BrowardHandicapper

Welcome back STARaiders2014!

Remember if Miramar plays @ Monarch in Round 1 it will be at a neutral field (likely in Deerfield, Coco Creek or Coral Springs). Like Flanagan, Monarch has not really played a really strong team yet....but what they are doing to 8-A opponents is still impressive. Miramar's offense has only really been slowed by the strongest defenses out there and they still have a few weeks to prepare. Unfortunately for the Patriots, Monarch also might be one of the best defenses out there. I think Monarch would be slightly favored over Miramar but we got to remember Miramar was very close to having St. Thomas, Heritage-Plantation and Flanagan all defeated. Take away a few mistakes (they beat those teams) and we would be calling them a highly nationally ranked team...

I was at the game and to be honest it was a game of two halves....To me Flanagan just wanted it a little more in the closing minutes. The first half ended identical to last year (close game Flanagan looking to take the lead and in the closing seconds Miramar - pick 6) This year was different, Flanagan was just a little better and rebounded just enough to get the W..... I thought Miramar went a little to conservative late in the third, started eating clock a little early and was playing not to lose instead of playing to win.... I was surprised that Miramar stopped attacking the small Flanagan corner(I think #8) in the second half. Most of their offensive yards and their TD in the first half through the air on that corner. I would have thought after the St. Thomas and Heritage 4th quarter debuckles that Miramar would not let this game get away. Flanagan's QB Stanley really stepped up in the fourth ( broke a sack and ran 28 yards in the late game winning drive) and he may have been the slight edge in the game vs the Miramar QB. As I expected, Miramar did indeed get a few picks and Flanagan feasted on sacks and causing fumbles....Should Miramar beat Monarch they will likely face Flanagan in the playoffs. If these teams played 10 times they would likely split 5/5 . I watched the game from the Miramar sideline and I thought the vibe, the conversations of the crowd and the Miramar players may have underestimated Flanagan a little bit. Especially when Miramar went up 21-6 in the 3rd. I myself doubted Flanagan would mount a comeback like they did. At the end of the day Flanagan showed enough to prove they are legit and not just paper tigers.

Final. Flanagan 27-21.....

fumble Miramar, Flanagan returns 30 yds to Miramar 5. Td Flanagan and missed xp. 21-12 Miramar. As I type this another big hit by Flanagan on the kickoff return and fumble Miramar. Flanagan ball on Miramar 45. Another player hurt on the play (Flanagan) ..both teams have players going off. Very physical game as expected...

Miramar takes the momentum into the 3rd and takes a 21-6 lead. Flanagan's D tired and their offense can't. make a gain over 8 yds....Looking like the District 12 8-A King will hold the throne midway through the 3rd qtr..

Miramar takes the momentum into the 3rd and takes a 21-6 lead. Flanagan's D tired and their offense can't. make a gain over 8 yds....Looking like the District 12 8-A King will hold the throne midway through the 3rd qtr..

Miramar takes the momentum into the 3rd and takes a 21-6 lead. Flanagan's D tired and their offense can't. make a gain over 8 yds....Looking like the District 12 8-A King will hold the throne midway through the 3rd qtr..

Flanagan was just going in and pick 6 96yds....as time ran out in the half...deja vu .- Identical to last year. identical. 14-6 Miramar...

7-6. Miramar. Miramar just picking on a much smaller Flanagan corner...

7-6. Miramar. Miramar just picking on a much smaller Flanagan corner...

6-0 Flanagan...

Both teams 3 and. out first possession...

Both Driskell and Harris are listed as probable to play vs. Missouri.

09mrslick , I do think the home field does have a few small advantages. As long as they are not losing the Home Field will have the crowd. We also know Home teams tend to get a few more close calls throughout the game. Not supposed to but it is what it is.......However, to your defense (more specifically to Miramar's defense) for the purpose of this matchup I discovered Miramar has outscored opponents on the Road this year 189 - 14 . That includes @ Heritage- Delray 14-7 , @ Plantation 42-0 , @ Western 49-0, @ McArthur 35-0, and @ Everglades 49-7..... Regardless of the level of the opponent, Miramar has taken care of business away from home. This matchup last year at Miramar was electric, I remember getting to the game a little late and they didn't allow anyone in - full, full house ( had to walk around to get peeks of the game). The game was close for the most part. Miramar prevailed 24-16. Miramar will go into this year's game in what may be their top season form (QB - Demari Simpkins appears to have made a lot of progress) and Flanagan has been pretty much even keel all year- as we all know, not nearly as battle tested. Miramar may have faced more or equally talented teams but this may be the most physical team they have seen yet. Not so much on the line, but the Falcons pass rush is pretty intense. I don't know if it is the formations, players, or both but their linebackers don't let opponents breath. At the end of the day this may be a lower scoring defensive showdown (Dark Side vs. Dirty Birds) ....that said what QB will make few fewer mistakes? Miramar's Simpkins may be more prone to a fumble but Stanley may be more subject through the air and getting picked off vs. arguably the best secondary in FL. Will the King (Miramar) of District 12 -8A be temporarily dethroned? Probably not. But since I have been drinking this Flanagan and Monarch Kool Aid all year, why stop now? Flanagan 20 Miramar 19

After checking the Boxscore for Hallandale's game last week @ Suncoast. I saw it was 0-0 at Halftime. Hallandale outscores Suncoast 26-21 in the 3rd and 15-0 in the 4th! But Suncoast (0-7) found a way to trade td's with Hallandale??? Hallandale has had their guard down a couple times this season and it almost cost them. Another surprise was they needed a late comeback at home vs. Coral Springs in week 5. Hallandale opened the season at Miramar and was destroyed. Since then they have pulled off 6 straight wins but again they are suspect to putting their guard down at times...Another example, they handled Hollywood Hills with relative ease but Hills did put up 20 on them. Dillard has been an erratic team and apparently has given the ball up way too much in the red zone to give them a chance in their bigger games....One small thing Dillard has going for them is Hallandale might be looking ahead to Boynton Beach next week. Defensively at Home, Dillard should be able to hold Hallandale under 3 TDs. Offensively, if the Panther offense takes care of the ball, they have a shot at pulling out a close Home upset. Dillard pulls it out to stay alive for now... Dillard 23 Hallandale 20

Miramar who appears to be clicking on all cylinders now will look to take control of District 12 - 8A Friday night when they take on cross-town rival Flanagan. Although Flanagan have not really been tested, some believe the Falcons may finally have what it takes to get a win vs. the Patriots. This game will likely play a big role in the postseason vs. the District 11 8A next month. The loser will likely have to play @ Monarch (even though they don't have a home field) and the winner will likely get the reward of hosting a Douglas or Coral Springs which would likely be a much easier task to advance. A month ago, I liked Flanagan to win this in a very close game. However, based on the recent progress of the Miramar QB situation players returning from suspensions and health....Miramar might be a better team now then they were in the first few weeks. I'll need another day to think this one out...

What a game this one ended up being. 34-33 Final - Gibbons over Creek!

Well Dillard_High_Panthers....if you would have told me before this game started that Boynton Beach was surely only going to score 22 points, I would have told you Dillard has a damn good shot to pull off the road win. It sounds like the Defense did an outstanding job and the offense well....same mistakes, different day. From what I gather both teams struggled in the red zone but Boynton just made a few more big plays to keep the Panthers away from the near road upset.

Dillard @ Boynton Beach could also be interesting....

Navarre @ Niceville Cardinal Gibbons @ Coconut Creek Fletcher @ Raines

Sounds good and looking forward to this one.... 48 hours to go!

Flanagan, Monarch and Cardinal Gibbons have all played schedules comparable to Boynton and much softer then Dillard.....Is Dillard as good or better then those teams since they are much more battle tested?

Not a forgone conclusion because they are 6-0 and they surely have not played Dillard's schedule. I just think Boynton is a better right now. I also think Westminster Christian out of Miami is as good or better then Dillard right now as well. Perhaps I'm wrong. I also think Flanagan and Monarch and maybe Cardinal Gibbons who have not played close to Dillard's schedule would actually handle Dillard with relative ease. What do you think??? .....Dillard did not play well vs. IMG or Creek but is it possible those teams might also be as good or better then Dillard? I mean if Dillard turned the ball over 9 times inside the 5 yard line vs. Coco Creek, then Coco Creek had to have a few 95 yard drives for TD's (based on the final score)? Right? Having games like Dillard had against IMG and Coco Creek are the unfortunate part of football. Do you remember all of the games that Dillard's opponents in the past had similar to those (broke down mentally or made mistakes vs Dillard?) kind of games? Probably not. It happens to all teams but some teams just do it more then others. Again, I look at Dillard as a talented team yet erratic week to week. Call it mistakes, play calling.... but it is what it is. They are going to need to play their best game of the season (better then the way they played vs. what appears to be an average Plantation and average Deerfield team ) to beat Boynton Beach in my opinion.

Sure. I would say Westminster Christian out of Miami is at least as good (maybe better) as Dillard and Boynton also played a very good team out of Colorado (Heritage) who I think is as good as Dillard as well. Dillard has seen a better schedule top to bottom so far for sure ....but Westminster Christian is not a cupcake. There name might be but if you check them out you might agree ...they just might be as good as Dillard. Don't get fooled by the names..lol..( There is a Bishop Kenny High School out there better then Dillard as well...) BTW, looking closer at Dillard's schedule to start the season it looked ridiculously hard however week after week it looks to be turning our Plantation and Deerfield Beach are missing something this year. Yes, I know Plantation squeaked by Hollywood Hills 35-33 last week and Deerfield Beach won a pillow fight vs. Taravella 14-7 but they are both down this year. It is not Dillard's fault those programs have not shown up this year but getting the W vs. those teams does not look like a "big win" now. Dillard is just better this year. IMG and St. Thomas look like top 10 teams in the state and Coconut Creek ....well, I think you said yourself had not played anyone (going into the game vs. Dillard) , have talent but are not as good as Dillard... Let's be honest schedule strength is always a plus but sometimes talent and coaching wins. I happen to think right now Boynton is simply playing better and more consistent then Dillard. Flanagan, Monarch and Cardinal Gibbons have not played near Dillard's schedule but I think you would agree Dillard would struggle vs. those teams. We'll find out Friday night....Will Dillard's talent and sure edge in schedule strength allow them to prevail at Boynton Beach??? I'll be the first to be eating crow if Dillard drops 41 on them and wins!