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Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) new top-ranked team in regional poll after thrilling win over previous #1 Columbia (Lake City)
GAINESVILLE — The top two football teams in The Prep Zone Power Poll met last weekend, and the game between Columbia (Lake City) and Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) lived up to the advance billing.
Trinity Christian running back Marcus Crowley rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns and the Conquerors, ranked #2 in the all-classification regional rankings and 2nd in 5A by the Associated Press, held off Columbia, 31-30, last Saturday night in Jacksonville. The game was moved from Friday night due to lightning and heavy rain the area.
Columbia, who was the top-ranked team in the previous five Prep Zone polls and ranked 1st in 7A by the AP, scored with 1:28 left and went for two points but came up short in the Tigers first loss of the season.
Trinity Christian, which overcame 19 penalties and trailed 17-7 at halftime, rallied to improve to 6-0 and received all nine first-place votes as they are a unanimous #1 this week. Columbia (5-1) falls to #2 but is unanimous in that spot.
Vanguard (Ocala) remains 3rd after routing District 5-6A opponent Leesburg, 59-3, on the road last week.
Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) stays at #4 after holding off Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville), 34-32, in a game that was also moved to Saturday.
Rounding out the top five once again is defending 4A state champion Raines (Jacksonville). The Vikings (4-1) have won four in a row after an opening week loss to Lee and they were off last week. Raines heads across town to take on #9 Sandalwood (Jacksonville) in a showdown tonight.
Madison County blasted Dunnellon, 42-0, and moves up a spot to replace Sandalwood in the 6th spot.
Flagler Palm Coast moves up to 7th after handing Sandalwood its first loss of the season in a 28-27 Class 8A overtime thriller. The Bulldogs are up one spot from last week
Next up at #8 is Baker County (Glen St. Mary). The Wildcats (4-1) move up a spot from 9th a week ago after winning their fourth in a row, 28-21, at Palatka.
Sandalwood (4-1) falls two spots this week to 9th after the District 1-8A loss at Flagler Palm Coast.
Rounding out the top 10 this week is DeLand. The Bulldogs (4-1) stay at #10 after a 28-7 win at Spruce Creek (Port Orange).
Only one team is new to the the power poll this week, and that is Gainesville (4-1), which is ranked 20th. The Hurricanes won their fourth straight game, beating District 5-6A rival Forest (Ocala), 46-7, and now face city rival #18 Buchholz (Gainesville) this Friday.
Dropping out is Fleming Island (Orange Park), which dropped to 3-3 after losing 48-29 to #12 Oakleaf (Orange Park).
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 Strive Fitness.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2018 FOOTBALL POLL #7
(School, followed by classification, first place votes, record, and total voting points)
1. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (5A) (9) (6-0)– 180
2. Columbia (Lake City) (7A) (5-1) – 171
3. Vanguard (Ocala) (6A) (6-0) – 162
4. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (7A) (4-1) – 148
5. Raines (Jacksonville) (4A) (4-1) – 143
6. Madison County (1A) (5-1) – 131
7. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (5-1) – 115
8. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (4-1) – 112
9. Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (4-1) – 103
10. DeLand (8A) (5-1) – 102
11. Menendez (St. Augustine) (5-1) – 97
12. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (7A) (4-1) – 69
13. Ponte Vedra (5A) (5-1) – 65
14. Bolles (Jacksonville) (5A) (3-2) – 56
15. Baldwin (3A) (5-0) – 48
16. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (4-2) – 40
17. Eastside (Gainesville) (5A) (4-1) – 33
18. Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (3-2) – 29
19. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (5-2) – 23
20. Gainesville (6A) (4-1) – 21
Also receiving votes: Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (5-1) – 9; Chiefland (1A) (5-0) – 6; Orange Park (5A) (5-1) – 6; West Nassau (Callahan) (4A) (5-0) – 5; St. Joseph (St. Augustine) (3A) (6-0) – 4; Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (4-2) – 2; Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (5A) (4-1) – 2; Hawthorne (1A) (4-0) – 1.
