High School Sports | Cardinal Newman takes on nation’s No. 2 team Chaminade-Madonna | Regional final high school football predictions

We are getting down to the nitty gritty as the Florida High School Athletic Association football playoffs head into the home stretch.

Two-time defending state champion Chaminade-Madonna has rolled through the opposition this season. The nation’s No. 2 ranked team according to MaxPreps has outscored its opponents 544-130, including a 67-0 thrashing of Avant Garde in the Class 1M contest last week.

The Lions have pitched four straight shutouts, covering 17 quarters leading up to this week’s Class 2M game against visiting Cardinal Newman on Friday at 7 p.m. Chaminade-Madonna is 3-1 against the Crusaders, dating back to a 40-13 loss in 2013. The Lions have won the past three, the last two enroute to state championships.

Other games to watch include Palm Beach Central at Monarch and Coconut Creek at St Thomas Aquinas. Western will be taking on the defending Class 4M state champions.

I ended up going undefeated last week at 12-0, and I am 139-26 for the season.

Class 1M

2. Cardinal Newman (9-1) at 1. Chaminade-Madonna (11-0) (Friday 7 p.m.): The Crusaders have won five straight games, while the Lions have outscored their past four opponents 258-0. Senior quarterback Cedrick Bailey (2,411 yards passing, 36 TDs) has paved the way for the Lions, and his favorite target is senior receiver Jeremiah Smith (1,083 receiving yards, 16 TDs). Cardinal Newman counters with senior quarterback Luke Warnock (1,356 passing yards, 22 TDs) and junior running back Jaylin Brown (880 rushing yards, 7 TDs). Chaminade-Madonna 33, Cardinal Newman 16.

Class 2M

2. Cardinal Gibbons (9-3) at 1. American Heritage (9-1) (Friday 7:30 p.m.): American Heritage, ranked No. 20 in the nation and No. 1 in Class 2A in the state, has won seven straight games following its lone loss to Chaminade-Madonna, 28-16. Sophomore quarterback Dia Bell is coming off a 313-yard passing performance with three scores, and he ran for two more in the 49-7 win over King’s Academy. Sophomore receivers Brandon Bennett and Malachi Toney each had 101 yards and a TD. Cardinal Gibbons has been led by senior QB Michael Merdinger (2,671 passing yards, 25 scores), senior RB Patrick Anderson (1,022 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and eight players with 193 receiving yards or more. American Heritage won the earlier meeting 48-7. American Heritage 30, Cardinal Gibbons 10.

Class 3M

3. Coconut Creek (10-2) at 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (11-1) (Friday 7 p.m.): The host Raiders are hoping for a fifth consecutive state championship and have been getting solid production from senior running back Jordan Lyle (1,047 rushing yards, 16 TDs) and linebacker Nick Rodriguez (78 tackles, 12 TFL, 9 sacks). The nation’s 10th-ranked team is on an 11-game win streak and outscored its playoff opponents 103-6. Coconut Creek’s two losses have come against the nation’s No. 40 team, Gainesville (Ga.)  (12-0) and No. 2 Chaminade-Madonna, and both teams are 5-0 against common opponents this year. The Cougars edged West Boca 24-17 last week. St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Coconut Creek 14.

3. Miramar (8-4) at No. 2 Homestead (10-1) (Friday 5 p.m.): Host Homestead, ranked 44th in the country,  snuck by Miami Southridge 35-33 last week, while Miramar cruised past Miami Belen 31-7. The Broncos have senior quarterback Joshua Townsend, senior running back Isaac Brown and junior receiver Cortez Mills, who Miramar must stop. The Patriots counter with senior quarterback Kael Alexander, senior running back Jordan Jones and senior receiver Eric Nelson. Homestead 35, Miramar 31.

Class 4M

2. Palm Beach Central (10-2) at 1. Monarch (10-2) (Friday 7:30 p.m.): Monarch jumped out to a 30-0 lead and then had to hold off visiting Santaluces for a 50-27 win. Knights senior quarterback and UMass commit A.J. Hairston threw for 185 yards and a score and added a TD run in the win. Palm Beach Central’s offense is just as potent behind sophomore quarterback Caleb Butler and four quality receivers. Monarch 28, Palm Beach Central 27.

3. Western (9-3) vs. 1. Miami Columbus (9-1) (Friday 4 p.m.): Western has won six consecutive games since a 28-14 loss to American Heritage. The Wildcats’ other losses have come to St. Thomas Aquinas and Coconut Creek. Senior quarterback Davi Belfort threw for 171 yards and ran for 43 in a 19-9 win over Miami Palmetto. The Explorers, defending Class 4M state champions, have won three in a row after a 16-3 loss to undefeated (12-0) Miami Norland. The other loss was 32-16 to Miami Homestead. Miami Columbus 20, Western 14.