GAINESVILLE – Now that the regular season is over, and with the FHSAA state football playoffs beginning this week, every team in this week’s Prep Zone Power Poll began preparation for the postseason.
GHS (10-0), which completed its first undefeated regular season since 1972, remained No 1. The Hurricanes, who received all seven first-place votes, will host Hernando (Brooksville) in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs this Friday.
First Coast (Jacksonville) (10-0), which played in last year’s Class 7A state title game, remained second. The Bucs host Buchholz (Gainesville) in this week’s regional quarterfinals.
However, Columbia (Lake City) continued to climb in the polls as they moved up one spot and into a tie with the Bucs for the No. 2 spot. The Tigers (9-1), whose only loss was on the road by three points to #1 GHS, will host #17 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8-2) in the first round of the 6A playoffs.
St. Augustine (10-0) is ranked fourth. The Yellow Jackets open at home against No. 15 Ridgeview (Orange Park) (9-1) in the 6A playoffs.
South Sumter rounds out the top five. The Raiders (10-0), who averaging 49 points per game, will host #18 Raines (Jacksonville) (8-2) in the 4A regional semifinals.
Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (7-3), the only team to lose in last week’s poll, fell out of this week’s poll. Despite the loss, the previously #14 ranked Celtics, who lost at Palmetto, 27-7, will open up against Melbourne Central Catholic in the first round of the 3A playoffs.
University Christian (Jacksonville) (9-1) moved into the rankings for the first time this season following a 47-6 win over Cedar Creek Christian. UCS, which won its first district title since 1994, will host Florida A&M (Tallahassee) in the first round of the 2A state playoffs.
Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (8-2) also moved into the rankings at No. 20. The Wildcats, the 5A-District 3 champion, will host Creekside (St. Johns) this Friday.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball and baseball teams (regardless of 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 – WEEK #12
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, overall record and total voting points)
1. Gainesville (7) (6A) (10-0) – 140
T2 First Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (10-0) – 128
T2 Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (9-1) – 128
4. St. Augustine (6A) (10-0) – 118
5. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (10-0) – 115
6. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (8A) (9-1) – 105
7. Madison County (3A) (9-1) – 99
8. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (10-0) – 88
9. New Smyrna Beach (6A) (9-0) – 82
10. Trenton (1A) (10-0) – 81
11. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (9-1) – 71
12. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (9-1) – 63
13. Warner Christian (South Daytona) (2A) (9-1) – 56
14. Ponte Vedra (5A) (9-1) – 48
15. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (6A) (9-1) – 42
16. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (7-2) – 27
17. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (8-2) – 25
18. Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (9-1) – 17
19. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (8-2) – 12
T20 Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (8-2) – 9
T20 University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (9-1) – 9
Also receiving votes – Yulee (4A) (7-3) – 2; Atlantic (Port Orange) (5A) (8-2) – 2; Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (7-3) – 2; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (8-2) – 1.
