GAINESVILLE – Gainesville High just finished one of its most successful regular seasons in school history which helped the ‘Canes to remain on top of this week’s Prep Zone Power Poll.
GHS (10-0) defeated Lecanto, 49-0, to complete their first undefeated regular season since 1972. The Hurricanes, who received all seven first-place votes, will host Hernando (Brooksville) in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs on Friday, November 16.
First Coast (Jacksonville), which played in last year’s Class 7A state title game, edged Ed White (Jacksonville), 21-14, to remain second. The Bucs (9-0) will travel to Mandarin (Jacksonville) this week and they will host Buchholz (Gainesville) in next week’s regional quarterfinals.
Columbia (Lake City) moved ahead of South Sumter (Bushnell) for the third spot in this week’s poll. The Tigers (8-1) edged the Raiders (10-0) in total voting points, 121-119, as the teams flip-flopped in the rankings.
Overall, there was very little movement in this week’s poll. St. Augustine (8-0), Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8-1), Madison County (9-1), Union County (Lake Butler) (10-0), Trenton (9-0), New Smyrna Beach (8-0) and Bolles (Jacksonville) (8-1) all remained fifth through 11th, respectively.
However, Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (8-1), Warner Christian (South Daytona) (9-1), Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (7-2) and Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7-2) all moved up one spot following Springstead’s 14-7 loss to Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville). Ponte Vedra (8-1) and Ridgeview (Orange Park) (8-1) actually moved up two spots, leap-frogging over Fleming Island (Orange Park) (6-2), which will travel to highly-ranked Lincoln (Tallahassee) in next week’s 7A playoffs.
It was the first loss of the season for the Eagles (9-1), who were the only team in this week’s poll to fall, and they tumbled seven spots from 12th to 19th.
All 20 teams in this week’s poll will be participating in the FHSAA football playoffs.
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 #11
1. Gainesville (7) (6A) (10-0)- 140
2. First Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (9-0) – 130
3. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (8-1) – 121
4. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (10-0) – 119
5. St. Augustine (6A) (8-0) – 117
6. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8A) (8-1) – 104
7. Madison County (3A) (9-1) – 102
8. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (10-0) – 88
9. Trenton (1A) (9-0) – 82
10. New Smyrna Beach (6A) (8-0) – 80
11. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (8-1) – 71
12. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (8-1) – 64
13. Warner Christian (South Daytona) (2A) (9-1) – 50
14. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (7-2) – 49
15. Ponte Vedra (5A) (8-1) – 40
16. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (8-1) – 32
17. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (6-2) – 27
18. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (7-2) – 17
19. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (9-1) – 16
20. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-2) – 11
Also receiving votes – Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (6-2) – 4; University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (8-1) – 3; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (7-2) – 2; Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (6-3) – 1.
