High School Football Week Seven: Great Time Of Year

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Is there a better month in the sports calendar than October?

February – Super Bowl and NBA All-Star game – maybe, but October gives you a bit of everything.

Football is starting to get really good. Baseball is reaching its crescendo point. Hockey is going. And, basketball is about to start.

See, there's something for everyone.

I also like it because it's the time of year where it will no longer be 90 degrees at night and even though the days still require midday shirt changes – when you find some shade during the day, you can actually enjoy the breeze.

The high school football season is in its second half, which means just about every game from here on out will have some sort of bearing on the playoffs.

These games will be intense.

And anyone who still hasn't bought in to the phenomenon that is South Florida high school football, why do you think these two guys were at the Central-Booker T. game two weeks ago?

It's a big deal.

Miramar Coaches, Player Suspended

No season would be complete without a bit of controversy.

SFHSSports learned Thursday that Miramar head football coach Pierre Senatus, two assistant coaches and one Patriots player received suspensions stemming from events that occurred during the week six game against rival Flanagan.

According to early reports by the Sun-Sentinel, the school received a $750 fine and Senatus' suspension was based on a "lack of control over his coaching staff".

Senatus, who is in his first season leading the Patriots after serving as a top assistant at Miami Booker T. Washington, will miss Miramar's Oct. 9th game against district rival Cypress Bay.

Defensive coordinator A.J. Scott, who served as interim head coach in 2014 after Miramar's tumultuously removed its previous head coach, also will have to serve a one-game suspension and assistant coach Josh Taylor received a six-game ban.

SFHSSports' calls to Senatus and Scott were not returned.

Also, 6-foot-4, 230-pound junior defensive end Owen Carney received a year-long suspension. Carney, who was being recruiting by Minnesota, Marshall, Michigan and Virginia Tech, played a key role in Miramar's "Dark Side Defense" and should be eligible to return to the team at the start of the 2016-17 season.

The rivalry between Miramar and Flanagan is a heated one. The teams engaged in pregame hyperbole and trash talking via social media and things came a boil when both teams' captains refused to shake hands at the pregame coin toss.

Miramar is 2-4 on the season, but could technically still make the playoffs in in district 12-8A.

Dade County Special
Northwestern Bulls vs. Booker T. Washington Tornadoes
Saturday at Traz Powell Stadium, 7pm

I know a lot of people will be glued to their TV to watch Miami take on Florida State.

But there is a big rivalry game going on right in our backyard.

Northwestern and Booker T. Washington have a rivalry that spans back decades to win it was called the "Turkey Day Classic" – predating and setting the precedent for what we now know as the "Soul Bowl".

While these two teams may not have the records that many of their fans would like them to have – 7-8 combined – neither team is short on talent.

Booker T. has a very young roster. Freshman quarterback Daniel Richardson has already put himself in the conversation as one of the better quarterbacks in Dade County this season. He's been relying on receivers Raymond Flanders and Darrius "Jelly" Scott – and both are dynamic playmakers.

Northwestern is a team that's trending in the right direction. The Bulls have played one of the toughest schedules in the South Florida and I think they'll be better for the wear because of it.

They have a young signal caller in Chatarius "Tutu" Atwell, a spindly sophomore that has battled back from injury and is back making plays for the Bulls offense.

Many of South Florida's future stars will be on the field all at once in this game.

Broward County Special
Plantation Colonels vs. Flanagan Falcons
Friday at Flanagan HS, 7pm

Here's a throwback game.

A game featuring two teams that want to run the ball, play defense, and beat up their opponent.

Plantation has been flying under the radar so far this season, but the Colonels are 4-1 – only loss coming to St. Thomas Aquinas – and fully in control of their playoff fate.

Colonels head coach Steve Davis has a quite the resume too. He led Blanche Ely to a football state title in 2002 and he coached current Duke University star Jeremy Cash and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier.

Plantation uses a balanced rushing attack and a stout, opportunistic defense to wear down teams.

Flanagan comes into this game riding high after knocking off Miramar last week and feeling a lot better about their chances because of the healthy return over senior quarterback Kato Nelson.

Nelson missed the first four games of the season recovering from offseason knee surgery. Without Nelson, the Falcons offense tended to sputter. With Nelson, Flanagan is capable of getting the ball to receivers Dredrick Snelson and Jahcour Pearson and operating more fluidly overall.

Also, Flanagan's "Dirty Bird Defense" is one of the stingiest units in Florida and they have three big-time players in linebacker Devin Bush Jr., safety/linebacker Devin Gil and cornerback Stanford Samuels III – throw in the leadership of head coach and former NFL safety Devin Bush Sr. and you have the mixings for a low-scoring slugfest.

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