BrowardHandicapper
-
Posts
4,847 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
186
Posts posted by BrowardHandicapper
-
-
Columbus 16 Flanagan 12
What a defensive, physical battle this matchup was. Flanagan lost to a team that that was more efficient and just executed better. Flanagan was clearly rattled and they showed it in the first half with about 4 poor shotgun snaps that they were lucky enough to recover. Flanagan made one last drive late and QB Ryan Stanley actually scored on a 40 yard bootleg with 1:50 remaining and trailing 16-12 but the play was negated for holding. Box score and stats were very vanilla but the team just does not make many mistakes ...Congratulations to Columbus on being the better team that night and earning a trip to Orlando. They will face off vs. Apopka next week.
-
Good stuff guys!
-
You both seem to know your teams pretty well. How about a couple predictions? Sounds like it will be within a 10 point game either way.
-
Should be a good one! AHD actually saw a pretty good Defense in Miramar this year.
-
Approx. when do the new alignments get released?
I think BTW got their wake up call last week. They were on a bit of cruise control mode last week and likely underestimated Cocoa. They won't let a 0 point 1st half happen again. I think the Tornados come out strong from the get go and lay down the hammer in the 2nd half vs. Bolles. I say BTW by at least 14 !
-
Not many would have predicted these two teams battling for the ticket to Orlando early on. Although Columbus has had a few good teams 20-30 years ago this may be one of their best teams in school history. Columbus has been solid all year and since their loss to Miami Central have been improving every week. They have outscored opponents North Miami Beach, Coral Gables and Killian 86-7 in post season play.
Flanagan has gone undefeated all year and unfortunately started the post season losing their top defensive player Devin Bush Jr. on the first play of the game vs. Coral Springs. They may not be as strong defensively but the Falcon defense continues to make big defensive plays game after game....
Both teams are pretty much newcomers to elite post season play and the winner will get to play the winner of the Manatee vs. Apopka matchup (which are more heralded and accomplished programs).
Thoughts or predictions?
Columbus is the bigger, more smash-mouth team in my opinion and this might be the game where the loss of Devin Bush Jr. finally catches up to the Falcons....At the same time, Flanagan QB Ryan Stanley might be the underrated QB in FL and has had no problem dicing up strong teams when needed...
This should be a good one!
-
@09mrslick, do you think Killian beats them?
-
Rumor has it going into this game and in the local newspaper, social media etc... Monarch Coach Calvin Davis and players had been calling out Flanagan and there players as overrated, had not beat anyone( not sure what he is talking about?? who the he11 has Monarch beat???) , getting undeserved attention and surely not as good as his Monarch team. Flanagan Head Coach Devin Bush Sr. and his players did not reply negatively but preferred the silent treatment all week. The Falcons did their talking on the field. Flanagan, coming off a 21-7 halftime lead came out a little flat in the 3rd quarter the tide eventually turned in the second half. Monarch had a 25 mph wind on their back which helped them tie the game at 21 with a little over two minutes to go in the 4th...Throughout the game Flanagan appeared to begin to put the the Knights away but 15 penalties for 160 yds did not help...nor did the PA or should I say DJ (extending) blaring music whenever Flanagan had the ball and was driving. The home cooking was in full effect as it was last year when Flanagan faced Deerfield on this same field with identical weather conditions. Deja vu? This game went to OT like last year.... In OT Flanagan scored first right up the middle but the extra point was blocked by Monarch. Could it be? Is this going to be another hard post season ending loss for Head Coach Devin Bush Sr. and his Falcons? Now, facing one of the most potent offenses in the state in the Monarch Knights, 4th and Goal with inches to go....the Flanagan Falcon Defense absolutely gang sacked the Monarch QB and fulfilled the OT goal line stand. Flanagan prevails 27-21.
Considering the loss of the Falcons top Defensive Player Devin Bush Jr just 1 week ago this was a great win for Head Coach Devin Bush Sr. and the Falcon program. Coach Bush told the local newspaper (SunSentinel) after the game 'They got lucky. They shouldn't have even been here. Miramar should have been in this spot. The referees helped them. They were talking all week in the papers and it is different when you take the field with the Dirty Birds. They couldn't handle the pressure. The whole D stepped up tonight. '
Neither team went through post game handshakes and the Coaches did not shake hands after this hard fought battle. You gotta love a newborn rivalry! I have been drinking the kool aid for both of these teams the entire season and they unfortunately got in each others way. Even without Devin Bush Jr. I think the slightly better team won tonight. Flanagan will hit the road again next week @ 12-1 Wellington who defeated Palm Beach Gardens 16-10
-
Well, the Raiders roll in this one with ease...Not that it would have made much of a difference in the game but Plantation's best player RB sprained his ankle on the second play of the game. As expected, St. Thomas manhandled Plantation and is one step closer to Orlando.
-
That is correct. Good ole' Catholic school rivals.
-
Columbus (enrollment 1350) await the winner of the Belen Jesuit Prep (enrollment 1480) and Miami Killian matchup. Columbus and Belen Jesuit are the only two private schools in Florida that currently compete at the 8A level. Columbus is more known for the their baseball but had a few strong football teams in the early 80s (Alonzo Highsmith) and early 90s (Brian Griese). Belen Jesuit is more known for Soccer, Tennis and Cross Country but seem to be making lots of progress with football this year....
-
Thursday evening Miami Columbus advanced to the third round of postseason play with a 22-0 victory over a pretty good Coral Gables team. With that victory Columbus has not surrendered a postseason point, and only allowed 9 points in their last 5 games. The only loss for the Explorers this season was @ Miami Central but top to bottom they have played a harder schedule then any 8A Broward or Palm Beach team and are sitting on a 11-1 record going into round 3 next week. With all the hype on the 8A Broward schools this year, let's not forget last years 8A State Champion came out of Dade County. South Dade made a strong run and shocked many....
-
Not to my knowledge STARaiders2014. Monarch has only been around since 2004 and not sure when the football program began. Both players are Alabama bound.
-
Just of note....Two Monarch players - Shawn Burgess-Becker and Calvin Ridley were both selected to the Under Armour 2015 Game Roster. Very good accomplishment to make this prestigious event. Even more impressive to have two players from the same school on the roster.
-
In South Florida very little is known about Oxbridge Academy out of West Palm Beach. In their first year (2013) they went 9-2 , this year they went 10-1 . They presently play in the Goldcoast Independent Conference and their season is over. Oxbridge Academy is a whole is pretty much a athletic and academic exodus of American Heritage Delray from a couple years ago. I believe they have a few D1 athletes, maybe even a DE headed to Clemson.
Many of the coaches ( lots of the athletes from AHDelray) and even many teachers all transferred to Oxbridge Academy I am guessing for better salaries and a new start etc.....The Thunderwolves have the best HS field in South Florida with a very modern scoreboard screen that even shows instant replays.Their games are broadcasted over a ESPN radio and they sport the swoosh on their uniforms....I would say they will recruit well in the area and if they are not already , become one of the premier programs out of Palm Beach County.
-
I agree. Flanagan essentially won the game with big plays (kick return TD, Punt return TD, INT return TD) -same way Monarch beat Coral Springs....
-
The absence of Bush Jr was surely exposed . When he went down at that game, everything just went silent on the Flanagan side.....Tough shoes to fill.
But Coral Springs was an underrated team. Not quite say a Hallandale but arguably a sure top 10 team in Broward... Keep in mind Coral Springs QB (Bofshever) was a transfer from St. Thomas, threw for 1867 yds and rushed for 535 yds this regular season. Springs averaged over 30pts a game , had @ Hallandale on the ropes (lost 28-20), beat and passed for 428 yards vs. Cardinal Gibbons, and again had a 17-16 first down edge with 524 total yards, put up 31 pts. vs. Monarch. The only other team to score more than 14 vs. Monarch was Dillard in triple OT. (Dillard had a 6X-0 takeaway advantage but Monarch dominated the box score otherwise) . Coral Springs problem all year was their defense . More specifically (having seen a couple games) just poor tackling in the secondary.
-
This should be the most competitive game in Broward Friday night. The loss of LB Devin Bush will indeed hurt Flanagan and was exposed a little bit with Coral Springs attacking the gut(middle) successfully on a few drives. Bush also called the defensive formations, adjustments, audibles etc....these are hard shoes to fill. If you get a second check out Bush's Hudl highlights online - he epitomizes what a LB should be.
Giving up 28 points to Coral Springs was not what most expected but if you factor in the Bush injury and consider Coral Springs offensively has been pretty strong this year...they actually put up over 500 total yards, and had more first downs vs Monarch last month but found a way to lose 70-31. If this was Flanagan's defensive hiccup this year it was minus their best defensive player and against a pretty good offense.
I have watched a few Flanagan games this year and they have looked solid offensively but what impressed me most is when they really needed to turn it on (such as vs. Miramar and Coral Springs second halves) they can dice a team up pretty good. The Falcons eventually found a way to move the ball against a stout Miramar defense and he will do the same vs. Monarch.
Monarch got the fortune of going into this game rested . Outside of a triple overtime 6 turnover loss to Dillard three weeks ago, they have been a buzz saw all year. Monarch got a glimpse of what Flanagan will bring Friday night and the loss of Bush will make this a closer matchup....But I think in the end you are right STARaider2014, Flanagan is down defensively but their offense will be stronger then anything the Knights have seen all year. The team that wins the turnover battle will likely win this game.
Both teams are well coached and I think this one is a barn burner with Flanagan coming out on top by 3 in the end!
-
I agree STARaiders2014. Plantation seems to be playing their best ball of the year right now....this will be their Superbowl....STA surely capable of the shutout but I think Plantation finds a way to get a score or two. I am thinking the 38-13 type range in this one but expect Plantation to go down swinging.
You are right , injuries can devastate a team this time of year hopefully the game is injury free. I saw the Broward 8A playoff game of Flanagan/Coral Springs game last week and the FIRST play of the game Flanagan's State Title run was jeopardized with their top defensive player LB Devin Bush breaking his wrist. 3 minutes to go in the game Springs QB Jake Bofshever (actually a former STA QB) got a dislocated shoulder and was also hauled off in the ambulance.
-
Maybe Chip Kelly if he is gets tired of the NFL...
-
Just seconds into this game Flanagan suffered a huge loss . Flanagan LB, play caller, defensive leader and arguably their best defensive player Devin Bush Jr.suffered a broken wrist and was hauled off in an ambulance. Flanagan's defense just did not look right in this opening playoff game. Although, the Falcons had a couple interceptions for TD's, an 85 yard Kickoff Return TD, a 65 yard punt return TD, they eventually went on to a 49-28 victory, their physicality and fire were missing for parts of the game though.... Perhaps they did not take Coral Springs serious and the immediate loss of DB Jr. early in the game discombobulated the team but they were very off their usual physical game. At times in the game Coral Springs attacked right up the middle effectively taking advantage of Bush Jr. not being on the field... The game was closer then the final score as Flanagan capitalized on big plays and special teams to earn the W. Although he got knocked out of the game with a dislocated shoulder Coral Springs QB Jake Bofshever and the Coral Springs Offense made a good showing. They put up the most points on Flanagan on the year and outside of Miramar, Coral Springs played the Falcons more physical then anyone to date. Hopefully Devin Bush Jr. and Jake Bofshever make a complete and speedy recovery.
Flanagan will play @ Monarch (game @ Deerfield Beach High) next week. Deerfield Beach High ironically is where Flanagan's season ended last year with a phantom offensive pass interference call on the Falcons (would have been the win) vs. Deerfield Beach. Monarch's team was in the visitors bleachers with the Coral Springs crowd, with clipboards and getting film etc... Monarch fortunately automatically advanced to Round 2 injury free since Miramar was banned from post season play. Monarch is home, rested and knows what to expect from Flanagan next week. Monarch also knows they beat Coral Springs 70-31 last month! Factor in the massive loss of Devin Bush Jr. for Flanagan and at this point many would likely favor Monarch in this matchup.
-
Saw Monarch play last week. Damn good team....they play Oregon/Baylor style offense and are also solid on defense. That is how they gave the ball away 6X and STILL were in the game but lost in triple OT...I think Miramar's D would keep them in the game and eventually win a very close game ....but offensively I doubt Miramar and their QB could trade TDs with Monarch.
-
While heading into work this morning around 8am in downtown Fort Lauderdale I did indeed see the protest outside the Broward School Board building. Also, on the way out around 11 AM their was a larger crowd...There were news trucks, parents, Miramar supporters and Miramar school board members....the most disturbing part was about 35 football players obviously skipped school today. I understand the passion and how it effects the kids but when the nature of the situation is of low GPA(s) and academic in nature... perhaps it is not the best idea to be skipping school to attend this protest. This kind of stuff is usually handled behind closed doors and board members. Sure, the parents and the community should be heard 100% but the student athletes skipping school??? What message is that sending to the student athletes (and at this point the media) about the priorities of Miramar High School? Unfortunately, it just backs up the previous alleged rumors of the Miramar program.
Now, the rumors are spreading to possibly up to more then 5 players and the grade/transfer scenarios may have been going on for a few years and also CASH benefits (paid to play). Again, just rumors and again only the Miramar players are stating they are not playing in the post season and there is no official ruling as of yet - according to reports....Students are supposedly tweeting 2 year ban coming...
I agree Zoe Boy/STARaiders, Miramar might be in for a few rough years...- mass exodus on the way. Why Carol City though? I think they also spread out to other stronger programs -Norland - could be coming up next year, Flanagan -well coached and maybe Hallandale-solid program?
Matt Strout surely wanted to bring the ship down with him and he likely will never be able to get another Coaching job in South Florida.....The Eric Mangini of SFL HS Football now...Very unfortunate situation for the student athletes that were not involved with this mess....
So if all this is official, and Miramar is out ...shouldn't Cypress Bay get in now to face Monarch? Supposedly the rules state theses scenarios are handled with a bye/forfeit...which is not really fair to Coral Springs or Flanagan who have to earn the win to advance and had nothing to do with this.
-
Just to update on this situation.....the new rumor is Miramar will be officially out of the Playoffs due to ineligible players participating throughout the regular season. Friends and Family of the Miramar program will be protesting the apparent suspension outside the Broward County School headquarters early Thursday Morning. Cypress Bay has filed legal paperwork as the third seed in the District claiming they should be allowed to face Monarch. Monarch apparently will receive a bye in the first round and automatically advance to face the winner of Flanagan/Coral Springs. So it appears because of the situation, not only Miramar but Cypress Bay and even Flanagan are also losers here.
Overall, just a black eye for South Florida High School Football. Fans lose a great matchup(s) as well....I have no idea what the protest for Miramar Football to play is for. Rules and laws are in place for a reason and the allegations seem to be pretty obvious at this point. Matt Strout surely took the ship down with his departure and it looks like this mess is going to cost the Miramar program a pretty penny. It is possible the program could get banned from postseason play in 2015 when this is all sorted out. The impact that would have on the Miramar program would be costly. Don't want to speculate further on this until more facts come in...
Trinity Christian 27 AH-Delray 7
in The Huddle
Posted
Great win for the Trinity Christian! From what I read, the Conquerors rushed all over AHD for 330 yards and also had 4 takeaways from the Stallions. Sounds like domination for the most part!