2003 Football Outlook
By Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat
June 5, 2003

High school football is slowly approaching and we can feel it in the air. The talk has started again since the culmination of spring football and we are all wondering who the best teams are, making our brilliant predictions, that usually end up being incorrect, and giving our prognostications that usually mean absolutely zero once the kids get on that field.

I mean really, what was the prediction last year? My pick was Central. Central this and Central that. Heck, I picked Central to go 15-0. When the season started, no one really picked Central, but me. Everyone had their money on Killian and Bobby Washington, but after the Rockets made the Cougars look silly, people opened their eyes and started talking about Central.

And Central gave us all reasons to talk. Until that awful day in October when Bryan Pata was deemed ineligible and Central would have to forfeit its first five games with a monster game against Northwestern looming.

Could the Rockets actually go 5-0 in the final 5, with games against Northwestern, Norland and Carol City?

They did, but they ran out of gas. 10-0 they were, but 5-5 is what the record book stated and they were upset in the 1st round of the playoffs by #1 ranked Plantation, who happened to be 10-0 as well, but was a huge underdog in the eyes of many, including myself. Can you really call the #1 team beating a 5-5 team an upset? Most definitely because Central was the true #1 team in the state, but had to be dropped cause there was a time when most people didn’t think they would even make the playoffs.

But the Colonels put all their eggs in one basket, and after coming away with a 28-23 win over the Rockets, after trailing by 10 at the half, Plantation had nothing left for Carol City the week after and was sent packing with what was the Colonels’ best team ever.

So who ended up winning it all? Norland. They resurrected from the dead after a 32-12 shellacking at the hands of the Rockets and made a most impressive run through the playoffs, knocking off the likes of Dillard, Carol City, Northwestern and finally Orlando Edgewater on that miracle pass from Robert Spence to Sean Bailey, the little-used wide receiver who became hero in the span on 10 seconds on that freezing night in Tallahassee.

So who is it this year???

Carol City returns a truckload, including Chris Strothers at running back and Vernon Wilder and Maurice Peterson at linebacker, and a host of others, and might possibly have Willie Williams, possibly the best linebacker in Florida, if they can get a waiver for him to have a 5th year of eligibility.

Killian brings back Bobby Washington, but without a passing game, will Washington be enough? More than likely, no, but if they are able to bring in some guys who can catch the ball and someone who can throw it, Billy Rolle will have something very dangerous down south.

Staying down south, you have South Dade and Homestead, who should both be very good next season. Charlie Jones returns for the Bucs and Tavares Kendrick returns for the Broncos. They should lead their teams somewhere next season. I am not saying championship, but they will surprise people.

Which leads us back up north to Northwestern.

What is the story with Da West??? Can anyone figure this team out????

They have the most talented football team every year it seems, but they seem to find a way to gag it away each and every time out.

I know, I know. They have won a few titles since 1995, but this school should never lose a game. They are simply loaded every year. How Apopka beat them a couple years ago in the title game is still mind-boggling to me, but expect Da West to be in contention.

How 'bout them Rockets??? They lost a truckload, but they bring back some players. Don’t sleep on the Rockets. I won’t say 15-0 this time, but 7-3, 8-2 is quite realistic, but that district with the Rockets, the Chiefs and the Bulls is sick.

You want my pick right now. I will let you wait a little longer for that.

Then the Broward teams are wild also. Plantation you know will be back up there, but they aren’t as good as last season and everyone knows it. Ely jumps to 6A. So much for defending a state championship.

The Tigers lost the Great Wall of Tigers in Andrew Bain and Cyrim Wimbs, not to mention All-World running back Tyrone Moss, but they do return Norris Smith and a sweet defensive line that is led by Brandon Daniel.

Don’t sleep on Deerfield Beach. The Tigers did last season and it was their only loss on the season. The Bucks are bringing it in 2003 with Brent Schaffer at the helm.

St. Thomas Aquinas makes the jump to 5A, while Dillard comes down to 5A from 6A. Oh lord. There will be a rumble for that District Championship. Expect the Raiders to take it.

What about Chaminade? They lost “The Beast” Jon Beason, but you know Guandolo is reloading for 2003 and wants to get back to that title game. That 6-0 loss to Bolles you know doesn’t sit well in his mouth.

Back to Dade County. Small schools. Quite honestly, the Dade County small schools are pretty bad overall. There is only one or two worth anything and it starts and ends with Monsignor Pace.

The Spartans move to 3A, but bring back a solid squad lead by safety Lovon Ponder and running back Conredge Collins, but they are very weak at linebacker. With only one returning starter at linebacker, that could be the spot where opponents can hit the Spartans in the mouth.

Other than Pace, the rest of the small schools in Dade won’t be much.

Whoa, I almost forgot, what about Norland and Edison? Edison is the 5A monster and will not be stopped. No helmet tossing incident will stop the Red Raiders this time. And by the way, that kid never tossed his helmet, so stop crying about it. Norland will feel the pain of losing 37 seniors, but they will still be solid enough to win 6 or 7 games. You can’t be a state champ and then tank it.

That about sums it up, so again, what are my thoughts, picks, or whatever you want to call it.

Well, for Dade County, it’s Miami Central. There, I said it. Call me crazy. These guys have something to prove. If it’s not Central, it’s Carol City, but I am sticking to it. Miami Central will win the 6A state championship.

In 5A, look out cause here come the Red Raiders. All the way to Gainesville. The Raiders from Broward County, aka St. Thomas Aquinas will not be able to hold off Bruce Mompremier, Jacky Claude and company as the Red Raiders will meet Palm Bay for the 5A title and bring home the hardware.

4A is Booker T. time, but they won’t get past the mighty Trojans from Tallahassee in Lincoln High School.

3A, what’s the story in 3A. It won’t be Pace. Sorry Spartans. You guys lost too much, and then moved up to 3A. Not happening. Glades Central will be back and lock horns with Jacksonville Bolles for the 3A crown. It’s Raider time again.

In 2A, Chaminade needs to get that ring and the only team that can get in its way is Madison County, but it won’t happen. It’s time for those Lions to bring it home.

In 2B, well it's the most boring classification in Florida. No offense to the 2B’ers, but it’s the truth. Give the trophy to Pahokee right now cause no one can mess with them in 2B.

In 1A, Glades Day and Trinity Christian will do battle, but Trinity Christian is simply the best 1A team, far and away. Just ask American Heritage from Delray about how good that Trinity Christian team is that returns virtually everyone.

So that’s it folks. See you in December in Gainesville. You always know that if you don’t agree, feel free to bash me, but better yet, do it on the chat forum and make sure you register.