Bartram Trail (St. Johns) still unanimous top-ranked team in regional all-classification rankings after wrapping up district title
GAINESVILLE — The high school football season is winding down with only two weeks remaining, and many district championships will be decided this week.
But one team who has wrapped up a district crown is the Bartram Trail (St. Johns) Bears. And for the second week in a row, Bartram Trail is the unanimous #1 team in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
The Bears (8-0) scored late to win 31-24 at #16 Oakleaf (Orange Park) to wrap up the District 1-8A title.
Bartram Trail received all nine first-place votes and remain one of only two undefeated teams in the poll. The other unbeaten is #7 Fleming Island (Orange Park).
North Marion (Citra) remains 2nd.
The Colts (7-1) blasted Belleview, 84-0, a week ago, but face a much tougher test this week at #4 Dunnellon. Both teams are in good shape to make the playoffs, with Dunnellon 3rd and North Marion 6th in RPI in Region 2-5A.
But the District 6-5A championship could be on the line on Friday.
Also in the mix for this district championship is #6 Vanguard (Ocala). Vanguard has beaten North Marion but lost to Dunnellon.
Madison County moves to 3rd after a 42-34 win over a good independent team in Clearwater Academy International.
The Cowboys (7-2) have a bye this week before closing the regular season with a game against 7A Crestview next week. Madison County remains #1 in RPI in Region 3-1A this week.
Dunnellon moves up two spots and back into the top five as they tuned up for the huge North Marion matchup with a 44-7 win at Lake Weir (Ocala).
Rounding out the top five this week is Columbia (Lake City).
The Tigers (6-2), who were atop the poll for seven straight weeks, dropped their second straight game, 35-21, to 7A #10 Atlantic (Delray Beach). Columbia drops two spots again this week but remains in the top five.
Vanguard moved up one position after a 50-34 win at Lake Minneola.
The Knights (5-2) close District 6-5A play at home against Lake Weir (Ocala), but will also be very interested in the North Marion-Dunnellon matchup. Vanguard is currently 4th in RPI in Region 2-5A.
Fleming Island is the thir team in the top 10 to clinch a district title, joining Bartram Trail & Raines (Jacksonville).
The Golden Eagles (7-0) wrapped up District 2-7A after waxing Buchholz (Gainesville), 42-19. Fleming Island is currently 3rd in RPI for Region 1-7A, but they are assured of at least a home playoff game in the first round of the playoffs.
After Fleming Island is Flagler Palm Coast, which moves up a position to #8.
The Bulldogs (7-1) face a huge District 2-8A matchup at #14 DeLand this week. Seminole (Sanford) has beaten both teams and clinched the district title, but Flagler Palm Coast is right ahead of DeLand in RPI as the two teams fight for wildcard positions in 8A.
Ponte Vedra moves up two spots and into the top 10 at #9. The Sharks (6-1) are coming off a bye week but face a battle for the District 3-6A championship this Friday at home against St. Augustine.
Rounding out the top 10 are two teams tied for 10th, both former district rivals in Bolles (Jacksonville) and two-time defending state champion Raines.
Bolles (6-1) won its sixth game in a row, 41-7, over Clay (Green Cove Springs). The Bulldogs are in excellent shape for the postseason, ranked 1st in RPI this week in Region 1-4A.
Raines punched its ticket to the postseason last week as the Vikings (5-2) clinched the District 4-5A crown with a 40-0 romp over Yulee. Raines hosts #13 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) this week.
Trinity Christian moves up three spots this week after a 21-12 win over then-#5 Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville). Despite a 4-5 record, the Conquerors continue to hold on to the 6th and final spot in RPI for Region 1-3A.
Robert E. Lee (5-3) falls out of the top 10 to #12 this week after the loss.
That loss came on the heels of an upset win over then-#1 ranked Columbia. The Generals can wrap up the District 2-6A championship with a win at Gainesville on Friday.
Moving into the top 20 for the first time this season is Westside (Jacksonville), which is tied for 20th with Ribault (Jacksonville).
Westside (7-1) won its fifth game in a row last week, 35-24, over Ed White (Jacksonville). It was the Wolverines’ first win over the rival Commanders in 15 years.
Westside travels to RV Terry Parker (Jacksonville) this week in a game that will decide the District 3-5A championship. Even with a loss this week, Westside is in excellent shape for the playoffs as they are currently 2nd in RPI in Region 1-5A.
Citrus (Inverness) drops out from the previous poll after losing its first game of the season, 39-14, to RV Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville).
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 and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2019 FOOTBALL POLL #10
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record and total points)
1. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8A) (9) (8-0) – 180
2. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (7-1) – 165
3. Madison County (1A) (7-2) – 157
4. Dunnellon (5A) (7-1) – 145
5. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (6-2) – 135
6. Vanguard (Ocala) (5A) (5-2) – 131
7. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (7-0) – 127
8. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (7-1) – 120
9. Ponte Vedra (6A) (6-1) – 102
10T. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-1) – 91
10T. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-2) – 91
12. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (6A) (5-3) – 71
13. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (4-5) – 69
14. DeLand (8A) (5-2) – 64
15. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (7-1) – 62
16. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (5-3) – 59
17T. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (5-3) – 31
17T. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (7-1) – 31
19. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (4-3) – 17
20T. Ribault (Jacksonville) (5A) (3-4) – 7
20T. Westside (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-1) – 7
Also receiving votes: Baldwin (3A) (7-2) – 5; The Villages (4A) (5-2) – 5; South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (6-2) – 4; Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (8-0) – 4; Keystone Heights (4A) (6-1) – 3; Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (5A) (5-4) – 3; Citrus (Inverness) (5A) (8-1) – 2; Menendez (St. Augustine) (5A) (5-2) – 2; Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (5A) (5-2) – 1.
