Raines (Jacksonville) still No. 1, but nine top 20 teams lose in opening week
GAINESVILLE — Week one of high school football is in the books, and there were plenty of surprises for the schools in The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties in Florida.
And while there was plenty of movement in the top 10, the top two teams survived tough road matchups and remained at the top this week.
Raines (Jacksonville) struggled on offense, but the Vikings defense was more than enough for a 21-7 win at then-No. 16 Oakleaf (Orange Park). Raines (1-0) received nine of the 12 first-place votes to stay at the top of the all-classification regional rankings. The Vikings open their home schedule this Friday against Baldwin.
Buchholz (Gainesville) stays 2nd. The Bobcats (1-0) worked overtime but were able to hold off 8th-ranked Vanguard (Ocala), 34-28, at Booster Stadium last week. Buchholz, which earned two first-place votes to remain No. 2, takes on city rival Gainesville this week at Citizens Field.
DeLand moved up a spot to 3rd. The Bulldogs (1-0) also worked hard but pulled out a 35-34 triumph over Lake Wales.
Mandarin (Jacksonville) moved up two spots to No. 4 after taking a long trip to South Florida and earning a 38-21 win over McArthur (Hollywood). The Mustangs (1-0) remain on the road this week, but it’s a much closer trip at Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville).
Hawthorne rounds out the top five. The Hornets (1-0) were also tested on the road at 4A Bishop Moore (Orlando), but pulled out a 28-25 overtime win. Hawthorne has its home opener this Friday against Alachua County rival Newberry.
The second five is led by St. Augustine at No. 6. The Yellow Jackets (1-0) blanked Palatka, 49-0, on the road.
Columbia (Lake City) is up six spots to 7th after a surprising 20-19 win at previous No. 3 Bolles (Jacksonville). That win also earned the Tigers (1-0) a first-place vote. Bolles (0-1) fell to No. 9 this week after the home loss.
Despite the overtime loss to Buchholz, Vanguard stays put at No. 8, followed by Bolles, and Bradford (Starke) in the top 10. The 10th-ranked Tornadoes (1-0) won 65-0 over West Port (Ocala) in Ross Baker’s first game as Tornadoes head coach. Bradford travels to rival RV Baker County (Glen St. Mary) this week.
University Christian (Jacksonville) moved into the poll this week at 12th after a 31-29 win at No. 16 Ponte Vedra. The Sharks were 11th in the preseason poll.
Creekside (St. Johns) also moved in at No. 13 after upsetting then No. 10 Nease (Ponte Vedra), 21-14, while the Panthers dropped five spots to No. 10 with the loss. Ed White (Jacksonville) is also new at 14th after knocking off No. 20 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), 42-40, in overtime.
Oakleaf and Chiefland dropped out this week along with Eastside (Gainesville), which dropped its opener 28-13 at RV Fort White.
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 Be Well Fitness.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2026 FOOTBALL POLL #2
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Raines (Jacksonville) (3A)(9) (1-0) – 237
2. Buchholz (Gainesville) (5A) (2) (1-0) – 223
3. DeLand (6A) (1-0) – 206
4. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (5A) (1-0) – 205
5. Hawthorne (1A) (1-0) – 176
6. St. Augustine (4A) (1-0) – 175
7. Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (1) (1-0) – 169
8. Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (0-1) – 140
9. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2A) (0-1) – 138
10. Bradford (Starke) (2A) (1-0) – 134
11. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (6A) (1-0) – 96
12. University Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (1-0) – 81
13. Creekside (St. Johns) (6A) (1-0) – 64
14. Ed White (Jacksonville) (4A) (1-0) – 63
15. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (5A) (0-1) – 54
16. Ponte Vedra (5A) (0-1) – 51
17. Madison County (1A) (1-0) – 47
18. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (3A) (1-0) – 44
19. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (0-1) – 40
20. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (0-1) – 38
Also receiving votes: Oakleaf (Orange Park) (5A) (0-1) – 30; The Villages (3A) (1-0) – 19; Middleburg (4A) (1-0) – 15; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (5A) (1-0) – 9; Fort White (1A) (1-0) – 9; Williston (1A) (1-0) – 9; Beachside (St. Johns) (5A) (1-0) – 8; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (3A) (1-0) – 6; Santa Fe (Alachua) (3A) (1-0) – 5; Dunnellon (3A) (1-0) – 3; South Sumter (Bushnell) (3A) (1-0) – 3; West Nassau (Callahan) (SSAA) (1-0-1) – 3; Chiefland (1A) (0-1) – 2; Mount Dora Christian Academy (Independent) (1-0) – 2.
