Week 5: Top Teams Remain Unbeaten
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There are weeks during every season when top teams lose, and panic sets in.
Then, there’s Week 4. It turned out to be a few days that never really shook the high school world. Sure, there was Lakeland losing to Lake Gibson, and Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, bidding for its sixth consecutive 3A state title game, that went up to Georgia and beat No. 1 overall Buford, 7-0.
This past week was slow among the top 25 teams. Perhaps the most exciting part of the top teams in the Sunshine State are the programs who are just outside of the Top 25. There are nine schools who are still undefeated and knocking on the door.
While IMG, Venice, Tampa Jesuit, Sanford Seminole, Miami Central and St. Thomas Aquinas all rolled along, defending 4A state champion and No. 2 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons had its first test of the season on the road against Gainesville Buchholz and came away with a tough 16-7 advantage.
The Chiefs will find out a lot about themselves – with games against No. 3 Venice, No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas and No. 13 Plantation American Heritage in the coming weeks.
Here is a look at the latest ranking from Florida Prep Redzone, heading into Week 5:
1. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 4-0).Scored early and often in beating previously unbeaten Orlando Jones, 62-3. THIS WEEK: A Saturday night game on the road at Springfield Central in Massachusetts.
2. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (4A, 3-0).It was a hard-fought contest on the road in Gainesville, but the Chiefs came out on top of previously unbeaten Buchholz, 16-7. THIS WEEK: Another contest on the road at Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian on Friday.
3. Venice (8A, 3-0).The Indians continued to roll along, opening the district season at previously unbeaten Sarasota and won convincingly, 49-13. THIS WEEK: A home game against Palmetto on Friday night.
4. Tampa Jesuit (6A, 4-0).Another tough game – this one a district matchup with previous top 25 team, Tampa Hillsborough, winning 28-7. THIS WEEK: A challenging Friday night game on the road at Plant City.
5. Sanford Seminole (8A, 4-0).The defending 8A state champs met a challenge on the road, but pulled away to beat previously unbeaten Flagler Palm Coast, 27-3. THIS WEEK: Another tough road game at Daytona Beach Mainland on Friday.
6. Miami Central (5A, 2-2).In beating district foe Miami Springs, 55-0, the Rockets are now ready for the rest of the season – and winning a third straight state title. THIS WEEK: A Thursday home game against North Miami Beach.
7. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7A, 3-1).The Raiders were rolling on all cylinders in a 56-6 home win against Miami Monsignor Pace. THIS WEEK: A big home game against 8A power Davie Western on Friday.
8. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (3A, 3-1).Pulled off one of the biggest wins in the nation last Friday night, traveling to No. 1 Buford, Georgia and coming away with a 7-0 win. THIS WEEK: It’s back to work on Friday at home against two-time defending 2A state champion Hialeah Champagnat Catholic.
9. Jacksonville Trinity Christian (2A, 4-0). In winning his 300thcareer game, head coach Verlon Dorminey and his team came away with an exciting 53-50 win over previously unbeaten Clearwater Academy International. THIS WEEK: A road trip to play Lake City Columbia on Friday.
10. Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (8A, 3-0).Came up with a big 26-7 road win at Orlando Bishop Moore. THIS WEEK: A stiff test on the road against No. 22 Cocoa on Friday.
11. Apopka (8A, 3-0).In staying unbeaten, the Blue Darters got by Orlando Dr. Phillips, 28-14. THIS WEEK: A huge home game on Friday with two-time defending 7A runner-up No. 17 Orlando Edgewater on Friday.
12. Miami Gulliver Prep (4A, 3-0).Putting up some huge numbers, the Raiders rolled on the road against North Palm Beach Benjamin, 49-14. THIS WEEK: A home game on Friday against 2A Miami Dade Christian.
13. Plantation American Heritage (5A, 1-2).When their trip to play Edna Karr High in New Orleans, the Patriots took the week off. THIS WEEK: At press time, there was no game scheduled for this week.
14. Niceville (7A, 4-0).The Eagles remained hot and dominating in a 41-13 win over Pace on the road. THIS WEEK: A home game against Tallahassee Godby on Friday night.
15. Naples (6A, 3-0).With a convincing 57-0 win at home the Golden Eagles remain unbeaten. THIS WEEK: A home game and rematch of last year’s only regular season loss, and a convincing one, against Naples Palmetto Ridge on Friday.
16. Jacksonville Bolles (4A, 4-0). The Bulldogs took care of business against winless Fernandina Beach on the road, 49-14. THIS WEEK:A home game against 2A Jacksonville University Christian on Friday.
17. Orlando Edgewater (7A, 3-1).With a dominating 63-0 win on the road against East Ridge, the Eagles are indeed back on track. THIS WEEK: A big one on the road at No. 11 unbeaten Apopka on Friday.
18. Lake Mary (8A, 3-0).The Rams enjoyed a week off after an outstanding start. THIS WEEK: A non-district home game on Friday against Orlando Dr. Phillips.
19. Tampa Bay Tech (7A, 3-0).THIS WEEK: After a tremendous start, the Titans enjoyed the week off. THIS WEEK: A non-district game on Friday at a very impressive Tampa Gaither team.
20. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (7A, 4-0). In winning for the 22nd time in 23 games – 10th straight win – the Panthers rolled to a 50-0 district win against Cooper City. THIS WEEK: Another district game on Saturday against South Plantation.
21. Miami Northwestern (6A, 3-1).The Bulls opened district play with a 42-14 win against Miami Belen Jesuit. THIS WEEK: The “Dade County Soul Bowl” against Miami Jackson on Friday.
22. Cocoa (4A, 2-1).The Tigers had the week off after three impressive games to start the season. THIS WEEK: The crazy schedule continues on Friday night at home against No. 10 Treasure Coast.
23. Lakeland Lake Gibson (6A, 2-2). After a huge and very rare win against No. 25 Lakeland, 38-32, the Braves are ready to make their run. THIS WEEK:A Friday home game against Sarasota Riverview on Friday.
24. Lakeland (7A, 3-1). Dropped their first game of the season, 38-32, against fellow No. 25 program, Lakeland Lake Gibson. THIS WEEK: A home game against Winter Haven on Friday.
25. St. Petersburg Lakewood (4A, 4-0).The Spartans enter the Top 25 after an impressive win at home against Delray Beach Atlantic, 34-28. THIS WEEK:A home game against Lakeland Kathleen on Friday.
OTHER TEAMS TO CONSIDER: Baker County (6A, 3-1), Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (3A, 3-1), Clearwater Academy International (Independent, 3-1), Clearwater Central Catholic (3A, 3-1), Coconut Creek (6A, 3-1), Davie Western (8A, 2-1), Deerfield Beach (8A, 3-1), Flagler Palm Coast (8A, 2-1), Fort Myers Dunbar (6A, 3-0), Gainesville Buchholz (7A, 3-1), Hawthorne (1A, 3-0), Hialeah Champagnat Catholic (2A, 3-1), Jacksonville University Christian (2A, 3-1), Kissimmee Osceola (8A, 2-1), Lake City Columbia (6A, 3-1), Lake Wales (6A, 2-1), Lynn Haven Mosley (7A, 4-0), Miami Booker T. Washington (4A, 2-2), Miami Edison (3A, 2-1), Miami Killian (5A, 4-0), 24. Miami Palmetto (8A, 2-1), Orlando Jones (6A, 2-2), Vanguard (6A, 3-0), Port Orange Spruce Creek (7A, 4-0), Quincy Munroe (2A, 4-0), Sarasota (8A, 3-1), Seffner Armwood (7A, 3-1), St. Augustine (6A, 2-1), St. Johns Bartram Trail (8A, 3-1), Tallahassee Florida High (3A, 3-0), Tampa Berkeley Prep (3A, 4-0), Tampa Catholic (3A, 3-1), Tampa Gaither (7A, 3-1), Tampa Hillsborough (6A, 2-2), Rockledge (5A, 4-0), Vero Beach (8A, 2-1), Winter Garden West Orange (8A, 3-1).
TRACKING FLORIDA: 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@