The Landscape Begins To Change

If you have followed high school football in the state of Florida, you already know that when it comes to ranking teams the one thing that will be for sure is things will change.

As we quickly head toward the fourth week of the 2022 season, you can see changes. Some subtle while others are very noticeable.

While the only movement in the top tier saw defending state champion Tampa Jesuit lose to Miami Christopher Columbus, there were some moves at the end of the rankings that forced a few teams out – while a few others broke in for the first time.

With another week of Top 25 matchups coming up, you will see more shifting next week.

Here is a look at how things stack up this week:

Here is a look at this week's Top 25: 

1. Miami Central (2M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: Miami Carol City on Friday, Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: A home game against No. 20 Fort Lauderdale Dillard on Sept. 23. LAST WEEK: The Rockets started slow but put it all together in a 36-19 win against Miami Booker T. Washington.

2. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1M – 3-0). THIS WEEK: A huge home game on Friday, Sept. 16 against No. 8 Plantation American Heritage. NEXT GAME: Thursday, Sept. 22 at Miami Gulliver Prep at 3:30. LAST WEEK: The Lions once again rolled over a top-rated team on Saturday, 42-14, against Miami Northwestern.

3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3M – 3-0). THIS WEEK: A big game at unbeaten No. 14 Davie Western on Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: The team returns home for a Friday, Sept. 23 game against Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast. LAST WEEK: The train is once again rolling as the Raiders got by Cocoa, 42-14.

4. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent – 2-1). THIS WEEK: The team will be off. NEXT GAME: A Sept. 23 contest at Phenix City Central, Alabama. LAST WEEK: The Ascenders made it two straight on the road with a 63-13 win over Salt Lake City East in Utah.

5. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2M – 3-0). THIS WEEK: A home game against St. Petersburg Northeast on Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: A trip to Key West next Friday to play the Conchs on Sept. 23. LAST WEEK: The Chiefs made it three straight with a convincing 31-14 win against Miami Gulliver Prep.

6. Sanford Seminole (4M – 3-0). THIS WEEK: A home game against Orlando Evans on Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: It's back on the road as this team will be tested at No. 15 Venice on Friday, Sept. 23. LAST WEEK: The Seminoles continue to show why they are one of Florida's best teams with a 41-22 win against Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast.

7. Lakeland (4S – (2-0). THIS WEEK: Perhaps one of the biggest regular season games this season at home against No. Kissimmee Osceola on Friday, Sept. 23.Another big contest at home against state-rated Kissimmee Osceola. NEXT GAME: Will spend the week off before a home game against rival Lake Gibson on Sept. 30. LAST WEEK: The Dreadnaughts got back to work with a convincing 39-6 win against longtime rival Winter Haven.

8. Plantation American Heritage (2M - 4-0). THIS WEEK: A huge road game against No. 2 Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood on Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: Will finally have a week off before a trip to play at No. 5 Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons on Sept. 30. LAST WEEK: The Patriots took care of Belle Glade Glades Central 56-0.

9. Miami Christopher Columbus (4M - 3-0). THIS WEEK: An away game on Sept. 16 against area rival Miami Palmetto. NEXT GAME: Another road game on Thursday, Sept. 23 at No. 22 Miami Northwestern. LAST WEEK: The Explorers got everyone's attention with a huge home win against defending state champion, Tampa Jesuit, 32-15.

10. Tampa Jesuit (3M – 2-1). THIS WEEK: The Tigers will take this week off. NEXT GAME: A Sept. 23 meeting at Seffner Armwood. LAST WEEK: For the first time since 2021, the defending state champions tasted defeat at Miami Christopher

11. Tampa Bay Tech (3M – 3-0). THIS WEEK: A home game on Sept. 16 against Valrico Bloomingdale. NEXT GAME: Another challenge at home on Sept. 23 against Tampa Gaither. LAST WEEK: The Titans made it three straight with a 28-3 win at Lithia Newsome.

12. Jacksonville Trinity Christian (1M – 3-0). THIS WEEK: A home contest against longtime rival Jacksonville Bolles on Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: A home game on Sept. 23 against Lake City Columbia. LAST WEEK: The defending state champion Conquerors took care of business on the road, 40-6, against Jacksonville North Florida Educational Institute.

13. Orlando Edgewater (3M – 3-0). THIS WEEK: A huge away game at No. 21 Orlando Jones on Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: A home game against defending state runner up Apopka on Sept. 23. LAST WEEK: The Eagles once again showed that they will be a major force with a big win at Winter Garden West Orange, 26-14.

14. Davie Western (4M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: Things do not get any easier as the No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders will come in for a huge home game on Friday, Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: The team will return home to play Coral Springs Taravella on Sept. 23. LAST WEEK: It was not easy, but a win is indeed a win as the Wildcats won on the road in overtime against much-improved Coconut Creek, 10-3.

15. Venice (4S – 1-1). THIS WEEK: A Thursday (Sept. 8) home game with national powerhouse St. Francis of Baltimore at 8:00. NEXT GAME: The rugged schedule continues with a big home contest with No. 6 Sanford Seminole on Sept. 23. LAST WEEK: The Indians took the week off as they get ready for a key stretch run.

16. Palm Beach Central (4M –3-0). THIS WEEK: A home game against area rival Pahokee on Friday, Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: After a solid start, the team will enjoy the week off. LAST WEEK: The Broncos rolled over Lake Worth Park Vista on the road, 42-7.

17. Gainesville Buchholz (4S – 2-0). THIS WEEK: A challenge away game on Sept. 16 at unbeaten St. John's Creekside. NEXT GAME: They stay on the road with a trip to play a tough Ocala Vanguard on Sept. 23. LAST WEEK: The Bobcats saw their game with crosstown rival Gainesville Eastside get cancelled due to bad weather.

18. Pensacola Pine Forest (3S – 3-0). THIS WEEK: A Friday (Sept. 16) home game against Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee. NEXT GAME: A home game againstPensacola West Florida on Sept. 23. LAST WEEK: The Eagles once again showed many across the state why they have a chance to get back to the state finals, beating Pensacola, 41-8.

19. Rockledge (3S, 3-0). THIS WEEK: Finally on the road for the first time this year on Friday (Sept. 16) at Palm Bay Bayside. NEXT GAME: A huge home game on Sept. 23 against a feisty and talented Kissimmee Osceola team. LAST WEEK: In outscoring the first three opponents 123-7, this is a team that had no problem in beating Viera, 41-0.

20. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3M – 2-1). THIS WEEK: They will be off, getting ready for a tough run of games. NEXT GAME: The Panthers will take the week off before a road trip to play No. 1 Miami Central on Sept. 24. LAST WEEK: The Panthers got back in the win column with a road victory at Miramar, 35-7.

21. Orlando Jones (3M – (1-1). THIS WEEK: It's a tough home game on Friday (Sept. 16) against unbeaten and No. 13 Orlando Edgewater. NEXT GAME: Another challenging home game on Sept. 23 against Winter Garden West Orange. LAST WEEK: The Tigers took the week off to regroup.

22. Miami Northwestern (2M – 2-1). THIS WEEK: A home game on Friday (Sept. 16) against Miami Edison. NEXT GAME: A key Thursday night (Sept. 22) home game against No. 9 Miami Christopher Columbus. LAST WEEK: Things didn't go well last Saturday morning against No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna as the Bulls lost 42-14.

23. Niceville (4S, 3-0). THIS WEEK: A home game against Tallahassee Chiles on Sept. 16. NEXT GAME: A road game on Sept. 23 against Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee. LAST WEEK: The Eagles came up with their first shutout of the season, 35-0, against Fort Walton Beach.

24. Homestead (3M, 3-0). THIS WEEK: A Thursday night (Sept. 15) home game against Southwest Miami. NEXT GAME: Will enjoy the week off after a stellar start. LAST WEEK: The Broncos entered the Top 25 with a convincing road win against St. Petersburg Lakewood, 24-14.

25. Winter Park (4M, 3-0). THIS WEEK: A Friday night (Sept. 16) road game at Orlando University. NEXT GAME: A home game on Friday, Sept. 23 against Orlando Evans. LAST WEEK: With a dominating 38-3 win against Orlando Boone, the Wildcats enter the Top 25 for the first time this season.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH: Apopka (4M, 2-1), Auburndale (3S, 1-0), Baker County (2S, 2-0), Bartow (4S, 2-1), Blountstown (1R, 3-0), Bradenton Braden River (3S, 2-0), Bradenton Manatee (4S, 3-0), Bradford County (1S, 2-0), Bushnell South Sumter (2S, 3-0), Chiefland (1R, 2-0), Citra North Marion (2S, 3-0), Clearwater Central Catholic (1M, 2-1), Cocoa (2S – 0-2), Coconut Creek (3M, 2-1), Daytona Beach Mainland (3S, 2-1), Eau Gallie (3S, 3-0), Fort Myers Bishop Verot (2S, 2-1), Fort Myers Dunbar (3S, 3-0), Fort Pierce John Carroll (1S, 2-0), Hawthorne (1R, 2-0), Jacksonville Bolles (2M, 2-1), Jacksonville Mandarin (4M, 2-1), Jacksonville Raines (2M, 2-1), Jacksonville Riverside (2M, 2-1), Jacksonville University Christian (1M, 3-0), Lakeland Christian (1S, 1-0), Lake Mary (4M, 3-0), Lake Minneola (4S, 3-0), Lake Wales (3S, 3-0), Lynn Haven Mosley (4S, 2-1), Madison County (1R, 2-1), Melbourne (4S, 2-1), Miami Norland (2M, 2-0), Miramar (1-1), Naples (3S, 2-1), North Fort Myers (3S, 2-1), New Port Richey Mitchell (4S, 2-1), Ocala Vanguard (3S, 2-1), Orange Park Fleming Island (4S, 3-0), Orlando Olympia (4M, 2-1), Oviedo (3M, 2-1), Pace (4S, 3-0), Palatka (2S, 3-0), Pensacola Catholic (2S, 3-0), Port St. Joe (1R, 1-1), Port St. Lucie (3S, 2-1), Quincy Munroe Day (1S, 2-1), Riverview Sumner (4M, 3-0), Sebring (3S, 2-1), Seffner Armwood (3M, 2-1), St. John's Bartram Trail (4S, 3-0), St. John's Creekside (3-0), St. Petersburg Lakewood (2M, 1-2), Stuart Martin County (4S, 3-0), Tallahassee Florida High (2S, 3-0), Tallahassee Lincoln (3S, 3-0), Tallahassee North Florida Christian (1S, 3-0), Tampa Berkeley Prep (2M, 2-1), Tampa Gaither (3M, 1-0), Tampa Wharton (3M, 2-1) Vero Beach (4S, 3-0), West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (1M, 3-0), Wildwood (1R, 2-1), Winter Garden West Orange (4M, 2-1), Winter Park (4M, 3-0).

UPDATED CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/florida/rankings/2023-rankings/

CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/08/updated-2024-florida-rankings/

Tracking Florida's Football Teams For 2022 - https://prepredzone.com/2022/04/tracking-florida-football-teams/

You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.