Mainland (Daytona Beach) remains No. 1 after back-to-back shutouts
Gainesville – Defense has been the cornerstone for the top five teams in the Prep Zone Power Poll, which remained the same in this week’s rankings.
Class 6A Mainland (Daytona Beach), which defeated 8A DeLand 41-0 on the road in week one, rolled to a 42-0 win over receiving votes Spruce Creek (Port Orange) to hold on to the top spot. The Bucs (2-0), who only allowed 56 yards of total offense and forced four fumbles on Friday, received seven of the 10 first-place votes.
The other three first-place votes belong to No. 2 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), which had its game against previous #18 Warner Christian (South Daytona) cancelled due to weather and field conditions. The defending 3A state champion Conquerors allowed just 9.3 points per game against 3A competition last year and are loaded on the defensive side of the ball in 2014.
First Coast (Jacksonville) remained third following an 18-6 win against previous No. 6 Fletcher (Neptune Beach), which dropped three spots to ninth. The Class 8A Bucs (2-0), who allowed only six points in their first game at Ribault (Jacksonville), recorded nine sacks or tackles for a loss against the 7A Senators (1-1).
South Sumter (Bushnell), which posted a shutout in week one, remained fourth following a 42-6 win over Crystal River. The victory extended the 5A Raiders (2-0) regular season win streak to 25 games.
Rounding out the top five is defending 4A state runners-up Bolles (Jacksonville). The Bulldogs (2-0) have outscored their two opponents, 91-0.
Defending 5A state runner-up Clay (Green Cove Springs) moved up to sixth following a 38-21 over Buchholz (Gainesville). The Blue Devils (2-0) scored the final 25 points of the game against the Bobcats.
Defending 1A state champion Trenton (2-0) moved up two spots to seventh, while 5A North Marion (Citra) (2-0), Fletcher and 6A Columbia (Lake City) (1-1), which lost to Lincoln (Tallahassee), 10-7, round out the top 10.
Class 8A Flagler Palm Coast (2-0) and 1A Union County (Lake Butler) (2-0) enter the poll for the first time at Nos. 19 and 20, respectively.
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 #3
(School, followed by first-place votes, classification, overall record and total voting points)
1. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (7) (6A) (2-0) – 196
2. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3) (3A) (0-1) – 186
3. First Coast (Jacksonville) (8A) (2-0) – 183
4. South Sumter (Bushnell) (5A) (2-0) – 168
5. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (2-0) – 165
6. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (2-0) – 151
7. Trenton (1A) (2-0) – 125
8. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (2-0) – 124
9. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (1-1) – 115
10. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (1-1) – 95
11. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (1-0) – 88
12. St. Augustine (6A) (2-0) – 84
13. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (5A) (1-0) – 82
14. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (1-1) – 68
15. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (2-0) – 54
16. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (1-1) – 51
17. Gainesville (6A) (1-1) – 37
18. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (2-0) – 32
19. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (2-0) – 21
20. Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (2-0) – 20
Also receiving votes: Warner Christian (South Daytona) (2A) (1-0) – 18; Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (2-0) – 7; Madison County (4A) (2-0) – 7; South Lake (Groveland) (6A) (2-0) – 7; Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (0-2) – 6; Ed White (Jacksonville) (6A) (1-1) – 5; West Port (Ocala) (8A) (2-0) – 2; University (Orange City) (8A) (2-0) – 1; Chiefland (1A) (2-0) – 1.
