Vote: Who should be the South Florida football Player of the Week? (9/23/2024)

Check out this week's list of top performers from throughout South Florida and help us determine this week's South Florida High School Football Player of the Week by voting in our poll

Jerrard Smith of Miami Norland had two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, against Chaminade-Madonna. / Matt Christopher

Hard to believe we’re already closing in on the halfway mark of the regular season, and South Florida football has been filled with surprises.

Credit is due to many of the elite schools for playing each other, creating marquee matchups every week. This past weekend, Miami Central rallied to beat American Heritage, 35-32, at Traz Powell. And in another headliner, Chaminade-Madonna pulled away in the second half to defeat Miami Norland, 45-20.

Those were just a couple of key matchups.

Big games and performances were common all over the place.

Now it’s time to pick the best of the best in the SBLive Sports South Florida Player of the Week poll.

Congratulations to last week's winner: Taylor Trauth of LaSalle.

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SBLive voting polls are intended to be a fun way to create fan engagement and express support for your favorite high school athletes and teams. Unless expressly noted, there are no awards for winning the voting. Our primary focus is to highlight the abilities and accomplishments of all the athletes and teams included in our poll. You can vote as often as you wish and are encouraged to share our polls with others. The use of voting bots and other forms of automated voting are not allowed. Individuals will be removed from the poll if any form of automated voting can be verified. - SBLive Sports

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Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. The winner will be announced in the following week's poll. Here are this week's nominees:

Jeremiah Alexander, RB, Archbishop McCarthy

The Mavericks remained undefeated (4-0) after taking care of business, 42-12, against Somerset Academy Boynton Beach. Alexander had 85 yards on two carries and 103 all-purpose yards for McCarthy.

Derrek Cooper, ATH, Chaminade-Madonna

It’s becoming routine to include Cooper on this list because the junior keeps turning in dominating performances. Against Norland, Cooper opened the scoring with a 57-yard touchdown run. And two plays into the third quarter, he had a 23-yard interception return for another score. Cooper finished with 84 yards rushing on nine carries.

Xavier Cocking, WR, North Broward Prep

North Broward Prep came up short against Saint Andrew’s. In the contest, Cocking continued to impress, catching seven passes for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Jamar Denson, WR, American Heritage

The Patriots lost a tough one to Miami Central. In the contest, Denson had two touchdown receptions, as well as a 2-point conversion catch. Denson finished with four catches for 99 yards.

Devin Mila, WR/DB, NSU University

Mila came up big for the Sharks in a 46-10 victory against Lake Highland Prep, catching five passes for 61 yards.

Alex Gammage, DB, Piper

Piper improved to 5-0 and celebrated a statement win, 21-20, over Blanche Ely. Gammage sealed the win with an interception on the final play of the game.

Mark Hanniford, WR, West Boca Raton

The junior had two touchdowns in a 48-0 win against Treasure Coast.

Anthony McQueen, QB, Miami Central

Engineering a 15-point comeback win, McQueen threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns in the Rockets’ 35-32 win over American Heritage. The elusive QB also rushed for 56 yards and a score.

Christian Mata, QB, Piper

The Bengals improved to 5-0 by beating Blanche Ely, 21-20. Mata rushed for a couple of touchdowns.

Collin Francis, RB, NSU University

The Sharks impressed against Lake Highland Prep, with Francis recording 79 yards rushing on just five carries, including a touchdown.

Zac Katz, QB, True North Classical Academy

Katz, back at True North after previously transferring to Chaminade-Madonna, threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Everglades Prep Academy.

Joel Miller, RB, Doral Academy

The outcome was a rough one for the Firebirds, who lost, 31-8, to Southridge. Miller was a standout for Doral, averaging 5.2 yards per carry, while scoring a touchdown.

Jack Spaeder, QB, Monarch

The Knights (3-1) posted plenty of offense in a 42-8 win against Fort Lauderdale. Spaeder had a huge game, passing for 440 yards and four touchdowns.

Jerrard Smith, DB, Miami Norland

Another week, another couple of interceptions for Smith. That gives him four total interceptions in his last two games. In a loss to Chaminade-Madonna, Smith picked off two passes, including returning one 50 yards for a touchdown.

Jayden Elder, WR, West Boca Raton

The Bulls showcase an explosive offense. Elder’s 12-yard touchdown catch capped the scoring against Treasure Coast.

Ben Lamas, DB, St. Thomas Aquinas

As the Raiders keep rolling along, breezing by McArthur, 56-0, Lamas had a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Jayden Miller, QB, NSU University

Miller was on the money against Lake Highland Prep, completing 19 of 28 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns.

Steven Moore, LB/DE, Miami Central

The Rockets defense applied plenty of pressure on Heritage quarterback Dia Bell. Moore had two sacks on the night.

Samari Reed, WR, Monarch

Reed showed why he’s one of the top playmakers in South Florida. On nine catches against Fort Lauderdale, he accumulated 203 yards and scored three TDs.

Zachariah Ray, RB, Plantation

The Colonels are now 4-0 after a convincing 23-0 win against South Broward. Ray rushed for more than 100 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Matthew Pointer, DE, Chaminade-Madonna

Listed as a 6-foot-5, 235-pounds, Pointer recovered a fumble in the first half and added a sack on fourth down to stall a Norland drive.

Jayden Torres, QB, Cardinal Gibbons

The Chiefs pulled out a close one, beating Coconut Creek, 27-25. Torres was 24-for-41 for 289 yards and two touchdowns.

Michael Warren, WR, Blanche Ely

In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Warren caught a 25-yard touchdown pass. On the night, the senior had four catches for 65 yards.

Chance Washington, RB, St. Thomas Aquinas

The Raiders rolled 56-0 over McArthur, which meant limited action for many of the starters. Washington still managed 102 yards rushing on five carries.