Mainland (Daytona Beach) now a unanimous No. 1 for the first time this season
Gainesville – For the first time since the preseason, there is a unanimous No. 1 in the Prep Zone Power Poll.
Mainland (Daytona Beach) remained No. 1 after defeating New Smyrna Beach, 43-0. The nationally-ranked Class 6A Bucs (8-0), who posted their fifth shutout of the season, received all 10 first-place votes.
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) began the season nationally-ranked and was the unanimous top-ranked team in the preseason poll. But after opening the season with a loss at nationally-ranked Buford (GA.), the Class 3A Conquerors (5-2) dropped to second but continued receiving first-place votes. That was until a 28-7 loss at IMG Academy (Bradenton) last Thursday, which dropped them from second to fifth in this week’s poll.
First Coast (Jacksonville) moved up one spot to second. The Class 8A Bucs (7-0) defeated #19 Flagler Palm Coast, 34-30, in a battle for first place in 8A-District 1.
Their senior QB, FSU commit De’Andre Johnson, finished 22-of-25 for 249 yards and four touchdowns, along with nine rushes for 93 yards. Johnson is now 5th all-time in the state with 9,978 yards passing.
South Sumter (Bushnell) defeated Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville), 48-15, to clinch the 5A-District 6 title. It was the 31st consecutive regular season victory for the Raiders (8-0).
Defending 5A state runners-up Clay (Green Cove Springs) moved up to fourth following a 40-14 win against Menendez (St. Augustine). The Blue Devils (7-1), winners of three in a row since their only loss to No. 7 Oakleaf (Orange Park), can win 5A-District 4 with a victory at home this week against Palatka.
Class 5A Suwannee (Live Oak) remained ranked sixth. The Bulldogs (7-0), who are looking for their first unbeaten season regular season since 1962, defeated 5A-District 5 foe Dunnellon, 52-35, to win their first district title since 2003.
St. Augustine, which was idle, dropped one spot to eighth. The Yellow Jackets (6-1) host Creekside (St. Johns) in a battle of unbeaten teams in 6A-District 4 today and can set the state record with their 46th consecutive district victory dating back to a loss to Palatka in 2003. A win tonight would be their 11th consecutive district title during that span.
The top-ranked team in Class 1A, Dixie County (Cross City), also dropped one spot, falling from eighth to ninth in this week’s poll. The Bears (6-0), who are averaging 36.5 points per game, were off last week and can clinch a playoff spot with a 1A-District 7 win against Newberry. They can wrap up the district title with a victory coupled with a Union County (Lake Butler) win over Chiefland.
Rounding out the top 10 is Trinity Catholic (Ocala). The Celtics (6-1) defeated P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), 49-0, in 3A-District 2, which set a Marion County record with their 25th consecutive district win. It was the first shutout of the season for the Celtics, who finished with 464 yards of total offense.
Previous No. 13 Fletcher (Neptune Beach) dropped out of the poll following a 27-13 loss to Fleming Island (Orange Park). However, the Senators (4-3) still control their destiny in 7A-District 3.
Hamilton County (Jasper) re-enters the poll at No. 20. The Trojans (6-2), who defeated Branford, 49-14, are off this week and can clinch 1A-District 5 with a win against Jefferson County (Monticello) next week.
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.
Prep Zone Power Poll – 2014 Football Poll #9
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, overall record and total voting points)
1. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (10) (6A) (8-0) – 200
2. First Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (7-0) – 185
3. South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (8-0) – 172
4. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (7-1) – 166
5. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (5-2) – 161
6. Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (7-0) – 158
7. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (8-0) – 135
8. St. Augustine (6A) (6-1) – 133
9. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (6-0) – 119
10. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (6-1) – 110
11. South Lake (Groveland) (6A) (7-0) – 93
12. Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (7-1) – 90
13. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (5-2) – 89
14. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (5-2) – 73
15. Trenton (1A) (7-1) – 49
16. University (Orange City) (8A) (7-1) – 44
17. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (5-3) – 35
18. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (5-2) – 31
19. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (6-2) – 23
20. Hamilton County (Jasper) (1A) (6-2) – 9
Also receiving votes: Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-1) – 7; Madison County (4A) (6-2) – 6; Providence (Jacksonville) (3A) (7-1) – 4; DeLand (8A) (5-3) – 4; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (4-3) – 2; Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (5-2) – 2.
