Gainesville – The top team in the Prep Zone Power Poll was challenged again on Friday night, but Columbia (Lake City) passed the test on the road.
The Tigers (2-0), who defeated last year’s 6A state runners-up, Gainesville, in Week #1, knocked off the 7A runners-up, Lincoln, in Tallahassee, 28-14, and remained on top of the poll. Columbia received five of the seven first-place votes.
First Coast (Jacksonville) also got tested, but held off previous No. 5 Fletcher, 19-16, in double-overtime. The Bucs (2-0) received one first-place vote and remained second, while the Senators (1-1) dropped one spot to sixth.
The other first-place vote belonged to Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (2-0), which defeated state-ranked Warner Christian (South Daytona), 32-8, to remain third. The Conquerors (2-0) defeated No. 19 St. Augustine, 40-0, in Week #1.
Bolles (Jacksonville) (2-0), the 4A state runner-up, moved into the top five at No. 4 following a 41-31 win against 8A DeLand, while Mainland (Daytona Beach) (2-0) moved up two spots to fifth following a 14-10 win over Spruce Creek (Port Orange).
Following Fletcher in the top 10 are Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (2-0) at No. 7, followed by Madison County (1-1), University Christian (Jacksonville) (2-1) and South Sumter (Bushnell) (2-0).
North Marion (Sparr) (2-0) is in the poll for the first time this season at No. 17 following a 21-20 win at previous No. 14 Vanguard (Ocala) (1-1), which dropped out of this week’s 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 #3
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, record and total voting points)
1. Columbia (Lake City) (5) (6A) (2-0) – 138
2. First Coast (Jacksonville) (1) (8A) (2-0) – 132
3. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1) (3A) (2-0) – 125
4. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (2-0) – 120
5. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (2-0) – 109
6. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (1-1) – 101
7. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (2-0) – 97
8. Madison County (4A) (1-1) – 89
9. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (2-1) – 84
10. South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (2-0) – 80
11. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (2-0) – 73
12T. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (1-1) – 60
12T. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (1-0) – 60
14. Gainesville (6A) (1-1) – 47
15. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (2-0) – 41
16. Trenton (1A) (1-0) – 32
17. North Marion (Sparr) (5A) (2-0) – 23
18. Ponte Vedra (5A) (2-0) – 20
19. St. Augustine (6A) (1-1) – 17
20. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (2-0) – 10
Also receiving votes: Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (2-0) – 6; Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (1-1) – 5; Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (1-0) – 1.
