Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) remains on top of power poll as only four ranked teams lose their playoff opener
GAINESVILLE — There were a few surprises in the opening round of the high school football playoffs last week.
But only four ranked teams in The Prep Zone Power Poll lost their playoff openers. And while there is some movement in the back of the rankings, the top 10 mostly remained the same as three of the top four had byes last week.
Despite being off, Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) remained No. 1 again this week. The Conquerors (10-0) received six first-place votes, and open up play in the Region 1-1M semifinal Friday against Orlando Christian Prep.
The only team in the top four to play last week was No. 2 Bartram Trail (St. Johns).
After falling behind 14-0 early, the Bears (11-0) scored 37 straight points to blow out Flagler Palm Coast, 50-20, in a Region 1-4S quarterfinal. The Bears received the other three first-place votes and now hosts rival and No. 11 Creekside (St. Johns) in a region semifinal on Friday.
Creekside advanced to play Bartram Trail after a 47-20 romp on the road in the Panhandle against Navarre.
University Christian (Jacksonville) was also on a bye last week and remains 3rd. The Christians (9-1) start their playoffs in a Region 1-1M semifinal on Friday against The First Academy (Orlando).
Hawthorne remained fourth after also being off last week. The Hornets, the number one seed in Region 4-1R, are at home Friday in a region semifinal against RV Wildwood, which ended previously unbeaten and No. 18 Williston’s season with a 46-35 victory on the road last Saturday.
With the loss, the Red Devils (10-1) fall out of the poll this week.
Buchholz (Gainesville) rounds out the top five once again.
The Bobcats (8-2) survived Pace, 35-34, in a Region 1-4S quarterfinal game that was played at Newberry High School due to Hurricane Nicole. Buchholz trailed 34-27 with 2:20 left but senior quarterback Creed Whittemore took the Bobcats 94 yards to the end zone, throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass and then running in the two-point conversion in the final minute to stay alive.
Buchholz, which is back at Citizens Field this Friday, faces another tough Panhandle team in Crestview in a region semifinal.
Lake Minneola starts off the second five. The Hawks (9-1) blasted Bartow, 63-20, in their playoff opener and are home again this week in a Region 2-4S semifinal against Winter Haven.
Moving up two spots to No. 7 is Raines (Jacksonville). The Vikings (8-2) picked up a key road win in a Region 1-2M quarterfinal, winning at then-No. 13 Ed White (Jacksonville), 34-22.
Raines now hosts a surprise team in Riverside, the 8th seed in the region who knocked off top seed and then-No. 12 Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville), 20-13. Andrew Jackson was the highest ranked team to lose its playoff opener.
With the loss, Andrew Jackson falls to No. 19 while Ed White drops out of the poll.
South Sumter (Bushnell) slipped to 8th despite blasting Eustis, 63-13, in their Region 3-2S quarterfinal. Next up for the Raiders (11-0) is Hudson.
Bradford (Starke) dropped a spot to No. 9 despite a 48-0 blanking of Crescent City. The Tornadoes (10-1) are back home again this week against RV Eastside (Gainesville).
Eastside knocked off North Marion (Citra) for the second time this year, 27-14, last week in the regional quarterfinal at Citizens Field. The Rams (9-2) just missed out on entering the poll this week as they are the first team receiving votes.
Trinity Catholic rounds out the top 10. The Celtics (6-2), who were off last week and considered the favorite in 1S, begin play in the Region 2-1S semifinal on Friday against The First Academy (Orlando).
Baldwin moved into the rankings this week at No. 17. The Indians (9-2) got past Palatka, 29-12, in their Region 2-2S quarterfinal and are back home this week against rival RV Baker County (Glen St. Mary). Baldwin blasted Baker County earlier in the season, 30-7.
Chiefland moves back in at 18th after blowing out Newberry, 49-7, in a Region 4-1R quarterfinal. The Indians (7-2) now take the long trip to The Muck this week against Pahokee in the region semifinals.
Union County (Lake Butler) also returns to the rankings at No. 20. The Tigers (6-2) also had a bye last week but now face a tough test at home against defending 1A state champion Madison County in a Region 3-1R semifinal matchup.
In addition to Ed White and Williston, the final team to drop out this week is Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville).
The Crusaders, ranked 19th last week, dropped their Region 1-2M quarterfinal at home against Bishop Moore (Orlando), 28-7.
Bolles (Jacksonville), which is ranked 14th, will host Bishop Moore this week in a region semifinal.
This is the last poll until after the FHSAA State Championships on December 8-10 in Tallahassee and December 15-17 in Fort Lauderdale.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball 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 – 2022 FOOTBALL POLL #12
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1M) (6) (10-0) – 177
2. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (4S) (3) (11-0) – 174
3. University Christian (Jacksonville) (1M) (9-1) – 156
4. Hawthorne (1R) (8-0) – 150
5. Buchholz (Gainesville) (4S) (8-2) – 139
6. Lake Minneola (Minneola) (4S) (9-1) – 127
7. Raines (Jacksonville) (2M) (8-2) – 111
8. South Sumter (Bushnell) (2S) (11-0) – 108
9. Bradford (Starke) (2S) (10-1) – 101
10. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (1S) (6-2) – 97
11. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (3S) (8-3) – 92
12. Creekside (St. Johns) (4S) (9-2) – 87
13. Suwannee (Live Oak) (2S) (9-2) – 72
14. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2M) (7-4) – 63
15. Columbia (Lake City) (3S) (7-3) – 59
16. Vanguard (Ocala) (3S) (8-3) – 53
17. Baldwin (2S) (9-2) – 26
18. Chiefland (1R) (7-2) – 24
19. Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville) (2M) (8-3) – 15
20. Union County (Lake Butler) (1R) (6-2) – 14
Also receiving votes: Eastside (Gainesville) (2S) (9-2) – 13; Ed White (Jacksonville) (2M) (7-3) – 12; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (2S) (8-3) – 9; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (2M) (8-3) – 8; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (3M) (8-3) – 5; St. Augustine (3S) (7-4) – 4; Wildwood (1R) (9-2) – 4; Lafayette (Mayo) (1R) (9-2) – 2; Hilliard (1R) (8-2) – 1; Lecanto (3S) (8-3) – 1.
