Vanguard (Ocala) edges St. Augustine to remain #1 in regional rankings
GAINESVILLE — The Vanguard (Ocala) Knights escaped a major scare on the road and remain the top-ranked team in the latest regional rankings of The Prep Zone Power Poll.
Vanguard (6-0) scored with 1:03 left to win a big District 5-6A contest, 31-24, at RV Gainesville last week. That victory kept the Knights unbeaten and garnered them five of the eight first-place votes to edge St. Augustine by one point overall and remain #1 in the poll for the second straight week.
St. Augustine moved to 6-0 with an easy 49-7 District 4-6A win at Ed White (Jacksonville) and received the other three first-place votes.
Remaining third is Madison County (7-0), which had the week off and has a top-10 matchup with #10 University Christian (Jacksonville) this Friday.
Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) remains 4th after the Generals (6-1) rebounded from their first loss of the season, the previous week at #16 Ribault (Jacksonville), with a 42-7 win at District 2-7A rival First Coast (Jacksonville).
Moving back into the top five this week is Bartram Trail (St. Johns).
The Bears (5-2) moved up two spots after handing then-#6 Fleming Island (Orange Park) a 32-16 loss. The setback was the first of the season for Fleming Island (6-1) and dropped the Golden Eagles to 12th this week.
Raines (Jacksonville) drops one spot to 6th despite a 41-3 romp at Oakleaf (Orange Park).
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) moves up one slot to 7th after the Conquerors (5-3) won 54-7 at 5A-3 rival Westside (Jacksonville).
Another big mover this week is Flagler Palm Coast (7-0), which moves up five spaces and into the top 10 at #8. The Bulldogs (7-0) won the battle of unbeaten teams, 17-14, at then-#10 Spruce Creek (Port Orange). The Hawks (5-1) dropped to 13th this week.
Dunnellon (6-1) remains 9th after trouncing North Marion (Citra), 29-0.
Rounding out the top 10 is University Christian (Jacksonville). The Christians (7-0) remained unbeaten after cruising past Kingdom Prep (Auburndale) 49-0 and moved up one spot back into the top 10.
Moving back in the poll for the first time since the opening week of the season is Baker County (Glen St. Mary), which is 18th. The Wildcats (6-1) won their sixth straight game, 35-0, at Orange Park and haven’t lost since week 1 at #2 St. Augustine.
Clay (Green Cove Springs) also moves back in the poll at #20 after a 49-3 win at then-#19 Ridgeview (Orange Park).
Ridgeview drops out this week along with East Ridge (Clermont), which was 20th last week but lost 21-14 at West Port (Ocala).
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 #9
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, overall record, and total voting points)
1. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (5) (6-0) – 156
2. St. Augustine (6A) (3) (6-0) – 155
3. Madison County (1A) (7-0) – 144
4. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (6-1) – 133
5. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (5-2) – 129
6. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-1) – 126
7. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-3) – 105
8. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (7-0) – 100
9. Dunnellon (4A) (6-1) – 96
10. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (7-0) – 91
11. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-1) – 73
12. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (6-1) – 71
13. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (8A) (5-1) – 61
14. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (5-2) – 57
15. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (8-0) – 51
16. Ribault (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-2) – 34
17. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (3-3) – 30
18. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (6-1) – 22
19. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (7-0) – 20
20. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (5-2) – 12
Also receiving votes: Ponte Vedra (5A) (5-2) – 11; Fort White (3A) (5-2) – 2; Gainesville (6A) (4-2) – 2; University (Orange City) (8A) (5-2) – 2; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-2) -1; Nature Coast (Brooksville) (5A) (5-1) – 1; St. Francis Catholic (Gainesville) (2A) (6-0) – 1.
