Little change in the top five after Hurricane Irma wreaks havoc on regional football schedule
GAINESVILLE — Hurricane Irma came and went through the entire state of Florida and caused much schedule shuffling for high school football in week three for the teams in the regional football rankings.
All games, if they were played, were played last Thursday, with no games on Friday as the area prepared for Irma.
There is a slight change in the top five of the poll this week, but the top team remains the same despite not even having to take the field last week.
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) received five of the six first-place votes after a forfeit win in their District 4-5A opener at Terry Parker (Jacksonville), to stay on top of The Prep Zone Power Poll.
The Braves forfeited the morning of the game to start getting prepared for Irma.
The Conquerors (2-1) have a district showdown coming up tonight in one of the few Friday night games in the area as they will host #8 Bolles (Jacksonville).
Bartram Trail (St. Johns) moves up a spot to second this week and received the other first-place vote after cruising past then-#17 Clay (Green Cove Springs), 49-28. The Bears (2-1) have a bye this week before a showdown next Friday with St. Johns County rival #11 St. Augustine.
The Yellow Jackets’ game at #12 Ponte Vedra was called off due to the hurricane, but may be played later in the season.
Despite improving to 3-0 with a 35-20 win over Mandarin (Jacksonville), Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) drops to third. The Generals have a District 2-7A showdown with #6 Columbia (Lake City), with the game being played next Tuesday, September 19.
Vanguard (Ocala) remains 4th after blanking county rival North Marion (Citra) 45-0. It was the first time the Colts (0-3) had been shutout since 2004. The Knights (3-0) have a bye this week as their game at Lakewood (St. Petersburg) was called off due to Irma.
Rounding out the top five once again this week is Mainland (Daytona Beach).
The Bucs (1-1) saw their game against Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie) canceled a week ago, and this week’s District 13-6A opener against Pine Ridge (Deltona) has been postponed but will be made up.
Columbia is the big mover this week, up four sports to sixth after a 42-7 pasting of Buchholz (Gainesville). The Tigers (3-0) have that huge district showdown in Jacksonville against Lee on Tuesday.
Raines (Jacksonville) remains seventh after beating Ed White (Jacksonville) 28-7. The Vikings (2-1) are off this week.
Bolles (Jacksonville) drops to eighth after rallying from an early 14-0 deficit for a 34-28 win at First Coast (Jacksonville). The Bulldogs (2-0) travel to Trinity Christian tonight in their District 4-5A opener. This is the first meeting between Bolles and Trinity Christian since 2000.
University Christian (Jacksonville) is the first team to 4-0 after rolling past Crescent City, 55-28. Despite that, the Christians drop two spots to No. 9.
Rounding out the top 10 is Madison County (3-0). The Cowboys rolled over Florida High (Tallahassee) 49-6 and dropped one position this week but remain in the top 10.
New to the poll this week is #18 Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), #19 Flagler Palm Coast, and No. 20 Dixie County (Cross City).
Dropping out from last week is Buchholz (Gainesville), Clay (Green Cove Springs), and Baker County (Glen St. Mary).
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 Central 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. It is fueled by Divine Power Wear.
The Prep Zone Power Poll fueled by Divine Power Wear – 2017 Football Poll #4
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, overall record, and total points)
1. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5A) (5) (2-1) – 119
2. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (1) (2-1) – 114
3. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (3-0) – 109
4. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (3-0) – 101
5. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (1-1) – 95
6. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (3-0) – 80
7. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (2-1) – 78
8. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (2-0) – 77
9. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (4-0) – 75
10. Madison County (1A) (3-0) – 74
11. St. Augustine (6A) (2-0) – 62
12. Ponte Vedra (5A) (2-0) – 54
13. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (3-0) – 49
14. Dunnellon (4A) (2-0) – 44
15. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (8A) (2-0) – 27
16. Fort White (3A) (3-0) – 26
17. Nature Coast (Brooksville) (5A) (1-0) – 20
18. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (3-0) – 14
19. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (2-0) – 9
20. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (3-0) – 8
Also receiving votes: Belleview (5A) (3-0) – 5; Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (3-0) – 5; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (3-0) – 2; Forest (Ocala) (6A) (3-0) – 1; West Nassau (Callahan) (4A) (3-0) – 1.
