Fernandez: Opportunities await teams like Dillard, McArthur at midseason mark

It feels like September has flown as we’re approaching the midway point of the regular season already.

St. Thomas Aquinas looks like a national title contender. We knew Columbus would be better, but wow.

Central, Northwestern and Carol City will all have major showdowns in the coming weeks and are all contenders for the new Open Division playoffs.

Some teams are looking for consistency like Plantation American Heritage.

And for some programs like McArthur and Dillard, who play each other this week in one of week 5’s best matchups, now is the time to secure some significant victories.

Here’s a look at our new South Florida Top 20 rankings and the best games in the fifth week of the high school football regular season.

SOUTH FLORIDA TOP 20 – WEEK 5

1. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (4-0) d. Dillard 49-0

2. Miami Columbus (3-1) d. Palmetto 34-7

3. Miami Carol City (1-2): Idle

4. Miami Central (2-1) lost to Buford (Ga.) 19-7

5. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (3-1) d. True North 42-30

6. Miami Palmetto (3-1) lost to Columbus 34-7

7. Miami Northwestern (3-1) lost to Hawthorne 16-12

8. Plantation American Heritage (2-2) d. Jacksonville Trinity Christian 15-14 (OT)

9. Coconut Creek Monarch (2-1): Idle

10. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (2-2) lost to St. Thomas Aquinas 49-0

11. Coconut Creek (3-1) d. Cardinal Gibbons 17-14

12. Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (2-1) d. Naples Community School 49-12

13. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2-2): lost to Coconut Creek 17-14

14. Hollywood McArthur (1-2): Idle

15. Miami Norland (2-2): d. Miramar 33-0

16. Weston Cypress Bay (4-0): d. Goleman 59-13

17. Miami La Salle (4-0) d. Gulliver 33-13

18. Davie Western (3-1) d. West Broward 18-14

19. Miami Southridge (1-2): Idle

20. Miami Killian (3-1) d. North Miami 40-0

Dropped out: 18. Miramar (1-2) lost to Norland 33-0; 19. Miami True North (0-3): lost to Chaminade 42-30; On the cusp: Miami Springs (4-0), North Miami Beach (2-1), Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (1-2), Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace (2-1).

GAMES OF THE WEEK

10. Dillard (2-2) at 14. McArthur (1-2), 7, Friday.

Dillard was clobbered by St. Thomas Aquinas last week, but scored an impressive win over Coconut Creek the previous week. The Panthers will look to bounce back against McArthur, which had a week to rest and recover for the rest of a long season it hopes will end with a deep playoff push. Dillard’s running game and defense carries on the road and will get the Panthers a needed bounce back win. Dre’s pick: Dillard 23, McArthur 13.

8. American Heritage (2-2) at Lakeland (2-1), 7, Friday.

The Patriots’ schedule has no letup and will have them ready for another state title run eventually. Heritage showed its resilience last week in an ugly, mistake-filled win at Jacksonville Trinity Christian. The Patriots found a way in overtime and will find a way come playoff time. But Lakeland, aside from a close loss to Venice, has been dominant and could be one of the teams headed for the Open Division bracket. Dre’s pick: Lakeland 26, American Heritage 20.

5. Chaminade (3-1) at 13. Cardinal Gibbons (2-2), 7, Friday.

Credit Gibbons’ schedule-maker for making its early-season slate challenging and convenient as the Chiefs have not had to leave the friendly confines of their home field. Chaminade hasn’t made it comfortable one bit in recent years, though. The Lions have cruised to multiple blowout wins on Gibbons’ home turf. If Gibbons and playmaker Donte Findeson can control the clock a bit, it could be more competitive than in recent years. But the Lions, even with all the changes this offseason, still have too much. Dre’s pick: Chaminade 35, Cardinal Gibbons 17.

REST OF THE TOP 20

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (4-0) at 12. Archbishop McCarthy (2-1), 7, Friday.

Dre’s pick: St. Thomas Aquinas 42, Archbishop McCarthy 7. The Raiders turn even would-be tough matchups against ranked opponents into lopsided wins.

2. Columbus (3-1) vs. Homestead South Dade (1-2), 7:30, Friday, Harris.

Dre’s pick: Columbus 42, South Dade 7. The Explorers cleared the rough stretch of their schedule. Now they start adding up district wins.

Miami Edison (0-5) vs. 3. Carol City (1-2), 7, Thursday, Traz.

Dre’s pick: Carol City 52, Edison 2. Following their forfeit of the Mainland win, The Chiefs take out some frustration.

4. Central (2-1) vs. Miami Jackson (2-2), 7, Saturday, Traz.

Dre’s pick: Central 47, Jackson 6. The Rockets battled on the road last week and now return to winning ways.

Coral Gables (1-2) vs. 6. Palmetto (3-1), 7:30, Friday, Tropical.

Dre’s pick: Palmetto 42, Coral Gables 7. The Panthers need to learn from and turn the page after last week’s loss to Columbus.

North Miami (0-4) vs. 7. Northwestern (3-1), 7:30, Friday, Traz.

Dre’s pick: Northwestern 48, North Miami 6. The Bulls return home and bounce back comfortably before a showdown with Central next week.

Sunrise Piper (2-2) vs. 9. Monarch (2-1), 7, Friday, Coconut Creek.

Dre’s pick: Monarch 34, Piper 17. It could be another big night for Monarch and its emerging star quarterback.

11. Coconut Creek (3-1) at Boyd Anderson (2-2), 7, Friday.

Dre’s pick: Coconut Creek 38, Boyd Anderson 8. The Cougars had a nail-biting win over Gibbons. This one won’t be nearly as close.

15. Norland (2-2): Idle

Stoneman Douglas (1-2) at 16. Cypress Bay (4-0), 7, Friday.

Dre’s pick: Cypress Bay 45, Douglas 2. The Lightning remain unbeaten.

17. Miami La Salle (4-0) at Archbishop Carroll (3-1), 3:30, Friday.

Dre’s pick: La Salle 28, Carroll 14. The Royal Lions seem to be building toward another unbeaten regular season.

18. Western (3-1): Idle

True North (0-3) at 19. Southridge (1-2), 7, Thursday.

Dre’s pick: True North 38, Southridge 14. Here’s where the Titans finally leave the field with the feeling of victory.

Tampa Catholic (4-0) vs. 20. Killian (3-1), 7:30, Friday, Southridge.

Dre’s pick: Tampa Catholic 16, Killian 14. The Cougars will be battle-tested come playoff time thanks to games like this.

OTHER GAMES

Thursday — Miami-Dade vs. Broward: Doral vs. West Broward (Cypress Bay), 7; WB 20-14; Ransom Everglades at Somerset Academy, 3:30; RE 35-6; Miami-Dade: Homestead vs. Southwest (Tropical), 7:30; Hom 14-7; Coral Park at Sunset, 3:30; CP 6-3; HML vs. South Miami (Tropical), 3:30; SM 28-12; Hialeah vs. American (Milander), 7; Am 35-3; Reagan at Varela, 3:30; RR 17-7; Somerset Silver Palms at Benjamin, 6; Benj 34-16; Broward: Coral Glades at Nova, 7; Nova 24-20; Cooper City at Pines Charter, 6; Coop 34-14; Northeast vs. Plantation (PAL), 7; Plan 42-7; Stranahan vs. Hollywood Hills (Lockhart), 7; HH 16-13; Pine Crest at Oxbridge Academy, 7; Ox 35-28.

Friday — Miami-Dade: Mater Academy at Monsignor Pace, 7:30; Pace 21-20; Goleman vs. Hialeah Gardens (Milander), 7:30; Gol 30-14; Miami Springs vs. NMB (Traz), 3:30; MS 38-33; Belen at Westminster Christian, 4; WC 31-27; Key West at St. Brendan, 7; KW 27-7; Braddock vs. Miami Beach (Memorial), 7; MB 41-13; Riviera Beach Inlet Grove at Florida Christian, 7; FC 35-14; St. Frances Episcopal at Palmer Trinity, 4; SFE 24-14; Broward: Blanche Ely at Deerfield Beach, 6; DB 19-13; Pompano Beach vs. Coral Springs Charter (Glades), 7; CSC 14-8; Flanagan at Miramar, 7; Mir 34-7; Hallandale at Everglades, 7; Hall 22-6; South Plantation at Boca Raton, 7; BR 17-14; Westminster Academy at Vero Beach Masters Academy, 7; WA 35-34; Boca Raton St. Andrews at North Broward Prep, 7; SA 33-14.

Andre Fernandez’s record — Last week (Top 20 games): 10-2 (.833); Overall: 37-6 (.861); Season – (Top 20): 43-14 (.754); Overall: 144-38 (.791).