MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) – Hundreds of students at Carol City High School in Miami Gardens held a massive walk out Thursday to protest the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and the lack of an arrest in the case.

Trayvon, who was a junior at Michael Krop Senior High in Miami, attended Carol City High during his freshman and sophomore years.

At around 12:30 p.m., the Carol City High students walked out of the school, at 3422 NW 187th Street.

CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald reported that talk of the impromptu protest started about noon on Twitter, and quickly spread to Miami Northwestern high school, several miles south.

Drivers in the area were stunned as hundreds of students filled the streets and sidewalks. The walk out brought traffic to a standstill until the teenagers passed.

Students chanted “Justice for Trayvon! Justice for Trayvon!” as they marched down the streets of Miami Gardens.

According to Miami Gardens police, the Carol City High School’s principal sanctioned an on-campus peaceful demonstration to take place on the school field. However, some of the students took it upon themselves to leave campus.

“And everyone protest, but the kids took it upon themselves to keep going,” said one student.

“Yeah everyone splattered everywhere,” another student added.

GALLERY: S. Fla. Students March For Trayvon

The mayor of Miami Gardens Shirley Gibson watched it unfold on T.V.

“All I saw was all of these children running through the streets, through cars and I was just terrified,” she said.

The students walked for dozens of blocks and ended up at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreation Complex at 300 NW 199^th Street.  Miami-Dade Schools spokesman John Schuster said buses were sent to bring the kids back to school.

Police said they ensured the safety of the students and were not taking any police action.

Schuster said Carol City High’s principal JaMarv Dunn spoke with Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon’s mother, who asked that students not walk out in protest.  Instead, she would like them to sign petitions, take part in organized rallies and pray.

Trayvon, who lived in Miami Gardens, was killed Feb. 26th by a neighborhood watch volunteer while walking through a Sanford gated community, returning from a candy run to a 7-Eleven. The volunteer, George Zimmerman, 28, said he acted in self-defense after Martin attacked him.

The fact that Zimmerman has not been arrested has set off a firestorm of criticism.

Martin’s parents were meeting Thursday with U.S. Justice Department officials, hours before thousands of protesters were expected for a rally led by civil rights activist Al Sharpton in Sanford.

Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton were to discuss the police investigation into the shooting death of their son. The State Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case, which will be presented to a grand jury next month. However, the Justice Department earlier this week agreed to open a federal civil rights probe.

Zimmerman has claimed self-defense, and Sanford Police Department officials say there is no evidence that contradicts Zimmerman’s claim. Some neighbors in the gated community where Martin was shot have praised Zimmerman for taking a stand against crime in the neighborhood.

MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4) – The parents of an 18-year-old football player who was gunned down just days before he was planning to leave for college are speaking out and asking for the public’s help in solving a senseless murder.

“Yes, I need some answers. That’s it. I need some,” said a grieving Tiffany Davis in an exclusive interview with CBS4’s Peter D’Oench.

Her son, Paul Royal, was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon while sitting in a car outside a home on N.W. 28^th Court at N.W. 201^st St. in Miami Gardens, according to Miami Gardens Police.

“He meant so much to me,” said Tiffany Davis. “He meant the world to me. He was my first born.”

“It’s like he was snatched away from us,” said Royal’s father, Damion Davis. “He didn’t deserve this. Words can not express our loss. I mean we are still asking ourselves why.”

Royal, who was known as “P.J.,” had played outside and middle linebacker for Carol City High School.

He was packing to leave on Saturday for Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, where he had a full scholarship.

“His main thing was his friends and his teammates,” said his father. “He just stayed home playing games. He never ran the streets. It’s just senseless, you know, for someone to just snatch his life so soon.”

Love ones remember his smile, while clutching a trophy and seen in a photo from The Miami Herald. The newspaper mentioned Royal as a player who “grabbed the spotlight because of his ability to read offenses and make plays.”

“Of course I feel like it’s senseless,” said his cousin, Zakeya Fowler. “I feel like I don’t understand. He was a good kid. He never got into trouble. He didn’t have a record and he was a peace maker.”

“If anybody knows who did it, you know, if you have seen anything, the best thing to do now is to call. It won’t being him back but it will help us cope with this and we will know that justice has been served.”

It’s what everyone in Royal’s close-knit family wants.

“If anybody has seen anything, just please, contact the police,” said Tiffany Davis. “To help us find that person. That was my baby.”

Miami Gardens Police are not sure why Royal was murdered. They are looking for leads in this case. So far, they do not have a motive or a description of the gunman.

The shooting happened around the same time that a 26-year-old mother was shot and killed outside a home at N.W. 210^th Terrace and N.W. 34^th Place. Police said the two crimes were not related.

But there has been a rash of fatal shootings in Miami Gardens in the past month. And CBS4 has learned this crime spree has prompted a series of meetings involving city officials and top officers from the Police Department.

If you can help Miami Gardens Police with Paul Royal’s case, call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).

CAROL CITY (CBSMiami) – Carol City High School was temporarily put on lockdown after a man, who was running from police, entered the school building.

A Miami-Dade police officer had reportedly attempted to stop the person, who was on a moped. Information coming into CBSMiami.com indicated that the man jumped off the moped, ran and was pursued on foot.

After running into the high school, located in the 18300 block of NW 32nd Avenue, school employees apprehended the person and held him until police arrived.

The officer who jumped a fence pursuing the man suffered minor injuries to his hand.

The suspect faces several charges, including fleeing and eluding, trespassing.

His age and ID have not been released.

MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) – Police are investigating a shooting that took place near Carol City High School.

According to officers, shots were fired.  A person was being held at a gas station located at 32 Avenue and NW 183 Street around 2:30 p.m.

Miami Gardens police have not determined what led to the shooting.

A victim has not been located, police said.

It is not clear if the person being held at the gas station is involved.

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MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) – Two teenagers have been shot in the area surrounding Carol City High School in Miami Gardens.

The incident took place near 3301 NW 183rd street where according to the Miami Dade Fire Department, two teenagers were shot in an incident that took place off of school grounds.

CLICK HERE To Watch Oralia Ortega’s Report 

According to Miami Dade Schools, the victims were found on campus, on the north side of the high school, between 3:30 and 4 p.m.

Air rescue was on scene at the high school and lifted the victims to an area hospital.

Two airlifted in Miami Gardens shooting. (Source: CBS4)

Fire rescue airlifts two people shot near a Miami Gardens school. (Source: CBS4)

Miami Gardens Police were seen at a house that is located one block away from the school, but it is unknown exactly where the shooting took place or if the shooter is in custody.

Night school and after school activities have been cancelled.

RELATED CONTENT:

• Family Thankful Police Located Alleged Market Attacker
• FBI Searching For SunTrust & BB&T Bank Robbers
• Lights, Camera, Action: Local Leaders Break Ground On Miami Film Studio
• Miami Beach Police Caution MacArthur Causeway Drivers Of Protest
• Protesters March For Injustice In West Palm Beach

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – As parents send their kids back to school and the weather changes from “surface of the sun” hot to “three inches away from the surface of the sun” hot, the 2015 high school football season is here.

While some may prefer the pro game and others clamor for the collegiate experience, keep in mind that Miami-Dade and Broward counties lead – by a large margin – for the areas in the United States that produce professional football players.

So getting in on the ground level, watching the stars of tomorrow play as high school kids on Friday nights will on further connect you to them as they move on to Saturday’s and potentially Sunday’s.

South Florida High School Sports (www.SFHS.CBSLocal.com) has set a new standard for covering high school athletics – especially football. And each week, SFHSSports will cover all the best games and report the best stories from around South Florida.

But for those who still want to dip their toe in the water before diving in head first – here’s your weekly cheat sheet to get you caught up to speed on week one.

The Must-see Game
Miami Booker T. Washington vs. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas, 8pm kickoff

This is a major showdown.

Two of the premier high school football programs in South Florida, taking on each other in a nationally televised (ESPN) game.

Booker T. Washington is a three-time defending Class 4A state champion, riding a Miami-Dade County record 41-game winning streak into the 2015 season.

The program, which produced University of Miami players RB Mark Walton, DL Chad Thomas and LB Demetrius Jackson, is now under the direction of Earl Tillman, who took over once Tim Harris Jr. became an assistant on Florida International University’s coaching staff.

St. Thomas Aquinas has a new coach too.

Roger Harriott now leads the Raiders after Rocco Casullo, who led Aquinas to two state titles during his tenure, resigned. Harriott came in with much fanfare though; as he’s an Aquinas alum, has a state championship on his resume (2012, Davie University School) and has twice served on college coaching staffs – Syracuse and Florida Atlantic University.

Both teams are loaded with talent.

St. Thomas has a pair of national recruits in defensive end Nick Bosa, the brother of Ohio State All-American defensive lineman Joey Bosa, and wide receiver Sam Bruce – an University of Miami commit that is also the nephew of former NFL receiver Isaac Bruce.

Also, former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem all have sons on the Raiders roster. Samuel Jr. followed in his dad’s footsteps and is a defensive back, Irvin Jr. is a tight end and Kedonis Haslem plays on St. Thomas’ offensive line.

Booker T. Washington is led by a young core. Sophomore linebacker Jaquan Beaver is already garnering attention from all of the nation’s major programs and junior defensive back Dedrick Mackey is a top-50 player in South Florida.

Dade County Special
Coral Gables vs. Miami Carol City
Thursday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7pm kickoff

Two history-rich programs take to the “Mecca” of high school football – Traz Powell Stadium for a very intriguing early season matchup.

The Cavaliers have a very strong defense which is led by its linebackers. Shocking that the school that produced Jonathan Vilma and Denzel Perryman once again has a strong linebacker – they actually have three in Gee Stanley, Robert Brown and Shakur Cooper.

Carol City is all about offense. Chiefs quarterback Stephen “Buckshot” Calvert – yes, Buckshot – is a Liberty University commit and is one of South Florida’s top signal callers.

Broward County Special
Parkland Douglas vs. Pembroke Pines Flanagan
Friday at Flanagan High School, 7pm kickoff

An early season tilt between two teams both out look to prove something this season.

Douglas, a team that won seven games in 2014 but still didn’t make the playoffs, wants to show that they are a team on the rise as it enters year three-under head coach Willis “Peanut” May.

Flanagan is a nationally ranked squad that is big on talent and is coached by former NFL safety and Super Bowl champion Devin Bush. Bush’s son, Devin Jr., is a one of the state’s best linebackers and defensive back/quarterback Stanford Samuels III, the son of former FSU standout Stanford Samuels, is the No. 1 rated player in South Florida in the class of 2017 according to Larry Blustein and they lead the “Dirty Bird” defense – a very stingy group.

Did You Know?
South Florida enters the 2015 season with four teams looking to defend state championships.

Miami Central (three-time), Miami Booker T. Washington (three-time) and Plantation American Heritage (two-time) are multiple winners and St. Thomas Aquinas is looking for a second straight crown.

Also, South Florida has three teams ranked nationally – Central (No. 2 consensus) Aquinas (No. 8) and Pembroke Pines Flanagan (No. 9).

For more information, including video highlights, visit www.SFHS.CBSLocal.com

BY J.T. WILCOX | Senior Writer

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – As the high school football season rolls on, there’s been a lot to happen already.

Some stuff happened in prime time on national television for everyone to see, some things took place in smaller stadiums around South Florida and were witnessed by a lucky, and some things happened right in front of your eyes and you didn’t even know it.

And since it’s pretty much at the halfway mark, I figured I’d bring everyone up to speed on some of the big storylines.

St. Thomas Aquinas is still No. 1.
The Raiders earned a hard-fought 36-28 win over Hallandale during week five, further solidifying their status as one of the top teams in the country.

Columbus’ Marlin Brooks is out for the season.
Christopher Columbus junior defensive back Marlin Brooks sustained a neck injury during the Explorers’ 21-7 week five victory over rival Belen Jesuit. Brooks, who has an offer from Florida Atlantic University, had successful surgery to repair two broken vertebrae and is no longer in intensive care. He will miss the remainder of the 2015 season.

American Heritage’s Adam Reed has become a rock star.
The 4-foot, senior running back for nationally-rated American Heritage that has made headlines for his size – or lack thereof – has seen action in two games for the Patriots. He even recorded a 6-yard gain in the waning seconds of American Heritage’s win over Coconut Creek.

Carol City replaced its athletic director.
SFHSSports learned this week that Carol City replaced Harold Barnwell as athletic director. Former Miami Norland band director Anthony Simon is the new Chiefs AD.

Two teams that were winless in 2014 have completely turned it around in 2015.
McArthur and Boyd Anderson are two teams that went winless during the 2014 season. Both teams hired new head coaches – Laron Culpepper and Eddie Brown respectively – and as of this week, both teams were in the latest SFHSSports Top 20 Rankings.

Booker T. has a pair of youngsters that are stars in the making.
Freshman quarterback Daniel Richardson has stepped off the optimist fields and is making a big splash as the Tornadoes starting quarterback. He’s flashed serious playmaking ability and will be one of the top players in South Florida for years to come. And sophomore linebacker Jaquan Beaver is a terror coming off the edge and is already in the upper echelon of defensive players in Miami-Dade County.

Dade County Special
Carol City Chiefs vs. Central Rockets
Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7pm

This is a major matchup that can rival any other high school football game in the country in terms of the amount of talented players that can and will go on to play big-time college football.

The stakes are high because it’s a district game and, so far, you could make a case that these are the two best teams in the group right now.

Central comes in fresh off a 35-28 victory over rival Booker T. Washington. Even after giving up the most points it has since returning from its week one game against Maryland DeMatha, the Rockets defense remains one of the best units in the country.

Specifically the front seven, led by defensive linemen Keir Thomas and Eric Mitchell along with linebacker Donovan Thompson, is as good as you’re going to find.

Carol City enters as winners of four straight and owners of Dade County’s top overall offenses. Freshman running back Nayquan Wright is not only contributing, but he’s already showing the ability to carry the load and balance out a Chiefs passing attack that features four division-I caliber receivers.

The coaching matchup is intriguing too.

Central’s Roland Smith is in elite coaching club as one of only two head coaches in Miami-Dade County history to win state titles at two different schools. Smith led Northwestern to a title in 2006 and won titles with Central in 2013 and 2014. Billy Rolle is the other, winning titles at Miami Killian and Northwestern.

Carol City’s Aubrey Hill, a Chiefs alum, has brought the experience he gained coaching at the college level and has restored the “Chief Pride” to a program that has its share of famous football alums.

It’s the SFHSSports Game of the Week for good reason.

Broward County Special
Boyd Anderson Cobras vs. Dillard Panthers
Thursday at Dillard High School, 7pm

I know a lot of people will be parked in front of their televisions to watch the Hurricanes take on Cincinnati or the Michael Vick-led Pittsburgh Steelers face rival Baltimore on this night, but put that DVR to use and get out of the house to take in this very good high school game.

Both of these community schools are rich in football tradition and 2015 has been good to both of these teams so far. And the game is sure to be intense throughout, as this is a district game with potentially large playoff implications.

Boyd Anderson failed to earn a victory all of last season. But the Cobras hired a new head coach in Eddie “Rabbit” Brown and he’s already done wonders for the program.

Brown himself has quite the resume. He played at Miami Central before taking his talents to Louisiana Tech and eventually the Arena Football League, where he was voted as the “Best Player In AFL History” in 2006.

Also, Brown is the father of Steelers All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown.

The Cobras have a strong defense led by linebacker Ricky Lewis, who coach Brown has compared to Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David – whom Brown coached at Fort Scott Community College before he went on to star at Nebraska.

Also, dual-threat quarterback Shabazz Telfort makes the Cobras’ offense go – as he’s accounted for 10 total touchdowns this season.

Dillard has a solid team. Offensively it’s all about the aerial attack. Quarterback Anthony “Mo” Hasan, who transferred to the school before the start of the season, has quickly assimilated and become the trigger man for Dillard’s offense.

Defensively, Dillard relies on a pair of players that have the size to match their skill in 6-foot-2, 240-pound linebacker Kenneth Ruff (a Virginia commit) and 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman Aaron Thompson – who holds offers from Clemson and LSU.

For more information on high school sports in South Florida, visit www.SFHighSchoolSports.com

By J.T. Wilcox | Staff Writer

The playoffs are in sight.

Well, for high school football.

It’s the point of the season where teams can start earning playoff spots or officially become eliminated from contention.

Because of that, all the games over the finally three weeks of the regular season will have a different feel to them – one way or the other; super competitive or a little “meh” because the teams don’t have much left to play for.

Still, it is an exciting time.

South Florida High School Sports has created a page that will allow everyone to follow along through the playoff race. It’s a standings page that shows all of the district records and overall records for every team in South Florida – including the independent teams.

You can find it here.

Also, SFHSSports has a weekly radio show on Miami Sports Radio 560 WQAM. Every week, Larry Blustein and I talk about high school sports along with interviewing some of the area’s top coaches and players and college coaches and players.

Now’s a great time to start tuning into the show because for the next month, the SFHSSports Radio show will open up the phone lines and take calls from fans.

Jump in there and talk high school sports.

And why not? Being a Miami football otherwise is pretty rough right now.

Dade County Special
Northwestern Bulls vs. Central Rockets
Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7pm

The last time Northwestern defeated Central was the 2009 regular season.

For perspective, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was a junior for the Bulls and Oakland Raiders rookie receiver Amari Cooper was a sophomore who played sparingly.

Central defeated the Northwestern in the playoffs of that same season and that sparked a run of eight straight wins over six years.

But this is a rivalry renewed.

The Rockets aren’t as strong as they were believed to be before the start of the 2015 season and the Bulls are a bit ahead of where most thought they’d be at the start of year.

This marks the first year in a while that Northwestern has a legitimate chance to knock off Central.

The chink in the Rockets’ armor is its offense. It completely disappeared in the loss to Carol City – no offensive touchdowns – and has shown a tendency to stall with little recourse to turn things around.

Northwestern’s defense has looked solid this season in year one under head coach Max Edwards, who was Central’s defensive coordinator from 2010 to 2014.

The Bulls have won two straight games – including a 23-17 win over Booker T. Washington – and are playing with a new confidence since super sophomore quarterback Chatarius “Tutu’ Atwell has returned from injury.

A big factor in this game is that Central is playing for its playoff life. If the Rockets were to fall in this game, it would “essentially” be eliminated from playoff contention as it would need lots of help just to potentially play in a district-tiebreaker.

It’ll be interesting to see how Edwards fares against the defense that he built for the Rockets and if Central’s offense will be able to rise to the occasion against a talented Bulls defense.

Extra Dade County Special
Carol City Chiefs vs. Norland Vikings
Friday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7:30pm

It’s the Miami Gardens Bowl.

No, seriously – that’s what this game is called.

These two schools are separated by less than four miles and the rivalry between the two is actually quite spirited.

Carol City has had a meteoric rise this season; winners of six straight games and undefeated in district play, the Chiefs are in a very good place right now.

Head coach Aubrey Hill has turned Carol City into more than a football team. He’s made it a complete program, one that gets the best from its players while also exciting the fans the community at-large.

It’s not surprising considering the experience Hill gained as an assistant at the college level before returning to coach his alma mater.

Norland comes into this game riding a rough three-game losing streak. Although, those three opponents – South Dade, Central and Plantation American Heritage – are all ranked in the top 10 of the latest SFHSSports Top 20 Poll; make of that what you will.

Also, the Vikings have had a significant amount of time off since their last game. 20 days to be exact. So Norland should be fully healthy and it should be uber-prepared for this game.

Expect Vikes defensive coordinator Luther Campbell to put his defense in attack mode from the onset – especially turning loose hard-hitting linebacker Emmett Rice.

Norland’s struggle has been its offense. The Vikings scored an average of nine points per game in their three losses, so it’ll be up to head coach and offensive play caller Daryle Heidelburg to find a way for his team to manufacture some points.

Carol City hopes to have its starting quarterback, Stephen “Buckshot” Calvert, back under center after he missed the past two games with a right shoulder strain.

Also, the next great running back to come from Miami-Dade County will be on display in this game. Carol City freshman Nayquan Wright (5-foot-10, 190 pounds) leads the team with 765 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 77 carries.

For more information on and extensive coverage of high school sports in South Florida, visit www.SFHighSchoolSports.com

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Police have arrested three teenagers after gunshots were fired during a high school football game in Northwest Miami Friday night.

The gunshots sent students, parents and players running for cover at the game between Miami Central and Carol City.

“Everyone was screaming in the field,” described Jon Drummond, who watched from the bleachers.   “Especially the parents. They was concerned about their kids. When you kinda figure ‘hey that’s a gunshot’ after that everything kinda chaos.”

As Drummond hit the ground for safety he tweeted a picture of the football players doing the same, all of them laying down across field and sidelines.

“It was real crazy ’cause the first thing you think is you don’t want any tragedy to happen,” Drummond told CBS4 Reporter Donna Rapado.

Police arrested 18-year old Larico Walker, already a felon.  They also arrested 18-year old Kaion Lynch and 19-year old Mark Trimble.

The teens are charged with several gun-related crimes.

Drummond says most people at the Traz Powell Stadium were aware of ongoing violence among teens in Miami-Dade recently, often deadly violence.

Just this Wednesday Miami Northwestern High freshman Johnny Lubin was shot and killed walking home from school.

Police said Lubin was an innocent bystander.  He is the fourth Northwestern student killed since May.

And just as the game started at Traz Powell Friday, police said two guys in hoodies walked past a home in northwest Miami-Dade and shot at 15-year old Shania Lowry and her 16-year old friend.  Both survived their gunshot wounds.

Miami-Dade Schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho turned to social media yet again Friday night, and wrote on Twitter, “Sadly and unacceptably, community violence continues to impact Miami’s youth.  Solutions require us to remove blinders and sharpen vision.”

“You don’t value yourself, value your own life, value relationships, then you can end someone else’s life that quick,” Drummond, a youth football coach, pointed out.

He stressed adults must help children envision a positive future, assuring them they can reach their dreams.

“Because if you don’t instill it then you’re gonna get these 14, 15 year old killers because they don’t value life. We have to help them value life and let them know hey once you pull this trigger that life is gone.”

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If there is an answer to why South Florida high school football is a cut above the rest in the country, it may come as soon as this Friday and Saturday.

As the annual Austin 34 South Florida Officiating Camp gets going at Tamiami Park, the high school football world will focus on this second week of spring event that would be just a scrimmage anywhere else in the nation, but not here.

Not with all the talent that will be on display.

With high school and college fan websites and local media of all kinds flocking to the two-day event, there will be more written, spoken and talked about what goes on during these full contact scrimmages is designed to train referees for high school, college and NFL positions.

Remember, it’s only a scrimmage.

With teams coming from as far away as West Palm Beach, where Oxbridge will head south, to several local football programs – everyone wants to get a sneak peak of what everyone will look like when the fall arrives.

As 7-on-7 events have more than filled their purpose, fans and coaches want to see the real football. The game where everything is on the line. That’s why events like this weekend are more than embraced, especially at a time when the NCAA continues to make it harder for these athletes to receive college exposure – and earn one of those coveted scholarships.

From a fan standpoint, this is a weekend where you get the opportunity to see for yourself what is coming back – and of course – what programs need to work on before the start of the season. While many athletes are still involved in track, we will not see those individuals this weekend. But there will be a lot of talent – and yes – those great spring showdowns.

The Friday matchups will see new head coach Matt Dubuc of Cardinal Gibbons make his debut against the always competitive and athletic Coral Gables. Hialeah may be the early favorite to win a competitive district, and will square off with a much improved Palmetto team.

If fans of south Florida want to see a real good matchup of talent, the Christopher Columbus and Booker T. Washington scrimmage promises to be exciting as Tim “Ice” Harris returns to the sideline for the four-time defending Class 4A state champion Tornadoes. The Explorers always have enough young talent that gets a good look – like last year’s scrimmage with powerful Hallandale. Columbus will also play Dillard and Plantation as well.

Friday will also see the return of head coach Eddie “Rabbit” Brown to Miami-Dade County, as his Boyd Anderson squad will play South Dade and Dr. Krop.

Belen Jesuit and veteran head coach Rich Stuart will also be involved in a few very good scrimmages. The Wolverines, who have the honor of being invited to play in Ireland in September, will play Ronald Reagan, McArthur and Oxbridge.

Javi Valdes and his new look Killian Cougars will also show what this program has with games against Miami High and Dillard. This is a team that will really start to make a huge impact this season.

Saturday also promises to be very entertaining – as Oxbridge, state power Carol City, the always tough Miramar Patriots, Stranahan, International School of Broward and the much-anticipated debut of Jackson head coach Lakatriona Brunson.

AUSTIN 34 CAMP
The Austin Officiating Group, headed by former NFL official Gerald Austin, hosts officiating camps that teach persons interested in being football referees, learning techniques and mechanics of seven-man crews that are in collegiate and professional football games.

Players and fans may not realize but officiating a game takes on the same dynamics which players deal with during game situations on their respective teams (chemistry, communication, execution, adjustment). Officials must communicate with each other during the heightened pace of a game to ensure that all areas are supervised from the coin toss to the extra point tries. There are from four-man to seven-man crews–which was the target of the officiating camp.

This year, NFL instructors scheduled to attend include Jerry Markbreit (NFL Referee Trainer), David Wyant (NFL Recruiting Coordinator), Neely Dunn (NFL Supervisor of Officials), Roy Ellison (NFL Umpire), Ruben Fowler (NFL Umpire), Steve Zimmer (NFL Field Judge), and Jim Mello – (NFL Head Linesman).

Colleges supervisors expected to be at the clinic include Gerald Austin (Conference USA), Jim Blackwood (Western Athletic Conference), Jim Jackson (Ohio Valley Conference), Terry McAuley (American Athletic Conference), Harold Mitchell (Southwest Athletic Conference) and (Tom Symonette – Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

THE SCHEDULE

FRIDAY
3:30pm
Cardinal Gibbons vs. Coral Gables
Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy vs. Hialeah Gardens
Keys Gate Charter vs. North Miami
Hialeah vs. Palmetto
Christopher Columbus vs. Booker T. Washington

5:15pm
Boyd Anderson vs. South Dade
Christopher Columbus vs. Dillard
Belen Jesuit vs. Ronald Reagan
Ferguson vs. Coral Park
Hialeah-Miami Lakes vs. Braddock
Killian vs. Miami High

7pm
Coconut Creek vs. Homestead
Boyd Anderson vs. Dr. Krop
Miami Springs vs. Archbishop McCarthy
Killian vs. Dillard
South Miami vs. Mourning
Braddock vs. Ronald Reagan

SATURDAY
9am
Miramar vs. Oxbridge
Carol City vs. Stranahan
International School of Broward vs. Goleman
Deerfield Beach vs. Jackson
Belen Jesuit vs. McArthur
Plantation vs. Monarch

11am
Belen Jesuit vs. Oxbridge
Piper vs. Jackson
Western vs. Monarch
Carol City vs. Fort Lauderdale
Miramar vs. Stranahan
Deerfield Beach vs. Southridge

The SFHSSports Tour Bus makes a stop in Miami Gardens to visit with the Carol City Chiefs, their head coach Aubrey Hill and new defensive coordinator Damon Cogdell.

Oxbridge Academy travels down from Palm Beach to take on Miami-Dade power Carol City during the second day of the Austin 34 Referee Clinic

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Spring time Bald Predictions?

No. That’s unheard of.

Not anymore it’s not.

Because football does not sleep in South Florida, we’ve decided to crank up the BP’s for this feverish two-week period that is high school spring football.

I, like most of everyone else, really enjoy spring football. From the time the season ended in December and we raced to National Signing Day in February, all the football die-hards had to live off of were camps, combines and a couple of 7-on-7’s.

Those offseason events are good and serve a purpose in the grand scheme of things, but give me real football – with the pads on, with the offensive and defensive lines on the field and under the stadium lights.

While this time of year gives us some real football, it should be kept in mind that it is still the spring. The regular season is still another three months away; plenty of things can – and will – change – for better or worse – and no one can win or lose a state championship in May.

What does happen is: the players get a chance to see if the ladder drills they’ve been videoing themselves doing actually help them during a game, the fans can get enough to chew on for the next few months – getting a small glimpse of what their favorite program could look like in the fall and coaches get game film to dissect so they can know which direction they need to go in before August gets here.

Everybody wins.

Plus, the added bonus – just about every college in the country with a football team has one or more assistant coaches here watching kids and handing out scholarship offers.

Because more and more teams are electing to go the intrasquad route when it comes to a spring game, the slate of games won’t look as large. But there’s still a nice variety pack of games and the competition level is sure to be high.

14 games picked this week with three games in the Bald Predictions Spotlight.

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Dillard Panthers vs. Miramar Patriots
Wednesday at Miramar, 6pm

This is the perfect spring game. Two teams that have won big in the past and are trying to climb back into that elite class.

Both of these programs always have plenty of talented kids.

No matter how many kids leave Dillard – whether through graduation or transfer, the Panthers keep producing a competitive team year in and year out. This season is no different. Dillard’s defensive line is slated to be one of the best South Florida has to offer.

6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end Jonathan Ford has quickly become one of the hottest commodities in the state. He plays with power but is agile enough to rush the passer on a pretty consistent basis. On the other end of the Panthers’ line is emerging football star Jordan Wright. Wright helped Dillard win a state basketball title this past season and now returns to the gridiron for his second year of high school football.

The question that needs to be answered for the Panthers this spring is where its offensive production is going to come from on a consistent basis.

Miramar is in a similar situation. The Patriots are entering year two under head coach Pierre Senatus and they too are a team with multiple difference makers on the defensive side of the ball.

The Patriots have to fill some holes on offense and see some new guys step up this spring and into the fall.

As far as the game goes: weather (rain) could play a factor and spring games tend to have a few exceptions in terms of how they are played – no live special teams, pre-game agreed upon terms of how long the starters will play – so it can be tricky to pick.

Still, I think I saw enough out of Dillard’s offensive unit during the Austin 34 Referee Clinic Scrimmages to give them the edge.

I expect a lot of vanilla play-calling from both teams, but still a competitive game – that Dillard wins close.

Bald Prediction = Dillard wins 18-14

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South Dade Buccaneers vs. Carol City Chiefs
Thursday at North Miami Stadium (FIU North), 6pm

Here’s another game that I think is the perfect spring football matchup.

South Dade is a program that I hold in high esteem under the direction of Nate Hudson. The Buccaneers are another one of those squads that always seem to reload and have new players emerge regardless of who all left one way or another.

The Bucs will be relying heavily on linebacker Chei Hill and offensive line man Kyron Taylor. Both are state champion wrestlers and have the experience of helping South Dade win a Class 8A title three years ago.

Carol City has been one of the hottest teams this offseason. The Chiefs welcomed former Miramar head coach and West Virginia University assistant coach Damon Cogdell in as their new defensive coordinator.

Cogdell was the architect of Miramar’s “Dark Side Defense” and now he’s going to work his magic with Carol City.

For South Dade, spring should be about seeing who the new offensive playmakers are. Gone are the Bucs’ stable of running backs – Ivan Smith and Jawon Hamilton – so they’re going to need to find a new offensive bell cow.

Carol City’s roster is loaded with talent. They had a handful of impact players transfer in to mix in with all the returning pieces already on the roster. It’ll be interesting to see what strides quarterback Lorenzo Floyd has made since the conclusion of the 2015 season.

Floyd, who will be a sophomore in the fall, has to show that he can run the offense and get the ball in the hands of one of Carol City’s many skill players.

I think the Chiefs offense will surprise some people. They have too many talented players – Nayquan Wright, Kevaughn Dingle, Caleb Thomas – not to be able to put up at least 20 points per game.

South Dade will fight hard and play physical, but I think the Chiefs have too much – even in the spring.

Bald Prediction = Carol City Wins 28-20

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Killian Cougars vs. Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs
Thursday at Cardinal Gibbons, 6pm

A cross-county matchup between a pair of teams that are under the direction of new head coaches.

After watching Cardinal Gibbons during the Referee Clinic Scrimmages, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the young and talented prospects on the Chiefs’ roster. Matt DuBuc takes over for Mike Morrill, but DuBuc has been on Gibbons’ staff for quite a while and he knows the program inside and out.

I sense a recurring theme here, but Killian is also another one of those programs that despite who leaves – the Cougars still trot out one of the more athletic teams in South Florida.

Javi Valdes enters as the new head coach and he’s already putting his stamp on this team. Killian looked impressive at the Referee Clinic Scrimmages and they have one of Miami-Dade’s top offensive linemen in Delone Scaife.

I can easily see this game being close throughout. Both teams have good size across its offensive lines, so it’ll be a good test for each to see which group can find a rhythm and pave the way for its offense.

I think Cardinal Gibbons will be a team that surprises some people in 2016, but I also feel that way about Killian.

The Cougars pull out a close one.

Bald Prediction = Killian wins 21-20

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Other Games

Fort Lauderdale vs. Calvary Christian = Fort Lauderdale wins by 13

Coral Reef vs. Miami Springs = Coral Reef wins by 7

Ferguson vs. Reagan = Reagan wins by 12

Coral Park vs. Sunset = Coral Park wins by 14

Archbishop McCarthy vs. Clewiston = Archbishop McCarthy wins by 10

Delray Beach Atlantic vs. Northwestern = Northwestern wins by 4

South Miami vs. Hialeah Gardens = South Miami wins by 16

Palmetto vs. Varela = Palmetto wins by 14

West Broward vs. Dr. Krop = West Broward wins by 6

Edison vs. Naples Golden Gate = Edison wins by 7

Pompano Beach vs. Boca Raton Pope John Paul = Pope John Paul wins by 12

Cooper City vs. Monarch = Cooper City wins by 21

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Carol City looked dominant on defense as the Chiefs didn’t allow a touchdown in their 36-2 spring victory over South Dade.

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Over the past three weeks, you have noticed that South Florida High School Sports has stepped up its coverage during spring football.

It’s only going to get better.

With so much at stake for these athletes – when it comes to attaining scholarships – it has gotten to the point where having the practice and game videos, photos, evaluations and coverage – has put us way ahead of anyone who is attempting anything like the year-round coverage and exposure we provide.

As many of the major colleges have spent the past three-plus weeks in this area, seeing some of the elite talent, our own Larry Blustein and J.T. Wilcox and the entire staff, including the tremendous photographer Chuck Bethel, have been out and bringing you the most comprehensive high school sports coverage anywhere.

Bethel lost his father this past week – and the entire CBS team in South Florida all pray for the family and send our deepest sympathy and condolences.

With so many games, scrimmages and events, Larry and J.T. watched and have found some pretty interesting things about players, coaches and teams. Here are their thoughts on this past week:

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Blu: Coming off yet another Class 4A state title, the Tornadoes have indeed added several prospects to keep this train rolling. Sophomore Daniel Richardson returns to pick up where he left on offense. And the defense, once again – with several athletes in place – could make the return of Tim “Ice” Harris very successful. This is a program that knows the way to the state title game – and even Cocoa will not have enough to stand in the way of a fifth straight 4A crown.

J.T.: The thing that stands out most about the Tornadoes is their offensive line. Bringing back players like Willa Pierre and Teaki Fuller was already going to make Booker T.’s o-line a formidable unit. Add in 2017 standout and University of Florida commit Kadeem Telfort (6-foot-6, 315 pounds) and now you’re talking about one of the top offensive lines in the state. The F5 isn’t going anywhere.

BOYD ANDERSON

Blu: Eddie Brown came in last year and won the district before losing to eventual state champion Miami Central in the first round. This spring was all about getting some new faces in the mix, finding out what prospects can help the Cobras realize that dream of getting out of competitive South Florida. The defense will be the key for this team.

J.T.: Having watched the Cobras during the Referee Clinic scrimmages and again during their spring intrasquad game, it was apparent that they have talent. Watching quarterback Shabazz Telfort, you can see that he’s taken a step forward as a passer. Defensively, Boyd Anderson has enough athletes to compete with just about anyone. I want to see growth and development from the Cobras offensive line.

CALVARY CHRISTIAN

Blu: As all eyes were on talented two-way standout Diego Fagot, this is a program that may have benefitted as much as anyone this spring. With the most famous football player in school history receiving an offer a day, it opened things up for head coach Kirk Hoza and his Eagles to jump on the map. Imagine having Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and others on campus. That was what this spring was all about.

J.T.: Everybody else is starting to see what Larry has seen out of Diego Fagot for almost a year now. Fagot is a football player’s football player – no doubt. But my attention goes to running back Massi Gamble. The son of a former professional football player, Gamble has great size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and could end up being one of the hidden gems in South Florida.

CAROL CITY

Blu: After winning the district a year ago, then losing to Central in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs, there has been plenty of optimism this spring for head coach Aubrey Hill and the Chiefs. While the defense, receiving corps and running game can stack up to the best in the state, this is a team will need to get better in the trenches and at quarterback to finish off the job. Still, this is a program that will be challenged in the fall, and will rely on some younger players to finish off what they started in 2015.

J.T.: Carol City has all the pieces to be one of the best teams in the state this coming season. The key will be to put the puzzle together. And the player that will be at the heart of it all is sophomore quarterback Lorenzo Floyd. Still, I came away very impressed with the way the Chiefs’ defense looked during their spring game against an always formidable South Dade team. Bringing in Damon Cogdell was one of the best things to do for this program – now and down the line.

CENTRAL

Blu: No matter how you slice it, the four-time defending Class 6A state champions always look in mid-season form. They are loaded everywhere – and from what we were able to find out, it isn’t over yet. Depth at running back, receiver, offensive line and now even quarterback, where there is plenty of talent, will have head coach Roland Smith’s team scoring plenty. Defensively, a few prospects who missed last year with injury, have returned and are helping to shore up a very athletic unit.

J.T.: You have to give Central’s coaching staff a lot of credit for what the program has been able to accomplish over the past half-decade. Watching the Rockets during their intrasquad game, you see the depth across the board that other teams simply don’t have. Central has the big-name players that everyone will be paying attention to – running back James Cook and offensive lineman Navaugh Donaldson – but I say watch out for safety/linebacker Enos Lewis and defensive end Owen Carney. The big thing to watch with the Rockets this summer will be which of their three talented quarterbacks – Tijuane Morten, Seth McGill or Maurice Underwood – takes the reins of the offense and wins the starting job.

CHAMINADE-MADONNA

Blu: Since taking over the Lions a year ago, head coach Jason Milgrom has been putting together a program that is more than capable of beating region powers Delray American Heritage and Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy. Key transfers have blended together to make this a team that will be challenged in the fall, but as the showed in the spring, they are more than ready. A huge offensive line, cat-quick defensive prospects and young athletes who are more than ready to accept the challenge. Championship football has returned to Hollywood.

J.T.: I love what head coach Jason Milgrom has done with Chaminade’s program – in such a short period of time, too. Having the chance to watch the team work in the weight room, I saw a squad that is going to be physically able to compete with teams in higher classifications despite being a Class 3A program. 2018 OL/DL Davoan Hawkins (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) will be one of the top rated players we have in South Florida by the time he’s a senior and 2018 athlete Shaun Shivers is one of the spark plugs that will drive the Lions.

DILLARD

Blu: Make no mistake, this spring was all about showcasing the stars that this program will feature in 2016. Head coach Lorenzo Davis and the Panthers are loaded up from on defense, have outstanding secondary performers and a group of linebackers who are getting better. Offensively, inexperience will be the key at quarterback, receiver and on the offensive line. Boyd Anderson won the district last year – and now this coming season – the Panthers feel they have the talent to turn that around.

J.T.: Defensively, specifically the front four – Dillard is one of the best in Florida. Jon Ford impressed me with his power playing on the inside this spring and Jordan Wright is soaked with football potential. Both Ford and Wright will get theirs – the player that could be an absolute terror for opposing teams to defend is 6-foot-6 defensive end Stephon Zayas. He’s long and rangy and will always be matched up one-on-one with linemen because teams will be focused on blocking Wright and Ford. He just has to win his matchup. Also, look out for 6-foot-5 safety Michal Mackey. Where does Dillard get all these tall kids from?

DR. KROP

Blu: In his first spring in South Florida, first-year head coach Mike Farley really made a lasting impression with the Lightning the past three-plus weeks. Forget the 16-0 win over a West Broward squad that made the playoffs in 2015, what happened in Ives Estates this past month was the transition from veteran head coach David Hudson to a coach who comes in with plenty of experience. Players, administration, assistant coaches and parents are thrilled that this is a team that has a legitimate chance to win the district in the fall. Outstanding athletes all over the field.

J.T.: As Larry and I watched Krop take down West Broward during its spring game, we thought back on some of the talented players that have come through Krop. Saying that, to say this: the Lightning will always have a nice crop of kids to work with. Keeping them in the building is the task. It’ll be interesting to see where coach Mike Farley takes the program from here. But with players like quarterback Matt Bethel, who’s built more like a linebacker at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, and athlete Randall St. Felix – Krop should be in the hunt for a district title in 2016.

FORT LAUDERDALE

Blu: Having the opportunity to watch Coach Richard Dunbar’s Flying L’s several times during the spring, you can see how much offseason progress has already been made. College coaches found their way to this historic facility throughout late April and into May, watching top-flight prospects on both sides of the ball. While being in the same district as St. Thomas may be tough, this team has used it to its fullest advantage. Much improved team.

J.T.: Fort Lauderdale is a team that has been trending upwards under head coach Richard Dunbar. He’s a Lauderdale alum and his combination of energy and pride is powering the program from the top on down. It looks like athlete Alonzo Clark has settled into the role of being a skill player as freshman John Dunmore has come in and taken on the quarterback duties. The summer will be a vital time for the Flying L’s – as attending as many 7-on-7 tournaments would build chemistry and give confidence to their young signal caller.

JACKSON

Blu: While the spring is usually about watching the prospects, this May started out to be one that focused more on the coaches on the field rather than the core of players coming back for the Generals. Florida’s first female head coach, Lakatriona Brunson and Defensive Coordinator/Entertainer Luther Campbell may have taken away the spotlight, but things changed as the players began to show that they can compete. This is a program looking for a strong summer to stay in the playoff mix.

J.T.: While most people will talk about Jackson for its female head coach – Lakatriona Brunson – and its defensive coordinator “Uncle Luke” Luther Campbell; folks would be better suited realizing that the Generals have some very good football players. Watching the team during its spring intrasquad game, it was hard not to be impressed with running back Keiron Broussard. He’s a well-built, physical runner that will deliver a hit just as much as take one. Also, Jackson’s “secret weapon” defensive end Eric Mateo is one to watch. He didn’t play in 2015, but the 6-foot-4 pass rusher could end up being among Dade County’s sack leaders in 2016.

MIRAMAR

Blu: There is no head coach in South Florida – at least this offseason – who has exposed his team to more events and more competition than second-year head coach Pierre Senatus. The key during May was to establish an offense, which they did, and keep that “Dark Side” tradition alive, which was accomplished as well. In a district that has always been competitive, look for this team to be in the mix for a playoff spot – after a year away.

J.T.: Going into the spring I was looking for Miramar to show that it could produce points. Having watched Pierre Senatus’ squad play against a very good defensive team in Dillard during the spring, I saw a Patriots offense that – while far from being a finished product – could put points on the board simply because of the athletes they possess. Also like the size I saw on Miramar’s offensive line – Deondre Chambers, Habujimah Derival and Sebastian Dolcine, who battled with Dillard’s Jordan Wright for much of the night.

SOUTH DADE

Blu: When you lose some of the best offensive linemen around, watch one of the top running backs graduate and see a defensive unit need to be rebuilt, you can see what veteran head coach Nathaniel Hudson has had to deal with this spring. The Bucs will get no sympathy from district rivals, so this spring and the summer ahead will be vital in the growth of a team that still has the athletes, but nowhere the experience that has propelled them into the spotlight the past three years.

J.T.: You can see that graduation has hit the Buccaneers hard. That happens. But when you have a coach like Nate Hudson, the bottom is never going to fall out. Offensively, this team is young. They struggled to do many positive things against Carol City during the spring game. Coach Hudson will be relying heavily on offensive lineman Kyron Taylor and linebacker Chei Hill to provide leadership to respective units.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Blu: A trip to watch the two-time defending Class 7A state champions is a visit to see the best football program in the country. While they will have the opportunity to prove how good they are this coming season – with a trip to play national power Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, head coach Roger Harriott and the Raiders are stacked and deep at every position. The offense is capable of scoring 40-plus every game and the defense will shut you down – no matter how potent you may be. Special teams are sound, and young prospects are just waiting for their opportunity. This is a big-time program that continues to set standards on the football field.

J.T.: St. Thomas Aquinas was by far the most complete team that we saw this spring. The depth that they have is mind-boggling. Watching the team practice on a day which saw national recruit Trevon Grimes only do light work, I saw at least three other receivers that would be the No. 1 pass catcher in almost any other program – including receiver Jordan Merrell, who came over from Dillard. Whatever an opposing team tries to take away – the pass or the run – Aquinas has a group of top level prospects to deploy. It’s scary how good this team is now and how good they are set up to be down the line.

WEST BROWARD

Blu: After last season’s record-setting run to the playoffs, the Bobcats have spent this spring under new head coach Monte Dillworth, putting the right combination together. A spring setback against Dr. Krop only gave this team a better read on what needs to happen over the next four months. Dillworth and his staff have some talent in place, and now understand that the road to making the playoffs once again, will be competitive.

J.T.: Watching this team take on Krop during the spring, I saw something in new head coach Monte Dillworth that I always want to see out of any coach: a strong desire to be better. Still, you can see the Bobcats have holes to fill and that players are still in the process of buying into what Dillworth wants. What happened this spring will only give West Broward and Dillworth fuel as they head into the summer offseason.

A battle of Miami-Dade County powers, Carol City and Southridge face off during the 1st Annual Duke Johnson 7v7 Tournament.

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Over the past eight years, the Miami Dolphins have put a stamp on the summer 7-on-7 football tour with its signature event at Central Park in Plantation.

Last weekend, year No. 9 once again provided plenty of action – on and off of the playing field – with the Dolphins Academy symposium and tournament that brought some of South Florida’s elite players and teams together.

Carol City defended its title with a thrilling win over district rival Northwestern, 35-31, in a game that was moved from Central Park to the Dolphins’ indoor practice bubble because of inclement weather. But there were really no losers in an event of this nature.

There are always many benefits.

The event began on Friday – with a symposium focusing on character development, practical life lessons and specific skill training. In addition, the symposium featured guest speakers and included special breakout sessions led by the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE), a non-profit organization dedicated to harnessing the unifying power of sport to advance race relations and drive social progress (www.RISEtoWIN.org).

THE FOOTBALL ACTION WAS HOT
As the temperatures soared to the high 90’s, things heated up on the field with some of the state’s top prospects getting it done for two days.

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach programs battled against top competition, showcase the talent that will be getting it done in the fall.

Head coach Aubrey Hill and his Chiefs have been turning up the volume over the past two plus years. After winning a rare district title, beating perennial champion Miami Central during the regular season, this program fell short in the rematch game. Since that loss, this has been a team on a mission – with several key additions added for the upcoming season.

While this team has gotten plenty of attention because of the play of talented 2017 receiver Kevaughn Dingle, 2017 outside linebacker Deandre Wilder and 2019 running back Nayquan Wright, but there is a group of players that also make a difference.

Standouts such as 2018 safety Randy Russell, 2017 defensive backs Naytron Culpepper, Donelle Thomas and Angelo Powell, 2019 quarterback Lorenzo Floyd, 2017 receivers Victor Tucker, Caleb Thomas and Zion Hartfield, and 2018 running back/linebacker Camron Davis.

SCHOOLS CAME FROM EVERYWHERE
In addition to Carol City, which took home the team title for the third time in tournament history, there were other programs who stepped up as well:

Among the schools on hand including Hialeah American, Plantation American Heritage, Miami Archbishop Curley, Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson, Miami Booker T. Washington, Miami Braddock, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale Dillard, Doral Academy, Parkland Douglas, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer, Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy, Hialeah-Miami Lakes, Hollywood Hills, Hollywood McAthur, Miramar, Jupiter, Miami Dr. Krop, Miami High, Miami Springs, Miami Killian, Miami Northwestern, North Broward Prep, Boca Raton Olympic Heights, Pahokee, Palm Beach Lakes, Miami Palmetto, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Somerset Academy, South Plantation, Boca Raton Spanish River, Pembroke Pines West Broward, Davie Western and Miami Westminster Christian competed over the two days.

PROSPECT REPORT
Over the summer, at 7-on-7 events, combines and satellite camps, we have been able to bring more athletes – with profiles and spotlights – than any other source.

Over the weekend, we were once again on hand to showcase every prospect that was on hand – and not just the 3, 4 and 5-star athletes that everyone already knows everything about.

It was a weekend that showcased prospects such as head coach Jesse Norris and Plantation, which features receivers Deandre Stoveall and Tyrese Lewis, defensive backs Alliante Small and Tyler Small, quarterback Rodsky Selon and running back Kyle Walters.

Right down the road, first-year head coach Dominic Anderson has the South Plantation Paladins rolling along with sensational junior Dawson Hill, but also features receiver Taylen Waller (2017), 2018 receiver Jaquez Thomas, 2017 safety Logan Green (2017) and versatile 2017 athlete Quendon Spellman.

Veteran Miami Archbishop Curley head coach Greg Magner once again continues to get athletes out for the football program. 2017 receiver Brian Pierre, 2018 defensive backs Eudens Antoine and Elvins Desarmas, and 2019 receiver Obird Desir stood out.

Willis May and his Douglas Eagles stunned everyone with a win over Booker T. Washington early in the tournament. This is as well coached a program as you will find. Among the prospects standing out included 2018 quarterback Tyler Goodman, 2017 defensive back/receiver Jamal Polycarpe, versatile 2017 standout (WR/FS) Matthew Cabey, 2017 receiver/defensive back Da’Quan Bailey-Brown and 2018 receiver Tai Lehtio are among a group that everyone will follow.

Without first-year head coach Earl Little at the event, Miami’s Westminster Christian showcased some quality football talent. Among those on hand for the 2-day event included 2019 defensive back Demetries Ford, 2019 receiver Kalani Norris, 2017 linebacker Daniel Duasso and 2017 safety Jaylan Cox.

Each year for a long period of time, North Broward Prep and veteran head coach Rex Nottage seem to have some prospects that will turn heads. Players like big time prospect Kevin Austin (WR/DB), Dymitri McKenzie, receiver Kenny Henningsen, linebacker Kallen Jennings; and 2020 receiver/cornerback DeJaun McDougle, who is the next in the line of big-time prospects at the school.

Miami Braddock is always at as many things as possible to get better and develop talent. Senior linebacker Anthony Rodriguez; 2018 standouts Steven Stallings (running back) and Santana Moss, Jr. (receiver); and 2019 safety Jason Reese, receiver Helmis Alvarez and defensive end Justin Caldera are all ready to contribute.

Some of the other programs that don’t get a lot of views in events with so many teams include second-year head coach LaRon Culpepper, who featured 2017 prospects Danta Banton (linebacker) and Taurus Sanders (linebacker); 2018 standouts Zayvion Wallace (defensive back), Craig Cooper, Jr. (running back), receiver Jaquan Denson and big time receiving prospect Dominick Watt.

In his second season at Mater Academy, Rocco Casullo continues to build the program, using a number of younger players to accomplish that goal. Among the 2017 prospects leading the way at the tournament included Devonta Lopez (defensive back), Dareous Nixon (defensive back) and receiver Tyreek Benton (receiver); 2018 quarterback Marlon Serbin; and 2019 defensive back Rayne Tanega-Doster.

Another program that has been putting things together the past two years is Mike Manasco and the Palmetto Panthers. Undefeated in the first day, this is a team led by 2017 prospects Hugh Lowson (quarterback) and Kevin Schwartz (receiver); 2018 standouts Ivan Thomas (receiver), Trey Flowers (running back), Fred King (defensive back) and receiver Joe Hardy. Cuevas Russ, who an outstanding spring is a 2019 defensive back to keep your eye on.

Adam Ratkevich has had a busy off-season, selling his players to college across the country, and with an outstanding first day, his Western Wildcats had the chance to showcase some talent – such as 2017 leaders Darius Maxwell (slot), Stefan Postman (safety), Kijana Whyte (receiver) and Hunter Stephens (safety); 2018 prospects such as quarterback Harrison Story, defensive back Robbie Ruebel and receiver Dannie Sanders are very solid as well.

One of the programs that have been very visible on the 7-on-7 circuit is Pat Surtain and his nationally-rated American Heritage Patriots. Playing the tournament without some key players, this is a team that made it all the way down to the Elite 8. Among the players stepping up were 2017 defensive backs Michael Hicks and Will Allen, and versatile receivers Donnie Butler and Laress Nelson. Also, 2018 standouts Tyson Campbell (defensive back), Stanley Eugene (defensive back) and linebacker Zach Simmons also made a huge impact. But the player that stole the show was Class of 2020 quarterback and the future of this program, Edwin Rhodes, who was impressive.

Lorenzo Davis and his Dillard Panthers also did a tremendous job, reaching the Elite 8. Some surprises for this program included defensive backs Michael Mackey and Jaden Davis, who is a 2019 prospect and the son of the head coach. The Panthers also featured versatile and very talented George Golden.

Head coach Eddie Brown and his Boyd Anderson Cobras were missing senior standouts Daniel Wright, Raheme Fuller, Eldine Dorvil and Mike Nesbitt, but still managed to compete and finish strong. Backup defensive back Isaiah Thompson looked solid.

On this episode, J.T. Wilcox is joined by the legendary Larry Blustein – discussing the past three weeks of 7-on-7 action, a quick breakdown of the high school football landscape and a tribute to the late Damien Hutenhoff, former director of the BCAA.