The 2015 postseason kicks off in just a few days, with a dozen area teams set to take the field on Friday.
Last season, one area team (American Heritage) played for the state championship. Another (Glades Day) advanced to the state semifinals, while three more (Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Glades Central) got as far as the regional finals.
Jakari Moses and Dwyer could face defending state champion Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs. (Photo by Taylor Jones)
Which Palm Beach County teams have the best chance at postseason success in 2015? We’ll share our thoughts below. Comments, as always, are welcome.
Class 8A
Atlantic
Outlook: Excellent. The Eagles have steamrolled through the regular season, winning all 10 of their games and earning the state’s No. 1 ranking in Class 8A. Atlantic draws Wellington – a team it beat handily in Week 1 – in the opening round, followed by a potential second-round matchup with Boca Raton or Palm Beach Gardens, and perhaps state-ranked Pembroke Pines-Flanagan in the third round. The Eagles have the talent to advance to the state championships, but will have to limit penalties and turnovers.
Boca Raton
Outlook: Good. The Bobcats (8-2) far exceeded last year’s 4-6 finish, and hope to settle in for a long postseason run. But the Class 8A bracket is brutal. Boca Raton starts on the road against Palm Beach Gardens – a team it beat 29-28 in Week 2 after a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion. A potential matchup against unbeaten Atlantic awaits in the second round if the Bobcats get by the Gators, followed by a strong Broward County team in the third round. Boca Raton has plenty of offense, and its defense has been solid. Avoiding turnovers will be key.
Palm Beach Gardens
Outlook: Good. The Gators won the District 9-8A championship on the strength of their defense, and the unit will have to be stingy in order for them to get past a tough Class 8A bracket that includes Boca Raton and potentially Atlantic, among others. The Gators played – and lost – to the Bobcats earlier this year after allowing a late touchdown drive. Linebacker Vandarius Cowan and defensive back Devin Studstill are the leaders of Palm Beach Gardens’ defensive unit, while Studstill also plays a role on offense and in the kicking game. The Gators will need a complete team effort on Friday, and potentially beyond.
Wellington
Outlook: Fair. The Wolverines ended the regular season on a positive note, beating one-loss Boca Raton on the road. Wellington will have to come up with more road magic against unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Atlantic on Friday. That will be a tough task, as the Eagles have been dominant this season, while Wellington has struggled at times. The teams met earlier this year, with Atlantic winning 49-7. The Wolverines’ defense has been inconsistent, so expect much of the burden to fall to the offense Friday. Quarterback Blake Dever and wide receiver Ahmmon Richards have been tremendous, but could find the going tough against Atlantic’s talented defense.
Class 7A
Dwyer
Outlook: Good. The Panthers (9-1) closed an inconsistent regular season with their first loss, and will look to get back on track against 2-8 Pompano Beach-Ely. Dwyer quarterback Toddy Centeio and wide receiver Isaiah Johnson form a standout pair, and running back Jakari Moses has had a tremendous season. But the Panthers were turnover-prone against Atlantic, and will need to hold on to the ball against expected second-round opponent Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas. The Raiders are defending state champions, and have talent up and down their roster. Dwyer is always dangerous in the postseason, though, and should never be overlooked.
Royal Palm Beach
Outlook: Fair. The Wildcats (5-5) put together a solid second half of the season after starting 0-3, and earned the runner-up spot in District 13-7A. Their reward? Defending Class 7A state champion Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas in the first round. The talent-rich Raiders dominated their district, and closed the regular season with a win over state-ranked Pembroke Pines-Flanagan. These teams met in the regional finals last season, with St. Thomas winning in a rout. Willie Bueno’s Wildcats will play hard, but it’ll be an uphill battle the whole way.
Class 5A
Suncoast
Outlook: Fair. The Chargers (5-5) draw a tough opening opponent in Hallandale, whose two losses this season have come to a pair of nationally ranked teams (Plantation-American Heritage and Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas). Suncoast has undergone a major turnaround from last season, in which it finished 1-9 and well out of playoff contention. Senior quarterback Matt Dame has had a standout season, but his efforts might not be enough against talented Hallandale.
Class 4A
Glades Central
Outlook: Excellent. The Raiders (8-2) have plenty of momentum following their big win against Pahokee in last week’s Muck Bowl, and they hope it will carry them to victory against 5-5 Miami-Gulliver Prep. Glades Central is on a hot streak, having won six in a row since back-to-back losses in September, while Gulliver Prep has been inconsistent. A much tougher test potentially awaits in the second round against 7-3 Fort Lauderdale-University or three-time defending Class 4A state champion Miami-Booker T. Washington. The Tornadoes, however, are down this year, finishing the regular season a surprising 5-5. Look for Glades Central to be ready to play anyone.
Class 3A
American Heritage
Outlook: Good. The 2014 state finalists have been on a roll since falling to district rival Oxbridge Academy Oct. 2, winning four in a row by an average margin of nearly 36 points. But Class 3A has been outstanding this season, and the Stallions (7-2) face a huge opening-round challenge in Miami-Westminster Christian. The Warriors are ranked third in the Class 3A state poll, and have won seven straight games. If American Heritage can get by Westminster Christian, it potentially could face the ThunderWolves in the second round, followed by unbeaten and state-ranked Clearwater Central Catholic in the state semifinals. American Heritage is a talented team, and it will need to get the most out of it in order to overcome a challenging bracket.
Oxbridge Academy
Outlook: Good. The ThunderWolves (8-2) face the same tough postseason bracket as district rival American Heritage, but by virtue of winning District 7-3A, they get their opening-round contest against Hollywood-Chaminade-Madonna at home. Oxbridge has lost only two games this season – one to an out-of-county team and another to an out-of-state team. The 7-2 Lions will be another tough out-of-area test. Chaminade-Madonna slipped a bit after starting 5-0, but has a handful of quality wins. Oxbridge, though, has UM commit Travis Homer in the backfield. Look for a steady dose of the senior on Friday.
Class 2A
Village Academy
Outlook: Fair. The Tigers (5-5) won a three-team shootout to claim the second playoff spot in District 8-2A, and were rewarded with a first-round playoff game on the road against Naples-First Baptist Academy. The state-ranked Lions are 9-1 and have won eight straight games, all but two by at least 35 points. Village Academy has been inconsistent this season, but won two of its final three games. And the Tigers have not let a game get away from them. Village Academy lost five games this season, but none by more than 14 points. Still, First Baptist Academy could be too tough a hurdle to clear.
Class 1A
Pahokee
Outlook: Good. Pahokee (8-2) is back in the playoffs after a one-year absence, and faces a strong opening opponent in Cross City-Dixie County. The Bears are 7-2, and closed the regular season with five straight wins. Offense-minded Dixie County has scored at least 30 points in six games this season, but will face a stingy defense in the Blue Devils. Pahokee has allowed 17 points or less in nine of its 10 games, with the only exception being last week’s loss to Class 4A Glades Central in the Muck Bowl. If Pahokee gets by Dixie County, it could face the state’s No. 1-ranked Class 1A team in unbeaten Trenton, which has won every one of its games by at least 35 points.
