Here are the updated Sunshine State 25 Rankings after Week 2. Remember the Sunshine State 25 rankings rank the best teams regardless of classification. Independent teams are not eligible for the Sunshine State 25 rankings. Area teams in bold.
Sunshine State 25 Rankings After Week 2
1. St. Thomas Aquinas, 2-0, 1
Week 2: Defeated Miramar, 48-14.
This Week: at Plantation
Comment: After what some thought could be a competitive game against Miramar, St. Thomas Aquinas ran away with this game with the largest margin of victory since the 49-2 drubbing the Raiders put on the Patriots in 2008.
2. Flanagan, 2-0, 2
Week 2: Defeated Coconut Creek, 21-14
This Week: Idle
Comment: Had a challenging game against a stronger and much improved Coconut Creek team and prevailed as the winner. Flanagan is off this week before open district play at South Plantation next week.
3. Mainland (Daytona Beach), 2-0, 3
Week 2: Defeated Bartram Trail, 56-27
This Week: at Flagler Palm Coast
Comment: Rolled by Bartram Trail in moving to 2-0 on the season with talent getting stronger on both side of the ball each week. Should have an easy time against a Flagler Palm Coast team this week that has only mustard up 14 points in the first two weeks.
4. American Heritage (Plantation), 1-1, 4
Week 2: Lost to DeMatha Catholic, 23-22
This Week: vs. Miami Northwestern
Comment: A very close game with DeMatha Catholic on Saturday night and we can say that American Heritage-Plantation is a better team compared to Miami Central when comparing head-to-head. As such we feel no reason to knock them off the top spot knowing what we know.
5. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), 2-0, 6
Week 2: Defeated Ribault, 34-6
This Week: at University Christian
Comment: So the Conquerors have only given up 12 points to opposing teams, so things are looking great in that department. However, a trip across town to rival University Christian is on deck this week and they will face a Christians’ team that has yet to give up a single point in their first two games of the season.
6. Miami Central, 1-1, 5
Week 2: Defeated Miami Killian, 35-0
This Week: vs. First Coast at Traz Powell
Comment: Blew out Miami Killian to bounce back from a huge defeat to DeMatha Catholic the week before. Will face a First Coast team that was upset on the road last week by Gainesville.
7. Apopka, 2-0, 7
Week 2: Defeated Edgewater, 46-25
This Week: at DeLand
Comment: The Blue Darters are already on a roll this season having cake walked Ocoee and Edgewater in the first two weeks. Will travel to DeLand in what has been an on-again, off-again rivalry.
8. Osceola (Kissimmee), 2-0, 8
Week 2: Defeated Oviedo 39-14
This Week: vs. Liberty (Kissimmee)
Comment: Rolled by Oviedo on the road to staty undefeated on the season. Will face off against rival Kissimmee Liberty in what could possibly be another game the Kowboys will roll by in.
9. Oakleaf (Orange Park), 2-0, 10
Week 2: Defeated Orange Park, 44-7.
This Week: at Wayne County, Ga.
Comment: After a slow 21-0 start against Westside Week 1, Oakleaf came through in Week 2 and blew out rival Orange Park in dominating fashion. Will now travel up to Wayne County, Ga., this week to try to get win No. 3 on the season.
10. Dr. Phillips, 2-0, 11
Week 2: Defeated Lake Mary, 27-17
This Week: at West Orange
Comment: The Panthers defeated a good Lake Mary team by 10 points, but the biggest challenge has yet to come. This week they will against West Orange on the road before facing Apopka at home the following week, both being rivalry games that have been renewed.
11. Armwood, 1-0, 12
Week 2: Idle
This Week: at Bloomingdale
Comment: The Hawks enjoyed an early bye week this past week and should be well rested to handle Bloomingdale this week, before opening district play next week at Chamberlain.
12. Lakeland, 2-0, 13
Week 2: Defeated Auburndale, 35-6
This Week: vs. Miami Carol City at Bryant Stadium.
Comment: Struggled to get going early against Auburndale, but finally got things going later on in the game. However, a slow start later on in the season could cost the Dreadnaughts, especially if it happens when the play Winter Haven in district play in Week 8.
13. Cocoa, 2-0, 14
Week 2: Defeated Western Branch, Va., 35-0
This Week: at IMG Academy
Comment: Cocoa has only given up 7 points in their first two games, but they face a tall task by traveling over to the left coast to take on the All-Star IMG Academy program that has already ran over Miramar and DeSoto, Tx., to open the season.
14. West Orange, 2-0, 20
Week 2: Defeated Winter Park, 42-14
This Week: vs. Dr. Phillips
Comment: West Orange has scored at least 40 points in their first two games of the season, but they might not break that number when Dr. Phillips comes to town this week.
15. Hallandale, 2-0, 24
Week 2: Defeated Dillard, 41-14
This Week: Idle
Comment: Hallandale has started of the season with a 2-0 record and has looked like the challenger that wants to topple American Heritage (Plantation) and make a run for state. Will get this week off before opening up district play next week against Stranahan.
16. Dwyer, 1-0, 17
Week 2: Idle
This Week: at Palm Beach Central
Comment: The Panthers had an early bye week this year, but at least they will be well rested for what will likely be a frustrated Palm Beach Central team could likely dish out anything this week.
17. Columbus, 2-0, 9
Week 2: Defeated Miami Northwestern, 13-6
This Week: at Miami Southridge
Comment: Not the most impressive showing by the Explorers after opening Week 1 with a big win. This could also say that Miami Northwestern was a tougher opponent than expected, but Columbus has the talent to muster up more than 13 points in four quarters.
18. Navarre, 3-0, 25
Week 2: Defeated Pensacola Washington, 42-0
This Week: Idle
Comment: Navarre has been straight out impressive here in their first three games of the season having scored over 140 points in the process. The Raiders will take the first of two bye weeks this week before facing rival Choctawhatchee next week.
19. North Marion (Citra), 2-0, 2
Week 2: Defeated Ocala Forest, 35-10
This Week: at Ocala Vanguard
Comment: The Colts doubled their point total from Week 1 and is certainly on the path to another winning season. Vanguard will be a test for the Colts this week.
20. Escambia, 2-0, NR
Week 2: Defeated Niceville, 28-24
This Week: at Pensacola Catholic
Comment: Snapped a five-game skid to Niceville since the teams started playing each other again and allowing Escambia to get their first win in the series since 1995. Escambia, certainly proved they were the better team.
21. Bolles (Jacksonville), 2-0, NR
Week 2: Defeated Palm Bay Heritage, 28-21
This Week: vs. Lakewood
Comment: Bolles is off to a hot start already knocking off Class 8A Lake Mary and Class 6A Palm Bay Heritage. This week it will get the chance to take out another higher class team in Class 5A Lakewood before opening district play next week.
22. Heritage, 1-1, 18
Week 2: Lost to Bolles, 28-21
This Week: Idle
Comment: Heritage took a tough, but close loss to Bolles at home, but it should only make the team stronger for district play. Will take this week off before opening up district play against Eau Gallie next week.
23. Bishop Moore, 2-0, 22
Week 2: Defeated Lyman, 24-7
This Week: at Orlando The First Academy
Comment: Bishop Moore defeated a Lyman team that had shut out Citrus the week before hand. Not sure if the Hornets just took it easy against Lyman or Lyman is a better team than expected despite the score. Will hit the road for the first time this season on Friday.
24. Naples, 1-1, 23
Week 2: Defeated Island Coast, 63-0
This Week: Idle
Comment: Naples bounced back from a home loss to Delray American Heritage last week and took out all their frustration on Island Coast in a 63-0 blowout. Will take this week off before returning home next week to face Gulf Coast.
25. Braden River, 2-0, NR
Week 2: Defeated Southeast, 35-3
This Week: at Ida Baker
Comment: Easily rolled by rival Southeast in a 35-3 rout. The Pirates will travel south this week to take on a good challenger in Cape Coral Ida Baker. Just to note, Braden River has only given up three points so far in the first two games.
Dropped Out: No. 15 Niceville, No. 16 American Heritage (Delray), No. 21 Manatee
