Gainesville – The top team in the Prep Zone Power Poll took care of business last week to remain No. 1.
In fact, the top six teams remained the same heading into the FHSAA state football playoffs.
First Coast (Jacksonville) defeated previous No. 7 Ed White (Jacksonville), 39-21, dropping the Commanders (8-2) two spots to ninth in this week’s poll. The top-ranked Bucs (9-1), who received four of the seven first-place votes, will host Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs) in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs (Florida’s largest classification).
South Sumter (Bushnell) (10-0) remained second following a 30-10 win against RV Leesburg. They received two first-place votes. The Raiders, who are averaging 46.5 points per game, will host Suwannee (Live Oak) in the 5A Regional Quarterfinals.
Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat kept Mainland (Daytona Beach) at No. 3. The Bucs (9-1) kicked a FG with less than 10 seconds to play to defeat previously undefeated 8A Fort Pierce Central, 31-28, rallying from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to win the game. Mainland, which is only allowing 7.9 points per game, will open up at home in the 6A playoffs against Lake Minneola.
Fleming Island (Orange Park) capped off an unbeaten season with a 42-0 win against Orange Park to remain fourth. It was the second shutout of the season for the Golden Eagles (10-0), who will host Oak Ridge (Orlando) in the 7A-Region 1 Quarterfinals.
Rounding out the top five is 3A Trinity Christian (Jacksonville). The Conquerors (8-1) defeated 5A Vanguard in Ocala, 48-7, to remain fifth. Their only loss was at defending 5A state champion Godby (Tallahassee). They will host Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) in the 3A regional semifinals.
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) is one of the other two undefeated teams in the poll (Dixie County is 8-0 and ranked #12). The Crusaders (9-0) remained sixth following a 55-21 win against Episcopal (Jacksonville), and they will now host Palatka, which upset previous #12 St. Augustine in three OTs, in the Class 5A-Region 1 Quarterfinals.
The Class 6A Yellow Jackets fell three spots to No. 15 after their second loss of the season. St. Augustine (8-2) will now host No. 7 Columbia (Lake City), which moved up one spot from eighth after defeating previous No. 16 Suwannee (Live Oak), 35-7.
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 #12
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, record and total voting points)
1. First Coast (Jacksonville) (4) (8A) (9-1) – 137
2. South Sumter (Bushnell) (2) (5A) (10-0) – 130
3. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (1) (6A) (9-1) – 127
4. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (10-0) – 119
5. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (8-1) – 117
6. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (9-0) – 105
7. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (9-1) – 96
8. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (8-2) – 91
9. Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (8-2) – 81
10. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (8-2) – 79
11. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (8-2) – 67
12. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (8-0) – 61
13. Gainesville (6A) (8-2) – 56
14. Citrus (Inverness) (6A) (9-1) – 45
15. St. Augustine (6A) (8-2) – 43
16. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (8-2) – 29
17. Fort White (4A) (7-1) – 22
18. North Marion (Sparr) (5A) (8-2) – 16
19. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (9-1) – 15
20. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-3) – 14
Also receiving votes: Warner Christian (South Daytona) (2A) (8-1) – 7; Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (7-2) – 6; Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (7-3) – 3; Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (6A) (7-2) – 3; Ribault (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-3) – 1.
