TOP 25: Chaminade-Madonna Solidifies Ranking

Once again, this past week, Florida's top high school football teams did what they could to back up their loft rankings.

Several Top 25 matchups took place – with No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna showing why the Lions are so impressive.

The Lions, winners of four of the past five state championships and looking for an amazing sixth straight trip to the state finals, fell behind state-rated Fort Lauderdale Dillard, only to rally and pull away.

The Lions weren't the only Top 25 team that had the opportunity to show they indeed belong.

Sanford Seminole's overtime road win at Kissimmee Osceola, Venice's narrow win at home against Naples, Palm Beach Central's road win at St. Petersburg Lakewood and Orlando Edgewater's home win against New Jersey's national power Don Bosco Prep are all signals that 2022 will be a year to remember.

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

1. Miami Central (2M – 1-0). THIS WEEK: Miami Booker T. Washington, Sept. 9). NEXT GAME: A road game against Miami Carol City on Sept. 15. LAST WEEK: The Rockets were off after beating national power IMG Academy.

2. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: At No. 7 Miami Northwestern, Sept. 8). NEXT GAME: Will be at home against No. 10 Plantation American Heritage on Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: The Lions rolled over state-rated Fort Lauderdale Dillard, 49-28.

3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: No. 23 Cocoa at home, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: A big game at No. 14 Davie Western on Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: The Raiders went to Fort Myers and took care of business, 42-0.

4. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent – 1-1). THIS WEEK: At East Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: Will be off next week before a Sept. 23 contest at Phenix City Central, Alabama. LAST WEEK: The Ascenders rebounded on the road in Missouri with a convincing 50-6 win against De Smet Jesuit.

5. Tampa Jesuit (3M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: At No. 21 Miami Christopher Columbus, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: After an off week, this team will get ready for a Sept. 23 meeting with Seffner Armwood. LAST WEEK: For the second straight week, the Tigers were tested against Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast, 14-13.

6. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: MiamiGulliver Prep, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: A home game against St. Petersburg Northeast on Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: The defense remained very strong in shutting out Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian, 30-0.

7. Miami Northwestern (2M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: Against No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, Sept. 8. NEXT GAME: A home game against Miami Edison on Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: The Bulls remained unbeaten with a “Soul Bowl” win against Miami Jackson, 44-0.

8. Sanford Seminole (4M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: A home game against Orlando Evans on Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: The Seminoles won a thrilling overtime game at state-rated Kissimmee Osceola, 28-27.

9. Lakeland (4S – (1-0). THIS WEEK: A home game againstWinter Haven, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: Another big contest at home against state-rated Kissimmee Osceola. LAST WEEK: The game against Largo was postponed and will not be made up.

10. Plantation American Heritage (2M – 3-0: THIS WEEK: Another home game against Belle Glade Glades Central on Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: A huge road game against No. 2 Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood on Sept. 16.  LAST WEEK: The Patriots continued their climb toward the top with a convincing home opener against Lakeland Lake Gibson, 42-14.

11. Tampa Bay Tech (3M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: At Lithia Newsome, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: A home game on Sept. 16 against Valrico Bloomingdale. LAST WEEK: The Titans scored often and played tough defensively in a 44-0 win over Lutz Steinbrenner.

12. Jacksonville Trinity Christian (1M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: At Jacksonville North Florida Educational Institute, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: A home contest against longtime rival Jacksonville Bolles on Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: The defending Conquerors remained a team to watch with a convincing victory against Jacksonville Raines, 41-28.

13. Orlando Edgewater (3M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: At Winter Garden West Orange, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: An away game at No. 22 Orlando Jones on Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: The Eagles showed that they are indeed a team to watch as they convincingly beat national power Ramsey Don Bosco Prep, 34-10.

14. Davie Western (4M – 1-0). THIS WEEK: A huge home game against unbeaten Coconut Creek, Sept. 9). NEXT GAME: A big home against No. 3 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas on Sept. 16.  LAST WEEK: The Wildcats were off after an opening week win in the Broward Showcase.

15. Venice (4S – 1-1). THIS WEEK: The Indians will take the week off after some impressive games to start the year out. NEXT GAME: A Thursday (Sept. 8) home game with national powerhouse St. Francis of Baltimore at 8:00. LAST WEEK: The Indians got back on the winning track with a thrilling victory at home against No. 25 Naples.

16. Palm Beach Central (4M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: At Lake Worth Park Vista, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: A home game against area rival Pahokee. LAST WEEK: The Broncos showed why they are one of Florida's best teams, beating No. 24 St. Petersburg Lakewood on the road, 27-7.

17. Gainesville Buchholz (4S – 2-0). THIS WEEK: At Gainesville Eastside on Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: An away game on Sept. 16 at St. John's Creekside. LAST WEEK: The Bobcats made it two straight to start the season as they beat Sarasota Riverview, 45-6.

18. Miami Christopher Columbus (4M – 2-0). THIS WEEK: A huge contest at home on Sept. 9 against No. 5 Tampa Jesuit. NEXT GAME: An away game on Sept. 16 against area rival Miami Palmetto. LAST WEEK: The Explorers looked sharp for the second straight game against Miami Killian, 44-13.

19. Pensacola Pine Forest (3S – 2-0). THIS WEEK: A Saturday (Sept. 10) contest at home against Pensacola. NEXT GAME: A home game againstFort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee on Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: Showing that they are one of the teams to watch again this season, the Eagles soared to a 39-9 win against Navarre.

20. Rockledge (3S, 2-0). THIS WEEK: A third straight home game to start out the season for the Raiders on Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: Time to hit the road as they will be at Palm Bay Bayside, Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: This team continued to make a statement and make a push into the Top 25 with a 45-7 win against Doral Academy.

21. Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3M – 1-1). THIS WEEK: At Miramar, Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: The Panthers will take the week off before a road trip to play No. 1 Miami Central on Sept. 24. LAST WEEK: Even though they got off to a 14-0 start, it didn't last against the No. 2 team – Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna on the road, 49-28.

22. Orlando Jones (3M – (1-1). THIS WEEK: Will take the week off before the Sept. 16 home game against Orlando Edgewater. NEXT GAME: No. 15 Orlando Edgewater, Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: The Tigers took to the road a went to play powerhouse Duncanville in Texas and dropped A 44-21 decision.
23. Cocoa (2S – 0-1). THIS WEEK: It's off to Fort Lauderdale to play No. 3 powerhouse Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas on Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: Cocoa SpaceCoast, Sept. 16). LAST WEEK: The Tigers took the week off after a tough opening night loss to Orlando Jones.

24. St. Petersburg Lakewood (2M, 1-1). THIS WEEK: Things do not get any easier as they will host a Homestead team that is knocking on the Top 25 door on Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: Will finally hit the road on Sept. 16 at Largo Pinellas Park. LAST WEEK: The Spartans experienced one of the most overlooked and under-the-radar teams in Florida as the dropped a 27-7 decision at home to No. 16 Palm Beach Central.

25. Niceville (4S. 2-0). THIS WEEK: A home game against Fort Walton Beach on Sept. 9. NEXT GAME: A home game against Tallahassee Chiles on Sept. 16. LAST WEEK: The Eagles, hosting power Ocala Vanguard, played a tremendous game and came away with a 15-7 win against a program that is loaded and well coached.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH: Apopka (4M, 1-1), Auburndale (3S, 0-0), Baker County (2S, 1-0), Blountstown (1R, 2-0), Bradford County (1S, 1-0), Bushnell South Sumter (2S, 2-0), Chiefland (1R, 2-0), Clearwater Central Catholic (1M, 1-1), Coconut Creek (3M, 2-0), Daytona Beach Mainland (3S, 2-0), DeLand (4S,1-1), Fort Myers Dunbar (3S, 2-0), Fort Pierce John Carroll (1S, 2-0), Hawthorne (1R, 1-0), Homestead (3M, 2-0), Jacksonville Bolles (2M, 2-0), Jacksonville Raines (2M, 1-1), Jacksonville Riverside (2M, 2-0), Lakeland Christian (1S, 1-0), Lake Mary (4M, 2-0), Lake Wales (3S, 2-0), Lynn Haven Mosley (4S, 1-1), Madison County (1R, 2-0), Miami Norland (2M, 1-0), Miramar (1-0), Naples (3S, 1-1), North Fort Myers (3S, 1-1), New Port Richey Mitchell (4S, 1-1), Niceville (4S, 2-0), Ocala Vanguard (3S, 1-1), Oviedo (3M, 2-0), Pace (4S, 2-0), Port St. Joe (1R, 1-0), Port St. Lucie (3S, 2-0), Quincy Munroe Day (1S, 2-0), Sebring (3S, 2-0), Seffner Armwood (3M, 1-1), St. John's Bartram Trail (4S, 2-0), Tallahassee Florida High (2S, 2-0), Tallahassee Lincoln (3S, 2-0), Tallahassee North Florida Christian (1S, 2-0), Tampa Berkeley Prep (2M, 1-1), Tampa Gaither (3M, 1-0), Tampa Wharton (3M, VanguarVero Beach (4S, 2-0), West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (1M, 2-0), Winter Garden West Orange (4M, 2-0)

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.