Both teams have circled this game since the start of the season, and now, as the date fast approaches, the key District 14-5A matchup between unbeaten (7-0) Ely and 4-2 Boyd Anderson has arrived.

This Saturday night, all eyes will be focused on Lockhart Stadium for a game that will clearly put into focus what this three team district is all about.

If head coach Mark James and his Cobras can put it all together, they will take home the championship. An Ely victory and things are a bit more complicated as the Tigers will still have a date, in the season finale, against Dillard in the annual Broward Soul Bowl.

Having watched both teams play this year, this is too tough to call. Both have explosive offenses and stingy defenses. This is a game that will come down to which team makes the least mistakes, and for Coach James and Ely head coach Rodney Gray, that has been something that has prevented either from taking that next step.

The Cobras have been known more for a defense that gets after you in many ways. Strong up front with athletes such as Linval Williams, Matthew Grant and Shaun Ward and very gifted in the secondary with University of Florida commit Demar Dorsey, Steve Clarke, Ole Miss commit Cliff Coleman, junior Harmon Brown and sophomore Branden Butler. There is also Rutgers-bound linebacker/running back Marcus Thompson, who is a big time prospect.

The offense has also done well with junior quarterback Dane James and sophomore quarterback Ghierry Vanderkuyp, junior receiver Jesse York and an offensive line that is getting healthy at the right time.

The Ely Tigers are all about talented senior quarterback Michael German, who continues to lead the BCAA in passing. German has been a huge surprise for a team that has been a major surprise this season, winning all of its games.

In addition to German, the Tigers are also sparked by running back Keltron Goodwin, Tavarius Walker, Clinton Jones, Bryan Thomas and super sophomore Avery Johnson, the younger brother of former Tiger standout Patrick (Johnson) Peterson, who is now one of the top defensive backs in the nation for the LSU Tigers.

Johnson, a 6-2, 185-pounder, is a huge target with plenty of speed and athletic ability.

Defensively, Ely also has its share of quality athletes such as University of Minnesota commit Jabari Price, linebacker  David Holley and Courtney Hall.

“We have taken each game one at a time this year,” said James. “That is the only way you can play an entire season and come out on top. Looking ahead creates problems.”

While the Boyd Anderson-Ely game is certainly the showcase contest this week, it isn’t the only game that will be worth watching this week in the BCAA. Here are some others to choose from:

THURSDAY
Coconut Creek at Cooper City
Deerfield Beach at Taravella (Coral Springs)
Archbishop McCarthy at Pines Charter (Flanagan)

FRIDAY
Pompano Beach at Cardinal Gibbons, 4 p.m.
Monarch at Coral Springs
Coral Springs Charter at W. Palm Beach Cardinal Newman
Cypress Bay at West Broward (Cooper City)
South Plantation at Dillard
Flanagan at Everglades
Fort Lauderdale at Hallandale
Stranahan at Hollywood Hills (McArthur)
McArthur at St. Thomas Aquinas
Miramar at Western
Northeast at Douglas
South Broward at Nova
Piper at Plantation (PAL)

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at FloridaKids1@hotmail.com. He can also be heard every Thursday night (9-10) on the Miami Dolphins High School Gridiron Report on WQAM (560 AM).