While next week is one of those weeks where the matchups are not as impressive as many would like to see for the last week of the regular season, this coming week more than makes up for it.

Not only around the BCAA, but statewide, dreams are kept alive or dashed by what happens on football fields this weekend. This is the week that football fans point toward since the start of the season. This is what coaches and players have been working toward since last May when spring football began.

Obviously the matchup that everyone will be watching are the only two unbeaten teams left in the BCAA. On Friday night at 7:00, St. Thomas Aquinas (8-0, 2-0), No. 1 in the nation, will host South Broward, which sports the same record (8-0, 2-0).

On the surface, this does not appear to be a game that will end the Raiders’ dominance in Broward County, the state of Florida or the nation, where they have rolled this season. But, as South Broward head coach Allen Held, who has to be the overwhelming choice for Coach of the Year this season, said: “we’ll get dressed, go up there and see what happens.”

The Bulldogs will unleash junior running back/cornerback on the Raiders’ impressive defense and see of he can do what he has done to the previous eight opponents. St. Thomas Aquinas is simply loaded on defense, shutting down every BCAA opponent the past two seasons.

While the South Broward/St. Thomas game is the marquee contest, it isn’t the only game worth keeping an eye on this week.

Cardinal Gibbons’ “one game” season will take place on Friday night (7:30) at American Heritage. Win, and head coach Mike Morrill’s Chiefs will host a first round playoff game. A loss, and it’s off to face nationally-rated Glades Central - in Belle Glade.

The Chiefs have been beaten up all season with injury, and even though they have dropped games to St. Thomas and Ely, most who follow this game admit that with starting running back Daryeon Chance in the lineup against unbeaten Ely two weeks ago, the Chiefs would have come away with a win. That’s why most believe that Chance is the difference when they matchup with the Patriots in Plantation.

After a dismal season, head coach Scott Barnwell’s Hollywood Hills Spartans can salvage at least second place finish and a date with Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer in the first round of the playoffs with a win at West Palm Beach Forrest Hill.

The Spartans have had some rather bad luck in the regular season, and they are hoping that all changes on Friday night in Palm Beach County.

There are a few other playoff spots up for grabs this weekend, which will be highlighted by the Annual Broward Soul Bowl on Saturday evening, where Dillard will look to gain a playoff birth win an upset win at Lockhart Stadium again Ely.

Here is a look at the rest of this exciting weekend around the BCAA:

THURSDAY
Hallandale at Archbishop McCarthy
Monarch at Stranahan (Lockhart)

FRIDAY
Miramar at Boyd Anderson
Coral Glades at Coconut Creek (Coral Springs)
Coral Springs at Cooper City
North Broward Prep at Coral Springs Charter (Coral Glades)
Everglades at Cypress Bay
West Broward at Flanagan
Boca Raton Olympic Heights at Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart)
Nova at McArthur
Taravella at Northeast
Pine Crest at Pompano Beach
Piper at Western
Plantation at South Plantation

SATURDAY
Douglas at Deerfield Beach (Pompano Beach)

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).