GAINESVILLE- For now, there’s no uncertainty surrounding the top team in the Prep Zone Power Poll.
Top-ranked Gainesville (9-0) went to Boot Hill and handed previous #2 Madison County its first home regular season loss in six years, 14-9, to remain on top of this week’s poll. The ‘Canes are now one win away from their first unbeaten regular season in school history.
GHS received all seven first-place votes, while the Cowboys (8-1) slipped five spots to No. 7.
First Coast (Jacksonville) remained unbeaten following a 27-7 win over previous #14 Raines (6-2), which dropped six spots to 20th. The Bucs (8-0) moved up one spot to second in this week’s poll.
South Sumter (Bushnell) routed Keystone Heights, 42-0, and moved up one spot to third. The Raiders (9-0) have outscored their last five opponents, 241-14.
Columbia (Lake City) (7-1) moved up one spot to fourth following a 21-0 win over Orange Park. The Tigers’ lone defeat came against the top-ranked ‘Canes in week #2 and they could see each other again in the Class 6A playoffs.
St. Augustine (8-0) rounds out the top five. The Yellow Jackets defeated Lee (Jacksonville), 42-0, for their third shutout of the season.
For the second consecutive week, no ranked teams fell out of the poll. The only losses (Madison County & Raines) were to teams that were ranked in the top 20.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball and 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, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters.
PREP ZONE POWER POLL – WEEK #10
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, overall record and total voting points)
1. Gainesville (7) (6A) (9-0) – 140
2. First Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (8-0) – 128
3. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (9-0) – 125
4. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (7-1) – 117
5. St. Augustine (6A) (8-0) – 108
6. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8A) (7-1) – 102
7. Madison County (3A) (8-1) – 98
8. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (9-0) – 88
9. Trenton (1A) (8-0) – 83
10. New Smyrna Beach (6A) (7-0) – 74
11. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-1) – 73
12. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (9-0) – 67
13. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (7-1) – 60
14. Warner Christian (South Daytona) (2A) (8-1) – 48
15. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (6-2) – 47
16. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (6-2) – 24
17. Ponte Vedra (5A) (7-1) – 22
18. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (7-1) – 21
19. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (6-2) – 18
20. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-2) – 8
Also receiving votes – Newberry (1A) (7-2) – 4; University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (7-1) – 4; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (6-2) – 3; Atlantic (Port Orange) (5A) (7-1) – 3; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-2) – 2; Eastside (Gainesville) (5A) (5-3) – 2; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (6-2) – 1.
