Florida Statewide Rankings: First Edition

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Not a fan of pre-season rankings.  A true assessment of where teams stand should be judged by what is seen on the field.  Hence these rankings coming out after most teams have played at least three games.  The rankings involve teams that compete for the FHSAA state championships (minus IMG Academy).

Surprise! These rankings are not dominated by South Florida.  Two of the biggest wins of the year so far came from teams outside of the tri-county area.  St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), the most successful program in the state in terms of state championships, was upset by Tampa Jesuit. Aquinas started its season with a 38-23 victory over the 20th ranked team in the nation in St. Frances Academy (MD) (USA Today). American Heritage Plantation, a team with hefty expectations before the season started, took a loss to Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie).  

Miami Central, arguably had the toughest first two games of any other team in the entire country.  The Rockets traveled to nationally ranked #3 St. John Bosco (CA) and traveled to Naples to face #7 Bishop Gorman (NV) (USA Today).  After losing starting quarterback Keyone Jenkins to a hand injury in game one, Central nearly beat Gorman losing by one point.

Venice, Seminole (Sanford), and Lakeland look scary.  Venice dominated Miami Northwestern in a preseason game, 56-34, beat the third-best team in 7A handley, 41-7, and the second-best team in 4A in Cocoa, albeit by one point.  Seminole (Sanford), the defending 8A state champions are outscoring its opponents 135-6, and Lakeland are on a similar track out scoring 120-33.

The defending 4A state champions, unfortunately, had to reschedule their game with Venice to “issues” common in the last two seasons. The Chiefs seem on track to repeat, but the schedule won’t be easy with powerhouses St. Thomas Aquinas and American Heritage Plantation on the schedule. 

Speaking of tough schedules, Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) and Heritage have a formidable opponent week after week. Both travel outside of the state this week to show why Florida football is arguably considered the best in the country.  Chaminade travels to Buford (GA) ranked 15th nationally and Heritage would have traveled to New Orleans to take on the 82nd ranked team in the country in Edna Karr, but the game has been cancelled (MaxPreps).  Heritage will host rival Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) in the folowing week.

State Rankings

1. Tampa Jesuit (3-0) (6A)

Last Game: Beat Bloomingdale 32-14

Best Win: St. Thomas Aquinas 24-21

Next Game: Hillsborough (Tampa)

2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (2-1) (7A)

Last Game: Beat American Heritage Plantation 24-16

Best Win: St. Frances Academy (MD) 38-23

Next Game: Monsignor Pace (Miami) 

3. Miami Central (1-2) (5A)

Last Game: Beat Miami Booker T. Washington 51-7

Best Win: Miami Booker T. Washington 51-7

Next Game: Miami Springs 

4. Venice (3-0) (8A)

Last Game: Beat Cocoa 21-20

Best Win: Edgewater (Orlando) 41-7

Next Game: Sarasota 

5. Seminole (Sanford) (3-0) (8A)

Last Game: Beat Lyman (Longwood) 62-0

Best Win: Beat Riverview (Sarasota) 35-6

Next Game: Flagler Palm Coast 

6. Lakeland (3-0) (7A)

Last Game: Beat Lake Wales 41-14

Best Win: Manatee (Bradenton) 37-0

Next Game: Lake Gibson 

7. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) (2-0) (4A)

Last Game: Beat Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale) 37-8

Best Win: Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) 40-14

Next Game: Bucholz (Gainesville)

8. Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie) (2-0) (8A)

Eden James, Running Back, Treasure Coast

Last Game: Beat Surge Academy (Hollywood) 56-0

Best Win: American Heritage Plantation 29-21

Next Game: Bishop Moore (Orlando)

9. American Heritage Plantation (1-2) (5A)

Last Game: Lost to St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 24-16

Best Win: Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) 26-24

Next Game: Edna Karr (LA) (Cancelled)

10. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (2-1) (3A)

Last Game: Beat Columbus (Miami) 33-17

Best Win: Western (Davie) 30-13

Next Game: Buford (GA)

Top Four Teams By Class

8A

1. Venice

      2. Seminole

      3. Treasure Coast

      4. Osceola Kississimee

7A

1. St. Thomas Aquinas

      2. Lakeland

      3. Orlando Edgewater

      4. Dillard (Fort Lauderdale)

6A

1. Tampa Jesuit

      2. Miami Northwestern

      3. Orlando Jones

      4. Naples

5A

1. Miami Central

      2. American Heritage Plantation

      3. Killian

      4. Rockledge

4A

1. Cardinal Gibbons

      2. Cocoa

      3. Gulliver (Miami)

      4. Bolles (Jacksonville)

3A

1. Chaminad-Madonna (Hollywood)

      2. Miami Edison

      3. Florida High (Tallahassee)

      4. Benjamin (West Palm Beach)

2A

1. Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah)

      2. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)

      3. Dade Christian

      4. University Christian (Jacksonville)

1A

1. Madison County

      2. Pahokee

      3. Blountstown

      4. Hawthorne