PLAYOFF WEEK 1: New Season Begins
While most outlets are giving you their final team rankings until the season is competed, we make sure that all programs are recognized the rest of the way.
We will continue to run our Top 25 plus right until the end and our No. 1 is crowned.
With the state playoffs getting started this week, it is important to understand that these players and coaches have worked too hard to disappear from the landscape just because the regular season is completed.
If teams lose, they will drop just like always. They win and you will see them slide up the rankings – no matter what class they may be. The state of Florida has small schools always beating their larger opponents, so it’s only fair to keep them in the rather large spotlight.
As we begin the state playoffs, here is a look at the Top 25 plus for this week:
1.Miami Central (2M, 9-0). THIS WEEK: No. 8 Miami St. Brendan (7-3) as a No. 1 seed in the first round of the state playoffs. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 4 seed Miami Northwestern or No. 5 seed Miami Gulliver Prep. LAST WEEK: The Rockets were off for the final week of the regular season.
2. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1M, 8-0). NEXT WEEK: No. 4 seed will have Hollywood Avant Garde in the opening round of the state playoffs as a No. 1 seed on November 17. FOLLOWING WEEK: The winner of the No. 2 seed West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman and No. 3 seed North Palm Beach Benjamin game on November 24. LAST WEEK: The Lions ended the season with a convincing 45-6 win against Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast.
3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3M, 9-0). THIS WEEK: No. 8 seed Coconut Creek in the opening round of the state playoffs as a No. 1 seed. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 4 seed Delray American Heritage and No. 5 seed Plantation. LAST WEEK: The Raiders took the final week of the regular season off.
4. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 7-1). THIS WEEK: This week is scheduled off. NEXT GAME: The Ascenders will be face off against national power St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. LAST WEEK: The Ascenders crushed West Toronto Prep, 96-0.
5. Lakeland (4S, 9-0). THIS WEEK: A first round state playoff game against No. 8 seed Lakeland Lake Gibson. NEXT GAME: The winner of the No. 4 Springstead and No. 5 New Port Richey Mitchell game. LAST WEEK: The Dreadnaughts were off for the final game of the regular season.
6. Plantation American Heritage (2M, 9-1). THIS WEEK: No. 8 Riviera Beach Inlet Grove in the opening round of the state playoffs as a No. 1 seed. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 4 seed Boynton Beach and No. 5 seed West Palm Beach The King’s Academy. LAST WEEK: The Patriots were off for the final week of the season.
7. Orlando Edgewater (3M, 10-0). THIS WEEK: As a No. 1 seed they will play host to No. 8 seed Jacksonville First Coast in the opening round game. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 4 seed Neptune Beach Fletcher and No. 5 seed Tampa Bay Tech. LAST WEEK: The Eagles finished off their first unbeaten regular season since 1972 with a 21-14 win against rival Orlando Boone.
8. Miami Christopher Columbus (4M, 9-1). THIS WEEK: The No. 1 seed will play host to No. 8 seed Miami High in the first round of the state playoffs. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 4 seed Miami Palmetto or o. 5 seed Pembroke Pines West Broward. LAST WEEK: The Explorers enjoyed the final week of the regular season off.
9. Tampa Bay Tech (3M, 8-2). THIS WEEK: As a No. 5 seed, they will travel to play No. 4 seed Neptune Beach Fletcher. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 1 seed Orlando Edgewater and No. 8 seed Jacksonville First Coast. LAST WEEK: The Titans took the final week of the regular season off.
10. Jacksonville Trinity Christian (1M, 10-0). NEXT WEEK: The No. 1 seed will host No. 4 Orlando Christian Prep on November 17. FOLLOWING WEEK: A second round playoff game against No. 2 seed Jacksonville University Christian and No. 3 seed Orlando The First Academy on November 24. LAST WEEK: The Conquerors ended a perfect regular season with a 54-21 win over Quincy Munroe.
11. Pensacola Pine Forest (3S, 9-0). THIS WEEK: The opening round of the state playoffs will find the No. 1 seed home against No. 8 seed Tallahassee Rickards. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 4 St. Augustine and No. 5 Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee. LAST WEEK: The Eagles took the final week of the regular season off.
12. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2M, 9-1). THIS WEEK: The No. 2 seed will have the first week of the state playoffs at home against No. 7 Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 3 Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian and No. 6 Boca Raton St. Andrew’s. LAST WEEK: The two-time defending state champions had the final week of the season off.
13. St. John’s Bartram Trail (4S, 10-0). THIS WEEK: The No. 1 seed Bears will be at home against No. 8 seed Flagler Palm Coast. NEXT GAME: The winner of the No. 4 St. John’s Creekside and No. 5 Navarre contest. LAST WEEK: The team completed a perfect regular season with a 42-20 win against Jacksonville Mandarin.
14. Orlando Jones (3M, 8-2). THIS WEEK: As a No. 2 seed they will play host to No. 7 seed Apopka Wekiva.The winner of No. 3 Oviedo and No. 6 Tampa Wharton. NEXT GAME: State Playoffs Next Week. LAST WEEK: The Tigers ended the season with a convincing 35-14 win against Orlando Dr. Phillips.
15. Niceville (4S, 9-1). THIS WEEK: The No. 2 seed will play host to No. 7 Crestview in the opening round of the state playoffs. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 3 seed Gainesville Buchholz and No. 6 seed Pace. LAST WEEK: The Eagles ended the regular season with a 35-14 road win against Navarre.
16. Winter Park (4M, 9-1). THIS WEEK: A home opening round state playoff game as a No. 3 seed against the same No. 6 seed Lake Brantley team they ended the regular season with. NEXT GAME: It will either be No. 2 seed Apopka or No. 7 Orlando Boone. LAST WEEK: The Wildcats were impressive with a 34-13 win against Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley.
17. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (1M, 10-0). NEXT WEEK: The state playoff opens up for the No. 2 seed at home against No. 3 seed North Palm Beach Benjamin on November 17. FOLLOWING WEEK: I t will either be No. 1 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna or No. 4 Hollywood Avant Garde Academy on November 24. LAST WEEK: The Crusaders finished off the first unbeaten regular season in over three decades with a 54-14 victory against Miami Gulliver Prep.
18. Lake Wales (3S, 10-0). THIS WEEK: As a No. 1 seed, they will play host to No. 8 Auburndale for their second time in three weeks. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 4 Ocala Vanguard or No. 5 New Port Richey River Ridge. LAST WEEK: The Highlanders punished Bartow, 55-7 and finished the regular season unbeaten.
19. Sanford Seminole (4M, 8-2). THIS WEEK: The No. 1 seed will be on the road for the opening round of the state playoffs at No. 8 seed Jacksonville Mandarin. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 4 Oviedo Hagerty and No. 5 Lake Mary. LAST WEEK: The Seminoles took the final week of the season off.
20. Clearwater Central Catholic (1M, 9-1). NEXT WEEK: As a No. 1 seed it will be a home game against No. 4 Largo Indian Rocks Christian on November 17. NEXT GAME: It will either be No. 2 St. Petersburg Northside Christian or No. 3 Tampa Carrollwood Day on November 24. FOLLOWING WEEK: The Marauders ended the impressive regular season with a 63-35 win against IMG Academy White, 63-35.
21. Vero Beach (4S, 9-1). THIS WEEK: As a top seed, they will be at home against No. 8 Harmony. NEXT GAME: The winner will get either No. 4 Melbourne or No. 5 Port St. Lucie Centennial. LAST WEEK: The Indians had the final week of the season off.
22. Tampa Wharton (3M, 8-2). THIS WEEK. As a No. 6 seed, round 1 will see them on the road against No. 3 Oviedo. NEXT GAME: The winner of this matchup will get either No. 2 Orlando Jones or No. 7 Apopka Wekiva. LAST WEEK: The Wildcats ended the regular season with convincing 27-7 win against Tampa Hillsborough.
23. Gainesville Buchholz (4S, 7-2). THIS WEEK: As a No. 3 seed it will be a Thursday night home game against No. 6 Pace. NEXT GAME: The winner will get either No. 2 Niceville or No. 7 Crestview. LAST WEEK: The Bobcats dropped another game – this time to Jacksonville Bolles, 49-28.
24. Cocoa (2S, 6-3). THIS WEEK: With a No. 2 seed, the first round will be at home against No. 7 Dunnellon. NEXT GAME: The winner of this contest will either get No. 3 Melbourne Palm Bay or No. 6 Titusville. LAST WEEK: The Tigers finished strong with a win over longtime rival Rockledge, 28-20.
25. Rockledge (3S, 8-2). THIS WEEK: With a No. 1 seed, the Raiders will have a home game against No. 8 Sattelite. NEXT GAME: The winner of No. 4 Daytona Beach Mainland and No. 5 Melbourne Eau Gallie. LAST WEEK: Lost the annual BBQ Bowl to rival Rockledge.
OTHER PLAYOFF TEAMS TO WATCH:
Class 4-Metro, Region 1
No. 5 Oviedo Hagerty (8-2) at No. 4 Lake Mary (6-3)
No. 2 Apopka (7-3) at No. 7 Orlando Boone (6-4)
Class 4-Metro, Region 2
No. 8 Orlando Olympia (6-4) at No. 1 Tarpon Springs East Lake (9-1)
No. 5 Riverview Sumner (8-2) at No. 4 Tampa Plant (8-2)
No. 7 Lutz Steinbrenner (6-4) at No. 2 Winter Garden West Orange (6-4)
No. 3 Ocoee (6-4) at No. 6 Plant City Durant (8-2)
Class 4-Metro, Region 3
No. 8 Jupiter (5-5) at No. 1 Wellington Palm Beach Central (9-1)
No. 5 Parkland Stoneman Douglas (7-3) at No. 4 Lantana Santaluces (7-2)
No. 7 Boca Raton (6-4) at No. 2 Coconut Creek Monarch (7-2)
No. 6 Wellington (6-4) at No. 3 Palm Beach Gardens (7-3)
Class 4-Metro, Region 4
No. 5 Pembroke Pines West Broward (6-4) at No. 4 Miami Palmetto (5-5)
No. 7 Weston Cypress Bay (7-3) at No. 2 Davie Western (6-3)
No. 6 Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (6-4) at No. 3 Doral Academy (6-4)
Class 3-Metro, Region 1
No. 5 Tampa Bay Tech (8-2) at No. 4 Neptune Beach Fletcher (8-2)
No. 7 Apopka Wekiva (5-5) at No. 2 Orlando Jones (8-2)
No. 6 Tampa Wharton (8-2) at No. 3 Oviedo (9-1)
Class 3-Metro, Region 2
No. 8 St. Petersburg (7-3) at No. 1 Tampa Jesuit (6-4)
No. 4 Tampa Gaither (6-4) at No. 5 Pinellas Park (6-4)
No. 7 St. Petersburg Northeast (5-5) at No. 2 Largo (7-2)
No. 6 Seminole Osceola (7-3) at No. 3 Gibsonton East Bay (9-1)
Class 3-Metro, Region 3
No. 5 Plantation (7-3) at No. 4 Delray Beach Atlantic (7-3)
No. 7 Fort Lauderdale (6-4) at No. 2 Fort Lauderdale Dillard (5-4)
No. 6 Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer (7-3) at No. 3 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (9-0)
Class 3-Metro, Region 4
No. 1 Homestead (7-2) at No. 8 North Miami (5-5)
No. 4 Miami Belen Jesuit (5-5) at No. 5 Miami Dr. Krop (6-4)
No. 7 Pembroke Pines Charter (6-3) at No. 2 Miramar (8-1)
No. 6 Hollywood South Broward (5-4) at No. 3 Miami Southridge (6-4)
Class 2-Metro, Region 1
No. 8 Jacksonville Riverside (4-6) at No. 1 Jacksonville Andrew Jackson (8-2)
No. 5 Jacksonville Raines (7-2) at No. 4 Jacksonville Ed White (7-2)
No. 7 Orlando Bishop Moore (7-3) at No. 2 Jacksonville Bishop Kenny (8-2)
No. 6 Jacksonville Episcopal (8-2) at No. 3 Jacksonville Bolles (6-4)
Class 2-Metro, Region 2
No. 8 Tampa King (3-7) at No. 1 Tampa Catholic (8-1)
No. 5 Clearwater (4-6) at No. 4 St. Petersburg Lakewood (6-4)
No. 7 Tampa Blake (7-3) at No. 2 Clearwater Calvary Christian (8-2)
No. 6 Tampa Robinson (6-4) at No. 3 Tampa Berkeley Prep (7-3)
Class 2-Metro, Region 3
No. 5 West Palm Beach The King’s Academy (8-2) at No. 4 Boynton Beach (8-2)
No. 6 Boca Raton St. Andrew’s (7-3) at No. 3 Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (7-2)
Class 2-Metro, Region 4
No. 5 Miami Gulliver Prep (5-3) at No 4 Miami Northwestern (5-4)
No. 7 Miami Carol City (5-5) at No. 2 Miami Booker T. Washington (8-2)
No. 6 Miami Jackson (7-3) at No. 3 Miami Norland (7-2)
Class 1-Metro, Region 1
No. 3 Orlando The First Academy (8-2) at No. 2 Jacksonville University Christian (9-1)
Class 1-Metro, Region 2
No. 3 Tampa Carrollwood Day (5-3) at No. 2 St. Petersburg Northside Christian (8-1)
Class 1-Metro, Region 4
No. 4 Miami Palmer Trinity (5-5) vs No. 1 Miami Archbishop Carroll (8-2)
No. 2 Miami Westminster Christian (6-2) at No. 3 Miami True North (7-3)
SUBURBAN PLAYOFFS
Class 4-Suburban, Region 1
No. 4 St. John’s Creekside (8-2) at No. 5 Navarre (8-2)
Class 4-Suburban, Region 2
No. 5 New Port Richey Mitchell (7-3) at No. 4 Spring Hill Springstead (9-1)
No. 7 Bartow (5-5) at No. 2 Lake Minneola (8-1)
No. 6 Winter Haven (7-3) at No. 3 Land O’ Lakes (9-1)
Class 4-Suburban, Region 3
No. 8 Harmony (6-4) at No. 1 Vero Beach (9-1)
No. 5 Port St. Lucie Centennial (6-4) at No. 4 Melbourne (8-2)
No. 7 DeLand (6-4) at No. 2 Kissimmee Osceola (7-3)
No. 6 Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (3-6) at No. 3 Stuart Martin County (8-2)
Class 4-Suburban, Region 4
No. 8 Fort Myers Riverdale (4-3) at No. 1 Venice (5-3)
No. 5 Lehigh (4-3) at No. 4 Palmetto (6-3)
No. 7 Sarasota Riverview (3-6) at No. 2 Naples Gulf Coast (8-2)
No. 6 Sarasota (4-4) at No. 3 Bradenton Manatee (6-3)
Class 3-Suburban, Region 1
No. 5 Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (5-5) at No. 4 St. Augustine (7-3)
No. 7 Middleburg (5-5) at No. 2 Pensacola Escambia (7-3)
No. 6 Tallahassee Lincoln (5-5) at No. 3 Lake City Columbia (6-3)
Class 3-Suburban, Region 2
No. 5 New Port Richey River Ridge (6-4) at No. 4 Ocala Vanguard (7-3)
No. 7 Lecanto (7-3) at No. 2 Dade City Pasco (9-1)
No. 6 New Port Richey Gulf (7-3) at No. 3 Zephyrhills (7-3)
Class 3-Suburban, Region 3
No. 5 Melbourne Eau Gallie (7-2) at No. 4 Daytona Beach Mainland (7-3)
No. 7 Port St. Lucie (5-4) at No. 2 Jensen Beach (8-2)
No. 6 Merritt Island (6-4) at No. 3 Sebring (7-2)
Class 3-Suburban, Region 4
No. 8 Bradenton Braden River (5-4) at No. 1 Naples (7-2)
No. 5 Fort Myers (6-3) at No. 4 Port Charlotte (6-2)
No. 7 Naples Lely (6-4) at No. 2 Fort Myers Dunbar (6-1)
No. 6 Naples Barron Collier (6-3) at No. 3 North Fort Myers (6-1)
Class 2-Suburban, Region 1
No. 8 Santa Rosa Beach South Walton (6-4) at No. 1 Tallahassee FSU High (10-0)
No. 5 Crawfordville Wakulla (7-3) at No. 4 Pensacola Catholic (9-1)
No. 7 DeFuniak Springs Walton (7-3) at No. 2 Live Oak Suwannee (8-2)
No. 6 Panama City Bay (8-2) at No. 3 Pensacola West Florida (7-2)
Class 2-Suburban, Region 2
No. 8 Crescent City (4-6) at No. 1 Starke Bradford County (8-1)
No. 4 Citra North Marion (7-3) at No. 5 Gainesville Eastside (7-2)
No. 7 Palatka (7-3) at No. 2 Baldwin (8-2)
No. 6 Yulee (6-4) at No. 3 Glen St. Mary Baker County (6-3)
Class 2-Suburban, Region 3
No. 8 Eustis (5-5) vs No. 1 Bushnell South Sumter (10-0)
No. 4 Hudson (8-2) at No. 5 Brooksville Nature Coast (7-3)
No. 6 Titusville (7-3) vs No. 3 Melbourne Palm Bay (7-3)
Class 2-Suburban, Region 4
No. 8 Mulberry (6-4) at No. 1 Fort Myers Bishop Verot (7-2)
No. 4 Fort Meade (7-3) at No. 5 Clewiston (4-4)
No. 7 Sarasota Booker (6-4) at No. 2 Frostproof (8-2)
No. 3 Estero (8-1) at No. 6 Arcadia DeSoto County (6-3)
Class 1-Suburban, Region 1
No. 4 Tallahassee Maclay (4-6) at No. 1 Tallahassee North Florida Christian (10-0)
No. 3 Quincy Munroe (4-6) at No. 2 Tallahassee St. John Paul II (7-2)
Class 1-Suburban, Region 2
No. Daytona Beach Father Lopez (6-4) at No. 1 Ocala Trinity Catholic (6-2)
No. 3 Gainesville P.K. Yonge (3-7) at No. 2 Melbourne Holy Trinity Episcopal (6-4)
Class 1-Suburban, Region 3
No. 4 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (4-6) at No. 1 Fort Pierce John Carroll (8-1)
No. 3 Lakeland Victory Christian (6-4) at No. 2 Lakeland Christian (7-1)
Class 1-Suburban, Region 4
No. 4 Community School of Naples (4-3) at No. 1 Naples First Baptist (6-2)
No. 3 Moore Haven (7-3) at No. 2 Fort Myers Evangelical Christian (8-0)
RURAL PLAYOFF MATCHUPS IN EVERY REGION
Class 1-Rural, Region 1
No. 1 Century Northview (10-0 – BYE)
No. 2 Chipley (10-0 – BYE)
No. 5 Bonifay Holmes County (6-4) vs No. 4 Freeport (5-5)
No. 6 Panama City Bozeman at (5-5) No. 3 Baker (7-3)
Class 1-Rural, Region 2
No. 1 Sneads (10-0 – BYE)
No. 2 Port St. Joe (8-2 – BYE)
No. 5 Cottondale (6-3) at No. 4 Monticello Aucilla Christian (7-2)
No. 6 Wewahitchka at (6-4) No. 3 Blountstown (6-4)
Class 1-Rural, Region 3
No. 1 Lake Butler Union County (6-2 – BYE)
No. 2 Hilliard (8-2 – BYE)
No. 4 Fort White (6-4) at No. 5 Madison County (3-6)
No. 6 Branford (7-3) at No. 3 Mayo Lafayette (8-2)
Class 1-Rural, Region 4
No. 1 Hawthorne (8-0 – BYE)
No. 2 Pahokee (8-2 – BYE)
No. 5 Wildwood (7-2) at No. 4 Williston (10-0)
No. 6 Newberry (6-3) at No. 3 Chiefland(6-2)
WEEK 1 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/08/top-25-the-season-gets-started/
WEEK 2 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/08/top-25-miami-central-to-the-top/
WEEK 3 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/09/top-25-chaminade-madonna-solidifies-ranking/
WEEK 4 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/09/the-landscape-begins-to-change/
WEEK 5 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/09/heading-toward-the-halfway-point/
WEEK 6 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/09/hurricane-ian-takes-center-stage-this-week/
WEEK 7 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/week-7-starts-with-many-schools-in-limbo/
WEEK 8 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/week-8-coming-down-the-homestretch/
WEEK 9 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/week-9-things-are-getting-interesting/
WEEK 10 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/week-10-the-final-two-weeks/
WEEK 11 STATE RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/11/week-11-the-final-week-is-here/
CLASS OF 2023 PLAYER RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/florida/rankings/2023-rankings/
CLASS OF 2024 PLAYER RANKINGS. https://prepredzone.com/2022/08/updated-2024-florida-rankings/
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.