Top-ranked Mainland (Daytona Beach) picks up two first-places votes from No. 2 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), which was idle
Gainesville – The top-ranked team in the Prep Zone Power Poll took care of business and capitalized on an open week to create some distance again in the weekly regional rankings.
After top-ranked Mainland’s (Daytona Beach) lead over No. 2 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), the top small school team in the country, was cut to just a single vote last week, the nationally-ranked Bucs (No. 13 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25) stretched the lead a little following results from Week #5. A 28-7 win over 8A Dr. Phillips (Orlando), coupled with the Conquerors (4-0) open week, enabled the Bucs to pick up two additional first-place votes and hold on to No. 1 in the poll for Week #6.
The Class 6A Bucs (5-0) collected eight of the 11 first-place votes, with two-time defending 3A state champion Trinity Christian picking up the other three, and increasing their overall lead in total voting points by just five (217-212).
The rest of the top five remained the same.
Class 5A North Marion (Citra) (5-0), ranked 4th in the AP state rankings, defeated No. 10 Gainesville, 37-28, to remain third. The Hurricanes (3-2) dropped five spots to No. 15.
Bolles (Jacksonville) won at 8A Deerfield Beach, 35-15. The ‘Dogs (5-0) now head into district play where they are 102-3 since 1992. This week’s 4A-District 2 opponent is West Nassau (Callahan) (4-0), which is receiving votes in the poll.
Rounding out the top five is Raines (Jacksonville), which is also in the same district as Bolles. The Vikings (5-0), who are just one spot behind the Bulldogs in the 4A state rankings, have outscored their opponents, 247-10.
St. Augustine moved up one spot to sixth following a 24-17 overtime win against Bartram Trail (St. Johns). The Yellow Jackets (5-0, 0-0), now 17-0 all-time against the Bears, open up 6A-District 4 this week against Englewood (Jacksonville) (4-1, 1-0) looking for their 49th consecutive district victory.
Rounding out the top 10 are South Sumter (Bushnell) at No. 7, followed by Columbia (Lake City), which dropped two spots following a 44-41 home loss to 6A Escambia (Pensacola), Buchholz (Gainesville) and Sandalwood (Jacksonville).
University (Orange City), which lost for the first time this season, was the third team in the top 10 to fall, dropping the Titans (4-1) five spots from No. 9 to #14.
Class 6A Matanzas (Palm Coast) (5-0), which stayed unbeaten with a 45-14 win over Nease (Ponte Vedra), is in the poll for the first time at No. 19.
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 #6
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, current record, and total voting points)
1. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (8) (6A) (5-0) – 217
2. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3) (3A) (4-0) – 212
3. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (5-0) – 191
4. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (5-0) – 187
5. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (5-0) – 173
6. St. Augustine (6A) (5-0) – 161
7. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (5-0) – 153
8. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (4-1) – 132
9. Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (4-1) – 131
10. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (5-0) – 119
11. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (5-0) – 99
12. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (4-1) – 96
13. Trenton (1A) (4-0) – 86
14. University (Orange City) (8A) (4-1) – 73
15. Gainesville (6A) (3-2) – 69
16. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (5-0) – 44
17. Dunnellon (4A) (5-0) – 43
18. Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (2-1) – 37
19. Matanzas (Palm Coast) (6A) (5-0) – 35
20. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (3-1) – 18
Also receiving votes: Nature Coast (Brooksville) (5A) (5-0) – 11; Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (3-2) – 5; Newberry (1A) (4-1) – 5; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (3-2) – 4; Lake Minneola (6A) (4-0) – 3; Jefferson County (Monticello) (1A) (3-1) – 3; West Nassau (Callahan) (4A) (4-0) – 2; Forest (Ocala) (6A) (4-1) – 1.
