Week 8: Big Week Ahead For Top Teams
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As we are now in the homestretch of the 2021 high school football season, there are some key matchups that will certainly dictate the Top 25 programs in Florida.
With key district games coming up throughout the Sunshine State, we will start seeing some movement among those teams who have remained atop the state ranking.
As you will see today, there was very little movement this past week – with just three programs losing.
Traveling across the state throughout the year, watching these teams has given us an advantage and insight to many of these programs that a major percentage of those who rank teams never see – and that adds much more validity to these weekly exposure blogs.
Here is a look at the latest ranking from Florida Prep Redzone, heading into Week 8:
1 Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 5-0).Another week off for one of the nation’s premier teams this past week. THIS WEEK: A Friday night home game against St. Thomas More.
2. Venice (8A, 6-0).For the fourth consecutive time and fifth in the first six games, the Indians went over 40 points in a 41-8 win over Bradenton Manatee. THIS WEEK: A home game district game on Friday night against Naples Gulf Coast.
3. Tampa Jesuit (6A, 6-0).It was close for a half and then the Tigers pulled away to beat Clearwater Central Catholic, 35-21. THIS WEEK: A Friday away district game against Tampa Jefferson.
4. Miami Central (5A, 4-2).The Rockets won for the fourth straight with a 56-0 win against Hialeah-Miami Lakes. THIS WEEK: A non-district Friday home game against Miami Edison.
5. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7A, 6-1).The Raiders crushed South Plantation in a district game, 62-0. THIS WEEK: A huge rematch game of last year on Saturday night against No. 9 Cardinal Gibbons at FAU.
6. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (3A, 4-1).For the second straight week, the Lions were derailed by an opponent with Covid. THIS WEEK: A big matchup with No. 7 Miami Gulliver Prep at home on Friday.
7. Miami Gulliver Prep (4A, 5-0).With this past week off, the Raiders geared up for a competitive stretch run. THIS WEEK: No. 6 Chaminade-Madonna on Friday night in Hollywood in a much-anticipated game.
8. Niceville (7A, 7-0).In staying perfect, the Eagles found the going at home a little bit rougher with 3A Miami Edison taking the game down to the final minute, 21-14. THIS WEEK: A home game on Friday against Gadsden County.
9. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (4A, 5-1).The Chiefs rebounded from their loss to Plantation American Heritage with a convincing 56-7 win over Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest. THIS WEEK: It gets no easier with a huge Saturday night matchup with No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas at FAU.
10. Sanford Seminole (8A, 6-1).Coming back after the first regular season loss in over two years – to Chaminade-Madonna – with a 34-16 win against Lake Brantley. THIS WEEK: A challenging district road game at 5-1 Oviedo on Friday.
11. Naples (6A, 6-0).The Golden Eagles are red hot, and with a 39-10 win against Delray Beach Atlantic, they have outscored the opposition, 277-17. THIS WEEK: A road district game on Friday at Naples Lely.
12. Jacksonville Bolles (4A, 6-0). While the game with Clearwater Academy International was postponed last week, the Bulldogs remain the hottest team in Florida and are climbing the rankings quickly! THIS WEEK: The team will have a scheduled week off, getting ready for the stretch run.
13. Orlando Edgewater (7A, 6-1).Back in the mix again, the Eagles won a very exciting matchup with Winter Park, 41-35, staying sharp for the rest of the season. THIS WEEK: A home district game on Friday against Apopka Wekiva.
14. Lake Mary (8A, 6-0).Winning for the sixth straight time this season, the Rams continued this magic season with a 49-14 win against Longwood Lyman. THIS WEEK: A key road game on Friday night at Flagler Palm Coast.
15. Tampa Bay Tech (7A, 6-0).THIS WEEK: Another tight game, but a big win last week against Lithia Newsome, 21-9. THIS WEEK: An interesting matchup on the road at Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel) on Friday.
16. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (7A, 6-0). After a tremendous start to the season, the Panthers had the week off to get ready for the final games of the regular season. They have won 25 of the past 26 games. THIS WEEK: A road game this Friday night in Hallandale.
17. Lynn Haven Mosley (6A, 7-0).Getting off to one of their best starts in school history, the Dolphins beat Navarre, 30-7. They have now outscored the opposition, 288-49. THIS WEEK: A huge district home game on Friday against state runner up Tallahassee Rickards.
18. Jacksonville Trinity Christian (2A, 6-1). After being dominated by Jacksonville Bolles the week before, the Conquerors rebounded with a 27-14 win against Plantation American Heritage. THIS WEEK: An away game in Tallahassee against FSU Florida High on Friday.
19. Miami Northwestern (6A, 5-2).The Bulls got back on course with a 26-12 district win against Miami Norland. THIS WEEK: A rare Wednesday night district home game against South Miami.
20. Cocoa (4A, 4-1).Another thrilling game for the Tigers, beating 8A Orlando Dr. Phillips, 19-15. THIS WEEK: A challenging home game on Friday against Viera.
21. Lakeland (7A, 5-1).Got back on track with a thrilling 20-17 win against Apopka. THIS WEEK: A district home game on Friday against Lakeland George Jenkins,
22. St. Petersburg Lakewood (4A, 7-0).Remained unbeaten at home with a solid 36-6 win against Tarpon Springs East Lake. THIS WEEK: A non-district home game on Friday night against Hardee County.
23. Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (8A, 4-1).Getting in games is never easy, and while they held a 7-0 lead on 1A Pahokee, the game was never completed. THIS WEEK: The district lead is on the line on Friday night at home with the yearly clash against 4-1 Vero Beach.
24. Miami Killian (5A, 7-0).Sleep on the Cougars all you want, but with Saturday’s 46-7 win over Key West, this is a team that is going to be a huge force come playoff time. THIS WEEK: A Friday away game at Miami St. Brendan.
25. Ocala Vanguard (6A, 6-0).Remained unbeaten and entered the Top 25 with a 26-0 win against Tampa Jefferson. THIS WEEK: The Knights look for seven straight with a Friday road game at Lecanto.
(tie) Tampa Berkeley Prep (3A, 6-0). The Buccaneers remained unbeaten and enter the Top 25 after a 47-7 win over Tampa Freedom. They have outscored the opposition, 240-54 so far in 2021. THIS WEEK: They hit the road for a game at Lakeland Victory Christian on Friday.
OTHER TEAMS TO CONSIDER: Apopka (8A, 4-2), Auburndale (6A, 6-0), Boca Raton (8A, 5-1), Clearwater Academy International (Independent, 4-1), Clearwater Central Catholic (3A, 4-2), Coconut Creek (6A, 4-2), Fort Myers Dunbar (6A, 5-0), Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (6A, 4-2), Doral Academy (7A, 6-0), Gainesville Buchholz (7A, 5-1), Hawthorne (1A, 5-0), Hialeah Champagnat Catholic (2A, 4-2), Jacksonville Riverside (6A, 6-1), Kissimmee Osceola (8A, 5-1), Lakeland Christian (3A, 6-0), Lake Butler Union County (1A, 6-0), Lake City Columbia (6A, 5-2), Lake Wales (6A, 5-1), Land O’Lakes (6A, 6-0), Lithia Newsome (8A, 5-2), Martin County (7A, 4-0), Merritt Island (5A, 4-1), Miami Edison (3A, 3-2), Miami Florida Christian (4A, 6-0), Miami Palmetto (8A, 5-1), Navarre (7A, 3-2), Ocoee (8A, 4-1), Orange City University (8A, 4-0), Orlando Boone (8A, 4-2), Orlando Jones (6A, 4-2), Pahokee (1A, 4-1), Palm Beach Central (8A, 5-0), Pensacola Pine Forest (6A, 4-1), Pensacola West Florida (5A, 6-0), Plantation American Heritage (5A, 2-3), Port Orange Spruce Creek (7A, 6-0), Sarasota Riverview (8A, 5-1), Satellite (5A, 6-0), Seffner Armwood (7A, 4-2), South Fort Myers (6A, 5-1), St. Johns Bartram Trail (8A, 5-1), St. Johns Creekside (8A, 6-1), Tallahassee Florida High (3A, 5-1), Tallahassee Rickards (6A, 5-1), Tampa Wharton (7A, 5-0), The Villages (4A, 5-0), Trinity Mitchell (7A, 6-1), Rockledge (5A, 6-0), Vero Beach (8A, 4-1), Viera (7A, 4-1), Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch (7A, 4-1), Winter Garden West Orange (8A, 6-1), Winter Park (8A, 4-2), Zephyrhills (5A, 5-1).
TRACKING FLORIDA: Teams Look At 2021 Season. https://prepredzone.com/2021/03/tracking-florida-teams-look-at-2021-season/
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com