We’re counting down to the #1 team in the preseason football Prep Zone Power Poll with a look today at No. 15.
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, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters.
No. 15 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (8-6)
The Bears had a remarkable turnaround in 2013 as they lost their first five games of the season, before winning eight in a row to advance the the state semifinals – their second final four berth in three years. They lost at Armwood, 35-28, in triple-overtime, falling just one game shy of the Class 6A state title game.
Bartram Trail must replace a senior class that fueled one of the best turnarounds in Florida prep history. Junior running back David Coleman (5-7, 190) ran for more than 1,400 yards as a sophomore out of the spread triple-option offense. Senior defensive end Luis Sobh was at Bartram as a sophomore and moved back after one year in North Gwinnett (GA). He rejoins a defense that is strong, physical and fast to the football.
Darrell Sutherland, Bartram’s coach since the school opened in 2000, has led the Bears to 12 playoff appearances in the past 13 seasons.
Info gathered from Friday Night Football magazine.
Prep Zone Power Poll – 2014 Football Poll #1 – PRESEASON POLL
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, 2013 final record and total voting points)
14. TBA – August 13
15. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (8-6) – 56
16. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (11-2) – 52
17. St. Augustine (6A) (8-3) – 46
18. Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (8-3) – 31
19. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (10-1) – 29
20. Warner Christian (South Daytona) (2A) (9-2) – 19
Also receiving votes: University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (9-3) – 18; Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (8-3) – 16; Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (10-2) – 14; Gainesville (6A) (9-3) – 9; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (7-3) – 6; Leesburg (6A) (8-4) – 5; Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (6A) (7-3) – 4; Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (7-3) – 4; Menendez (St. Augustine) (5A) (8-3) – 4; Fort White (4A) (7-2) – 3; Citrus (Inverness) (6A) (9-2) – 2; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (8-3) – 1.