No. 1 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) looks to cap an unbeaten regular season
GAINESVILLE – Last week, the Bartram Trail (St. Johns) football team defeated Sandalwood (Jacksonville) to win the Class 8A-District 1 title.
This week, the Bears (9-0) have a chance to cap off an unbeaten regular season.
However, defending state champion Raines (Jacksonville) stands in the way in what will be a match-up of two of the top 15 teams in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
Bartram Trail received all nine first-place votes to once again hold on to the top spot in the regional all-classification rankings heading into the final week of the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Vikings (5-3) will look to bounce back from last week’s 17-14 loss in overtime to No. 10 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville). The Vikings dropped from 10th to 13th following the defeat.
It’s one of a few match-ups featuring top 20 teams.
Previous No. 2 North Marion (Citra) lost 20-14 at previous No. 4 Dunnellon last week and dropped four spots to sixth. The Colts (7-2) will travel to new No. 4 Columbia (Lake City) this Friday in a meeting of top 10 teams.
Dunnellon (8-1), which moved up one spot to third, hosts No. 20 Trinity Catholic (Ocala) on Friday in a Marion County showdown. The visiting Celtics (7-2) dropped three spots from 17th following a 35-28 loss at Calvary Christian (Clearwater).
Defending 1A state champion Madison County moved up to No. 2 following the loss by North Marion, while Vanguard (Ocala) moved into the top five at No. 5 after the Colts (7-2) dropped out of the top five.
Another top 20 battle features two perennial powers as Bolles (Jacksonville), which is tied for 10th with Trinity Christian, travels to No. 18 Mainland (Daytona Beach).
Terry Parker (Jacksonville) knocked off then #20T Westside (Jacksonville), 26-21, to win the 5A-District 3 title. It was the first district title in 19 years for the Braves (6-2), who move into the rankings for the first time this season 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 and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2019 FOOTBALL POLL #11
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8A) (9) (9-0) – 180
2. Madison County (1A) (7-2) – 164
3 Dunnellon (5A) (8-1) – 159
4. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (7-2) – 158
5. Vanguard (Ocala) (5A) (6-2) – 137
6T. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (8-0) –128
6T. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (7-2) – 128
8. Ponte Vedra (6A) (7-1) – 110
9. DeLand (8A) (6-2) – 103
10T. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-1) 93
10T. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (5-5) – 93
12. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (7-2) – 76
13. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-3) – 67
14. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (8-1) – 63
15. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (6A) (6-3) – 62
16T. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (6-3) – 37
16T. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (6-3) – 37
18. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (5-3) – 33
19. Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-2) – 16
20. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (7-2) – 15
Also receiving votes: Ribault (Jacksonville) (5A) (4-4) – 8; Westside (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-2) – 4; Baldwin (3A) (7-2) – 4; Lake Minneola (Minneola) (6A) (6-3) – 4; Menendez (St. Augustine) (5A) (6-2) – 3; Keystone Heights (4A) (7-1) – 2; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (6-3) – 2; The Villages (4A) (6-2) – 2; South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (7-2) – 1; West Nassau (Callahan) (4A) (7-2) – 1.
