Last week, we had the chance to see how impressive St. Thomas Aquinas is going to be again this year as the Raiders waltzed into Boyd Anderson and came away with a head-turning win over a program many are looking to compete for a playoff spot among 5A teams.

Speaking about teams making that special run a again. This week we have a key district meeting between the defending 6A state champion Miramar Patriots (1-1) and a Plantation squad that has gotten off to a very disappointing 0-2 start. The game begins at 7 at PAL Park in Plantation.

The Patriots started the season in Texas, losing in overtime to host DeSoto, but bounced back last week with a huge win over rival Everglades.

This week, they will be facing a Plantation team that is looking for a big win to get things back on course with head coach Steve Davis leading the way.

The Colonels come into the game hoping to unleash defensive specialists Ryan Shazier (Florida commit) and Ohio State-bound safety Jeremy Cash.

Last season, these two teams got together twice. In the district matchup and then in the playoffs.

For the Patriots, they can continue their dominance. The Colonels can make a statement and change the course of this season, which has not started off the way they had hoped.
BCAA PICK: Miramar 21, Plantation 7.

Ely Tigers (3-0) at Deerfield Beach (0-3): This 7 p.m. game is another huge test for a perennial area power, Deerfield Beach, which has lost to Coconut Creek, Dillard and Cypress Bay to start the season.

After an impressive spring and summer, the Bucks were hoping to get out of the gates quickly, but that has not happened, and against the Tigers, the job gets tougher.

Despite losing big to 6A Miami Central in the kickoff classic for the second straight season, this is a team that has rebounded and has knocked off Stranahan, South Plantation and Taravella to begin the season.

Huge game for momentum and bragging rights!

BCAA PICK: Ely 28, Deerfield Beach 14

Here are some other games this week, featuring BCAA member programs:

THURSDAY
Pine Crest at Coral Springs Charter, 7
West Broward at Stranahan (Lockhart), 7

FRIDAY
Olympic Heights at Hallandale, 7
Dillard at Douglas, 7
Everglades at Western, 7
Hollywood Hills at Flanagan, 7
Cardinal Gibbons at St. Thomas Aquinas, 7
Coconut Creek at Boyd Anderson, 7
Monarch at Cooper City, 7
Taravella at Coral Glades, 7
Pompano Beach at Nova, 7
Pines Charter at Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart), 7
Piper at South Plantation, 7

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at Floridakids1@hotmail.com. Blustein is the co-host of the High School Gridiron Show each Wednesday night from 9-10 on WQAM (560 AM) or www.wqam.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/larryblustein