Don’t look now, but there is a surprise team in the BCAA. One that nobody predicted would be a perfect 7-0, heading into their eighth game of the season.

When South Broward hosts West Broward on Thursday, the Bulldogs have a chance to be 8-0 as they will prepare for the district championship game at St. Thomas Aquinas on Nov. 6.

While veteran head coach Allen Held will tell you that he and his team fully expected to be in this position, he more than likely would have jumped for joy if someone told him that he would have been undefeated after seven weeks and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.

“These young men have never given up, bought into what the coaches have taught and are headed to the playoffs,” Held said. “It is a combination of talent, good coaching and plenty of breaks along the way.”

Held, who is also the head wrestling coach, has made plans to move over to the mats this time of year, but his wrestling team will have to wait for a while as the Bulldogs are assured of a first round playoff game. Something that this school has not experienced since Matt Lococo’s teams enjoyed some late 90s success.

While there will be no looking ahead to the matchup with the nation’s No. 1 Raiders this week, Held and the Bulldogs are just happy to have a chance to play for the district title. That opportunity almost didn’t happen.

In the district game against rival McArthur, South Broward found itself trailing the Mustangs by 12 points with less than 3 minutes remaining, but the belief that they could come back and win was all the Bulldogs needed. When junior sensation Kevin Grooms returned a punt 74 yards with 25 seconds left, the comeback was completed.

“That game against McArthur defined this season for us,” Held said. “It showed that no matter how far behind we are, we have the talent to come back.”

With senior linemen Djwany Mera and Trevaugh Faircloth, the Bulldogs have two players who are being sought after by some of the top colleges across the country. In fact, the senior class, which has gone through plenty of growing pains, has a number of athletes who several schools have been keeping an eye on.

In addition to Mera and Faircloth, the senior class also boasts receiver/defensive back Russell Neunie, Jermain Dumeng, Rickey Eyma and Kevin Pare, linebackers Dakota Liles, Adam Demczuk James Jones and Ryan Mosca, defensive back Thomas Jones, running back/defensive back Omari Hall-Newby, running back/linebacker Elija Tirado, and linemen Keyon August, Ramsey Shepard, James Henjum, Jean St. Louis and Parker Krei.

You cannot start talking about the junior class without a mention of one of Broward’s latest stars, Grooms. The 5-10, 160-pound running back/defensive back/return specialist is in his first season of high school football. His reputation as a youth football star preceded him before his first carry at South Broward.

“Kevin is the real deal,” Held said. “While I know people have not watched him and will not believe me, but he has the potential to be one of the best athletes in the nation. Ask any of the college scouts who have watched him. He has speed, athletic ability and is one of the hardest runners I have been around, and I have more than coached my share.”

The enthusiasm for Grooms is also shared by those who evaluate talent for a living.

In addition to Grooms, the junior class also boasts running back/linebacker Dwight Cotton, running back/defensive back Joe Lyles and Junior Sylvestre, wide receiver/defensive back Carson Stewart and Karvin Noel, linemen Alfonso Landy, Clavion Nelson, Scott Boyette and Cesar Suito, and kicker Lucanson Bernadin.

There are also talented sophomores Antonio Harris (receiver/defensive back), Chris Ayers (kicker) and lineman Sam Adams. Freshman Kevin Jacques, the brother of former South Broward standout and current USF lineman Steven Jacques, is promising as well.

“One of the things that we have always done around here is play the best on both sides of the ball,” Held explained. “Sometimes we get worn down during the course of a game, but it gives us the best shot at winning.”

Held has also surrounded himself with veteran coaches Pete Meyers and Roger Mitchell as well as South Broward alumni Darryl Florida, Matt Burke, Jermain Hollis and Vladimir Borombozin.

“This is a great coaching staff that all respects one another,” Held said. “Having four coaches who used to go to school here, like myself, is important when it comes to pride.”

As for the meeting with St. Thomas?

“We are just honored to have the chance to play the best team in the country,” Held said. “That is such a great program, but we will get dressed, take the bus ride and see what happens, I guess!”

Here are some of the games to check out this week in the BCAA:

THURSDAY
Archbishop McCarthy at Fort Lauderdale (Lockhart Stadium)
Cooper City at Coral Glades
Hallandale at Hollywood Hills (McArthur)
Taravella at Cypress Bay

FRIDAY
St. Thomas at Deerfield Beach (Lockhart)
Plantation at McArthur
Coral Springs at Cardinal Gibbons, 4 p.m.
Everglades at Dillard
Stranahan at Northeast
Piper at Miramar
Boyd Anderson at Douglas
Western at South Plantation
Flanagan at Lakeland
Pines Charter at Boca Raton Olympic Heights

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).