Good luck to all the Keys football teams this week, because they are all going to need as many balls bouncing their way in the upcoming games as possible.

I'm not trying to say that any of the teams cannot win their games this weekend, but in order to do so each team will surely have to play to the top of its caliber.

The Key West players and coaching staff may have the toughest task in front of them as they open their District 16-3A schedule against Booker T. Washington on Friday night. The Tornadoes are the top ranked 3A team in the state and, after defeating Miami Northwestern last week, may arguably be the best team overall in the state and one of the top teams in the nation.

Then there is Marathon, which had playoff aspirations coming into the season. If the Dolphins want to make it to the postseason, after losing their District 8-1A opener last week, they certainly have to defeat Parkway Academy on Friday night. Only problem: The Panthers enter the game with an undefeated record on the season to go along with a fifth-place ranking in the 1A state classification. The top two teams from each district will make the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs -- one at home and the other on the road -- and if Marathon wants to be one of those two teams, it will have to prove it Friday night.

Then there is winless Coral Shores. Despite showing signs of improvement last weekend -- by taking their first lead of the season -- things only get tougher as the Hurricanes continue along their District 8-2B schedule against the always powerful Gulliver Prep on Thursday night.

Even though all three teams will have the support of their home crowds behind them, all three teams will also be underdogs under their home lights. No doubt things will not be easy for any of the football teams in the Keys this weekend.

Maybe Island Christian, which hosts Westwood Christian on Saturday, can be the savior of the week and pick up the program's first win in six-on-six football.

J.W. Cooke is a Citizen sports writer. He can be reached at 305-292-7777, Ext. 261, or at jwcooke@keysnews.com.