DELRAY BEACH – To be the best, you have to face the best.
For American Heritage-Delray, our Team of Week 11, that matchup will come in the FHSAA Class 4A-Region 4 finals tonight (Nov. 27; 7:30 p.m. kickoff).
The Stallions will play host to Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), a team that has been nationally ranked this season by MaxPreps.
The Stallions (4-3) haven’t had to face a team with the same caliber as the Chiefs (5-1). The road team has wins against talented teams like St. Thomas Aquinas and Gulliver Prep to highlight their season, one that head coach Matt DuBuc is quite happy about.
So far, the Chiefs have allowed just 14 total points in their two FHSAA playoff games.
Clewiston was their first foe, winning 37-7 in blowout fashion. And In the 4A regional semifinals, Cardinal Gibbons handled Gulliver Prep, 29-7.
With the defense headlining their weekly performances, the challenge has become harder for the Stallions.
With that said, American Heritage has displayed an offense capable of beating teams through the air and on the ground. Its two playoff games – in which Heritage scored 91 points – were against weaker opponents, with games against Lemon Bay and Avon Park.
While the offense definitely improved from the regular season, the success will have to be sustained against a far better opponent.
Much like the Chiefs, the Stallions defense is capable of setting the tone.
So far, the Stallions have allowed 91 points on the season, with 51 of those coming in two losses against Champagnat Catholic and Clewiston.
All three parts of the Stallions defense have performed strongly at points.
The secondary, coached by Henry Colombi, is one of the strongest and deepest in the county. The linebacker corps is relatively young, but has gained a valuable amount of experience throughout the year.
The defensive line is stout in its own right. South Dakota commit Earl Miller Jr. headlines the list of this strong unit.
However, to defeat the Chiefs, the success for the Stallions is going to have to come on offense.
Quarterback Dylan Rizk and his strong offensive weapons, including FAU commit Brandon Schabert, will have to be on their game from the first snap.
They won’t necessarily have to score 40 points. But they will have to be efficient and sustain drives, which may be a challenge against a strong Chiefs defense.
Score prediction: 24-19 win for Cardinal Gibbons
PHOTO CREDITS: Herve Coby, Henry Colombi, Mike Hall, and Nick LaSala
