High school football picks: Important district openers on tap

Wednesday, September 19, 2012
by Jeff Greer Matt Porter

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This is the first week of district play for a few teams, so there's an opportunity to take control of the future.

Ninth-ranked Wellington has a chance to cement its legitimacy with a win over Seminole Ridge, which would also earn the Wolverines a leg up in a four-team District 9-8A. Ridge has shown it can hold teams down but needs to find a way to break through Wellington's aggressive defense.

Boynton Beach and Suncoast could be battling for a District 14-5A playoff spot in Riviera Beach.

King's Academy can make a statement with a District 7-3A upset of top-ranked American Heritage, but a more even matchup will come next week against Cardinal Newman.

Several non-district games are plenty intriguing. Can Glades Central right the ship and send No. 5 Park Vista back to the coast with its first loss? Can a rested Royal Palm Beach get back on track against big, physical Palm Beach Central? Will John I. Leonard and Lake Worth set single-game record for passing yards? Can Jupiter Christian give Glades Day a fight, or will Kelvin Taylor make a big leap in his chase for the national rushing record?

As always, we're itching to find out.

GAMES OF THE WEEK

(Games at 7 p.m. Friday unless noted)

No. 6 Palm Beach Central (1-1) at Royal Palm Beach (0-1)

Royal Palm's bye week was no doubt spent preparing for Central's rushing attack, but the Broncos' sudden ability to play defense must have had them doing extra homework.

Jeff: Palm Beach Central 21-17.

Matt: Palm Beach Central 34-30.

No. 5 Park Vista (3-0) at Glades Central (0-3), 7:30 p.m.

Desperation mode won't hit Belle Glade until the Raiders start losing district games, which isn't likely to happen, but fans will groan at another coastal school showing up in the Muck and winning.

Jeff: Park Vista 14-10.

Matt: Park Vista 17-14.

John I. Leonard (2-1) at Lake Worth (1-2)

Great battle of quarterbacks here: John I. Leonard senior Adam Johnson and Lake Worth sophomore Luis Peguero are 1-2 in passing yards for large schools. The Lancers turn the ball over less than the Trojans, however.

Jeff: John I. Leonard 31-14.

Matt: John I. Leonard 35-27.

No. 9 Wellington (3-0) at Seminole Ridge (0-2), 7:30 p.m.

Maybe the most pivotal game of the 2012 season so far, with Wellington hoping to keep momentum going after its upset of John I. Leonard last week and Seminole Ridge desperate to turn around an offense that's scored seven points and committed eight turnovers in two games.

Jeff: Seminole Ridge 17-7.

Matt: Seminole Ridge 14-10.

Jupiter (0-3) at No. 4 Palm Beach Gardens (2-1)

A learning experience for the rebuilding Warriors. Gardens should be able to run and throw at will, unless Jupiter puts up a monster defensive effort.

Jeff: Palm Beach Gardens 45-0.

Matt: Palm Beach Gardens 45-7.

King's Academy (2-0) at No. 1 American Heritage (3-0)

A major measuring stick for King's Academy, but not the game the Lions need. That's next week against Cardinal Newman. Heritage's defense and running game are just too tough.

Jeff: American Heritage 38-17.

Matt: American Heritage 27-7.

OTHER GAMES

MATT'S PICKS

Fort Lauderdale-Westminster Academy (0-3) at St. Andrew's (1-2), 7 p.m. Thursday: Don't be fooled by Westminster's record; the Lions hung with Pope and Pine Crest, the top two teams in the SFC North. Westminster 27-17.

Jupiter Christian (0-2) at No. 10 Glades Day (3-0): These teams have produced thrillers in the past six years, but Jupiter Christian's down cycle means one of the area's best rivalries is on hold. Glades Day 48-20.

Santaluces (1-1) at No. 8 Atlantic (2-1): Atlantic could be gaining steam after two consecutive wins, while Santaluces is coming off a bye week. Tough for the Chiefs to upset the Kryptonite Warriors at home. Atlantic 28-6.

Palm Beach Lakes (0-3) at Olympic Heights (3-0): Lakes hanging with No. 5 Park Vista should put a scare into the Lions, but Heights handled business in its past two games, beating Suncoast and Spanish River by a combined 83-0 score. Olympic Heights 26-6.

Forest Hill (1-2) at South Fork (2-0): Doubt that Forest Hill can stop South Fork senior Lorenz Velasco (312 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries). Plus, the Bulldogs have allowed nine points in two games. South Fork 41-6.

Clewiston (0-3) at Martin County (1-2): Neither team is as bad as its record indicates. Clewiston, which lost to King's by two points and had a comeback effort against Glades Day, is a little more trustworthy than Martin County. Clewiston 17-14.

Okeechobee (1-2) at Sebastian River (1-2): Big District 14-6A game for both. The Sharks, which beat the same Centennial team Okeechobee lost to, seem to have a slight advantage. Sebastian River 18-12.

Benjamin (2-1) at Coral Springs Charter (1-1): Though Pope slowed their roll last week, the Bucs are in the upper echelon of the SFC, while CSC is trying to break into those ranks. Benjamin 35-10.

Palm Bay-Heritage (3-0) at Port St. Lucie (1-2): The Jaguars should struggle to get stops against Heritage, which has outscored opponents 131-7. Heritage, 40-14.

Village Academy (1-2) at Summit Christian (2-0), Saturday: Few teams in Class 2A will be able to shut down Village's air attack. Senior Larry Brihm has already thrown for 617 yards and eight touchdowns on 26-of-46 passing. Village Academy 45-14.

JEFF'S PICKS

Oviedo-Master's Academy (1-1) at Berean Christian (2-0): Berean's off to a nice start, but Master's Academy presents a tougher challenge. Master's Academy 33-12.

Spanish River (0-3) at Dwyer (3-0): River has 12 points in three games; Dwyer's allowed nine. This will not end well for the visitors. Dwyer 56-0.

West Boca Raton (1-2) at Vero Beach (3-0): Nobody likes playing up the coast at Vero, even with the momentum of a good win last week. Vero Beach 35-7.

Cardinal Newman (3-0) at Fort Lauderdale-Calvary Christian (2-1), 4 p.m.: This is another tuneup for Newman ahead of its big King's matchup next week. Cardinal Newman 42-14.

Fort Pierce Westwood (0-3) at Jensen Beach (1-2): What happened to Westwood? The Panthers won eight games in 2010; they've been outscored 139-6 this fall. Jensen Beach 21-7.

Davie-University (3-0) at Treasure Coast (2-1): University beat Cocoa 49-3, and Cocoa beat American Heritage, the area's top team. Do the math. University 56-10.

Boynton Beach (2-1) at Suncoast (1-2): Perhaps the most telling game for both teams, as this could decide a playoff spot in District 14-5A. Boynton Beach 31-16.

John Carroll (2-1) at Pope John Paul II (3-0): Pope made an early claim to the Southeast Football Conference's top spot with win over Benjamin. Pope John Paul II 24-14.

Pahokee (0-3) at Inlet Grove (1-2): What a tough game to pick. Two years ago it was a blowout, in favor of Pahokee, but this one should be a lot closer. Pahokee 24-18.

Princeton Christian (0-1) at Boca Raton Christian (3-0), 4 p.m.: Boca Christian's offense has been explosive in two of three wins, and should be again. Boca Christian 42-7.

RECORDS

Jeff: 12-3 last week; 38-10 season.

Matt: 9-6 last week; 35-13 season.