Florida Top 25: IMG, St. Thomas On Top
It was certainly an entertaining first week of the 2021 high school football season in the state of Florida.
With many area programs having the opportunity to receive plenty of attention, this was the perfect setting for exposure.
While we are still living in this pandemic – with several games postponed or canceled, it is a reminder that we have to all be safe.
Perhaps the biggest win of the week – beside Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast’s 29-21 win over national power Plantation American Heritage, the convincing national TV (ESPN) victory for St. Thomas Aquinas over St. Frances of Baltimore.
The Raiders and head coach Roger Harriott showed that this team will indeed be a program to watch all season.
St. Thomas Aquinas will remain at the No. 2 position in Florida this week – right behind powerhouse IMG Academy.
Here is a look at how the teams stack up – heading into Week 2:
1.Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 1-0). Beat Bishop Sycamore, 58-0. THIS WEEK: at Cincinnati LaSalle.
2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7A, 1-0). Beat national power St. Frances, Maryland, 38-23. THIS WEEK: At Plantation on Friday.
3. Miami Central (5A – 0-1). Off last week. THIS WEEK: Las Vegas Bishop Gorman on Saturday night in Naples.
4. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (4A, 0-0). Off this past week. THIS WEEK: West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman on Friday.
5. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (3A, 1-0). Beat 8A power Western, 30-13. THIS WEEK: At No. 15 Plantation American Heritage on Friday.
6. Venice (8A, 0-0). Had the first week off. THIS WEEK: Will play host to No. 17 Orlando Edgewater on Friday.
7. Tampa Jesuit (6A, 1-0). The Tigers jumped out of the gate in a 35-0 win against Ocala West Port. THIS WEEK: A home game on Friday against Tampa Wharton.
8. Miami Christopher Columbus (8A, 1-0). The Explorers started the season on the road – and came away with a 42-27 win at Benedictine, Ga. THIS WEEK: Another road game on Friday at 8A power Bartram Trail.
9. Deerfield Beach (8A, 1-0). Open the 2021 season with a home win against 3A Miami Edison. THIS WEEK: A huge Friday night game against 7A Fort Lauderdale Dillard.
10. Sanford Seminole (8A, 1-0). The defending 8A state champs opened with a home win against Sarasota Riverview, 35-6. THIS WEEK: The Seminoles will play host to North Miami Beach on Friday.
11. Orlando Jones (6A, 1-0). The Tigers scored often in a convincing 48-13 win over Orlando Dr. Phillips, 48-13. THIS WEEK: A Thursday night trip to New Smyrna Beach.
12. Jacksonville Trinity Christian (2A, 1-0). The Conquerors started off with a big area win against Jacksonville Raines, 24-18. THIS WEEK: A Friday home game against Jacksonville Ribault.
13. Miami Northwestern (6A, 1-0). Beat 2A power Champagnat Catholic, 35-13. THIS WEEK: Home against Miami Booker T. Washington.
14. Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (8A, 1-0). Won perhaps the biggest game in school history, 29-21, against No. 15 Plantation American Heritage in Naples. THIS WEEK: A trip to Jensen Beach on Friday.
15. Plantation American Heritage (5A, 0-1). Lost the season opener, 29-12, to No. 14 Treasure Coast. THIS WEEK: No. 5 Chaminade-Madonna at home on Friday.
16. Seffner Armwood (7A, 1-0). The Hawks opened the season with a solid 35-6 win over Tampa Chamberlain. THIS WEEK: A key home game against No. 25 Tampa Hillsborough.
17. Orlando Edgewater (7A, 1-0). Beat neighborhood rival Orlando Bishop Moore, 49-6. THIS WEEK: A trip to No. 6 Venice on Friday.
18. Apopka (8A, 1-0). The Blue Darters opened the season with a 47-0 win against Orlando Colonial. THIS WEEK: A huge Friday night home game against rising power West Orange.
19. Miami Palmetto (8A, 1-0). The Panthers began the season with a tough 21-19 decision against 7A Homestead. THIS WEEK: A huge Thursday game against No. 24 Miami Gulliver Prep on the road.
20. Niceville (7A). The Eagles started the season out with a 35-17 win against Tallahassee Lincoln. THIS WEEK: A home game on Friday against Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee.
21. Naples (6A, 1-0). The Golden Eagles made a huge impact with a 42-7 win against Naples Gulf Coast. THIS WEEK: A trip to play Fort Pierce Westwood on Friday.
22. Lake Minneola (6A, 1-0). The defending 6A state runner-up Hawks scored often in a 71-0 win over Tohopekaliga. THIS WEEK: A home game against Orange Park Fleming Island on Friday.
23. Cocoa (4A, 1-0). The Tigers won a thriller on the road in Vero Beach, 42-41 in overtime. THIS WEEK: A home game on Friday against Kissimmee Osceola.
24. Miami Gulliver Prep (4A, 1-0). The Raiders hit the road and came away with a 20-7 win against 7A Bradenton Manatee, 20-7. THIS WEEK: A huge game on Thursday afternoon (4:00) against No. 19 Miami Palmetto.
25. (tie) Tampa Hillsborough (6A, 1-0). Started the season out with a solid 53-17 win against Lutz Steinbrenner. THIS WEEK: A trip to No. 16 Seffner Armwood in a key Hillsborough County game on Friday.
Jacksonville Bolles (4A, 1-0). The defending state 4A runner up Bulldogs blanked West Nassau, 42-0. THIS WEEK: A big game this Friday at talented Lake City Columbia.
OTHER TEAMS TO CONSIDER: Baker County (6A, 1-0), Bradenton Manatee (7A, 0-1), Clearwater Central Catholic (3A, 0-1), Davie Western (8A, 0-1), Fort Lauderdale Dillard (7A, 1-0), Fort Myers Dunbar (6A, 1-0), Gainesville Buchholz (7A, 1-0), Hialeah Champagnat Catholic (2A, 0-1), Jacksonville University Christian (2A, 1-0), Kissimmee Osceola (8A, 0-0), Lake City Columbia (6A, 1-0), Lake Mary (8A, 1-0), Lakeland (7A, 1-0), Madison County (1A, 0-1), Miami Booker T. Washington (4A, 1-0), Miami Edison (3A, 0-1), Miami Killian (5A, 1-0), Miami Monsignor Pace (4A, 0-0), Pensacola Escambia (6A, 0-0), Ocala Vanguard (6A, 1-0), Ocala Trinity Catholic (3A, 0-0), Palmetto (7A), Starke-Bradford County (1A), St. Augustine (6A, 0-0), St. Petersburg Lakewood (4A, 1-0), Tallahassee Florida High (3A, 1-0), Tampa Bay Tech (7A, 1-0), Tampa Berkeley Prep (3A, 1-0), Tampa Carrollwood Day (3A, 1-0), Tampa Catholic (3A, 1-0), Tampa Gaither (7A, 1-0), Rockledge (5A, 1-0), St. Johns Bartram Trail (8A, 1-0), Valrico Bloomingdale (7A, 0-1), Vero Beach (8A, 0-1), Winter Garden West Orange (8A, 1-0)
TRACKING : Teams Look At 2021 Season. https://prepredzone.com/2021/03/tracking-florida-teams-look-at-2021-season/
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com