Raines (Jacksonville) still No. 1 heading into showdown with Venice
GAINESVILLE — As we cross the halfway point of the high school football regular season, it was a pretty quiet week for those in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
The team at the top and the top 10 remained the same, although there was some movement among the teams in the all-classification regional rankings.
Top-ranked Raines (Jacksonville) had a bye in week 6, but coming up this week is a showdown with Venice, which is ranked 2nd in 6A, 12th overall in Florida, and 41st nationally according to MaxPreps. The Class 3A Vikings (5-0) received seven of the 11 first-place votes this week.
Buchholz (Gainesville) remained 2nd.
The Bobcats improved to 6-0 as they rallied past RV Forest (Ocala), 38-20, in a big District 3-5A matchup last Thursday. They received three first-place votes this week and face another undefeated matchup Thursday with a trip to No. 14 Santa Fe (Alachua), which is 5-0 heading into the “War on I-75.”
Columbia (Lake City) remained 3rd after easing past Riverside (Jacksonville), 35-17. The 4A Tigers (6-0) again earned first-place votes but face another tough test on the road this week at Manatee (Bradenton).
Class 6A DeLand moved up one spot to 4th after blowing out then-No. 12 Spruce Creek (Port Orange), 42-14. The Bulldogs (4-1) host Centennial (Port St. Lucie) this week.
St. Augustine, which has a bye this week, dropped one spot to round out the top five. The 4A Yellow Jackets (6-0) had no problem with Clay (Green Cove Springs), as they pounded the Blue Devils 37-13.
Mandarin (Jacksonville) and Hawthorne switched spots this week, as the Mustangs climbed to 6th after pounding then-No. 13 Fletcher (Neptune Beach), 31-10, while Hawthorne improved to 6-0 but dropped a spot to 7th despite a 37-0 blanking of Williston.
Bolles (Jacksonville) is No. 8, followed by 9th-ranked Bradford (Starke) and No. 10 Ed White (Jacksonville). Bradford (6-0) picked up its biggest win of the season so far, blowing out then-No. 17 Madison County, 52-24, at Boot Hill.
The only team to move into the rankings this week is No. 20 Mainland (Daytona Beach), which replaces Madison County.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Be Well Fitness.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2026 FOOTBALL POLL #7
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Raines (Jacksonville) (3A) (7) (5-0) – 216
2. Buchholz (Gainesville) (5A) (3) (6-0) – 206
3. Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (1) (6-0) – 197
4. DeLand (6A) (4-1) – 175
5. St. Augustine (4A) (6-0) – 173
6. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (5A) (4-1) – 165
7. Hawthorne (1A) (6-0) – 164
8. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2A) (4-1) – 150
9. Bradford (Starke) (2A) (6-0) – 136
10. Ed White (Jacksonville) (4A) (4-1) – 121
11. Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (3-2) – 107
12. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (3-3) – 86
13. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (5A) (5-1) – 67
14. Santa Fe (Alachua) (3A) (5-0) – 52
15. The Villages (3A) (5-0) – 49
16. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (6A) (4-2) – 47
17. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (5A) (4-2) – 34
18. Dunnellon (3A) (6-0) – 30
19. University Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (4-2) – 29
20. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (2-2) – 21
Also receiving votes: Madison County (1A) (3-3) – 19; Creekside (St. Johns) (6A) (4-2) – 15; Fort White (1A) (4-1) – 10; Oakleaf (Orange Park) (5A) (3-2) – 6; Yulee (4A) (3-3) – 6; West Nassau (Callahan) (SSAA) (5-0-1) – 5; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (3A) (4-2) – 4; Forest (Ocala) (5A) (5-1) – 4; Interlachen (SSAA) (4-1) – 1; South Sumter (Bushnell) (3A) (5-1) – 1.
