GAINESVILLE – There was little movement, but one big surprise, in the top 10 of the Prep Zone Power Poll, which will be released one final time following the FHSAA Football Finals.
Gainesville (11-0) flexed its muscle and rolled to a 60-3 win over Hernando (Brooksville) in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs. The Purple Hurricanes, seeking their first state title since 1980, received all seven first-place votes and remained on top of the poll.
However, First Coast (Jacksonville), which played in last year’s 7A state title game, lost at home to Buchholz (Gainesville), 10-7 (OT), and dropped 10 spots from second to 12th. The Bucs’ season ended at 10-1, while the Bobcats (6-5) actually received three votes in the poll following their fourth consecutive win.
That moves Columbia (Lake City), which was tied with First Coast in last week’s poll, into sole possession of second. The Tigers (10-1), whose only loss was on the road by three points to #1 GHS, defeated previous No. 17 Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 35-14, eliminating the Bears (8-3) from the 6A playoffs and knocking them out of the poll.
This week, Columbia hosts St. Augustine (11-0), which defeated previous #15 Ridgeview (Orange Park), 35-26, and moved up one spot to third in this week’s poll. The Panthers (9-2) were eliminated from the 6A playoffs and also dropped out of the rankings.
South Sumter (Bushnell) knocked another team out of this week’s poll. The Raiders (11-0) moved up one spot to 4th following a 29-28 victory over visiting Raines (Jacksonville), which saw its season end at 8-3 in the first round of the 4A state playoffs.
Fifth-ranked Fletcher (Neptune Beach) is back in the top five after a 24-21 win at Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs).
Yulee (8-3), Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (8-3), Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (8-3) and Mainland (Daytona Beach) (8-3) all re-entered the poll at 16th, 17th & 20th, respectively, while Lafayette (Mayo) (9-2) is in the poll for the first time at No. 15.
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. This is the final poll until Dec. 18.
PREP ZONE POWER POLL – WEEK #13
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, overall record and total voting points)
1. Gainesville (7) (6A) (11-0) – 140
2. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (10-1) – 131
3. St. Augustine (6A) (11-0) – 126
4. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (11-0) – 117
5. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8A) (10-1) – 114
6. Madison County (3A) (10-1) – 106
7. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (11-0) – 95
8. Trenton (1A) (11-0) – 91
9. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (10-1) – 84
10. Warner Christian (South Daytona) (2A) (10-1) – 75
11. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (9-2) – 62
T12 University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (10-1) – 52
T12 First Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (10-1) – 52
14. New Smyrna Beach (6A) (9-1) – 36
15. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (9-2) – 32
16. Yulee (4A) (8-3) – 30
T17 Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (8-3) – 28
T17 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (8-3) – 28
19. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (9-2) – 20
20. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (8-3) – 14
Also receiving votes – Ponte Vedra (5A) (9-2) – 8; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (8-3) – 7; Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (8-3) – 5; Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (9-2) – 5; Newberry (1A) (8-3) – 4; Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (6-5) – 4; Eastside (Gainesville) (5A) (6-5) – 3; Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (9-2) – 1.
