1. Miami Northwestern
2008 Record: 13-2 in 6A, lost State Championship to Seminole 28-21.
2009 Classification: District 13-6A with Hialeah, Hialeah-Miami Lakes, Miami Beach, Central, and Miami Springs.
Reason for Optimism: QB Teddy Bridgewater is a super talent who gained valuable experience as a sophomore. RB's Corvin Lamb and Israel Linder will jump in at RB, Lamb has big time speed. WR's Michalee Harris and Eli Rogers are tremendous talents. Torrian Wilson, Donald Senat, and Terrence Carey headline a deep OL. TE Charles Fashaw is a talent. DT Todd Chandler is the most intense competitor in the state. Youngsters Jermaine Reve and Lyndon Edwards are ready to take the next step. They did lose two year starting CB Khalid Marshall for the season, but there is depth in the secondary.
The Road to the State Championship: MNW plays in the toughest District in the State, featuring #3 Miami Central. They split ball games last year. Hialeah and Miami Springs are lurking to play the upset role. Columbus figures to be a first or second round opponent.
2. St. Thomas
2008 Record: 15-0 in 5A, won State Championship 56-7 over Lakeland.
2009 Classification: District 16-5A with McArthur, Nova, and South Broward.
Reason for Optimism: The defending National Champions rolled through their schedule in 2008 and return plenty of talent. QB Turner Baty has a host of weapons on offense including RB's Gio Bernard and James White. Transfer Lamarcus Joyner will play WR and team with youngster Phillip Dorsett to stretch the field. OL Brandon Linder and Jermaine Barton are prototypes. Defensively, the secondary is as good as they come with Cody Riggs, Keion Payne, Brian Robinson, and Reynaldo Kirton(Joyner could play here as well). LB Vinnie Mauro plays in the middle with John Baglia manning one of the outside spots. Big things are expected from Kenneth Hankerson.
The Road to the State Championship: With back to back State Championships, St. Thomas is clearly the team to beat in 5A. Boyd Anderson, Manatee, Dillard, and Venice figure to be the top teams in their half.
3. Miami Central
2008 Record: 8-4 in 6A, lost to Northwestern in 2nd round 38-32 of playoffs.
2009 Classification: District 13-6A with Northwestern, Miami Springs, Hialeah, Hialeah-Miami Lakes, and Miami Beach.
Reason for Optimism: It all starts with long time starting QB Jeffrey Godfrey who has a cannon for an arm and the ability to throw on the move and pick up yards with his feet. RB Brandon Gainer is a horse who can get the tough yards as well as big gains. WR's Josh Reese, Charles Gaines, and Derrick Knowles are dangerous downfield threats. The OL has transfer Jose Jose as well as returning starter Stanley Jean. LB Derrick Dansby headlines a strong unit.
The Road to the State Championship: .....runs through Northwestern. The Rockets beat MNW last year in the regular season, but lost the more important playoff game. Should they get by MNW, things will loosen up considerably.
4. Pahokee
2008 Record: 12-3 in 2B, won State title 21-17 over Ocala Trinity Catholic.
2009 Classification: District 7-2B with Cardinal Newman, Coral Springs Charter, Inlet Grove, North Broward Prep, Pine Crest, and University School.
Reason for Optimism: Athletes everywhere. Dejoshua Johnson, Chris Dunkley, Dennis Hall, and Fred Pickett are a few of the state's top play-makers. For a small school (enrollment wise) they have some size with Antonio Ford, Richard Ash, Willie Bowles, and Doral Willis. DB's Merril Noel and Raheam Buxton will man the secondary. Rontavious Atkins and Zachary Allen are front 7 run stuffers.
The Road to the State Championship: Monsignor Pace is loaded and should be a second round opponent of the Blue Devils. Dunbar should be a semi-final opponent who has the athletes to compete. Bolles might be waiting in Orlando which would be intriguing contest.
5. Armwood
2008 Record: 12-1 in 4A, lost to Plant in quarterfinals 17-14 (beat them in game one 9-2).
2009 Classification: District 9-4A with East Bay, Hillsborough, and King.
Reason for Optimism: Armwood lost a lot of talent to graduation, but they always seem to re-load. Tavari Grant returns with Sherman Jessie to give the Hawks some play-makers. Theodore Jackson, Brandon Hickman, and Jermaine McKinley return to headline a defense that was dominant in 2008. The future of Alton Bailey is up in the air.
The Road to the State Championship: Armwood was poised for another State Title in 2008, but ran into a very talented Plant team. Largo is a District 10 team so could be a first or second round opponent. A quarterfinal clash with either Charlotte or Cape Coral appears in the cards. Dwyer should be waiting in the semi's.