Coral Springs football teams open the 2026 season with Coral Glades earning an impressive victory
Coral Springs, Florida – High school football is back in Coral Springs, and the opening week gave local fans an early look at what three area teams may have in store for the 2026 season.
Coral Glades made the strongest opening statement, rolling past Miami Edison High School 42-14 in a Kickoff Classic matchup. Parkridge Christian High School also took part in a preseason game but fell to Ida Baker High School, while Coral Springs Charter opened its regular season against Coral Shores High School in a close game that came down to the final minutes.
For Coral Glades, the night was highlighted by a big performance from McKendrick Thomas. He scored three touchdowns and finished with 150 all-purpose yards, helping the Jaguars build a comfortable advantage over Miami Edison.
Quarterback Channing Chasey also contributed to the offensive effort, throwing two touchdown passes as Coral Glades put points on the board throughout the game.
The Jaguars were not limited to offense, either. Their defense and special teams produced several of the game’s biggest plays. Jayden Snow returned an interception for a touchdown and also found the end zone after returning a blocked punt. Ethan Ortega added another defensive score by recovering a fumble.
Linebacker Julian Madero led Coral Glades with eight tackles as the Jaguars kept Miami Edison from turning the game into a contest.
The victory gives Coral Glades some early momentum heading into the regular season. The Jaguars are coming off a 2025 campaign in which they won six games and reached the postseason.
Their regular-season opener is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m., when Coral Glades will face Blanche Ely High School. Blanche Ely finished 3-8 last season after winning eight games in 2024.
Parkridge Christian had a much tougher evening in its Kickoff Classic, losing 48-7 to Ida Baker High School. The Golden Eagles’ offense managed one touchdown, with Jake Warren connecting with Ramon Brayan on a long touchdown pass.
Despite the result, Parkridge Christian still has time to reset before the games count toward its regular-season record. The team will begin its regular season Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., against Pompano Beach High School.
Pompano Beach enters the matchup after a difficult 2025 season, when the Golden Tornadoes went 1-9. Their only victory came against Marathon High School.
Coral Springs Charter, meanwhile, had already moved into regular-season competition and came close to starting with a win against Coral Shores in the Sunshine State Athletic Association.
The Panthers held a late lead before Coral Shores put together a go-ahead touchdown drive during the final minutes of the fourth quarter. That late score changed the outcome after Coral Springs Charter had put together several strong moments of its own.
Kai Gray threw touchdown passes to Martin Franco and Stone Rolle and also scored a touchdown on the ground. The Panthers’ defense forced four turnovers, while Dash Waterman successfully converted all three of the team’s extra-point attempts.
Coral Springs Charter enters the season after winning five games in 2025 and advancing to the postseason. The Panthers will return home Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., for a matchup against Pine Crest School.
The upcoming game carries some recent history. Coral Springs Charter and Pine Crest also met last season, with the Panthers winning 20-13 in overtime. That result was one of four losses suffered by Pine Crest during the season.
With all three Coral Springs-area programs now underway, the opening week has already produced a mix of results. Coral Glades has the biggest win to show for its first appearance, while Parkridge Christian will look to put its preseason loss behind it before opening the regular season.
Coral Springs Charter, meanwhile, will try to respond to its late loss against Coral Shores when it returns home. The Panthers will have an early opportunity to build on the positives from their opening game, including their three touchdowns and four forced turnovers.
The next few days will bring the first official tests of the 2026 campaign for Coral Glades and Parkridge Christian, while Coral Springs Charter looks to bounce back. For local football fans, the season is already underway, and the first week has offered an early glimpse of the competition ahead.
