Bradford (Starke) still No. 1 after week of games affected by Hurricane Helene
GAINESVILLE — Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on much of Florida, especially in the northern part of the state and the Big Bend.
The high school football schedule definitely took a hit as well, with some games canceled, postponed until later weeks, or moved to Monday this week.
But one team that got their game in before Helene hit was the Bradford (Starke) Tornadoes. And after a 40-0 shutout of Keystone Heights, Bradford continues as a nearly unanimous number one team in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
Coming off a bye, Bradford (5-0) had no trouble with rival Keystone Heights in their Homecoming game. The Tornadoes received nine of the 10 first-place votes this week to remain the top-ranked team for the third straight poll. They stay home this week to host Palatka in another District 5-2A game.
Remaining second is Raines (Jacksonville).
The Vikings received the other first-place vote after winning a 62-42 shootout over Riverside (Jacksonville) in a game that was moved to this past Monday. Raines hosts the annual Northwest Classic against Ribault (Jacksonville) this Saturday.
Nease (Ponte Vedra) stays 3rd. The Panthers (5-0) escaped against No. 11 Buchholz (Gainesville) 20-17 in overtime in a game moved to Monday.
For Buchholz, it was their third loss in a row. The Bobcats (3-3) dropped out of the top 10 for the first time this season, following losses to Manatee (Bradenton), Richmond Hill (GA), and Nease.
St. Augustine remained fourth. The Yellow Jackets (4-1) rebounded from the overtime loss to Nease with a 27-6 win at RV Columbia (Lake City) in a game that was played on Wednesday last week.
Bolles (Jacksonville) rounds out the top five. The Bulldogs (4-1) blanked Baldwin, 35-0, on Monday. They turn right around for another home game this Friday against Columbia.
Hawthorne (4-1) was off last week and leads off the second five, while Madison County, whose game was canceled due to Helene, moves up to 7th.
Vanguard (Ocala), University (Orange City), and Mandarin (Jacksonville) round out the top 10. Of those three teams, only University played last week, defeating RV Flagler Palm Coast, 34-19. That win moved the Titans (5-1) up three spots and right back into the top 10.
Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) moved into the rankings for the first time at No. 20. The Toros (4-1) replaced Bartram Trail (St. Johns), which was 17th last week but was beaten 46-26 at Tocoi Creek.
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 #7
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Bradford (Starke) (2A) (9) (5-0) – 194
2. Raines (Jacksonville) (3A) (1) (5-0) – 185
3. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (6A) (5-0) – 184
4. St. Augustine (5A) (4-1) – 165
5. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2A) (4-1) – 156
6. Hawthorne (Rural) (4-1) – 139
7. Madison County (Rural) (4-1) – 124
8. Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (4-1) – 117
9. University (Orange City) (7A) (5-1) – 112
10. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (6A) (3-2) – 102
11. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (3-3) – 99
12. Dunnellon (3A) (3-2) – 73
13. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (4-2) – 65
14. Chiefland (Rural) (5-0) – 53
15. Union County (Lake Butler) (Rural) (5-0) – 52
16. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (3A) (3-1) – 48
17. DeLand (7A) (4-2) – 45
18. Middleburg (5A) (6-0) – 28
19. Ponte Vedra (5A) (3-2) – 20
20. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (4-1) – 19
Also receiving votes: Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (4-2) – 18; Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (3-2) – 17; Springstead (Spring Hill) (5A) (5-0) – 16; Beachside (St. Johns) (5A) (4-1) – 15; Flagler Palm Coast (7A) (4-1) – 13; Taylor County (Perry) (2A) (5-0) – 11; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (3-3) – 8; South Sumter (Bushnell) (3A) (2-4) – 7; Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (2-4) – 5; Newberry (2A) (3-2) – 4; Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (3-2) – 3; Leesburg (4A) (4-1) – 2; Mount Dora (3A) (4-1) – 1.
