GOLD COAST PLAYOFF PREVIEW: North Broward Prep vs. Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian

Whatever happened two weeks ago, means nothing now.

After meeting at Tom Marcy Field at North Broward Preparatory School just two weeks back, Calvary Christian (7-2) and North Broward Prep (8-2) will face off again in the Gold Coast Conference semifinals Thursday night – this time at Calvary Field – with a trip to the championship on the line.

Calvary Christian defeated North Broward, 31-14, in the first meeting, which guaranteed them home field in this game. In a game with Archbishop McCarthy to determine what the seeding would look like in the playoffs, Calvary fell, 21-7, on the road last week.

North Broward Prep junior quarterback Logan Shooster is expected to return Thursday after a four-game absence since an injury suffered very early in the game against Archbishop McCarthy back on October 14th.

North Broward is 6-0 when Shooster plays the entire game this season and led Archbishop McCarthy by six until he departed in that game. Sophomore backup Christian Paillet has struggled in Shooster’s place, as North Broward’s four lowest point totals of the season came in the games without Shooster under center.

The North Broward offense with Shooster shined, averaging close to 50 PPG, and is still the highest scoring in the Gold Coast Conference, with talented weapons Dymitri McKenzie, four-star Kevin Austin, Anthony Gomez, Kenny Henningsen, Dorian Cole, and Bradley Cooper, among others at offensive coordinator Derrick Mays’ disposal.

Shooster also plays cornerback for North Broward but is expected to only play offense in the playoffs with sophomore cornerback Justin Dolles doing a fine job opposite of lockdown senior Anthony Gomez in North Broward’s secondary.

Calvary Christian senior running back and cornerback Robbie Evans had three of Calvary’s four total touchdowns when the two teams met back on October 28th. Evans had a pick six, and two rushing touchdowns in the win.

Calvary Christian has had just two home games this season with their stadium bleachers under construction; both were wins over Pembroke Pines Charter, and Key West, respectively. Calvary – which is in the midst of its first season in the Gold Coast conference – has lost to Westminster Academy and Archbishop McCarthy as their lone losses this year. Calvary had previously been in the Southeastern Football Conference, where they won the championship two seasons ago.

Calvary Christian head coach Kirk Hoza, who was previously the defensive coordinator at FAU, has led a dominant defensive team this year. Calvary has the top-ranked defense in the conference by a wide margin, allowing just 8.4 points per game. A strong linebacker core of three-star senior Diego Fagot – who is committed to Navy – and 6’0”, 200-pound senior Jordan Jackson anchor a unit that has not let up more than 21 points all season, and that came last week.

North Broward Prep scored just one offensive touchdown off Calvary’s defense two weeks back.

However, Calvary Christian’s offense has struggled this season, and as of late, with just seven points last week, and 24 against North Broward, with three coming off a fumbled snap in which Calvary took over at the four and was held to a field goal, and another seven off of a rushing touchdown with under a minute to go when the game was already out of reach.

Sophomore quarterback Skylar Pearcy and senior running backs Massi Gamble and Robbie Evans lead the attack.

North Broward Prep’s defense, meanwhile, has been on a skid as of late, giving up at least 27 points in five of their last six games, including 28 last week in a win over John Carroll Catholic. However, North Broward’s defense has let up just 9.8 points per game to opponents on the road this season.

The winner will face either Archbishop McCarthy or Key West, who face off in the other Gold Coast Conference semifinal.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 P.M. from Calvary Field on Thursday night.