Recruiting Radar: Commit game recap from HSFB Week 3

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 got back in the swing of things after a Hurricane Hermine induced bye week last week. Perry’s Vanguard team demolished a good North Marion team 40-6. Perry ended the game with 238 yards passing and 3 TDs, and in the process went over 5,000 yards passing in his HS career. Perry knows this was a big win for him and the Knights in this rivalry game, and said as much in a post-game interview with Ocala.com

“This was the first time I have ever won a game here,” said Perry. “To me, this is like the biggest game of the season even though they are not in our district.”

Perry and Vanguard return home to face Lakewood on Friday night.

QB Cade Weldon also looked to return to action after a Hurricane Hermine induced bye week in week 2, but that didn’t happen. The Senior QB was suspended this week due to a reported “violation of team rules”, per tampabay.com. In his absence, Jefferson beat Sickles 27-19 to even their record at 1-1 on the year.

Weldon looks to return to the field this week as Jefferson goes cross-town to Tampa Jesuit on Friday night.

RB Robert Burns and the Miami (FL) Gulliver Prep Raiders lost a tight one to Miami (FL) Belen Jesuit 13-10. There weren’t many stats available, Burns was said to have 3 carries for 13 yards by one site, but in the Miami Herald game recap, it notes that a poor read-option exchange between the Gulliver QB and Burns resulted in a late fumble before Belen’s game-winning TD. Burns is still an elite talent, but Gulliver as a team is not great, and we’re seeing that play out again this season.

WR Kevaughn Dingle and the Carol City (FL) Chiefs started the year pretty rough. After an 0-2 start I wrote that they would need a miracle to avoid going 0-3 as they traveled to Lakeland (FL) in week 3. Well, that miracle came in a big way, as the Chiefs blew out the Dreadnaughts 38-7. To say this is a shocking result is an understatement of epic proportions. Dingle was a factor in this game, with an early 31-yard TD catch.

Carol City showed some pride by going on the road and soundly beating the previously unbeaten and top-ranked 7A team in Lakeland. They look to continue their resurgence with a trip down South to face Miami (FL) Southridge on Friday night.

WR Evidence Njoku and Wayne Hills (NJ) defeated Franklin Hills (NJ) Ramapo 14-7 in a tightly contested rivalry game. Njoku did not register any stats in this game as Wayne Hills only threw for 85 yards, most of which went to another receiver. Wayne Hills ran the ball very well, with 2 backs over 100 yards and each scoring TDs. Wayne Hills moved to 1-1 with the win, and travels to Succasunna (NJ) Roxbury on Friday night.

TE Brian Polendey and Denton (TX) Guyer got back in the win colum with a 63-7 laugher against Dallas (TX) Kimball. This was the first game of a “new era” for Guyer, as they opened up the offense and threw the ball early and often vs a clearly overmatched Kimball team. Polendey saw his numbers tick upwards with the new offense, catching 3 passes for 33 yards and a TD. Polendey’s TD opened the scoring and set Guyer off to the races.

Guyer begins their district schedule with a trip to Plano (TX) on Friday night.

OL Navaughn Donaldson and Miami (FL) Central destroyed Jacksonville (FL) First Coast 62-0. This is just more of the same for Central, the 4-time defending 6A State Champions and one of the top HSFB teams in the country. Donaldson is an integral part of their OL, and their offensive success comes, in part, because of his elite level play. Central opens district play against Miami (FL) Norland on Friday night.

OL Zach Dykstra and the Spirit Lake (IA) Indians lost their first game of the year, dropping a 40-12 decision to Le Mars (IA). The Indians, previously ranked 6th in their classification, had 8 — yes EIGHT — turnovers in this game and were never able to mount much of a challenge for Le Mars. Spirit Lake looks to bounce back as they host Spencer (IA) on Friday night.

OL Zalontae Hillery, ATH DeeJay Dallas and their Brunswick (GA) Glynn Academy Terrors ran their winning streak to 3 with a 56-7 blowout win over Kingland (GA) Camden County. Once a power program, Camden County has clearly fallen on hard times, and Glynn Academy showed no mercy in this game. Dallas had a solid statistical day, going 4 for 4 passing with 81 yards and 2 TDs, 5 carries for 24 yards, and a quick turn at DB.

Dallas, Hillery, and Glynn County are on quite the roll after dropping their season opener, and look to keep it going next week as they host Commerce (GA) East Jackson.

DT Jon Ford and the Dillard (FL) Panthers lost a close one 26-22 to Lake Gibson (FL). While there weren’t stats for the DL in this game, Ford was said to have been an impact player on multiple plays. Dillard looks to bounce back against Parkland (FL) Marjory Stoneman Douglas on Friday night.

DE Jonathan Garvin and the Lake Worth (FL) Trojans lost 20-0 to Boynton Beach (FL). Garvin did his part, however, with 12 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. He’s quietly having a HUGE senior season. Lake Worth looks to get back into the win column with a trip to Lake Worth (FL) Park Vista on Friday night.

DE D.J. Johnson and his Sacramento (CA) Luther Burbank Titans continued their forgettable season, falling to 0-4 after a 49-14 loss to El Dorado Hills (CA) Oak Ridge. Johnson continued to do what he could, though, ending the game with 8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. Luther Burbank look to finally win a game as they host Sacramento (CA) Johnson on Friday night.

LB Waynmon Steed was a playmaker on defense for the previously mentioned Miami (FL) Central Rockets in their 62-0 shutout victory over Jacksonville (FL) First Coast. Steed had 12 tackles and 2 sacks in the blowout win.

LB Bradley Jennings Jr. was another player who returned to the field after a Hurricane Hermine caused bye week. His Jacksonville (FL) Sandalwood defeated Jacksonville (FL) Atlantic Coast 52-14. There were no stats available for Jennings in this game.

Sandalwood travels to Port Orange (FL) Spruce Creek on Friday Night.

DB Trajan Bandy and ATH Christopher Henderson and the Miami (FL) Columbus Explorers lost to Miami (FL) Southridge 26-15 on Friday night. Bandy and Henderson accounted for the entirety of Columbus’ offense, with Bandy having an early interception returned for a TD, and Henderson catching a 7 yard TD pass, and the accompanying 2pt conversion. Henderson ended the game with 3 catches for 33 yards and the aforementioned Touchdown. Here’s a look at Bandy’s pick-6:

Columbus has fallen to 1-2 after losing 2 straight, and need to get back in the win column this week. They’ll face Miami (FL) High on Friday night.

DB Billy Gibson and Miami (FL) Southridge beat Miami (FL) Columbus 26-15 on Friday night. While individual stats for Gibson were not available, The Spartans’ defense was stifling, holding Columbus to 19 yards rushing and 127 yards total offense on the night. Southridge is looking to prove that they’re for real in Florida’s 8A classification this year, and this win is a big step toward proving just that.

Southridge will look to make another huge statement as they host nationally-ranked Miami (FL) Booker T. Washington — a team coming off a SHOCKING 12-9 loss to Miami (FL) Jackson — on Friday night.

DB Brian Edwards and the Miramar (FL) Patriots bounced back from their loss to St. Thomas Aquinas by destroying Coconut Creek (FL) Monarch 53-0 on Friday night. Edwards was good in coverage the couple of times he was tested, and solid in run support with 3 tackles. Miramar looks to start a winning streak as they travel to Plantation (FL) on Friday night for both teams District Opener.

P Zach Feagles and the Ridgewood (NJ) Maroons opened their 2016 season with a 34-19 win over Hackensack (NJ). Feagles, who plays fullback for the Maroons when not punting, had 18 carries for 119 yards and 2 TDs. Ridgewood only threw the ball 5 times, but with Feagles and fellow RB Drew Granski (12 carries, 152 yards, 2 TDs) carrying the load, they didn’t need to.

Ridgewood looks to run their record to 2-0 as they travel to Paramus (NJ) on Friday.

That’s it for this week. Mixed game results, but solid performances across the board for Miami commits. The ones who played, at least. We’ll be sure to check back in next week to see how the current Canes commits are faring in their 2016 seasons.