Top 25 Plus
It's a new season this week, and for those who have made solid run during the regular season, this is what you worked so hard for.
Programs in each class will start the race to Tallahassee (1A-3A) and Fort Lauderdale (4A-8A) with the RPI results making some happy – while others are not pleased.
Today, we bring you the Top 25 plus as we continue to rank teams each and every week until the end of the season.
Here is a look at the latest ranking from Florida Prep Redzone, heading into the first week of the state playoffs:
1 Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 9-0). After winning for the 9th straight time – a 28-0 win against Clarkson North – the Ascenders continue to roll along. THIS WEEK: Yet another week off before the No. 19 showdown against Baltimore's St. Francis Academy.
2. Tampa Jesuit (6A, 9-0). Coming off their 22nd straight win against Tampa Catholic, the Tigers are ready to make a run at the state title. They have played as well as anyone. THIS WEEK: As a No. 1 seed in Region 3, it will be a home game against No. 8 seed Gulfport Boca Ciega. NEXT WEEK: The winner will get either No. 4 Clearwater Countryside or No. 5 Bradenton Braden River.
3. Miami Central (5A, 7-2). Spent the final week of the regular season off, getting ready to defend their two consecutive state titles. THIS WEEK: As the No. 3 seed in Region 4, the Rockets will play host to district foe, No. 6 North Miami Beach. NEXT WEEK: The winner of this game will take on the winner of No. 7 Boynton Beach and No. 2 Plantation American Heritage.
4. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7A, 9-1). As the two-time defending state champions, the Raiders also enjoyed this past week off – getting ready for the stretch run. THIS WEEK: As the No. 1 seed in Region 4, it's a home game against No. 8 Delray Beach Atlantic. NEXT WEEK: The winner will face off against either No. 4 Miramar or No. 5 Doral Academy.
5. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (3A, 7-1). Another team that used the final week of the regular season to take off and getting ready for an amazing sixth straight trip to the state finals. THIS WEEK: The Lions will have a first-round bye as the No. 1 seed in Region 4. NEXT WEEK: The winner of No. 4 Miami Edison and No. 5 Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian will provide the opposition.
6. Sanford Seminole (8A, 9-1). The defending state champions also made good use of the final week of the season with an off week to get ready for a strong run back to state. THIS WEEK: As the No. 1 seed in Region 1, the Seminoles will be at home for No. 8 Winter Park. NEXT WEEK: Win and you will get either No. 4 Orlando Timber Creek or No. 5 Lake Mary.
7. Naples (6A, 9-0). Yet another state power that used the final week of the season to rest up and get ready for a stretch run that has some major obstacles. THIS WEEK: As a No. 2 seed in Region 4, it will be a home game against No. 7 Punta Gorda Charlotte. NEXT WEEK: The winner will have either No. 3 Miami Northwestern or No. 6 Fort Myers.
8. Venice (8A, 9-1). Finishing the regular season with a convincing victory over North Fort Myers got the Indians set for the playoffs. THIS WEEK: As the No. 1 seed in Region 3, this is a program that will be at home against No. 8 Plant City. NEXT WEEK: No. 4 Steinbrenner and No. 5 Sarasota Riverview will battle to get to the second round.
9. Orlando Edgewater (7A, 9-1). Ending the regular season with a huge win against rival Orlando Boone, this is a team now ready to get back to the state finals for a third straight season. THIS WEEK: As a No. 1 seed in Region 2, the Eagles will welcome No. 8 Bartow to College Park. NEXT WEEK: The winner of this game will get No. 4 Lakeland Lake Gibson or No. 5 Lake, who are playing in a rematch of an earlier season game.
10. Tampa Bay Tech (7A, 10-0). Closing out the regular season with a convincing win against Tampa Chamberlain, the Titans now roll into the state playoffs. THIS WEEK: The No. 1 seed in Region 3 will take on No. 8 Largo in the opening round. NEXT WEEK: Win this game and you will get the winner of No. 4 Palmetto or No. 5 Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch.
11. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (7A, 8-1). Winners of 26 of the past 28 games, the Panthers closed out the regular season with a shutout of Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. THIS WEEK: The opening round for this No. 6 team will be a game at No. 3 Fort Lauderdale. NEXT WEEK: Win this game and the stakes get higher with No. 2 Homestead or No. 2 Hollywood South Broward.
12. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (4A, 7-2). While the season-finale was called off because of bad weather against Boyd Anderson, the defending 4A state champions head into the state playoffs feeling optimistic. THIS WEEK: As the No. 2 seed in Region 4, they will have this week off. NEXT WEEK: A game against the winner of No. 3 Miami Immaculate LaSalle and No. 6 Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest.
13. Miami Gulliver Prep (4A, 7-1). Ended the regular season with a convincing Saturday morning win at Orlando Bishop Moore. THIS WEEK: As the No. 1 seed in Region 4, the Raiders will enjoy the first week off. NEXT WEEK: Will host the winner of No. 4 Miami Booker T. Washington or No. 5 Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian.
14. Lake Mary (8A, 9-1). Wrapping up an outstanding season with a convincing win against Deltona, it's on to the state playoffs for the Rams. THIS WEEK: As a No. 5 seed in Region 1, it's a road game to No. 4 seed Orlando Timber Creek. NEXT WEEK: Things do not get any easier as No. 1 Sanford Seminole or No. 8 Winter Park will be the opponent.
15. Niceville (7A, 9-1). Taking the final week of the regular season off will get this team ready for a stretch run that will once again be filled with plenty of obstacles. THIS WEEK: As a No. 3 seed in Region 1, a home game against No. 6 Jacksonville Atlantic Coast is on tap for Friday. NEXT WEEK: The winner of this game will get No. 2 Port Orange Spruce Creek or No. 7 Ponte Vedra Nease.
16. Cocoa (4A, 8-1). Capping off a tremendous regular season with a huge win against longtime rival Rockledge in the BBQ Bowl. THIS WEEK: As a No. 1 seed in Region 2, the Tigers will enjoy this week off. NEXT WEEK: A home game against either No. 4 Bushnell South Sumter or No. 5 Brooksville Hernando.
17. Lakeland (7A, 9-1). The Dreadnaughts won a thrilling regular season-ending game at St. Petersburg Lakewood. THIS WEEK: As a No. 5 seed in Region 2, it's a road trip for a rematch against longtime rival No. 4 Lakeland Lake Gibson. NEXT WEEK: No. 1 Orlando Edgewater or No. 8 Bartow will be next up for the winner of this game.
18. Tampa Berkeley Prep (3A, 9-0). Finishing an amazing season with a win over Tampa Plant, the Buccaneers now head into the state playoffs as a team that can cause plenty of trouble. THIS WEEK: As the No. 1 seed in Region 3, they will have this week off. NEXT WEEK: The winner of No. 4 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney and No. 5 Fort Myers Bishop Verot will be in Tampa.
19. Miami Killian (5A, 10-0). Here is a program that truly impressed all season and ended the regular season getting healthy for a playoff run. THIS WEEK: As the No. 1 seed in Region 4, the Cougars will be at home for a meeting with No. 8 Fort Myers Cypress Lake. NEXT WEEK: The winner of this game will take on either No. 4 Estero or No. 5 Fort Lauderdale Stranahan.
20. Ocala Vanguard (6A, 10-0). Here is a program that definitely has not gotten the publicity that the other programs in the state have received. This is a big-time team – as they showed in a more than convincing regular season-ending win against Ocala Forest. THIS WEEK: As a No. 1 seed in Region 2, they will open up at home against No. 8 Palm Bay Heritage. NEXT WEEK: The winner of No. 4 Port St. Lucie and No. 5 Lake Wales.
21. Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (8A, 7-1). For the Titans, this has been one of those years. Things fell into place at the right time, and as they head toward the playoffs, plenty of optimism surrounds this team. THIS WEEK: As a No. 2 seed in Region 2, they will be at home for No. 7 Palm Beach Gardens. NEXT WEEK: The winner will take on No. 3 Orlando Boone or No. 6 Wellington,
22. Gainesville Buchholz (7A, 9-1). With a huge road win against 8A Jacksonville Bartram Trail, the Bobcats were thrust into the spotlight statewide and head into the playoffs on a roll. THIS WEEK: As a No. 1 seed in Region, No. 8 Fleming Island will be the opening round opponent. NEXT WEEK: The winner of No. 4 Neptune Beach Fletcher and No. 5 Orange City University.
23. Tallahassee Florida State University High (3A, 8-1). In beating Live Oak Suwannee, 35-7, to end the regular season, the Seminole are now poised for a run in the playoffs. THIS WEEK: As the No. 3 seed in Region 1, it will be a home game on Friday against No. 6 Jacksonville Episcopal. NEXT WEEK: The winner will get No. 2 Defuniak Springs Walton, which had a bye in the first round.
24. Lynn Haven Mosley (6A, 9-1). After a dropping a tough game to end the regular season two weeks ago to Gadsden County, the Dolphins had the week off. THIS WEEK: As a No. 2 seed in Region 1, the first round will be at home against No. 7 Gulf Breeze. NEXT WEEK: The winner gets either No. 3 Gainesville or No. 6 Tallahassee Lincoln.
25. Winter Garden West Orange (8A, 9-1). Completing an amazing regular season, the Warriors will head into the state playoffs with plenty of momentum. THIS WEEK: As a No. 2 seed in Region 3, it's a first round home game against Plant City Durant. NEXT WEEK: The winner will have a tough assignment against No. 3 Lithia Newsome or No. 6 Kissimmee Osceola.
OTHER TEAMS TO CONSIDER:
No. 6 St. Johns Creekside (8A, 8-2) at No. 3 Apopka (8A, 8-2).
No. 7 Belleview (6A, 8-2) at No. 2 Auburndale (6A, 8-0)
No. 6 Boca Raton (8A, 8-2) at No. 3 Deerfield Beach (8A, 8-2)
No. 5 Bradenton Braden River (6A, 8-1) at No. 4 Clearwater Countryside (6A, 5-5)
No. 5 South Fort Myers (6A, 8-2) at No. 4 Coconut Creek (6A, 8-2)
No. 8 Plantation (6A, 7-2) at No. 1 Fort Myers Dunbar (6A, 9-0),
No. 5 Doral Academy (7A, 8-1) at No. 4 Miramar (7A, 6-2)
No. 7 Gulf Breeze (6A, 7-3) at No. 2 Lynn Haven Mosley (6A, 9-1)
No. 1 Hawthorne (1A, 7-0), bye
No. 2 Hialeah Champagnat Catholic (2A, 7-2), bye
No. 7 Hollywood South Broward (7A, 8-1) at No. 2 Homestead (7A, 8-1)
No. 1 Jacksonville Bolles (4A, 6-2), bye
No. 7 Jacksonville Terry Parker (5A, 7-3) at No. 2 Jacksonville Raines (5A, 7-2)
No. 5 Jacksonville Riverside (6A, 8-1) at No. 5 Lake City Columbia (6A, 6-4)
No. 1 Jacksonville Trinity Christian (2A, 6-4), bye
No. 6 Kissimmee Osceola (8A, 8-2) at No. 3 Lithia Newsome (8A, 8-2),
No. 1 Lakeland Christian (3A, 9-0), bye
No. 6 Trenton (1A, 4-5) at No. 3 Lake Butler Union County (1A, 10-0)
No. 5 Lake Wales (6A, 8-2) at No. 4 Port St. Lucie (6A, 7-2)
No. 1 St. Petersburg Lakewood (4A, 8-2), bye
No. 7 Tampa Gaither (7A, 6-4) at No. 2 Lehigh (7A, 6-2)
No. 7 Viera (7A, 5-4) at No. 2 Stuart Martin County (7A, 8-0)
No. 8 Leesburg (5A, 6-4) at No. 1 Merritt Island (5A, 9-1)
No. 2 Miami Florida Christian (4A, 8-1), bye
No. 6 Fort Myers (6A, 5-3) at No. 3 Miami Northwestern (6A, 7-3)
No. 7 Coral Springs Coral Glades (8A, 6-2) at No. 2 Miami Palmetto (8A, 7-2)
No. 5 Orange City University (7A, 6-2) at No. 4 Neptune Beach Fletcher (7A, 5-5)
No. 6 Wellington (8A, 7-3) at No. 3 Orlando Boone (8A, 7-3)
No. 6 Daytona Beach Mainland (6A, 5-4) at No. 3 Orlando Jones (6A, 8-2)
No. 2 Pahokee (1A, 7-1), bye
No. 8 St. Lucie West Centennial (8A, 5-4) at No. 1 Palm Beach Central (8A, 8-0)
No. 8 Tallahassee Rickards (6A, 6-4) at No. 1 Pensacola Pine Forest (6A, 8-1)
No. 5 Pensacola West Florida (5A, 8-1) at No. 4 Citra North Marion (6A,6-3)
No. 7 Boynton Beach (5A, 7-3) at No. 2 Plantation American Heritage (5A, 5-3)
No. 7 Ponte Vedra Nease (7A, 7-3) and No. 2 Port Orange Spruce Creek (7A, 8-1)
No. 6. St. Petersburg Northeast (6A, 9-1) at No. 3 Riverview Sumner (6A, 8-2)
No. 5 Sarasota Riverview (8A, 8-2) at No. 4 Lutz Steinbrenner (8A, 7-3)
No. 6 Satellite (5A, 8-2) at Tavares (5A, 9-1)
No. 7 Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley (8A, 6-4) St. Johns Bartram Trail (8A, 8-2)
No. 6 Tampa Wharton (7A, 7-2) at No. 3 Trinity Mitchell (7A, 8-2)
No. 2 The Villages (4A, 10-0), bye
No. 5 Rockledge (5A, 8-2) at No. 4 Daytona Beach Seabreeze (5A, 6-4)
No. 5 Vero Beach (8A, 6-2) at No. 4 West Palm Beach Forest Hill (8A, 6-2)
No. 7 St. Petersburg Gibbs (5A, 7-3) at No. 2 Zephyrhills (5A, 9-1)
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@aol.com
