Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) is new unanimous #1 team in regional football rankings after previous No. 1 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) stumbles on the road
GAINESVILLE — For the first time since the 2nd week of The Prep Zone Power Poll, there is a new top-ranked football team.
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) was the #1 team in the preseason rankings, but the Conquerors fell to 2nd behind Mainland (Daytona Beach) after losing to defending 4A state champion Cocoa in the opening week of play.
Trinity Christian, four-time defending 3A state champs, had won four in a row and was the top team in the last four polls. But after a 24-14 loss at #14 Columbia (Lake City) last week, the Conquerors (4-2) fall out of the top five to #6 in this week’s regional rankings.
The new unanimous top-ranked team is Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville).
The Generals (5-0) rolled to a 36-0 District 2-7A win at Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) and receive all seven first-place votes in this week’s poll. Robert E. Lee, which is ranked 5th in the Associated Press Class 7A state rankings, already owns wins over #6 Raines (Jacksonville) and Columbia in 2017.
Moving up to 2nd this week is Vanguard (Ocala).
The Knights (5-0) pitched their fourth shutout in five games with a 47-0 romp over District 5-6A rival Leesburg.
Madison County (6-0) also moves up to a spot to third after a come-from-behind 24-21 win at #11 Dunnellon. The Tigers (4-1) actually moved up a spot this week despite the loss.
Coming in 4th is St. Augustine. The Yellow Jackets (4-0) followed up their exciting come-from-behind win over #7 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) the week before with an easy 52-0 District 4-6A win at Englewood (Jacksonville).
Rounding out the top five is Raines (Jacksonville). The Vikings (4-1) obliterated an overmatched Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) team 78-0 last Friday, and moved up one spot this week as well and into the top five.
Following Trinity Christian at #6 is Bartram Trail. The Bears (3-2) rebounded from the heartbreaking loss to rival St. Augustine by blasting District 3-7A rival Creekside (St. Johns), 49-0.
Remaining undefeated and moving up one slot to 8th this week is Fleming Island (Orange Park). The Golden Eagles improved to 6-0 with a come-from-behind 13-7 win in a defensive slugfest at Clay County rival Oakleaf (Orange Park).
Defending 2A state champion University Christian (Jacksonville) was off last week and the Christians (5-0) drop one spot to 9th in the latest poll.
Rounding out the top 10 for the second straight week is Bolles (Jacksonville). The Bulldogs pulled away in the second half for a dominating 64-13 win over Westside (Jacksonville) in District 4-5A action.
Despite the win over top-ranked Trinity Christian that ended a two-game losing streak, Columbia remains 14th this week.
Moving into the poll this week is Union County (Lake Butler) and Ridgeview (Orange Park), which are both tied for 19th. Both teams are 5-1 after Union County won 28-15 at 3A Newberry and Ridgeview edged rival Orange Park, 21-14, in a District 3-5A contest.
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) drops out from last week after a 38-22 loss at #16 Ponte Vedra. Also falling out is Nature Coast (Brooksville), who also lost on the road, 34-20, at Lake Wales.
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 #7
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, overall record, and total voting points)
1. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (7) (5-0) – 140
2. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (5-0) – 133
3. Madison County (1A) (6-0) – 122
4. St. Augustine (6A) (4-0) – 119
5. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (4-1) – 109
6. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5A) (4-2) – 104
7. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (3-2) – 99
8. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (6-0) – 88
9. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (5-0) – 86
10. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (4-1) – 70
11. Dunnellon (4A) (4-1) – 58
12. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (2-2) – 57
13. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (8A) (5-0) – 55
14. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (4-2) – 48
15. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (4-0) – 39
16. Ponte Vedra (5A) (4-1) – 34
17. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (6-0) – 28
18. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (6-0) – 10
T-19, Ridgeview (Orange Park) (5A) (5-1) – 7
T-19. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (5-1) – 7
Also receiving votes: Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (4-1) – 6; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (4-1) – 6; New Smyrna Beach (6A) (3-1) – 4; Bradford (Starke) (4A) (4-1) – 3; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (5-1) – 3; Gainesville (6A) (3-1) – 2; West Nassau (Callahan) (4A) (5-0) – 2; Wildwood (1A) (4-0) – 2; St. Francis Catholic (Gainesville) (2A) (5-0) 1; Taylor (Pierson) (1A) (4-1) – 1.
