Mandarin (Jacksonville) stays on top of regional rankings with top five matchup coming this week
GAINESVILLE – Life without quarterback Tramell Jones has been fine so far for Mandarin (Jacksonville).
But the competition picks up a bit for the Mustangs, who are ranked number one again this week in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
Jones, a four-star recruit who is committed to FSU, was hurt in Mandarin’s win at Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) in week two. The Mustangs (3-0) had no problem without Jones against winless Sandalwood (Jacksonville), blanking the Saints 41-0.
But Mandarin, which received eight of the 12 first-place votes this week in the all-classification regional rankings, faces its toughest challenge of the 2024 season this Friday at fifth-ranked Bradford (Starke).
Bradford (3-0) moved up a spot to 5th after disposing of No. 17 South Sumter (Bushnell), 28-7.
Buchholz (Gainesville) remained second.
The Bobcats (3-0), who are ranked third in the state in Class 6A, picked up a first-place vote after they struggled for three quarters but pulled away from city rival Eastside (Gainesville), 35-7. They host 5A No. 7 Manatee (Bradenton) this week in a game that has been moved to Santa Fe High School in Alachua.
St. Augustine remained 3rd despite not playing last week. The Yellow Jackets (2-0) received three first-place votes, but their big matchup with No. 6 Bolles (Jacksonville) was canceled due to weather and will not be made up.
Raines (Jacksonville) is 4th.
The Vikings (3-0), who took care of then-No. 14 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), 48-23, hosts defending state champion Mainland (Daytona Beach) this week.
The Bucs, who are 0-3 after a 7-2 loss at RV Flagler Palm Coast last week, were 16th a week ago but dropped out of the poll this week.
Bolles is 6th, followed by No. 7 Nease (Ponte Vedra).
Nease also saw their game against Ridge Community (Davenport) wiped out because of bad weather in St. Johns County and their game will also not be made up.
University (Orange City) won again to improve to 3-0 and settles in at No. 8, followed by No. 9 Bartram Trail (St. Johns), which moved up six spots after a 43-42 overtime win on the road at Ware County (GA).
Rounding out the top 10 is two-time defending state champion Hawthorne.
The Hornets (2-1) saw their 27-game winning streak come to an end with a 41-27 loss at Florida High (Tallahassee). It was Hawthorne’s first loss since falling to Madison County in the 1A state championship game in 2021.
Hawthorne faces another big test this week as they host 18th-ranked Oakleaf (Orange Park).
Oakleaf (3-0), Ponte Vedra (1-1), and Union County (Lake Butler) (3-0) are new to the poll, while Newberry, Trinity Christian, and Mainland dropped out.
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 – 2024 FOOTBALL POLL #4
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (6A) (8) (3-0) – 232
2. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (1) (3-0) – 224
3. St. Augustine (4A) (3) (2-0) – 218
4. Raines (Jacksonville) (3A) (3-0) – 204
5. Bradford (Starke) (2A) (3-0) – 189
6. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2A) (1-1) – 148
7. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (6A) (2-0) – 145
8. University (Orange City) (7A) (3-0) – 143
9. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (2-1) – 128
10. Hawthorne (Rural) (2-1) – 127
11. DeLand (7A) (2-1) – 120
12. Madison County (Rural) (2-1) – 113
13. Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (2-1) – 99
14. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (3-0) – 74
15. Dunnellon (3A) (2-1) – 59
16. Chiefland (Rural) (3-0) – 48
17. South Sumter (Bushnell) (3A) (1-2) – 33
18. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (3-0) – 28
19. Ponte Vedra (5A) (1-1) – 22
20. Union County (Lake Butler) (Rural) (3-0) – 20
Also receiving votes: Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (2-1) – 19; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (3A) (3-0) – 16; Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (1-2) – 13; Leesburg (4A) (3-0) – 11; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (3A) (1-1) – 10; Deltona (4A) (1-1) – 8; Gainesville (4A) (3-0) – 7; Mainland (Daytona Beach) (5A) (0-3) – 7; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (6A) (3-0) – 6; University Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (1-2) – 6; Riverside (Jacksonville) (4A) (2-1) – 5; Flagler Palm Coast (7A) (2-0) – 2; Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (3A) (3-0) – 2; Springstead (Spring Hill) (5A) (3-0) – 2; Fort White (Rural) (2-1) – 1; Newberry (2A) (1-2) – 1; Palatka (2A) (2-1) – 1; Suwannee (Live Oak) (3A) (1-2) – 1; Williston (Rural) (1-1) – 1.
