Two of Miami-Dade County’s biggest high school football names are set to collide Thursday night, and the matchup at Southridge Stadium carries real weight in Class 6A, District 16. Miami Palmetto brings a 3-0 record into the game, while Christopher Columbus arrives at 2-1 after a demanding two-game stretch against elite opposition.
The weather could be part of the backdrop, too. AccuWeather is calling for light thunderstorms and rain in the Miami area this afternoon, and conditions will be watched closely as kickoff approaches.
Columbus’ recent schedule has been brutal by design. The Explorers knocked off then-No.
1 Bishop Gorman, 33-28, two weeks ago, then fell 31-24 last week to St. Thomas Aquinas, which is currently ranked No. 1 by multiple selectors.
Palmetto’s path has been more straightforward, with wins over Killian, 35-0, Mater Academy Charter, 42-7, and Southridge, 28-6, last Friday night.
That Southridge result matters here because Columbus also handled Southridge this season, winning 45-7 in a more decisive fashion. It’s one more reason this matchup feels like a real measuring stick, even before you get to the history between the programs.
And that history leans heavily toward Columbus. The teams met only occasionally before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Explorers won all three of those early meetings by wide margins: 35-3 in 2010, 22-7 in 2013 and 42-0 in 2018.
Since then, the rivalry has become a regular part of District 16 life through a series of realignments that moved the schools from Class 8A to Class 4M to Class 7A and now Class 6A. In nine matchups since 2021, Columbus has won six times, including playoff victories in 2021 and 2022.
Columbus also used that 2022 playoff win as a springboard to its second state championship, then added a third title the following year. Still, the Panthers have had the upper hand most recently. Two of their three wins in this stretch came last season, when they beat Columbus 24-21 in the regular season and then followed it with a 27-10 win in the second round of the playoffs.
Palmetto nearly turned last fall into something even bigger. The Panthers came within a point of reaching their first state championship game, losing 45-44 in double overtime to Vero Beach in the Class 7A state semifinals. Vero Beach then lost the state title game to Lake Mary, 28-27.
The talent on both rosters is hard to miss. Columbus senior A’mir Sears, a five-star athlete committed to the University of Miami, had a monster performance against Bishop Gorman with two touchdown catches and three interceptions. He’s part of a deep group that also includes safety Ajavion Willis (Pitt), running back Cecil Smith (Northern Illinois), quarterback Kai Moore (Northern Illinois) and junior wide receiver Sanjae Green.
Palmetto has its own headliners, led by wide receiver Kaden Howard (Georgia Tech), quarterback Jamison Larsen, running back Aiden Butler, defensive end Brandon Howard and linebacker Mathias Augustin.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Southridge Stadium in Miami.
In Other News...
Florida Is Chasing A Jacksonville Star Who Could Reopen A Crucial Pipeline
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For Florida, the appeal goes beyond one highly ranked defender. Landing Ghioto would be another sign that the Gators can again turn Jacksonville into a reliable pipeline, something every program in the SEC would love to control. Recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong said Florida is currently in the best position to land him, which puts the Gators in a promising spot, even as the competition around him remains crowded and the process still has a long way to go. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Turned One Visit Into A Bigger Recruiting Opportunity
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That matters because Colton is a prospect of his own, with Florida and Duke both in the mix for his basketball recruitment. Maxwell came away impressed with the Gators recent offensive play and said he feels good about the program, while Coltons positive experience around the game gives Florida another chance to stay on his radar as the family connection keeps the door open. [Read more 🡒]
Kanye Clark Just Gave Gators Fans A Real Feel For This Defense
Kanye Clarks first game in a Florida uniform offered a quick snapshot of what the Gators believe they can become on defense. The UCLA transfer came away from the season-opening win over Florida Atlantic impressed by how the unit handled a fast-moving offense, and he pointed back to the offseason work in conditioning as a big reason Florida was able to keep its legs under it when the pace picked up. He also made sure to single out DJ Coleman, whose leadership and timely plays helped steady the front when the game started to speed up.
Now comes another test, and Clark already has his attention on Campbells tempo and passing game. For Florida, that means the early-season measuring stick is less about the final score and more about whether the defense can keep showing the same energy, communication and durability it flashed in Week 1. Clarks perspective matters because he is still new to the room, and when a newcomer is already talking this confidently about the standard, it says something about the tone being set around that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]