Some movement in top 10 but Mainland (Daytona Beach) remains unanimous top team in regional poll
GAINESVILLE — The high school football season hits the halfway point this week in Florida, and at the top of the latest Prep Zone Power Poll is the Mainland (Daytona Beach) Bucs.
Last week, Mainland easily defeated Dr. Phillips (Orlando), last week’s 7th ranked team in 8A, 42-21. That earned them a unanimous No. 1 selection in the regional rankings after collecting all nine first place votes.
The Bucs (5-0) have been ranked #1 every week since the preseason poll, which had three-time defending 3A state champion Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) at the top. Mainland also moves up to #2 in this week’s 6A AP state rankings.
Vanguard (Ocala) remains 2nd after a 20-7 win over then-#7 Buchholz (Gainesville). The Knights (4-0) handed Buchholz its first loss of the season. The Bobcats (3-1) fell four spots to #11.
Bolles (Jacksonville) (4-0) remains 3rd after rolling past Jackson (Miami) 44-14 in a battle between Florida’s all-time winningest high school coach in Corky Rogers and the state’s first female high school head football coach in Jackson’s Lakatriona Brunson.
Raines (Jacksonville) stays 4th. The Vikings improved to 4-0 with an easy 49-7 win at Wolfson (Jacksonville).
This week’s top five stays the same as Trinity Christian remains 5th after a bye in week 5.
Class 8A Mandarin (Jacksonville) remains 6th after an easy 54-3 win over Creekside (St. Johns), which moved the Mustangs to 4-0.
Sandalwood (Jacksonville) moves up two spots to 7th this week after blasting Parker (Jacksonville), 60-6. That was the halftime score as the Saints improved to 4-0 with a second half running clock.
Unbeaten Dunnellon (4-0) remained 8th following a 54-27 win at South Lake (Groveland).
Madison County (4-0) moves up three spaces into the top 10 at #9 after an easy 45-0 district win over Bell.
Rounding out the top 10 is Ponte Vedra. The Sharks (4-0) also moved up three spots and into the top 10 this week after a 49-22 romp over Menendez (St. Augustine)
St. Augustine moved back into the poll this week after a 26-14 win at then-#11 Bartram Trail (St. Johns). The Yellow Jackets (4-1) are now 18-0 all time against the Bears (3-2), who drop six positions to 17th. St. Augustine’s only loss was a 23-21 opening week setback at Baker County (Glen St. Mary), which moved up four spots to 12th after a dominating 42-7 triumph against Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville).
The biggest drop this week belongs to University (Orange City), which fell 8 places from 10th to 18th. The Titans (3-2) suffered their second straight defeat, 35-26, at Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs).
Moving in this week is South Sumter (Bushnell) at #19 and Matanzas (Palm Coast) at No. 20. They replace North Marion (Citra) and University Christian (Jacksonville), who dropped out despite a 32-23 win over Fort White. Last week’s #14 team, Clay (Green Cove Springs), also falls out after a 48-13 loss at county rival Oakleaf (Orange Park).
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 powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
The Prep Zone Power Poll – 2016 Football Poll #6
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, overall record, and total voting points).
1. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (9) (5-0) – 180
2. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (4-0) – 167
3. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (4-0) – 160
4. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (4-0) – 149
5. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (2-2) – 146
6. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (4-0) – 135
7. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (4-0) – 126
8. Dunnellon (4A) (4-0) – 121
9. Madison County (1A) (4-0) – 102
10. Ponte Vedra (5A) (4-0) – 94
11. Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (3-1) – 89
12. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (4-0) – 78
13. St. Augustine (6A) (4-1) – 52
14. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (2-1) – 51
15. Trenton (1A) (3-1) – 49
16. Newberry (1A) (5-0) – 47
17. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (3-2) – 25
18. University (Orange City) (8A) (3-2) – 22
19. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (4-0) – 21
20. Matanzas (Palm Coast) (6A) (4-0) – 19
Also receiving votes: Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (5-0) – 13; University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (2-2) – 10; Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (3-2) – 7; Nature Coast (Brooksville) (5A) (4-0) – 7; Deltona (6A) (4-1) – 2; Ribault (Jacksonville) (5A) (2-2) – 2; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (4-0) – 1.
