We’re counting down to the #1 team in the preseason football Prep Zone Power Poll with a look today at the teams receiving votes but finishing outside the top 20.
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, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters.
Prep Zone Power Poll – 2014 Football Poll #9 – PRESEASON POLL
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, 2013 final record and total voting points)
Receiving votes: University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (9-3) – 18; Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (8-3) – 16; Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (10-2) – 14; Gainesville (6A) (9-3) – 9; Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (7-3) – 6; Leesburg (6A) (8-4) – 5; Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (6A) (7-3) – 4; Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (7-3) – 4; Menendez (St. Augustine) (5A) (8-3) – 4; Fort White (4A) (7-2) – 3; Citrus (Inverness) (6A) (9-2) – 2; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (8-3) – 1.
University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (9-3) – 2012 Class 2A state champions must deal with inexperience on offensive line and loss of running back Hussein Howe to First Coast.
Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (8-3) – Saints made 8A state playoffs in 2013, and hope for longer postseason run this year behind massive offensive line and running backs Jacari Graham and Glenn Palmer.
Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (10-2) – Senior quarterback Caleb Cox looks to bring Tigers to the promised land of a 1A state title.
Gainesville (6A) (9-3) – Defense will be dominant, but will Purple Hurricanes score enough points to make playoffs for a sixth straight year?
Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (7-3) – Seven starters return on offense and eight on defense for Hornets team that was knocked out of playoffs last season by eventual 1A state champion Trenton.
Leesburg (6A) (8-4) – Seven starters return on both sides of the ball for defending district champion Yellow Jackets, who won their first postseason game in 21 years last season.
Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) (6A) (7-3) – Defense should be good for Sandcrabs, while offense led by a transfer from Matanzas, quarterback Jeremiah Wilson, may take some time to develop.
Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (7-3) -Bulldogs improved from three wins in Jamie Rodgers first season in 2012 to 7 wins and first playoff appearance in ten years in 2013.
Menendez (St. Augustine) (5A) (8-3) – Falcons improved from 2-8 in 2012 to 8-3 and a bowl win over Escambia last season, but must replace leading tackler and two 1,000 yard rushers.
Fort White (4A) (7-2) – Indians won their first district title in school history last season, but must replace Tavaris Williams’ 1,819 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns.
Citrus (Inverness) (6A ) (9-2) – Hurricanes lost most of their starters and coach Rayburn Greene from playoff season in 2013.
Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (8-3) – Big bad five-star defensive end Cece Jefferson is back for the Wildcats, while Tom McPherson left Ridgeview to replace Ryan Sulkowski as coach in Macclenny.
