Gainesville – Just one game into the 2013 season and already there’s a new team on top the Prep Zone Power Poll.
Following a 49-7 victory against previous No. 6 Gainesville High, the Columbia (Lake City) Tigers moved up one spot to first. Class 8A First Coast (Jacksonville), previously ranked #1, drops one spot to second following a 12-7 win over previously RV Ribault (Jacksonville).
The Tigers (1-0) earned three first-place votes, while the ‘Bucs (1-0) received one, as they flip-flopped in the poll. However, both teams will be tested this week when Columbia travels to Lincoln (Tallahassee), ranked 4th in the state in 7A, and First Coast hosts 7A Fletcher (Neptune Beach), which is ranked fifth in this week’s power poll and received one first-place vote.
Class 3A Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) moved up four spots to third following a 40-0 win at previous No. 8 St. Augustine, which dropped 10 spots to 18th in the poll. The Conquerors (4-0), who received one first-place vote, are ‘going to be state champions,’ according to St. Augustine coach Joey Wiles.
Last year’s 3A state runners-up, Madison County, which is now in 4A, remained fourth following a 30-15 win against Tampa Catholic. The Cowboys, who will visit Gainesville in two weeks, picked up the other first-place vote.
Bolles (Jacksonville), the 4A state runner-up, actually dropped three spots to sixth despite a 35-22 win at Hernando (Brooksville). The ‘Dogs (1-0) are ahead of Mainland (Daytona Beach), Trinity Catholic (Ocala), Raines (Jacksonville) and University Christian (Jacksonville) in the top 10.
Union County (Lake Butler) and Ponte Vedra each moved into the poll for the first time at 19th and 20th, respectively, while New Smyrna Beach (0-1) and DeLand (0-1) dropped out of the poll.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball, baseball & softball teams (regardless of FHSAA 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 – 2013 FOOTBALL POLL – Week 2
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, record and total voting points)
1. Columbia (Lake City) (3) (6A) (1-0) – 135
2. First Coast (Jacksonville) (1) (8A) (1-0) – 128
3. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1) (3A) (1-0) – 122
4. Madison County (1) (4A) (1-0) – 118
5. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (1) (7A) (1-0) – 117
6. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (1-0) – 112
7. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (1-0) – 95
8. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (1-0) – 90
9. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (1-0) – 89
10. University Christian (Jax.) (2A) (1-1) – 71
11. South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (1-0) – 68
12. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (1-0) – 64
13. Bishop Kenny (Jax.) (5A) (1-0) – 60
14. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (1-0) – 39
15. Gainesville (6A) (0-1) – 37
16. Trenton (1A) (0-0) – 30
17. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (1-0) – 26
18. St. Augustine (6A) (0-1) – 21
19. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (1-0) – 10
20. Ponte Vedra (5A) (1-0) – 9
Also receiving votes: Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (1-0) – 8; North Marion (Sparr) (5A) (1-0) – 7; New Smyrna Beach (6A) (0-1) – 6; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (0-1) – 4; Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (1-0) – 3; Newberry (1A) (1-0) – 1.
