Vote: Who should be the South Florida Offensive Player of the Week (11/13/2023)?
The playoffs are in full swing, which means it’s win or go home time for high school football teams.
South Florida has no shortage of state championship-contending teams and star players. Many stepped up last week in the regional quarterfinals.
As we’ve done all season, SBLive Sports Florida recognizes the top performers. Our mission is to get as many players and schools represented as possible.
Now it’s time for the fans to decide who was the best of the best by voting in our South Florida Offensive Player of the Week poll. Vote as often as you’d like. Spread to word! Voting ends Saturday, November 18 at 11:59 p.m.
(Reminder: Players, coaches and schools are encouraged to submit nominations to @JoeFrisaro on X).
Congratulations to last week's winner: Branden Hock or West Boca Raton.
Here are this week's nominees:
Kael Alexander, QB, Miramar: The Patriots advanced in Class 3M play with a 23-0 win over Hialeah American. Alexander directed the offense with 174 yards passing and two touchdowns.
Khamani Alexander, RB, Miami Belen Jesuit: In its run-happy Wing T offense, Alexander rushed for more than 200 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 20-13 win against South Broward.
Jacory Barney, WR, Palmetto: The Panthers are moving on in the playoffs with a 21-7 win against Doral Academy. Barney made a big play on special teams, returning a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. In Class 4M, Palmetto next plays host to Western.
Travis Delaney Jr., QB, Hialeah: In a Class 3M game that was closer than the 48-23 score indicated, Hialeah led Miami Southridge early before falling late. Delaney threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns, and he also rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown. Delaney hooked up twice with Jermain Beersingh on touchdown plays, including an 88-yarder.
Jayden Ford, RB, Miami Central: Shifty and elusive, Ford can change a game with one play. In Central’s 31-13 win over Miami Edison, Ford rushed for 127 yards on 11 carries, and scored on runs of 34 and 45 yards. The Rockets next face Booker T. Washington.
Gary Hadley Jr., QB, Blanche Ely: In back-to-back weeks, Ely defeated Dillard. On Friday, it was in Class 3M regional play. Hadley paced the offense with three touchdown passes as well as a rushing TD. Next up for Ely is St. Thomas Aquinas.
James Hayes, QB, Coconut Creek: The Cougars are serious playoff contenders in Class 3M, largely because of the impressive senior season of Hayes. The quarterback has offers from Alabama State and Bethune-Cookman. In a convincing 42-6 win over Piper, Hayes threw three touchdown passes, and ran for another.
Mason Mallory, QB, West Boca: It just might have been the play off the year in South Florida. It certainly is one of, if not, the biggest play in West Boca history. In the Bulls’ stunning 23-22 upset of Atlantic in the Class 3M playoffs on Friday, Mallory threw a Hail Mary pass that was deflected in the end zone and then caught by a diving Kyle Andrews just inches off the ground for the winning score. West Boca advances to face Coconut Creek.
Alberto Mendoza, QB, Columbus: The defending Class 4M state champion Explorers disposed of Goleman, 49-6, in regional quarterfinals action. Mendoza, in limited play, completed 7 of 10 pass attempts for 135 yards and threw three touchdowns. The senior also rushed for 53 yards. Columbus next faces South Dade.
James Perrone, QB, Miami Southridge: In its 48-23 victory over Hialeah in Class 3M action, Perrone led an explosive offense with 278 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Emmanuel Poitier, QB, Miami Edison: After falling behind Miami Central by 21 points in the first half, the Red Raiders made things interesting, before falling 31-13 to the four-time defending state champions. Poitier threw two touchdown passes, including a 65-yard strike to Brandon Lowe.
Isaiah Scott, WR, Norland: The Vikings keep rolling along, and advanced to the Class 2M regional semifinals with a 55-0 blowout of Miami St. Brendan. Scott had five catches for 113 yards. Worth noting, quarterback Ennio Yapoor threw for 309 yards.
Brandon Bennett, WR, American Heritage: Everybody got into the action for American Heritage in its 63-13 win over North Broward Prep. Bennett, who has elite speed, had 159 all-purpose yards, including 123 on kickoff returns. The Patriots will next face King’s Academy (West Palm Beach) in the Class 2M regional semifinals.
