With the 2022 high school football season here we are previewing the Top 25 teams in our Florida Top 25 rankings that we have already debuted on Varsity Sports Network’s Florida Gridiron Report last week. Rankings for the Florida Top 25 will be updated each Wednesday night on the Florida Gridirion Report and on FloridaHSFootball.com along with all classification rankings.
NO. 19 WESTERN WILDCATS
Head Coach: Adam Ratkevich, 8th year
Classification & District: 4M-13
2021 Record: 9-3
Key Athletes: QB Collin Hurst, Sr; OT Roger Reyes, Sr; WR Santana Fleming, Sr; SS Josh Joseph, Sr; CB Jojo Jean, Sr; OL Justin Bodford, Jr; LB Kaleb Stewart, Jr; K Kristian Hobbs, Jr
2022 Schedule
Kickoff 7:00 PM ET unless noted
* – Denotes District Game
Thu. 8/18 (Preseason) – Parkland Stoneman Douglas
Thu. 8/25 (Week 1) – Johns Creek, Ga.
Fri. 9/2 (Week 2) – BYE WEEK
Fri. 9/9 (Week 3) – @ Coconut Creek
Fri. 9/16 (Week 4) – Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
Fri. 9/23 (Week 5) – @ Coral Springs Taravella*
Fri. 9/30 (Week 6) – @ Sunrise Piper
Fri. 10/7 (Week 7) – @ Plantation American Heritage, 7:30
Fri. 10/14 (Week 8) – Weston Cypress Bay*
Thu. 10/20 (Week 9) – Miramar
Fri. 10/28 (Week 10) – at Coral Springs Coral Glades*
Fri. 11/4 (Week 11) – Plantation
Season Outlook: Western has become one of the most feared teams in Broward County the last few years under Coach Ratkevich’s leadership and once again will have Hurst’s leadership after earning FloridaHSFootball.com first-team Class 8A All-State Honors. Hurst will be part of Ratkevich’s dynamic spread offense that could be one of the best in the state this year. However, one of the biggest areas of concern will be the special teams that Coach Ratkevich feels needs improvement on despite having one of the best kickers in the state in Kristian Hobbs. Overall, the Wildcats have a chance to be in the running for the Class 4M State Championship but will have a tough path in Region 4 in order to get there in 2022.
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![Miami Northwestern Head Coach Teddy Bridgewater and QB Leon Strawder huddle up the rest of the Bulls offense during a time out during the recent 2024 FHSAA Class 3A State Championship. Strawder was among three athletes that stood out in the 2024 FHSAA Class 3A State Championship Game on Sat. Dec. 14, 2024, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cover-3-Class-3A-State-Championship-120x86.jpg)
![Winston Watkins Jr. (right) of Venice was among three athletes that stood out in the 2024 FHSAA Class 7A State Championship Game on Sat. Dec. 14, 2024, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cover-3-Class-7A-State-Championship-120x86.jpg)
![RB Byron Louis of American Heritage (Plantation) was among three athletes that stood out in the 2024 FHSAA Class 4A State Championship Game on Fri. Dec. 13, 2024, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cover-3-Class-4A-State-Championship-120x86.jpg)
![QB Mason Mallory was among three athletes that stood out in the 2024 FHSAA Class 6A State Championship Game on Fri. Dec. 13, 2024, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami [Joshua Wilson/FloridaHSFootball.com]](https://floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cover-3-Class-6A-State-Championship-120x86.jpg)
