Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) gains ground on top-ranked Mainland (Daytona Beach)
Gainesville – The race for No. 1 is back on in the Prep Zone Power Poll.
Top-ranked Mainland (Daytona Beach) had created some separation from No. 2 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), but following the #2 Conquerors’ 42-14 dismantling of Class 8A No. 5 West Orange (Winter Garden), the gap is razor thin.
The Bucs (4-0), who defeated Pine Ridge (Deltona), 40-0, remained on top. The #1 team in Class 6A received six first-place votes and 215 voting points to retain the No. 1 spot.
However, Trinity Christian (4-0), which is ranked No. 1 in 3A, received the other five first-place votes, three more than last week, and 214 total voting points.
Previous No. 3 Oakleaf (Orange Park) was upset at home by Buchholz (Gainesville), which moved the Bobcats (3-1) up six spots to 11th and dropped the Knights (3-1) 10 spots to 13th.
That enabled North Marion (Citra), a 47-12 winner over previously unbeaten Pasco (Dade City), to move up one spot to third, while Bolles (Jacksonville), which defeated Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville), 42-6, moved up one spot to fourth.
Rounding out the top five is Bolles’ district rival, Raines, which moved up to fifth following a 53-0 win against Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville).
Columbia (Lake City) is ranked sixth, followed by St. Augustine, South Sumter (Bushnell), University (Orange City) and Gainesville in the top 10.
Class 7A First Coast (Jacksonville) (1-2) was the only team to drop out of the rankings despite a 64-0 win against Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville). That allowed Vanguard (Ocala) (3-1) to enter the poll for the first time at No. 20.
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 – 2015 Football Poll #5
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, current record, and total voting points)
1. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6) (6A) (4-0) – 215
2. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5) (3A) (4-0) – 214
3. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (4-0) – 193
4. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (4-0) – 189
5. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (4-0) – 172
6. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (4-0) – 171
7. St. Augustine (6A) (4-0) – 152
8. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (4-0) – 139
9. University (Orange City) (8A) (4-0) – 116
10. Gainesville (6A) (3-1) – 112
11. Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (3-1) – 107
12. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (4-0) – 95
13. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (3-1) – 88
14T Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (4-0) – 79
14T Trenton (1A) (3-0) – 79
16. Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (2-1) – 60
17. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (4-0) – 40
18. Dunnellon (4A) (4-0) – 26
19. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (2-1) – 22
20. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (3-1) – 8
Also receiving votes: Ponte Vedra (5A) (4-0) – 6; Matanzas (Palm Coast) (6A) (4-0) – 6; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (3-1) – 5; Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (2-1) – 4; Nature Coast (Brooksville) (5A) (4-0) – 4; First Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (1-2) – 3; Lake Minneola (6A) (3-0) – 3; Jefferson County (Monticello) (1A) (3-0) – 2.
