Week 8: Upsets, Blowouts Shape Playoff Picture Across Fla, NC, CA

High school football’s Week 8 regular-season slate produced a wide array of decisive victories and tight finishes across Florida, North Carolina and California over the weekend, with regional powers consolidating position and a handful of upsets reshaping playoff outlooks.

In South Florida, several ranked programs posted dominant wins while a few games went down to the wire. St. Thomas Aquinas edged NFL Academy 41-38 in a Wednesday matchup that tested the Saints’ depth. Monarch rolled to a 46-0 victory over Coral Springs on Thursday, and Belen opened with a 43-0 shutout of South Miami. Offense was prolific in other contests: Coral Reef blanked Hialeah-Miami Lakes 50-0, Spanish River beat Douglas 42-0, and Booker T. Washington prevailed 34-28 over Homestead. Numerous Broward and Miami-Dade teams were on the field Friday and Saturday in games that will factor into district standings and postseason seeding.

On Florida’s Treasure Coast, local programs staged a mix of close games and one-sided affairs. Jensen Beach nipped John Carroll Catholic 21-20, while Fort Pierce Central posted a 49-0 victory over Treasure Coast High. Sebastian River beat Legacy 18-6 and Martin County held off...