Madison County picks up first place votes but Vanguard (Ocala) remains #1 heading into playoffs
GAINESVILLE — The regular season is over for high school football teams around the state of Florida.
And while the top five teams remain the same in The Prep Zone Power Poll, a new team is getting some added recognition heading into the playoffs.
Vanguard (Ocala) struggled at times, but finished off an undefeated regular season with a 46-20 win at Oakleaf (Orange Park) last week.
The Knights (9-0) received four of the eight first-place votes and are the top-ranked team in the poll for the fifth consecutive week. Vanguard is the #3 seed in Region 2-6A and will open up Friday night at home against District 4-5A rival #16 Gainesville.
St. Augustine remains #2 and also receives two first-place votes this week.
The Yellow Jackets also finished off an undefeated regular season at 9-0 with a 42-7 win over Palatka and is the top seed in Region 1-6A. St. Augustine plays in a region quarterfinal this week against Tate (Cantonment).
Remaining third is another undefeated team in Madison County.
But the big news for the Cowboys (10-0) is they received the other two first-place votes this week after a 34-12 romp at 5A Rickards (Tallahassee). Madison County is ranked #1 in 1A according to the AP and opens up postseason play in a 1A region semifinal against Union County (Lake Butler).
Staying put at 4th is Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville). The Generals (9-1) finished off the regular season with a 23-7 win at Ed White (Jacksonville), and have a tough opening round match-up in the 7A regional quarterfinals against #18 Fleming Island (Orange Park).
Rounding out the top five again this week is Raines (Jacksonville).
The Vikings (9-1) ended a two-game losing streak in the Northwest Classic with a 41-6 running-clock romp at #20 Ribault (Jacksonville) last week. Raines received the #1 seed in Region 1-4A and starts the Drive to Orlando this Friday night against North Bay Haven (Panama City).
Leading off the second five once again this week is yet another unbeaten team, Flagler Palm Coast.
The Bulldogs (9-0) were off in the final week of the regular season, and earned the #3 seed in Region 1-8A. Flagler Palm Coast opens up play in the 8A playoffs at home against Boone (Orlando).
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) was also off in week 11 and remains at #7.
The Conquerors (7-3) earned the District 4-5A title over #13 Bolles (Jacksonville) and Ponte Vedra based on points. Trinity Christian gets a rematch with Bolles in a 5A region quarterfinal this week at the Conquerors home field. Trinity beat Bolles 40-28 during the regular season but was forced to forfeit the win due to an ineligible player.
Bartram Trail (St. Johns) is 8th.
The Bears (7-3) pounded rival Nease (Ponte Vedra) 56-21 in their season finale and earned the #1 seed in Region 1-7A. Bartram Trail opens in the 7A region quarterfinals against East Ridge (Clermont).
The biggest move up this week is Baker County (Glen St. Mary), up five spots and into the top 10 at #9.
The Wildcats (9-1) pounded then-#9 Dunnellon 50-26 on the road and have won nine in a row with their only loss coming in the opening week at #2 St. Augustine. Baker County earned the top seed in Region 2-5A and host RV Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) in a 5A region quarterfinal on Friday.
Rounding out the top 10 is Spruce Creek (Port Orange). The Hawks (8-1) finished off their regular season with a 64-27 romp at New Smyrna Beach and slipped into the playoffs as the #8 seed in Region 1-8A. Spruce Creek travels to Winter Park for their playoff opener this Friday.
The only team new to the poll this week is Clay (Green Cove Springs), which is 17th.
The Blue Devils (7-3) trounced then-#13 University Christian (Jacksonville) 45-13 on the road. Clay opens up play in Region 2-5A at Hernando (Brooksville).
Two-time defending state champion University Christian falls to #19 and hosts FAMU (Tallahassee) in a Region 1-2A semifinal.
Falling out is Bradford (Starke). The Tornadoes (8-1) drop out despite a 41-24 win at Middleburg, and play Keystone Heights in a 4A region semifinal this 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 Central 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. It is fueled by Divine Power Wear.
The Prep Zone Power Poll fueled by Divine Power Wear – 2017 Football Poll #12
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, overall record, and total voting points)
1. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (4) (9-0) – 155
2. St. Augustine (6A) (2) (9-0) – 153
3. Madison County (1A) (2) (10-0) – 143
4. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (9-1) – 131
5. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (9-1) – 126
6. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (9-0) – 121
7. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-3) – 111
8. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (7-3) – 105
9. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (9-1) – 90
10. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (8A) (8-1) – 82
11. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (10-0) – 79
12. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (7-3) – 71
13. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (8-2) – 58
14. Dunnellon (4A) (7-2) – 57
15. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (6-3) – 47
16. Gainesville (6A) (8-2) – 34
17. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (7-3) – 28
18. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (8-2) – 26
19. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (7-2) – 25
20. Ribault (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-3) – 14
Also receiving votes: Bradford (Starke) (4A) (8-1) – 10; Trenton (4A) (8-2) – 4; Menendez (St. Augustine) (5A) (7-3) – 3; Ponte Vedra (5A) (7-3) – 2; West Nassau (Callahan) (4A) (8-1) – 2; Wildwood (1A) (9-0) – 2; Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (5A) (7-2) – 1.
