Final Top 25: Tampa Jesuit Finishes On Top

What a fun and unique season it was for so many football people in Florida this year – as high school football took some crazy turns and twists. With the 4A-8A state championships taking place this past weekend at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, 10 programs started last Thursday with dreams of being a state champion – and only five walked away with titles, joining Madison County (1A), Jacksonville University Christian (2A) and Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (3A). Each and every game last weekend gave the Sunshine State some really important pre-holiday spotlight. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons’ narrow win over Cocoa for its third state title in the past four years – and second straight. There was Miami Central’s third consecutive state title and 8^th overall as the Rockets beat a talented Merritt Island squad. The thrilling 6A start title win for Tampa Jesuit – first since 1968 – beating Pensacola Pine Forest to finish unbeaten! Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas won for the sixth time in the past eight years and third straight, adding to the Raiders’ years of domination, beating previously unbeaten Tampa Bay Tech. Finally, Venice, a team had been in the rather large shadow of St. Thomas Aquinas for all those years, moves up to 8A and dominates the competition – right up until the 35-7 win against Apopka. When teams continue to win – and get hot at the right time – it comes with a reward, and that reward goes to 15-0 Tampa Jesuit as the Tigers are the Prep Redzone Florida No. 1 team for the 2021 season: 1 Tampa Jesuit (6A, 15-0). Ends this magical season with a thrilling 35-29 come-from-behind win against Pensacola Pine Forest. The Tigers have been impressive all season. 2. Miami Central (5A, 12-2). Another strong season for the Rockets as they took care of business down the stretch and knocked off Merritt Island, 49-14, in the title game. 3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (7A, 14-1). As is the case every year, the Raiders finished strong, and only the three-point setback to No. 1 Tampa Jesuit stood in the way. They did knock off previously unbeaten Tampa Bay Tech, 42-14. 4. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (3A, 13-1). Here is another team that did things that NOBODY accomplished this year – or in the past – when ALL 14 of the teams the Lions played made the playoffs and two were state champions. Wrapping things up two weeks ago, they beat Gilbert Highland of Arizona last week in Las Vegas, 35-24. 5. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 9-1). SEASON IS FINISHED. 6. Venice (8A, 14-1). This was a machine down the stretch. The only two teams that played with them were the top two in 4A – Cardinal Gibbons and Cocoa. 7. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (4A, 11-2). The Chiefs have shown over the past five years that they are indeed one of the best 4A programs, every year. Beating Cocoa 21-19 was indeed huge for this program, once again. 8.Tampa Bay Tech (7A, 14-1). The Titans ran up against one of the nation’s best teams in the finals, losing 42-14. 9. Cocoa (4A, 11-2). Playing one of the toughest schedules in the state, the Tigers came so close in the title game, dropping a 21-19 decision against Cardinal Gibbons. 10. Pensacola Pine Forest (6A, 13-2). Traveling 650 miles to play the No. 1 team in the state would be a major challenge, but the Eagles were there every step of the way, losing a tough 35-29 decision. 11. Apopka (8A, 10-3). Great season for the Blue Darters came to an end against one of the premier programs, Venice, 35-7. 12. Merritt Island (5A, 13-2). Have to give to the Mustangs for making this such a special season and bringing back memories of the “old days” – but the assignment was too tough. Miami Central is one of this country’s best programs, and the 42-14 game backs that up. 13. Jacksonville Trinity Christian (2A, 10-4). SEASON IS FINISHED. 14. Madison County (1A, 11-3). SEASON IS FINISHED. 15. Tampa Berkeley Prep (3A, 12-1). SEASON IS FINISHED. 16. Hawthorne (1A, 10-1). SEASON IS FINISHED. 17. Hialeah Champagnat Catholic (2A, 10-3). SEASON IS FINISHED. 18. Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (8A, 10-2). SEASON IS FINISHED. 19. Gainesville Buchholz (7A, 12-2). SEASON IS FINISHED. 20. Miami Northwestern (6A, 10-4). SEASON IS FINISHED. 21. Tallahassee Florida State University High (3A, 11-2). SEASON IS FINISHED. 22. Lakeland Christian (3A, 11-1). SEASON IS FINISHED. 23. Jacksonville Bolles (4A, 8-3). SEASON IS FINISHED. 24. Miami Christopher Columbus (8A, 9-4). SEASON IS FINISHED. 25. Orlando Jones (6A, 11-3). SEASON IS FINISHED. TEAMS ALSO FINISHED FOR THE SEASON: Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley (8A, 6-5), Auburndale (6A, 9-1), Baker County (5A, 11-3), Belleview (6A, 8-3),  Boca Raton (8A, 8-3), Boynton Beach (5A, 7-4), Chiefland (1A, 11-2), Chipley (1A, 9-4), Citra North Marion (5A, 6-4), Clearwater (5A, 10-1), Clearwater Countryside (6A, 5-6), Clewiston (4A, 8-3), Coral Springs Coral Glades (8A, 6-3), Daytona Beach Mainland (6A, 5-5), Daytona Beach Seabreeze (5A, 6-5), Doral Academy (7A, 8-2), Fort Lauderdale Dillard (7A, 9-2), Fort Myers (6A, 5-4), Fort Myers Dunbar (6A, 9-1), Gulf Breeze (6A, 7-4), Hollywood South Broward (7A, 8-2), Jacksonville Terry Parker (5A, 7-4), Jacksonville Raines (5A, 8-3), Jacksonville Riverside (6A, 9-2), Lake Butler Union County (1A, 12-1), Lake City Columbia (6A, 6-5), Lakeland (7A, 9-2), Lakeland Lake Gibson (7A, 9-3), Lake Mary (8A, 10-2), Leesburg (5A, 6-4), Lehigh (7A, 7-3), Lithia Newsome (8A, 8-3), Lutz Steinbrenner (8A, 7-4), Lynn Haven Mosley (6A, 11-2), Melbourne (7A, 10-3), Miami Florida Christian (4A, 8-2), Naples First Baptist (2A, 10-2), Ocala Vanguard (6A, 12-1), Miami Gulliver Prep (4A, 9-2), Miami Killian (5A, 12-1), Miami Palmetto (8A, 9-3), Naples (6A, 10-1), Neptune Beach Fletcher (7A, 5-6), Niceville (7A, 10-2), No. 1 Ocala Trinity Catholic (3A, 7-3), Orlando Edgewater (7A, 10-2), No. 2 Pahokee (1A, 8-2), No. 7 Ponte Vedra Nease (7A, 9-4), Port Orange Spruce Creek (7A, 8-2), Pensacola West Florida (5A, 9-2), Port St. Lucie (6A, 7-3), Rockledge (5A, 9-3), Sanford Seminole (8A, 11-2), Satellite (5A, 10-3), Sebring (5A, 9-3), South Fort Myers (6A, 8-3), St. Johns Creekside (8A, 8-3), St. Lucie West Centennial (8A, 5-5), St. Petersburg Gibbs (5A, 8-4), St. Petersburg Lakewood (4A, 9-3), St. Petersburg Northeast (6A, 9-2), Stuart Martin County (7A, 9-1), Tallahassee Rickards (6A, 6-5), Tampa Gaither (7A, 6-5), No. 6 Tampa Wharton (7A, 9-3), Trenton (1A, 4-6), No. 2 The Villages Charter (4A, 10-1), Trinity Mitchell (7A, 8-3), Viera (7A, 5-5), Wellington (8A, 7-4), Wellington Palm Beach Central (8A, 10-1), West Palm Beach Forest Hill (8A, 6-3), Winter Garden West Orange (8A, 11-2), Zephyrhills (5A, 9-2) 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.