Statewide Games of the Week for Week 2 – Thursday games edition

Here is the preview of tonight’s two games as part of FloridaHSFootball.com’s Statewide Games of the Week feature.

NO. 8 BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (1-0) vs. NO. 5 MIAMI CENTRAL (1-0)
WHEN: Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Traz Powell Stadium, Miami
THINGS TO KNOW: Booker T. Washington defeated 6A Dillard last week, 24-8 … Visiting Tornadoes offense had over 300 yards and three first half touchdowns against Dillard last week … Booker T. Washington is currently ranked No. 2 in FloridaHSFootball.com’s Class 4A rankings … Miami Central ran past 3A No. 1 Chaminade-Madonna 48-24 … Rockets are looking for their second big win as in many weeks … Rockets are ranked No. 15 by USA TODAY’s Super 25 rankings. Rockets will rely on a steady backfield lead by James Cook (39 yards, 1 TD last week), Amari Daniels (102 yards, 2 TDs last week), Kijon Owens (2 TDs last week) and Lexington Joseph (110 yards, 1 TD last week) … Miami Central is currently ranked No. 2 in FloridaHSFootball.com’s Class 6A rankings … Miami Central won last year’s meeting 35-14, the largest margin between both programs in a meeting in recent years.
PINKOS FORECAST: Miami Central 12 over Booker T. Washington
USA TODAY PREDICTION: Miami Central 35, Booker T. Washington 26
FHSF PREDICTION:
Miami Central

POLL: Who wins tomorrow night between No. 8 @MiamiBTW_FB & No. 5 @Roc__Nation? #flhsfb

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) August 30, 2017

NO. 19 VANGUARD (1-0) vs. BUCHHOLZ (1-0)
WHEN: Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Citizens Field, Gainesville
WATCH: NFHS Network (subscription required)
THINGS TO KNOW: Vanguard rolled by 7A Kathleen last week, 38-0 … Knights defense held Kathleen to 139 yards last week … biggest names to watch out for the visiting Knights is QB Marquez Glover (224 passing yds, 5 total TDs last week) and LB Gavin Pate (3.5 sacks last week) … Vanguard is ranked No. 7 in FloridaHSFootball.com’s Class 6A rankings … Buchholz defeated city rival Eastside 44-14 last week … watch out for QB Camden Orth (223 yds passing, 5 TDs last week), Florida commit WR Trent Whittemore (2 TD catches last week), and WR Isaiah Michael (2 TD catches last week). Buchholz is a team that is one of five teams ‘on the bubble’ on FloridaHSFootball.com’s Class 7A rankings. The game ended up in an epic showdown two years ago and could again tonight.
PINKOS FORECAST: Vanguard 6 over Buchholz
USA TODAY PREDICTION: Vanguard 28, Buchholz 20
FHSF PREDICTION:
Vanguard

POLL: Who wins tomorrow night between No. 19 @vanguard_high & @BuchholzFB? #flhsfb

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) August 30, 2017

Stats via: Ocala Star-Banner, Miami Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Gainesville Sun