Here’s a look at how all of the regionally-ranked football teams fared this season through Week #16. Two teams won state titles, while two others were state runners-up. The final regional ranking will be released on Tuesday, December 13.
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 powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
The Prep Zone Power Poll – 2016 Football Poll
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, final overall record, and how they fared in the playoffs).
1. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (9) (11-1) – LOST to eventual 6A state champion Carol City 33-7 in regional final (11/25); won at Sebastian River 10-0 in regional semifinal (11/18); d. Okeechobee 56-7 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Bucs have been top team in power poll since the first poll of the season, but were once again eliminated by Miami team, this time the eventual 6A state champion Carol City, in regional final round.
2. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (12-1) – CLASS 4A STATE RUNNER-UP – LOST to Cocoa 31-17 in 4A state championship game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando (12/8); d. #9 South Sumter (Bushnell) 31-26 in state semifinal (11/25); d. #14 Raines (Jacksonville) 60-20 in regional final (11/18); d. East Gadsden (Havana) 40-0 in regional semifinal (11/11) – Bulldogs advanced to 17th state championship game appearance, but were defeated for the 4th straight time, this year by Cocoa. Booker T. Washington (Miami) knocked off Corky Rogers team in the 2012, 13 and 14 state title games. Bolles went through tough region and held on to beat South Sumter in state semis, but gave up 425 yards to Cocoa in title game loss in Orlando.
3. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (11-3) – CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPION – d. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) 24-13 in 3A state championship game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando (12/10); d. Berkeley Prep (Tampa) 41-9 in state semifinal (11/25); d. Florida High (Tallahassee) 38-7 in regional final (11/18); d. Taylor County (Perry) 64-16 in regional semifinal (11/11) – Conquerors tie a state record with fourth consecutive state championship, tying four other teams. Trinity Christian started 2-2 with losses to eventual 4A state champion Cocoa and 7A Lincoln (Tallahassee), but won nine of last ten games with only loss to nationally-ranked IMG Academy (Bradenton). Conquerors found their offense with UNC commit Rasheed Martin and FSU commit D.J. Matthews at quarterback, and with Ohio State commit Shaun Wade pacing the defense and also as the leading receiver. Trinity Christian rolled through three regional playoff games by a combined score of 143-32, then did enough to knock off Chaminade-Madonna in Orlando.
4. Madison County (1A) (11-1) – LOST at eventual 1A state champion Pahokee 21-19 in state semifinal (11/25); won at RV Fort White 21-17 in regional final (11/18); d. Baldwin 42-7 in regional semifinal (11/11) – Cowboys rolled through regular season and were top-ranked team in 1A all of the regular season, but had to rally on the road against Fort White in regional final and then had to travel to the Muck for a state semifinal game where they were ousted in a close game with eventual 1A state champion Pahokee.
5. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (10-2) – LOST to eventual 6A state runner-up Lake Gibson (Lakeland) 14-13 in regional final (11/25); won at Mitchell (New Port Richey) 46-23 in regional semifinal (11/18) d. Springstead (Spring Hill) 45-0 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Vanguard rolled through regular season and easily captured district title with 57-3 win over city rival Forest (Ocala). Knights dropped the final game of the regular season, 35-14 at Lake Gibson, then lost 13-0 lead late in fourth quarter of region final game to the Braves, who advanced to the state championship game in Orlando.
6. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (9-2) – LOST to #19 Clay (Green Cove Springs) 42-14 in regional semifinal (11/18); d. Belleview 35-7 in regional quarterfinal (11/11)/ – Wildcats rolled through regular season and captured District 5-5A title with win over Clay in regular season. Baker County dropped final game of regular season at Madison County and after easy win over Belleview, were beaten easily in rematch with Clay in regional semifinals.
7. St. Augustine (6A) (11-2) – LOST to Navarre 28-10 in regional final (11/25); d. Crestview 41-14 in regional semifinal (11/18); d. Niceville 35-28 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Yellow Jackets dropped opening game at Baker County and then ripped off 11 straight wins and won another District 4-6A title. Yellow Jackets advanced past Niceville in first round thriller and then blew out Crestview before being eliminated at home by another Panhandle team, Navarre.
8. Ponte Vedra (5A) (13-1) – CLASS 5A STATE RUNNER-UP – LOST to eventual 5A state champion American Heritage (Plantation) 35-33 in 5A state championship game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando (12/9); won at #19 Clay (Green Cove Springs) 52-42 in state semifinal (12/2); d. Rickards (Tallahassee) 30-21 in regional final (11/25); d. #16 Ribault (Jacksonville) 35-32 in regional semifinal (11/18); d. Yulee 51-19 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Sharks best season in school history ended with narrow loss in the state championship game to nationally-ranked American Heritage. Ponte Vedra escaped close games against Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) and Bartram Trail (St. Johns) during regular season and won District 4-5A title. Sharks outscored Ribault, Rickards, and Clay in three shootouts in regional playoffs and just missed comeback win in first state title game appearance in Orlando. Senior quarterback Nick Tronti had 550 total yards and six combined TD’s in win at Clay, and passed for 265 yards and three touchdowns in state title game.
9. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (10-2) – LOST at eventual 4A state runner-up #2 Bolles (Jacksonville) 31-26 in state semifinal (11/25); d. #13 Dunnellon 43-8 in regional final (11/18); d. Santa Fe (Alachua) 42-18 in regional semifinal (11/11) – Raiders only regular season loss came to defending 5A state champion Bishop Moore (Orlando) and defeated Dunnellon in regular season to win District 4-4A title, then pounded Dunnellon in rematch in regional final. South Sumter rallied from 31-6 deficit and nearly won state semifinal game at Bolles, but were stopped at one yard line.
10. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (10-2) – LOST at eventual 7A state runner-up Plant (Tampa) 27-19 in state semifinal (12/2); d. #20 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) 61-59 in regional final (11/25); d. #17 Columbia (Lake City) 43-7 in regional semifinal (11/18); d. Leon (Tallahassee) 42-0 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Generals had their best season since advancing to the regional final in 1996. Lee captured District 2-7A and won it’s first playoff games in 20 years with win over Leon in first round, then pounded district rival Columbia for the second time in 2016. In regional final, Generals scored two TD’s in final four minutes to slip past Bartram Trail in a ridiculously high scoring matchup, and played perennial state power Plant to the wire before losing in state semifinal game.
11. Nature Coast (Brooksville) (5A) (10-1) – LOST at River Ridge (New Port Richey) 24-3 in regional semifinal (11/18); d. Zephyrhills 35-21 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Sharks had another undefeated regular season and District 7-5A title, and defeated Zephyrhills in opening round before being blown out on road in the second round at River Ridge.
12. Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (8-3) – LOST to #20 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) 27-0 in regional semifinal (11/18); d. Hagerty (Oviedo) 31-21 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Bobcats won second consectuive District 3-7A title and won playoff game for second year in a row, but also were knocked off in regional semifinal by Bartram Trail for second consecutive year as well.
13. Dunnellon (4A) (9-2) – LOST at #9 South Sumter 43-8 in regional final (11/18); won at Bradford (Starke) 48-21 in regional semifinal (11/11) – Tigers only loss in regular season was 21-15 at home to South Sumter, and put them in the playoffs as a runner-up in District 4-4A. Dunnellon easily advanced past Bradford in the opening round, but were blown out in regional semifinal rematch at South Sumter.
14. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (7-3) – LOST at eventual 4A state runner-up #2 Bolles (Jacksonville) 60-20 in regional final (11/18); won at Walton (DeFuniak Springs) 52-14 in regional semifinal (11/10) – Vikings lost 24-23 at District 2-4A rival Bolles, sending them on road as district runner-up. Raines easily won regional semifinal game in Panhandle against Walton, but were wore down by Bolles in rematch in 4A second round.
15. Trenton (1A) (9-2) – LOST at eventual 1A state champion Pahokee 47-28 in regional final (11/18); d. Frostproof 50-14 in regional semifinal (11/11) – Defending 1A state champion Tigers dropped opening game to 5A Wakulla (Crawfordville), then ripped off nine wins in a row to win District 7-1A, including come-from-behind 19-18 win at Newberry. Trenton blew out Frostproof but had to travel to the Muck and were knocked out in second round by eventual state champ Pahokee.
16. Ribault (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-4) – LOST at eventual 5A state runner-up #8 Ponte Vedra 35-32 in regional semifinal (11/18), d. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) 14-13 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Trojans started season 0-2 but turned it on at the end, winning District 3-5A tiebreaker against Suwannee (Live Oak) and Yulee. Ribault knocked off rival Raines in season finale and slipped past Bishop Kenny in opening round of 5A playoffs, but were eliminated in second round by eventual state runner-up Ponte Vedra. Trojans were down 35-6 before nearly rallying to win on the road.
17. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (7-4) – LOST at #10 Lee (Jacksonville) 43-7 in regional semifinal (11/18); won at Lincoln (Tallahassee) 35-28 (OT) in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Tigers struggled to 1-3 start with losses to Trinity Christian, Buchholz, and Lee, but won six games in a row to advance as runner-up in District 2-7A. Columbia won exciting opening round game at Lincoln, but were eliminated with second loss to the Lee Generals.
18. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (10-2) – CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPION – d. Champagnat (Hialeah) 24-8 in 2A state championship game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando (12/9); won at Victory Christian (Lakeland) 43-13 in state semifinal (11/25); d. North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) 32-14 in regional final (11/18); d. FAMU (Tallahassee) 42-6 in regional semifinal (11/11) – Christians repeated as 2A state champion and won ninth state title overall, which is third among all state programs. University Christian dropped back-to-back games to Coffee (GA) and 3A state champion Trinity Christian, but won final nine games and outscored four playoff opponents by combined 141-41. In state championship game in Orlando, Christians held Champagnat to a state-championship game low of -42 yards rushing.
19. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (10-4) – LOST to eventual 5A state runner-up #8 Ponte Vedra 52-42 in state semifinal (12/2); won at River Ridge (New Port Richey) 39-17 in regional final (11/25); won at #6 Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 42-14 in regional semifinal (11/18); won at North Marion (Citra) 41-38 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Blue Devils are built for the playoffs, and did it again in 2016. Clay had to rally down 21-0 to win at Palatka 31-24 to advance as runner-up to Baker County in District 5-5A. Clay slipped past North Marion in the opening round, then avenged regular season loss to Baker County by blasting the Wildcats in Macclenny in the regional semis. After winning at River Ridge, Blue Devils were able to host Ponte Vedra in state semifinal, but came up short in another shootout.
20. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (8-5) – LOST at #10 Lee (Jacksonville) 61-59 in regional final (11/25); won at #12 Buchholz (Gainesville) 27-0 in regional semifinal (11/18); won at Ocoee 52-13 (11/11) – Bears advanced to postseason as runner-up in District 3-7A to Buchholz, then once again became road warriors with blowout road wins at Ocoee and in rematch with Buchholz in Gainesville. Bartram Trail led Lee 59-48 with 4 minutes left but gave up two TD’s to Generals and were eliminated.
Also receiving votes:
Fort White (1A) (9-3) – LOST to #4 Madison County 21-17 in regional final (11/18); d. Hamilton County (Jasper) 34-12 in regional semifinal (11/11) – Indians captured District 6-1A title and led the #1 team in 1A, Madison County, 14-0 and 17-7 before the Cowboys rallied to win late in regional semifinal game.
University (Orange City) (8A) (8-2) – DID NOT QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS – Titans lost to District 2-8A rivals Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs) and Seminole (Sanford) and missed out on the postseason.
Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (8A) (7-4) – LOST to Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs) 28-20 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Hawks won District 1-8A tiebreaker against Sandalwood and Mandarin (Jacksonville), but were eliminated in first round at home by Lake Brantley.
Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (7-2) –LOST at Seminole (Sanford) 30-20 in regional quarterfinal (11/11) – Saints advanced as runner-up to Spruce Creek in District 1-8A tiebreaker, but were eliminated on the road against Seminole, who advanced to the 8A state semifinals.
On the bubble (in alphabetical order):
Belleview (5A) (6-3) – LOST at #6 Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 35-7 in regional quarterfinal (11/11)
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-4) – LOST at #16 Ribault (Jacksonville) 14-13 in regional quarterfinal (11/11).
Bradford (Starke) (4A) (7-2) – LOST to #13 Dunnellon 48-21 in regional semifinal (11/11).
Deltona (6A) (7-4) – DID NOT QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS – Wolves finished out of playoffs after losses to District 13-6A rivals Mainland and Matanzas (Palm Coast).
Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (8-2) – LOST at Florida High (Tallahassee) 20-17 in regional semifinal (11/11).
Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (7-2) – DID NOT QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS – Senators two losses came to District 2-7A rivals Columbia and Lee, and they finished out of the postseason.
Forest (Ocala) (6A) (7-2) – LOST at Mitchell (New Port Richey) 17-14 in 6A regional quarterfinal (11/11).
Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (6-2) – DID NOT QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS – Mustangs dropped game at Spruce Creek and then lost District 1-8A tiebreaker to Hawks and Sandalwood, eliminating them from the postseason.
Newberry (1A) (8-2) – LOST at eventual 1A state champion Pahokee 35-34 (OT) in regional semifinal (11/11).
Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (7-3) – DID NOT QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS – Knights dropped games to District 3-7A rivals Bartram Trail and Buchholz and did not qualify for playoffs.
Yulee (5A) (6-4) – LOST at eventual 5A state runner-up #8 Ponte Vedra 51-19 in regional quarterfinal (11/11).
