Gainesville – The top-ranked team in the Prep Zone Power Poll continues to roll, but the No. 2 team is close behind.
Columbia (Lake City), which moved up to No. 2 in the Associated Press 6A state poll, edged Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), which is ranked No. 1 in the 3A poll, 139-134, in total voting points, and received six of the seven first-place votes to remain No. 1. The Tigers (4-0), which routed Terry Parker (Jacksonville), 66-13, now has a margin of victory at 32.5 points per game.
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), which received the other first-place vote, moved up to second following a 6-3 win at previous No. 17 Madison County and a loss by previous #2 Bolles (Jacksonville). The Class 3A Conquerors (3-0) have wins against St. Augustine, Warner Christian (South Daytona) and Madison County – all of whom are either ranked are receiving votes in this week’s poll.
Mainland (Daytona Beach) continues to rise in the poll. The Bucs (4-0) began the season at No. 10, and moved up to third this week following a 43-0 win against Pine Ridge (Deltona).
Raines (Jacksonville), which rallied from a 31-10 deficit at home to defeat Bolles, 45-31, moved up three spots to fourth. It was the second consecutive win against a top 10 team for the 4A Vikings (3-1), who defeated 8A First Coast (Jacksonville) last week.
Fletcher (Neptune Beach), which was off last week, remained at No. 5. The Senators (2-1) lost by three at First Coast in Week #2 and defeated Sandalwood (Jacksonville), which moved up one spot to No. 13 following a 26-17 win against Flagler Palm Coast, in their last game.
South Sumter (Bushnell) (4-0) moved up two spots to sixth, while Jacksonville schools Bolles (3-1), University Christian (3-1), Bishop Kenny (2-0) and First Coast (2-1) round out the top 10.
Citrus (Inverness) (4-0) is in the poll for the first time this season at No. 20, while Madison County (1-3) dropped out of the poll following the Cowboys’ third consecutive loss.
This week, the Nos. 2 and 3 teams get tested as Trinity Christian hosts defending 2A state champion University Christian (Jacksonville), ranked 8th in this week’s poll, while 6A Mainland plays at American Heritage (Plantation), which is ranked sixth in the 5A state poll.
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, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters.
PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2013 FOOTBALL POLL #5
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, record and total voting points)
1. Columbia (Lake City) (6) (6A) (4-0) – 139
2. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1) (3A) (3-0) – 134
3. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (4-0) – 125
4. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (3-1) – 118
5. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (2-1) – 109
6. South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (4-0) – 102
7. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (3-1) – 94
8. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (3-1) – 85
9T Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (2-0) – 84
9T First Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (2-1) – OFF
11. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (4-0) – 74
12. Gainesville (6A) (3-1) – 63
13. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (3-1) – 51
14. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (3-1) – 45
15. St. Augustine (6A) (3-1) – 39
16. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (4-0) – 33
17. Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (6A) (3-0) – 32
18. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (4-0) – 16
19. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (4-0) – 15
20. Citrus (Inverness) (6A) (4-0) – 12
Also receiving votes: Madison County (4A) (1-3) – 9, Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (3-1) – 2; Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (3-1) – 2; Warner Christian (South Daytona) (2A) (3-1) – 2; Fort White (4A) (3-0) – 1.
