Posted by mike (24.26.44.216) on November 22, 2006 at 04:15:00:
JACKSONVILLE -- As the football season winds down in Florida, the race for #1 in the Beef 'O' Brady's Top 25 heats up.
Lakeland continues to be ranked the #1 overall team in the State, and despite what USA Today may think, the Dreadnaughts aren't showing any signs of weakness. Miami Northwestern survived a first-half scare with Homestead, trailing in a game for only the third time this season, to hold on to the #2 spot followed by defending 4A champion Nease, 2B runner-up Pahokee and 2A power Jacksonville Bolles.
Some shifting in the second ten - as Trinity Catholic (Ocala) used a 45-0 blasting of previously unbeaten Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) to move up a spot to #6, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) which has outscored its opponents 109-8 in the first two rounds. St. Augustine slipped from #6 to #8 after two very close wins in the post-season. Armwood
(Seffner) is #9 followed by rival Washington (Miami) at #10.
Very little change happened in the top 18, but with five Top 25 teams losing Friday night, the five newcomers moved in, led by North Fort Myers.
The Red Knights, led by All-American running back Noel Devine, face off with legendary coach Joe Kinnan and the Manatee Hurricanes this Friday. Devine
rushed for over 300 yards in a come-from-behind win over Largo. The Red Knights (ranked #20) are making their furtherest foray into the post-season.
Glades Central returned to the Top 25 at #22 followed by Lake Brantley (Altamone Springs), Hardee (Wauchula) and Bartram Trail (Jacksonville). It's
the first time the Bears of Bartram Trail have ever been ranked in the Top 25. Bartram's only two losses are to #3 Nease and #8 St.Augustine.
More movement is expected next week as there are seven clashes between ranked teams this Friday.
RN School Class W/L Pts.
1 Lakeland (9) 5A 12-0 321
2 Miami Northwestern (4) 6A 12-0 316
3 Nease (Ponte Vedra) 4A 12-0 288
4 Pahokee 2B 12-0 283
5 Bolles (Jacksonville) 2A 12-0 258
6 Trinity Catholic (Ocala)2B 12-0 248
7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Laud.)5A11-0 239
8 St. Augustine 3A 12-0 236
9 Armwood (Seffner) 4A 11-1 229
10 Miami Washington 4A 11-1 199
11 Clewiston 2A 12-0 189
12 Mainland (Daytona Beach)5A 12-0 185
13 Palm Beach Gardens 6A 10-1 156
14 Pine Forest (Pensacola) 3A 12-0 154
15 Plant (Tampa) 4A 12-0 148
16 Naples 3A 11-1 122
17 Chaminade Prep (Hollywood)2A 10-2 111
18 Miami Central 6A 11-1 106
19 Madison Co. 2A 9-2 61
20 North Fort Myers 5A 11-1 59
21 Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota)2B 12-0 49
22 Glades Central (Belle Glade)3A 9-3 46
23 Lake Brantley (Alt. Springs)6A 11-1 39
24 Hardee (Wauchula) 3A 11-1 36
25 Bartram Trail (Jacksonville)5A 10-2 34
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: -- Coconut Creek (5A, 11-1, 25); Blountstown (2B, 12-0, 22); Lake Gibson (Lakeland) (5A, 10-2, 16); South Plantation (6A,
10-2, 15); North Miami Beach (6A, 11-1, 14); Miami Southridge (6A, 11-1, 6); Boone (Orlando) (6A, 8-4, 5); Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (4A, 10-2, 4); Graceville (1B, 5-5, 2); North Marion (Citra) (3A, 9-3, 2); Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (6A, 8-4, 1); North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) (1A, 10-2, 1).