MaxPreps released its 2017 preseason high school football rankings last week, and the top 25 included three teams from South Florida.
Dwyer will play nationally ranked Miami Central in a Kickoff Classic game Aug. 18. (Bruce Bennett/Palm Beach Post)
USA Today followed with its Super 25 preseason football rankings Monday, and that list included four South Florida teams.
None are from Palm Beach County, but area teams could face their Broward County (Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas, Plantation-American Heritage) or Miami-Dade County (Miami-Carol City, Miami Central, Miami-Booker T. Washington) counterparts in postseason (and in Dwyer’s case – preseason) competition.
The Panthers open the 2017 season with a Kickoff Classic game against Miami Central Aug. 18. That game will be played in Miami.
Dwyer also could face No. 5-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas – again – in the Class 7A state playoffs. The Raiders defeated the Panthers in the regional semifinals in 2015 and 2016 on the way to winning the state title.
Palm Beach Lakes is another potential playoff opponent for St. Thomas Aquinas. The Raiders defeated the Rams in the regional quarterfinals last season.
Other area teams that potentially could face nationally ranked opponents in the postseason are: Glades Central, which could face Booker T. Washington in Class 4A; and Boynton Beach, which could play Carol City or Miami Central in Class 6A.
The Raiders have played the Tornadoes in each of the past four postseasons, and lost all four games.
The Tigers – with future Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson under center – played Miami Central in the Class 6A regional quarterfinals in 2014, and lost 49-6. The Rockets went on to win the state title.
