 109-89 at Pepsi Center on Tuesday night. It was the first game of a three-game road trip for the Heat.
Denver(5-2) had a 29-28 edge at the end of one quarter and extended it to 58-48 by halftime. Miami(5-2) drifted behind even more after three quarters and were down 89-69.
The Heat got 16 points and seven rebounds from Jimmy Butler. Kelly Olynyk added 13 points and Kendrick Nunn had 11 points. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with a game-high 21 points while Will Barton contributed a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Denver(5-2) had a 29-28 edge at the end of one quarter and extended it to 58-48 by halftime. Miami(5-2) drifted behind even more after three quarters and were down 89-69.
The Heat got 16 points and seven rebounds from Jimmy Butler. Kelly Olynyk added 13 points and Kendrick Nunn had 11 points. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with a game-high 21 points while Will Barton contributed a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Michael Wallace Grizzlies Radio Analyst
Former Miami Heat reporter Michael Wallace has become the radio game analyst for the Memphis Grizzlies. He has worked since 2016 as the Memphis Grizzlies reporter for Grind City Media and the Grizzlies.com website. Wallace was also given the role of studio analyst on Fox Sports Southeast Grizzlies game broadcasts.
Wallace once worked in South Florida. He was the Miami Heat beat writer for the Miami Herald and then joined ESPN as the ESPN Heat Beat reporter. Wallace became an NBA columnist for ESPN when LeBron James left the Heat in 2014. He also joined ESPN Radio in January 2016 as a Saturday afternoon co-host with Mike Golic Jr. and Dave Rothenberg and that lasted several months.
Wallace once worked in South Florida. He was the Miami Heat beat writer for the Miami Herald and then joined ESPN as the ESPN Heat Beat reporter. Wallace became an NBA columnist for ESPN when LeBron James left the Heat in 2014. He also joined ESPN Radio in January 2016 as a Saturday afternoon co-host with Mike Golic Jr. and Dave Rothenberg and that lasted several months.
Monday, November 4, 2019
2019 FHSAA Football Playoff Brackets
The 2019 football playoff brackets were released by the FHSAA on Sunday of all classifications from Class 8A to Class 1A. South Florida high schools were represented in all eight classifications.
The postseason will begin on Thursday. Class 4A thru Class 8A championship games will be held in Daytona Beach from December 11 to December 14. Class 3A, 2A and 1A title games will be at Tallahassee from December 5 to December 7.
Class 8A in Region 3 has #8 Boca Raton make the long trip up I-95 to #1 Vero Beach, who kept their state-record regular season home winning streak intact. #6 Palm Beach Gardens challenges #3 Deerfield Beach in a rematch of the 2005 Class 6A state championship game. Two schools head south into Palm Beach County with #5 Treasure Coast at #4 Santaluces and #7 Centennial at #2 Palm Beach Central.
Three Broward County schools will be a part of Region 4 for the first time since Class 8A was implemented in 2011. Class 8A state finalist #2 Columbus, who defeated Atlantic last week, plays the first playoff game in South Florida on Thursday night as they host #7 Coral Gables at Tropical Park. The venue will also have #8 Taravella versus #1 Miami Palmetto on Friday. Other games includes #6 Miami at #3 Stoneman Douglas and #5 South Dade at #6 Western.
Class 7A in Region 4 has state finalist #1 St. Thomas Aquinas as the top seed since the rankings first came out and they will host #8 South Broward in the first round. #6 Blanche Ely faces #3 Atlantic for the second time in three weeks in another battle between District 13 teams. #5 Plantation visits #4 Hialeah and #7 Fort Lauderdale takes on #2 McArthur.
Two schools from Palm Beach County are part of Region 3. #1 Palm Beach Lakes has the top seed and will be at home against #8 East Lake. #7 Seminole Ridge travels up north to #2 Mitchell.
Just two local schools qualified for the Class 6A bracket in Region 4. Undefeated #2 Dillard moved to the second seed with a win over Blanche Ely in the Soul Bowl and will host #7 Lely. #4 Miami Central will take on #5 Dunbar.
The top two seeds in Class 5A of Region 4 have been shuffling for the top spot over the last couple of weeks. It ended as #1 American Heritage facing #8 Key West while two-time defending Class 6A state champion #2 Miami Northwestern hosting #7 Stranahan. Other games includes #6 Killian at #3 Jensen Beach and #5 North Miami Beach at #4 Cypress Lake.
Class 1A up to Class 4A will have the same playoff format as last year. The two top seeds will get byes in the first round and the following four seeds will face each other in the regional quarterfinals.
Class 4A in Region 4 maybe the most competitive bracket in South Florida where any team has a good chance to end up being the regional champion. #1 Gulliver Prep and two-time defending Region 4 champion #2 University School picked up first-round byes. Miami rivals #4 Booker T. Washington challenges #5 Carol City at Traz Powell Stadium and defending Class 5A state champion #3 Cardinal Gibbons hosts #6 Monsignor Pace in Fort Lauderdale at The Furnace.
Region 3 has #2 American Heritage getting a first-round bye and #5 Clewiston traveling to #4 Lake Placid. The biggest shock is that Glades Central did not qualify based on forfeiting several games due to an ineligible player.
Class 3A in Region 4 is led by #1 Calvary Christian followed by two-time defending Class 3A state champion #2 Chaminade-Madonna. #6 St. Andrew's will make their first FHSAA playoff appearance in over four decades and face #3 Somerset Silver Palms. #6 Edison will visit #3 Westminster Christian.
Region 3 is represented by two Palm Beach County schools. #5 Benjamin heads south to play #4 Cardinal Newman in West Palm Beach.
Two Dade County schools will get first-round byes in Region 4 for Class 2A. Champagnat Catholic has the top seed while Westminster Academy took the second seed. #5 Miami Christian goes to #4 Neumann.
Pahokee was placed as the #2 seed for Class 1A in Region 4 and will have a first-round bye. The Blue Devils rocketed up from sixth to second in the past two weeks thanks to victories over Clewiston in the Sugar Bowl and Glades Central in the Muck Bowl.
The postseason will begin on Thursday. Class 4A thru Class 8A championship games will be held in Daytona Beach from December 11 to December 14. Class 3A, 2A and 1A title games will be at Tallahassee from December 5 to December 7.
Class 8A in Region 3 has #8 Boca Raton make the long trip up I-95 to #1 Vero Beach, who kept their state-record regular season home winning streak intact. #6 Palm Beach Gardens challenges #3 Deerfield Beach in a rematch of the 2005 Class 6A state championship game. Two schools head south into Palm Beach County with #5 Treasure Coast at #4 Santaluces and #7 Centennial at #2 Palm Beach Central.
Three Broward County schools will be a part of Region 4 for the first time since Class 8A was implemented in 2011. Class 8A state finalist #2 Columbus, who defeated Atlantic last week, plays the first playoff game in South Florida on Thursday night as they host #7 Coral Gables at Tropical Park. The venue will also have #8 Taravella versus #1 Miami Palmetto on Friday. Other games includes #6 Miami at #3 Stoneman Douglas and #5 South Dade at #6 Western.
Class 7A in Region 4 has state finalist #1 St. Thomas Aquinas as the top seed since the rankings first came out and they will host #8 South Broward in the first round. #6 Blanche Ely faces #3 Atlantic for the second time in three weeks in another battle between District 13 teams. #5 Plantation visits #4 Hialeah and #7 Fort Lauderdale takes on #2 McArthur.
Two schools from Palm Beach County are part of Region 3. #1 Palm Beach Lakes has the top seed and will be at home against #8 East Lake. #7 Seminole Ridge travels up north to #2 Mitchell.
Just two local schools qualified for the Class 6A bracket in Region 4. Undefeated #2 Dillard moved to the second seed with a win over Blanche Ely in the Soul Bowl and will host #7 Lely. #4 Miami Central will take on #5 Dunbar.
The top two seeds in Class 5A of Region 4 have been shuffling for the top spot over the last couple of weeks. It ended as #1 American Heritage facing #8 Key West while two-time defending Class 6A state champion #2 Miami Northwestern hosting #7 Stranahan. Other games includes #6 Killian at #3 Jensen Beach and #5 North Miami Beach at #4 Cypress Lake.
Class 1A up to Class 4A will have the same playoff format as last year. The two top seeds will get byes in the first round and the following four seeds will face each other in the regional quarterfinals.
Class 4A in Region 4 maybe the most competitive bracket in South Florida where any team has a good chance to end up being the regional champion. #1 Gulliver Prep and two-time defending Region 4 champion #2 University School picked up first-round byes. Miami rivals #4 Booker T. Washington challenges #5 Carol City at Traz Powell Stadium and defending Class 5A state champion #3 Cardinal Gibbons hosts #6 Monsignor Pace in Fort Lauderdale at The Furnace.
Region 3 has #2 American Heritage getting a first-round bye and #5 Clewiston traveling to #4 Lake Placid. The biggest shock is that Glades Central did not qualify based on forfeiting several games due to an ineligible player.
Class 3A in Region 4 is led by #1 Calvary Christian followed by two-time defending Class 3A state champion #2 Chaminade-Madonna. #6 St. Andrew's will make their first FHSAA playoff appearance in over four decades and face #3 Somerset Silver Palms. #6 Edison will visit #3 Westminster Christian.
Region 3 is represented by two Palm Beach County schools. #5 Benjamin heads south to play #4 Cardinal Newman in West Palm Beach.
Two Dade County schools will get first-round byes in Region 4 for Class 2A. Champagnat Catholic has the top seed while Westminster Academy took the second seed. #5 Miami Christian goes to #4 Neumann.
Pahokee was placed as the #2 seed for Class 1A in Region 4 and will have a first-round bye. The Blue Devils rocketed up from sixth to second in the past two weeks thanks to victories over Clewiston in the Sugar Bowl and Glades Central in the Muck Bowl.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Heat Stomps Rockets
The Miami Heat hammered the Houston Rockets 129-100 at American Airlines Arena on Sunday night. The Heat now have the second best record in the Eastern Conference.
Miami(5-1) blasted out to a 46-14 lead after one quarter and were way ahead 71-46 at halftime. Houston(3-3) was unable to make up any ground and trailed 99-71 at the end of three quarters.
Duncan Robinson had a team-high 23 points and Meyers Leonard added 21 points for the Heat. Jimmy Butler put together 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. James Harden led the Rockets with a game-high 29 points while Russell Westbrook added 10 points.
Miami(5-1) blasted out to a 46-14 lead after one quarter and were way ahead 71-46 at halftime. Houston(3-3) was unable to make up any ground and trailed 99-71 at the end of three quarters.
Duncan Robinson had a team-high 23 points and Meyers Leonard added 21 points for the Heat. Jimmy Butler put together 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. James Harden led the Rockets with a game-high 29 points while Russell Westbrook added 10 points.
Dolphins Hold Off Jets
The Miami Dolphins picked up their first victory of the 2019 season as they beat the New York Jets 26-18 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. Both teams are now tied for last in the AFC East Division.
New York(1-7) would get their only lead in the contest at 9:37 of the first quarter. Quarterback Sam Darnold connected a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jamison Crowder.
The second quarter was dominated by Miami(1-7). Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Preston Williams at the 14:48 mark.
Fitzpatrick followed that on their drive with a 17-yard strike to wide receiver DeVante Parker at 6:11. The Fins make it 21-7 with 1:51 left in the second. Williams caught a five-yard pass from Fitzpatrick.
The Jets compiled some points near the end of the first half. Fitzpatrick was sacked in the end zone for a safety with 47 seconds remaining. On the next New York possession, Sam Ficken kicked a 52-yard field goal with two seconds to go and they trailed 21-12.
Both teams exchanged field goals during the third quarter. Ficken booted one from 40 yards at 6:46 and Jason Sanders nailed one from 26 yards for Miami with one minute left.
In the fourth quarter, the Dolphins added a safety at the 6:29 mark as they sacked Darnold for a 26-15 lead. The Jets fell short after a Ficken 29-yard field goal with 15 seconds left.
New York(1-7) would get their only lead in the contest at 9:37 of the first quarter. Quarterback Sam Darnold connected a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jamison Crowder.
The second quarter was dominated by Miami(1-7). Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Preston Williams at the 14:48 mark.
Fitzpatrick followed that on their drive with a 17-yard strike to wide receiver DeVante Parker at 6:11. The Fins make it 21-7 with 1:51 left in the second. Williams caught a five-yard pass from Fitzpatrick.
The Jets compiled some points near the end of the first half. Fitzpatrick was sacked in the end zone for a safety with 47 seconds remaining. On the next New York possession, Sam Ficken kicked a 52-yard field goal with two seconds to go and they trailed 21-12.
Both teams exchanged field goals during the third quarter. Ficken booted one from 40 yards at 6:46 and Jason Sanders nailed one from 26 yards for Miami with one minute left.
In the fourth quarter, the Dolphins added a safety at the 6:29 mark as they sacked Darnold for a 26-15 lead. The Jets fell short after a Ficken 29-yard field goal with 15 seconds left.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Dillard Slams Blanche Ely In Soul Bowl
The Dillard Panthers pounded the Blanche Ely 60-14 in the Soul Bowl at Richard L. Williams Stadium in Pompano Beach on Saturday night. The Panthers have outscored the Tigers in the Broward County rivalry game 102-20 during the last two meetings.
Dillard(10-0) won the Soul Bowl for the third straight year. Blanche Ely(7-3) had been victorious four consecutive seasons prior to that.
Dillard(10-0) won the Soul Bowl for the third straight year. Blanche Ely(7-3) had been victorious four consecutive seasons prior to that.
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