Recruiting Radar: Commit recap from HSFB Week 6

Another week into the HSFB season, and things are heating up around the country.

With 20 players in the 2017 recruiting class at this moment, Miami has one of the largest group of commits in America. Some of that group was unable to showcase their talents this week due to weather impacting games. Here’s your full recap:

QB N’Kosi Perry kept Ocala (FL) Vanguard on a roll, demolishing winless Leesburg (FL) 51-0 in a District game on Friday. The Knights are now 5-0, 1-0 District on the year.

Perry’s big night got started early for Vanguard. Florida’s regining 6A player of the year, Perry hit Javious Brightmon for a 65 yard TD on Vanguard’s 3rd play of the game. Perry would go on to hit Russell Tolbert for a 47 yard TD, score on a 15 yard run himself, and generally keep Vanguard’s offense moving, as the Knights rolled up nearly 400 yards of offense on the night. Perry did, however, throw an interception in the game, so his night wasn’t perfect.

2 passing TDs. Somewhere around 150-200 yards passing. A Rushing TD. And a 51-0 win. That’s a solid night of work, folks.

Vanguard looks to keep their undefeated season alive next week as they host Gainesville (FL) HS in another District 5-6A game next Friday night.

QB Cade Weldon and Tampa (FL) Jefferson came off their bye week with a vengeance, beating Riverview (FL) Spoto 43-12 on Friday night.

Weldon, who missed an earlier game due to suspension, played a great game on Friday night. He finished 16 of 24 passing for 318 yards and 3 TDs in the blowout victory. This kind of game is indicative of the skills that Weldon has, and could be the thing that really gets him, and his team, on a hot streak.

Now 2-2 on the year after this win, Jefferson will host Tampa (FL) Hillsborough in a non-district game next Friday night.

RB Robert Burns and the Miami (FL) Gulliver Prep Raiders had a bye this week.

They will return to game action with a trip to St. Petersburg (FL) Admiral Farragut on October 7th.

WR Kevaughn Dingle and the Carol City (FL) Chiefs kept the magic going, as they took down previously undefeated and Nationally Ranked Miami (FL) Central 34-7 on Friday night in a key District 16-6A game. Dingle was mainly a decoy on the night, as Carol City used their run game and a long TD to another receiver to propel them to this upset victory.

This is the 2nd consecutive year that Carol City beat Central, having done so by a slim 8-7 margin in 2015. Now, with the win, Carol City is in the driver’s seat in District 16-6A, and Central, the 4 time defending 6A State Champs are 1 loss to rival Northwestern away from MISSING THE PLAYOFFS. South Florida HSFB is crazy, guys.

Dingle and Carol City look to avoid a letdown next week as they travel to play Southwest Miami (FL) in a non-District game next Friday night.

WR Evidence Njoku and Wayne Hills (NJ) defeated Millburn (NJ) 56-0 on Saturday afternoon. Njoku had his biggest offensive output of the year in this game, catching 3 passes for 77 yards, including a 37 yard TD shortly before halftime.

4-1 Wayne Hills travels to Hillsdale (NJ) Pascack Valley on Friday Night in a non-District game.

TE Brian Polendey and Denton (TX) Guyer returned home to face Plano (TX) East on Friday night, and emerged with a 34-6 victory. Now 4-1, 2-0 in District on the year, Guyer has the look of a playoff team.

A tough run based team, Guyer rolled up 321 yards on the ground and a season-high 128 yards through the air. None of those passing yards went to Polendey, however. The target of a vicious and dirty chop block last week, Polendey (played/didn’t play/something) this week.

Guyer continues to build their playoff resume with another district game at home against McKinney (TX) next Friday night.

OL Navaughn Donaldson and Miami (FL) Central took their first loss of the year, dropping a key District 16-6A game to Carol City 34-7 on Friday night. The offense scored early, but didn’t do much since then. OL stats are impossible to find for the HS level, but Central’s lack of offensive production speaks volumes to that point.

Miami Central has their backs against the wall now. If they lose another District game — particularly the rivalry game vs Miami (FL) Northwestern in a couple of weeks — the 4 time defending 6A State Champions will be eliminated from Playoff contention. While the stakes are high, Central has the talent to produce and perform. Their lone loss in 2015 was an 8-7 defeat at the hands of Carol City, from which the Rockets rebounded to win their 4th consecutive State Championship. They’ll need a similar regroup for this season.

Miami Central plays Miami (FL) Jackson — a team that defeated powerhouse Booker T. Washington earlier this year — in a non-District game next Saturday night.

OL Zach Dykstra and the Spirit Lake (IA) Indians beat Humboldt (IA) 34-28 in a tightly contested District game on Friday. The Indians are now 6-1 (2-1 District) on the year.

Spirit Lake looks to extend their winning streak to 4 games as they host Storm Lake (IA) next Friday night.

OL Zalontae Hillery, ATH DeeJay Dallas and their Brunswick (GA) Glynn Academy Terrors followed their bye week with a 34-0 win over winless Jesup (GA) Wayne County. As per usual, Dallas led the Terrors’ attack.

With Dallas doing those kinds of numbers in just the first half, and later on score a rushing TD to close the night for Glynn Academy, its safe to say that the talented playmaker continues to showcase all his talents. And, with an offense that is on a roll, Hillery’s blocking is a big key to that success as well.

Glynn Academy continues their season when they host Springfield (GA) Effingham County in a Region (district) game on Friday night.

DT Jon Ford and the Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Dillard Panthers had a rough go of it on Friday, losing to Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Boyd Anderson 29-7. Apart from the game, the big news was a stabbing of a student that happened in the stands at the game. For those who don’t know, both Dillard and Boyd Anderson — where this game was played — are in rough neighborhoods (Dillard in Ft. Lauderdale and Boyd Anderson in Lauderdale Lakes) and are close rivals. And, well....sometimes these things happen in rough neighborhoods.

Anyways, Dillard will look to bounce back next week as they host travel to play Coconut Creek (FL) Monarch on Friday night.

DE Jonathan Garvin and the Lake Worth (FL) Trojans got a huge district win as they beat Lantana (FL) Santaluces — Zach McCloud’s alma mater — 35-0 on Friday night. Garvin has been a beast this year, and that high level of play continued in this game.

Now 3-3 on the year, and 2-1 in District 10-8A, Lake Worth is in the thick of the playoff hunt. They have a big non-district game next week against Citra (FL) North Marion on Friday night.

DE D.J. Johnson and his Sacramento (CA) Luther Burbank Titans continued their run of strong play, beating Elk Grove (CA) Laguna Creek 61-7 on Friday night. Johnson, who received his Under Armour All-American jersey this week, lived up to the hype, as he has done in every game this year.

Burbank has beaten their last 2 opponent — both district foes — 123-13, so they’re definitely clicking on all cylinders. They look to run their win streak to 3 games as they travel to Sacramento (CA) Valley on Friday night for another key district game.

LB Waynmon Steed was a leader in the game, but his defense struggled on Friday night, as Miami Central lost to Miami (FL) Carol City 34-7 in a key District 16-6A game on Friday night.

I’ve spoken about this already, but Central has to win all their District games or face being eliminated from playoff contention soon. For the 4 time defending 6A State Champions, every game from here on out is a playoff game. Their “playoffs” start this week as they face Miami (FL) Jackson in a non-District game on Friday night.

LB Bradley Jennings Jr. and Jacksonville (FL) Sandalwood defeated Flagler (FL) Palm Coast 34-6 on Friday night. Another stifling performance by Jennings Jr. and the Saints’ defense.

Sandalwood looks to continue their undefeated season as they face Jacksonville (FL) Lee on Friday night.

DB Trajan Bandy and ATH Christopher Henderson and the Miami (FL) Columbus Explorers improved to 2-0 in District 14-8A as they absolutely demolished Miami (FL) Coral Park 75-0 on Friday night. No, that’s not a typo on the score. Coral Park is TERRIBLE, so you can’t read too much into this result. This is what team of Columbus’ caliber should be doing to the likes of Coral Park.

The Explorers (get it? Columbus Explorers) have Thursday night football this week, as they host North Miami (FL) in a non-District game.

DB Billy Gibson and Miami (FL) Southridge won the first of 5 consecutive District 16-8A games, defeating Homestead (FL) South Dade 12-0 on Friday. It wasn’t the prettiest game, but a win is a win no matter how it comes.

Southridge continues their District schedule as they travel to face Miami (FL) Killian on Friday night. A quick side note: about 10 Killian players transferred to Southridge in the offseason, so these teams are very bitter rivals.

DB Brian Edwards and the Miramar (FL) Patriots had a 2 game week. First, they concluded their game against South Plantation that was previously suspended due to lightning. Miramar won that game 35-14.

They had their normal Friday game against rival Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan on Friday night. After leading most of the game, Miramar conceded a late touchdown and 2 point conversion, falling to the Falcons 8-7.

Miramar looks to bounce back as they host Weston (FL) Cypress Bay in yet another District 12-8A game on Friday night for Homecoming.

P Zach Feagles and the Ridgewood (NJ) Maroons beat Old Tappan (NJ) NV - Old Tappan 20-0 on Friday night. Feagles did it all for the Maroons, pinning Old Tappan at the 1 with a punt, and had multiple 40+ yard punts. He also played his normal Fullback role, finishing the night with 83 yards on 17 carries.

Ridgewood travels to Passaic (NJ) for another District game on Friday night.

That’s it for this week.

Be sure to check back in next week to see how the current Canes commits are faring in their 2016 seasons.