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Columbia (Lake City) no longer a unanimous No. 1, but the Tigers are still on top
GAINESVILLE – The gap has narrowed between the top two teams in The Prep Zone Power Poll powered by Strive Fitness.
Columbia (Lake City) remained No. 1 in the all-classification regional football rankings following a 42-37 home win against previous No. 4 Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville), which dropped one spot to fifth in this week’s rankings. And Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) is still No. 2.
However, the Tigers (4-0) lost one of their previous 10 first-place votes. That one top vote now belongs to the Conquerors (4-0), who dominated previous No. 8 Bolles (Jacksonville) on the road, 41-13.
The Tigers are still ranked 2nd in the Associated Press Class 7A state poll, but Trinity Christian moved up to No. 2 in Class 5A.
Next week, the two teams will settle top billing on the field when Columbia travels to Trinity Christian.
But first, Columbia will have to get past No. 4 Madison County this week. The Cowboys (4-0) moved up one spot from fifth following 46-6 win against Williston.
Trinity Christian will also have to get past Class 7A Palm Beach Lakes in West Palm Beach. If they do, then both teams could be playing for the No. 1 regional ranking.
Vanguard (Ocala) is also making a case for top billing. The Class 6A Knights (4-0) remained third following a 35-13 win at Dunnellon.
In the second five, defending 4A state champion Raines (Jacksonville) (3-1) remained sixth, followed by Sandalwood (Jacksonville), Flagler Palm Coast, Ponte Vedra, and Baker County (Glen St. Mary) in the top 10.
Three teams crack this week’s top 20 – No. 17 Oakleaf (Orange), #18 Buchholz (Gainesville), and #20 North Marion (Citra). St. Augustine, Fletcher (Neptune Beach) and Bartram Trail (St. Johns) dropped out.
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 Strive Fitness.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2018 FOOTBALL POLL #5
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, record, and total voting points)
1. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (9) (4-0) – 179
2. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5A) (1) (4-0) – 172
3. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (4-0) – 161
4. Madison County (1A) (4-0) – 145
5. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (3-1) – 144
6. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (3-1) – 138
7. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (4-0) – 126
8. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (3-1) – 108
9. Ponte Vedra (5A) (4-0) – 95
10. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (3-1) – 92
11. DeLand (8A) (3-1) – 79
12. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (4-1) – 73
13. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (2-2) – 63
14. Menendez (St. Augustine) (3-1) – 52
15. Baldwin (3A) (4-0) – 43
16. Eastside (Gainesville) (5A) (3-1) – 33
17. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (2-1) – 27
18. Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (2-2) – 24
19. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (2-2) – 23
20. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (3-1) – 18
Also receiving votes: Chiefland (1A) (4-0) – 17; Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (4-0) – 15; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (2-2) – 14; Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (2-2) – 14; Hawthorne (1A) (4-0) – 11; West Nassau (Callahan) (4A) (4-0) – 6; Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (2-2) – 5; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (3-1) – 4; Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (3-1) – 2; Hernando (Brooksville) (5A) (4-0) – 2; Orange Park (5A) (3-1) – 2; Crystal River (5A) (4-0) – 1; New Smyrna Beach (6A) (3-1) – 1; Palatka (5A) (3-1) – 1.
