Coral Reef, Southridge enter district play at 1-3

Both Coral Reef and Miami Southridge open district play Thursday and Friday, each carrying 1-3 records into matchups that will test whether either team can turn its season around.

The Barracudas host the Sunset Knights in a district game Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. Southridge opens 5A District 16 play Friday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. against Mater Academy Charter.

The games land in the same week that Miami Herald deputy sports editor Andre Fernandez published his final high school football picks column after 24 years covering South Florida prep sports. Fernandez picked Coral Reef to beat Sunset 30-14 and Southridge to edge Mater Academy 21-18.

He also dropped the Spartans from his South Florida Top 20, where they had held the No. 19 spot. Southridge's three losses came against Columbus (7-45 on Aug. 20), Palmetto (6-28 on Sept. 4) and True North Classical Academy (21-28 on Sept. 17).

"It has been an honor and an absolute blast chronicling those moments," Fernandez wrote in his farewell column Wednesday, Sept. 23, reflecting on a career that began in 1999 when an editor asked the 19-year-old Miami-Dade College student if he had a car.

Coral Reef vs. Sunset: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Both teams enter at 1-3. Coral Reef's lone win came Thursday, Sept. 3, at Dr. Krop, 26-14. The Barracudas were shut out in their opener against Archbishop Carroll (0-14) and lost to Goleman 0-49 and Braddock 14-50.

Sunset, coached by J. Petisco, broke through Sept. 17 with a 22-14 win over Coral Park after three straight losses. The Knights' offense runs through quarterback Gerald Rubalcava, who averages 88.5 passing yards per game, and receiver Tristan Carr at 57.0 receiving yards per game, according to MaxPreps.

Coral Reef counters with running back Derek Narvaez (40.0 rushing yards per game) and cornerback Christian Pierre, who leads the defense at 7.0 tackles per game.

Southridge vs. Mater Academy: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

The Spartans' district opener follows three losses in four weeks that knocked them out of the Top 20. Head coach P. Senatus has leaned on freshman running back Gregory Florence, who leads the team with 68.7 rushing yards per game and two touchdowns, per MaxPreps. Senior receiver Marquise Burch adds 52.0 receiving yards per game.

On defense, junior safety King Gage anchors the secondary with 6.3 tackles per game. Sophomore defensive end Bobby Doctor has recorded three sacks through four games.

Southridge's only win came Aug. 28 at Homestead, 24-6.