Week 9: Playoff Spots Up For Grabs
This fast-moving season now has three more weeks before the state playoffs get under way.
While there are many of the same teams still in the mix for the playoffs and state titles, there are several new players in the Race For Tallahassee.
Each week during the season, we bring you some of the top teams along with others who are trying to extend their season.
As we head toward week 9, here is a look ay the way the Top 25 plus stack up:
1. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 6-0). LAST WEEK: The Ascenders overmatched Pensacola Pine Forest, 55-14. THIS WEEK: A home game against Gray Collegiate Academy, South Carolina. NEXT WEEK: Another home game against Life Christian Academy, Virginia.
2. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1M, 7-0). LAST WEEK: The Lions had the week off. THIS WEEK: A home district game against Hollywood Avant Garde Academy. NEXT WEEK: The Lions are scheduled to be in Boca Raton for a game with Saint John Paul II Academy.
3. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3M, 7-1). LAST WEEK: The Raiders rolled to a district win against Fort Lauderdale, 42-0 for their third shutout this season. THIS WEEK: An away contest at 7-1 Monarch at Coconut Creek. NEXT WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with a home district game against Fort Lauderdale Dillard.
4. Miami Norland (2M, 7-0). LAST WEEK: The Vikings won a thrilling district title game against No. 7 Miami Central, coming from behind and won 29-26 in overtime. THIS WEEK: A huge GMAC Week contest against No. 10 Miami Christopher Columbus. NEXT WEEK: An away district contest against North Miami Beach.
5. Cocoa (2S, 6-1). LAST WEEK: Rolled to a 28-3 win against previously unbeaten Titusville. THIS WEEK: A home game against Titusville Astronaut. NEXT WEEK: A home district contest against Palm Bay.
6. Orlando Edgewater (3M, 8-0). LAST WEEK: In remaining unbeaten, the Eagles dominated Ocoee, 46-0. THIS WEEK: A road district contest at Winter Garden Horizon. NEXT WEEK: The team will be off.
7. Miami Central (2M, 3-3). LAST WEEK: The Rockets lost a tough district title game to No. 4 Miami Norland in overtime, 29-26. THIS WEEK: A GMAC Week road game on Thursday against Miami Southridge. NEXT WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with an away district game against Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace.
8. Daytona Beach Mainland (3S, 7-0). LAST WEEK: The Buccaneers rolled to a 65-0 win against Deltona. THIS WEEK: Another home game against Kissimmee Osceola on Thursday. NEXT WEEK: The annual showdown on the road against Daytona Beach Seabreeze.
9. Homestead (3M, 6-1). LAST WEEK: Captured the district title against Miami Southridge, 45-14. THIS WEEK: A GMAC home game against Miami Edison. NEXT WEEK: The regular season comes to an end on the road against Miami Belen Jesuit.
10. Miami Christopher Columbus (4M, 7-1). LAST WEEK: The Explorers rebounded from the loss to Homestead with a convincing 44-8 win against Doral Academy. THIS WEEK: A GMAC Week game against No. 4 Miami Norland. NEXT WEEK: The regular season comes to an end at6 home against Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman.
11. Tampa Bay Tech (3M, 8-0). LAST WEEK: A big home game against Tampa Jesuit. THIS WEEK: An away contest at Tampa Wharton. NEXT WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with a home district game against No. 19 Seffner Armwood.
12. Plantation American Heritage (2M, 5-1). LAST WEEK: Wrapped up yet another district title with a 63-16 win against Fort Lauderdale Stranahan. THIS WEEK: A home non district game against Naples. NEXT WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with a road district game against Hallandale.
13. Miami Palmetto (4M, 6-1). LAST WEEK: A district clinching 42-34 win against Homestead South Dade. THIS WEEK: A GMAC Week Thursday home game against Miami Dr. Krop. NEXT WEEK: Will have the week off.
14. Gainesville Buchholz (4S, 7-0). LAST WEEK: The Bobcats continued to roll along with a 38-3 district win against Oakleaf. THIS WEEK: A Thursday home district matchup against St. John’s Bartram Trail. NEXT WEEK: An away district contest against Fleming Island.
15. Lakeland (4S, 6-2). LAST WEEK: The Dreadnaughts all but wrapped up another district title with a 59-0 win against Lakeland George Jenkins. THIS WEEK: They will be at home against Clearwater Academy International. NEXT WEEK: The regular season comes to an end with a home district game with longtime rival Lakeland Kathleen.
16. Clearwater Central Catholic (1M, 8-0). LAST WEEK: The Marauders were awarded a forfeit win against Tampa Cambridge. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: A home game against Seffner Christian.
17. Lake Mary (4M, 7-0). LAST WEEK: The Rams won a district home game against Orlando Evans, 36-6. THIS WEEK: An important away district contest against Apopka. NEXT WEEK: Another huge district road game against No. 20 Sanford Seminole.
18. Vero Beach (4S, 6-1). LAST WEEK: The Indians won a home district game against Port St. Lucie Centennial, 44-0. THIS WEEK: Will be at home for a district game against Stuart Martin County. NEXT WEEK: The annual showdown on the road against Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast on Saturday night.
19. Seffner Armwood (3M, 6-1). LAST WEEK: The Hawks won a district road game against Tampa Freedom, 60-0. THIS WEEK: Will be on the road against Plant City. NEXT WEEK: A huge district road game against No. 11 Tampa Bay Tech.
20. Sanford Seminole (4M, 6-2). LAST WEEK: The Seminoles won an exciting 49-42 decision to DeLand. THIS WEEK: An away game at Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley. NEXT WEEK: A big home district showdown with No. 17 Lake Mary.
21. Lake Wales (3S, 7-0). LAST WEEK: The defending 3S state champion Highlanders came up with their fourth shutout of the year – against Kissimmee Gateway, 42-0. THIS WEEK: A home district game with Kissimmee Liberty. NEXT WEEK: A home district game against Auburndale.
22. Fort Myers Bishop Verot (2S, 7-1). LAST WEEK: The Vikings bounced back with a 57-0 win against Fort Myers Gateway. THIS WEEK: A home game against Sarasota Cardinal Mooney. NEXT WEEK: A home district game against Estero.
23. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (1M, 5-1). LAST WEEK: The Crusaders were to have played Boca Raton Saint John Paul II. THIS WEEK: A huge district game at home against North Palm Beach Benjamin. NEXT WEEK: Another major hurdle on the road against unbeaten Palm Beach Central in Wellington.
24. Orange City University (4A, 7-0). LAST WEEK: The Titans remained unbeaten with a 22-12 district win against Port Orange Spruce Creek. THIS WEEK: Another big home game against DeLand. NEXT WEEK: A home contest against Longwood Lyman.
25. Venice (4S, 5-2). LAST WEEK: The Indians continued to be a force with a district win against Sarasota, 44-14. THIS WEEK: A home game against Palmetto. NEXT WEEK: Another home game against IMG Academy White.
OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH
While the competition has been competitive during the first seven weeks, expect more teams to emerge.
Apopka (4M, 5-2)
Apopka Wekiva (3M, 4-4)
Bartow (3S, 6-2)
Blountstown (1R, 4-2)
Bradenton Manatee (4S, 6-1)
Bushnell South Sumter (2S, 7-1)
Cape Coral Mariner (3S, 7-0)
Clearwater Academy International (Independent, 3-4)
Clearwater Calvary Christian (2M, 5-2)
Coconut Creek (3M, 6-2)
Coconut Creek Monarch (4M, 6-1)
Crawfordville Wakulla (2S, 8-0)
Davie Western (4M, 4-3)
DeFuniak Springs Walton (2S, 7-0)
DeLand (4S, 5-2)
Delray Beach Atlantic (3M, 6-1)
Dunnellon (2S, 5-2)
Eau Gallie (3S, 6-1)
Englewood Lemon Bay (2S, 7-0)
Estero (2S, 6-1)
Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy (2M, 6-2)
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2M, 5-2)
Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3M, 3-3)
Fort Lauderdale NSU University School (Independent, 7-0)
Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy (Independent, 6-1)
Fort Meade (2S, 6-0)
Fort Myers (3M, 5-2)
Fort Myers Dunbar (3S, 5-2
Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (3S, 5-2)
Gainesville Oak Hall (Independent, 7-0)
Hawthorne (1R, 7-0)
Hollywood South Broward (3M, 5-1)
Hudson (2S, 7-0)
Hudson Fivay (3S, 5-2)
Jacksonville Bolles (2M, 4-4)
Jacksonville Mandarin (4M, 6-2)
Jacksonville Raines (2M, 6-1)
Jacksonville Riverside (2M, 6-2)
Jacksonville Trinity Christian (1M, 5-3)
Jacksonville University Christian (1M, 4-3)
Jensen Beach (3S, 5-1)
Kissimmee Osceola (4S, 2-5)
Lake Minneola (4S, 5-3)
Lakeland Christian (1S, 5-2)
Lakeland Victory Christian (1S, 5-3).
Lantana Santaluces (4M, 5-2)
Largo Indian Rocks Christian (1M, 5-2)
Leesburg (3S, 7-1)
Live Oak Suwannee (2S, 6-1)
Madison County (1R, 4-1)
Merritt Island (3S, 5-2)
Miami Booker T. Washington (2M, 4-2)
Miami Dr. Krop (3M, 4-3)
Miami Edison (2M, 4-2)
Miami Northwestern (2M, 2-6)
Miami Ransom Everglades (Independent, 7-0)
Miami Southridge (3M, 6-2)
Miami True North Classical Academy (1M, 6-1)
Miramar (3M, 4-2)
Naples (3S, 7-1)
Naples Golden Gate (3S, 5-2)
Naples Gulf Coast (4S, 5-2)
Naples First Baptist (1S, 5-2)
New Port Richey Gulf (3S, 4-4)
New Port Richey Mitchell (4S, 4-3)
New Smyrna Beach (3S, 6-1)
Niceville (3S, 6-1)
Ocala Vanguard (3S, 6-1)
Ocoee (4M, 3-5)
Orlando Jones (3M, 4-3)
Orlando Olympia (4M, 4-3)
Pace (4S, 6-1)
Palm Bay Heritage (4S, 7-1)
Palm Beach Gardens (4M, 4-3)
Palm Beach Gardens Benjamin (1M, 6-1)
Palm Harbor University (4M, 5-2)
Parrish Community (3S, 6-1)
Pensacola Catholic (2S, 5-2)
Pensacola Escambia (3S, 5-2)
Pensacola Pine Forest (3S, 4-4)
Plantation (3M, 5-3)
Plant City (4M, 4-3)
Plant City Durant (4M, 7-1)
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3M, 6-1)
Ponte Vedra (4S, 6-1)
Port Charlotte (3S, 6-2)
Port Orange Spruce Creek (4S, 5-3)
Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast (4S, 5-2)
Riverview Sumner (4M, 7-1)
Rockledge (3S, 4-3)
Sarasota Riverview (4S, 3-4)
Sebring (3S, 3-2)
Sneads (1R, 3-4)
South Fort Myers (3S, 4-3)
Spring Hill Springstead (4S, 5-2)
Starke Bradford County (2S, 7-0)
St. Augustine (3S, 6-0)
St. John’s Bartram Trail (4S, 3-4)
St. John’s Creekside (4S, 3-4)
Stuart Martin County (4S, 4-2)
Tallahassee FSU High (2S, 5-2)
Tallahassee Leon (4S, 5-2)
Tallahassee Lincoln (3S, 6-1)
Tampa Berkeley Prep (1M, 5-2)
Tampa Carrollwood Day (1M, 5-1)
Tampa Catholic (2M, 3-3)
Tampa Jesuit (3M, 5-2)
Tampa Plant (4M, 6-2)
Titusville (2S, 7-1)
Wesley Chapel Cypress Creek (3S, 7-0)
Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch (4S, 6-1)
West Boca Raton (3M, 5-2)
Williston (1R, 7-0)
Winter Garden West Orange (4M, 3-4)
Winter Park (4M, 6-0)
Zephyrhills (3S, 6-2)
PROSPECT SHEET: Statewide Coverage Daily. https://prepredzone.com/2023/03/statewide-daily-team-coverage/
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.