As the 2024 Florida high school football season continues to move along, let’s take a look at the Week 3 slate across the Sunshine State and make a few predictions for some of the top contests.
IMG Academy vs. Cocoa
The top Week 3 matchup in Florida high school football takes place down in Bradenton, where two of the state’s best programs face off as the IMG Academy Ascenders host the Cocoa Tigers.
This will be the first in-state contest for IMG (1-1) this season.
Cocoa (2-0) picked up a pair of victories over the season’s first two weeks, routing Titusville and Mainland by final scores of 42-10 and 51-0, respectively.
While rare that the Ascenders lose to an in-state foe, don’t count out the Tigers here, as this game could easily be close.
Prediction: IMG Academy 30, Cocoa 27
St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Miami Columbus
A pair of defending Florida high school football state champions collide this Friday night as the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders play host to the Miami Columbus Explorers.
After a season-opening loss to national power Bishop Gorman (Nevada), the Raiders (1-1) got back to their winning ways a week ago with a dominant 51-0 win against Boyd Anderson.
Miami Columbus comes to Fort Lauderdale also sitting at 1-1.
The Explorers would like to bounce back here, but doing it against the Raiders is a tall task.
Prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 33, Miami Columbus 24
Chaminade-Madonna vs. American Heritage (Plantation)
Two of South Florida’s biggest brands face off Friday night as the Chaminade-Madonna Lions meet the American Heritage Patriots.
Chaminade-Madonna (0-2) will be looking for their first victory of the season after being upset a week ago at Blanche Ely.
The Patriots (1-1) did pick up their first victory last week, topping Western by a final score of 51-12.
Chaminade-Madonna has won the last two games between these two programs. Can they make it three this week?
Prediction: Chaminade-Madonna 30, American Heritage 28
Lake Mary vs. Lakeland
After an impressive 16-8 victory at Miami Central to begin the season, Lakeland returns to action this week with another highly anticipated road trip to Lake Mary.
Lakeland will present a challenge to a Lake Mary program that is undefeated at 2-0 overall and is led by one of the state’s top quarterbacks in Noah Grubbs.
Expect an instant classic between these two teams Friday night.
Prediction: Lakeland 33, Lake Mary 30
Jesuit vs. Valdosta (GA)
One of Georgia’s biggest programs travels to Tampa this Friday night when the Valdosta Wildcats take on the Jesuit Tigers.
Valdosta (3-0) has been dominant at times this season with victories over Tucker, Mundy’s Mill, and Dougherty.
Jesuit (1-1) originally opened the year with a 48-34 loss at Bishop Verot, but bounced back a week ago by defeating Benjamin.
A victory for Jesuit is certainly possible, but it could be a tough task against a Georgia high school power like Valdosta.
Prediction: Valdosta 28, Jesuit 20
Bishop Verot vs. Venice
We conclude this week’s game predictions with an anticipated showdown between the Bishop Verot Vikings and the Venice Indians.
Both teams are undefeated going into this matchup, and there’s no shortage of talent, headlined by Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith, a Michigan commit.
Expect this to be a high-scoring game that lives up to the hype.
