Class 3A state runner-up Raines (Jacksonville) starts on top
GAINESVILLE — It’s time for high school football to get underway once again.
As the 2025 season begins, The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties in Florida heading into the regular season openers.
Starting off as the top-ranked team is the team that finished last season at the top of the regional rankings, Raines (Jacksonville),
The Vikings were Class 3A state runner-up last season, finishing 13-1 with a loss to Northwestern (Miami) in the state title game. Raines, which is off this week as their opener against Central (Miami) was cancelled, received six of the eight first-place votes to start the season in the top spot of the regional all-classification rankings.
Buchholz (Gainesville) is 2nd.
The Bobcats advanced to their fourth straight state semifinal appearance in 2024, and they must replace quarterback Trace Johnson, who transferred to a high school in California. The Bobcats garnered a first-place vote and open the season at home on Thursday night against No. 7 Vanguard (Ocala).
St. Augustine starts 3rd. After a state runner-up finish two years ago, the Yellow Jackets advanced back to the 4A state semifinal last fall, losing to American Heritage (Plantation). St. Augustine opens their season at home against RV Palatka in the annual rivalry game.
Bolles (Jacksonville) is 4th. The Bulldogs were eliminated in the 2A region final at Gadsden County (Havana). Bolles returns most of their players, and opens the new season against Monarch (Coconut Creek) at the Broward County Showcase on Thursday. The Bulldogs receive the final first-place vote.
Rounding out the top five is the defending Rural State Champion, Madison County. The Cowboys, who edged No. 10 Hawthorne 21-14 in the rural state championship, ending the Hornets chance for a three-peat, opens their 2025 season at home on Friday against RV DeLand.
Nease (Ponte Vedra) leads off the second five. The Panthers are coming off a 2024 season in which they were unbeaten in the regular season before being eliminated by Oakleaf (Orange Park) in a 6A region semifinal. Nease opens up at 14th-ranked Ponte Vedra in a St. Johns County rivalry.
Vanguard is next, followed by Oakleaf at No. 8, followed by Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) and Hawthorne in the top 10.
Moving into the rankings from last year’s final poll are No. 17 Mainland (Daytona Beach) and Columbia. Chiefland and University Christian (Jacksonville) dropped out.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball 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 – 2025 FOOTBALL POLL #1 (PRESEASON POLL)
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, 2024 record, and total voting points)
1. Raines (Jacksonville) (3A) (6) (13-1) – 156
2. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (1) (10-4) – 145
3. St. Augustine (4A) (11-2) – 139
4. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2A) (1) (10-2) – 125
5. Madison County (Rural) (10-3) – 117
6. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (6A) (10-1) – 113
7. Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (11-2) – 104
8. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (9-4) – 97
9. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (10-4) – 91
10. Hawthorne (Rural) (10-2) – 84
11. Newberry (2A) (10-3) – 79
12. Bradford (Starke) (2A) (9-2) – 77
13. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (8-4) – 58
14. Ponte Vedra (5A) (9-3) – 43
15. University (Orange City) (7A) (9-3) – 41
16. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (6A) (7-4) – 40
17. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (5A) (5-6) – 27
18. Flagler Palm Coast (7A) (9-2) – 23
19. Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (5-6) – 19
20T. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (3A) (9-4) – 15
20T. Union County (Lake Butler) (Rural) (10-2) – 15
Also receiving votes: Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (4-6) – 9; Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (5-6) – 8; Chiefland (Rural) (9-2) – 7; Eastside (Gainesville) (3A) (7-4) – 7; Fleming Island (Orange Park) (8-4) – 7; South Sumter (Bushnell) (3A) (4-6) – 7; University Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (7-6) – 7; Palatka (3A) (7-4) – 5; DeLand (7A) (5-6) – 4; Dunnellon (3A) (8-4) – 2.
