Another change at the top as Vanguard (Ocala) is new #1 in regional football rankings
GAINESVILLE — The stay at the top of The Prep Zone Power Poll for Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) lasted only one week.
The Generals (5-1) dropped their first game of the season at #T-16 Ribault (Jacksonville), 7-6, last Friday. The loss drops Robert E. Lee to 4th in this week’s rankings.
The Trojans (5-2) also won at Suwannee (Live Oak), 33-26, on Tuesday in a District 3-5A game and are back in the poll for the first time since the second week of the season.
The new #1 team is Vanguard (Ocala).
Despite a bye week last week, the Knights (5-0) garnered five of the eight first-place votes to move into the top spot for the first time this season. Vanguard has a big District 5-6A game this week at RV Gainesville.
Receiving the other three first-place votes and up two spots to 2nd this week is St. Augustine.
The Yellow Jackets (5-0) continued their dominant play with a 41-0 romp at St. Johns County rival then-#16 Ponte Vedra last week. The Sharks (4-2) drop out of the poll after the shutout loss.
Madison County (7-0) remains third after taking a road trip to the Panhandle last week and winning easily at Penascola Catholic 45-6.
Rounding out the top five is Raines (Jacksonville).
The Vikings (5-1) won their fifth game in a row 55-20 over 8A Sandalwood (Jacksonville). Raines’ only loss was back in week 1 at Robert E. Lee.
Despite a bye, Fleming Island (Orange Park) ) moves up two spaces this week to #6. The Golden Eagles (6-0) host #7 Bartram Trail (St. Johns) in a huge District 3-7A game this Friday night.
The Bears (4-2) remain 7th after an easy 48-14 district win over Oakleaf (Orange Park).
Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) had an interesting week.
The Conquerors found out Friday night before their game at Lincoln (Tallahassee) that they would have to forfeit their September 15 District 4-5A win over #12 Bolles (Jacksonville) due to an ineligible player. Trinity Christian did win the game 35-21 at Lincoln but lost their appeal with the FHSAA earlier this week and the Conquerors official record now sits at 4-3 overall and 1-1 in district play.
Trinity Christian drops two spots to #8 this week.
Also moving up two spots and into the top 10 at #9 is Dunnellon. The Tigers (5-1) easily handled South Sumter (Bushnell), 40-0.
Rounding out the top 10 is Spruce Creek (Port Orange). The 10th-ranked Hawks (5-0) are up three slots despite also having a bye week.
Bolles falls out of the top 10 to 12th after a 21-17 loss at Ridge Community (Davenport). That is officially the first loss of the season for the Bulldogs (5-1) after they were rewarded the forfeit win over Trinity Christian.
Besides Ribault, the only other team new to the poll is #20 East Ridge (Clermont). The 7A Knights (5-1) captured their fourth straight win 29-7 at Hagerty (Oviedo).
Other than Ponte Vedra, the only other team to drop out this week is Union County (Lake Butler). The Tigers (6-1) were #T-20 a week ago and dropped out despite a 31-25 overtime win over previously undefeated Hawthorne.
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 fueled by Divine Power Wear.
The Prep Zone Power Poll fueled by Divine Power Wear – 2017 Football Poll #8
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, overall record, and total voting points)
1. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (5) (5-0) – 156
2. St. Augustine (6A) (3) (5-0) – 151
3. Madison County (1A) (7-0) – 147
4. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (5-1) – 127
5. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-1) – 122
6. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (6-0) – 119
7. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (4-2) – 106
8. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5A) (4-3) – 99
9. Dunnellon (4A) (5-1) – 86
10. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (8A) (5-0) – 84
11. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (6-0) – 82
12. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-1) – 73
13. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (6-0) – 70
14. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (4-2) – 61
15. Dixie County (Cross City) (1A) (7-0) – 35
T-16. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (2-3) – 31
T-16. Ribault (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-2) – 31
18. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (6-0) – 16
19. Ridgeview (Orange Park) (5A) (6-1) – 14
20. East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (5-1) – 13
Also receiving votes: Gainesville (6A) (4-1) – 12; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (5-1) – 10; Ponte Vedra (5A) (4-2) – 10; Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (4-2) – 4; Matanzas (Palm Coast) (6A) (4-1) – 2; Union County (Lake Butler) (1A) (6-1) – 2; Bradford (Starke) (4A) (5-1) -1; St. Francis Catholic (Gainesville) (2A) (5-0) – 1.
