Week 5 – Top Tier Teams Still Winning
In this article:
As we head toward the fifth week of the 2024 Florida high school football season, we continue to see how some new programs are starting to come up with big wins and finding themselves among the top teams in the state.
Our in-season team rankings – like our player rankings – are accomplished by being at everything LIVE and not just going off the word of many who never see the teams perform in person.
During the season, we adjust team rankings as games are played – being fair to every program in Florida.
While no team ranking is ever going to please everyone, those who know the game understand the process that if a certain school does not appear at the beginning – it is the final ranking that counts.
While we respect everyone's opinion, it's tough to argue with people who see every player and team live.
Here are 30 teams to watch after week 4:
1, Lakeland (3-0, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Dreadnaughts won their third straight road game – 44-0 against Winter Haven. THIS WEEK: 9/20 – The home opener against Miami Booker T. Washington. NEXT GAME: 9/27 – Lakeland Lake Gibson.
2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Raiders went on the road and had a tough time with 7A Davie Western, 23-15. THIS WEEK: 9/20 – Hollywood McArthur. NEXT GAME: 9/27: @Orlando Bishop Moore.
3. Venice (4-0, 7A). LAST WEEK: The high scoring Indians had a challenge on the road with previously unbeaten Port Charlotte – winning 49-41. THIS WEEK: 9/20 – No. 8 Cocoa. NEXT GAME: 9/27 @Lehigh.
4. Seffner Armwood (4-0, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Hawks remained unbeaten with a 35-0 win against Plant City Durant. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @Tampa Hillsborough. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Tampa Plant.
5. Bradenton IMG Academy (3-1, Independent). LAST WEEK: The Ascenders won for the third straight time, 57-0, against Mount Zion Prep Academy. THIS WEEK: They will have the week off. NEXT GAME: 9/20 – No. 21 Jacksonville Mandarin.
6. Orlando Jones (3-0, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Tigers came away with a key 31-21 game against Orlando Edgewater. THIS WEEK: 9/19 - @Kissimmee Osceola. NEXT GAME: 9/24 – Winter Park & 9/27 - @Auburndale.
7. Miami Central (3-1, 3A). LAST WEEK: The Rockets blasted off against Pompano Beach in a district game, 63-0. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - A key home game against No. 12 Plantation American Heritage. NEXT GAME: 10/4 – A major 3A matchup with rival Miami Northwestern.
8. Cocoa (3-1, 2A). LAST WEEK: The Tigers beat Palm Bay Heritage, 39-13. THIS WEEK: 9/20 – A huge contest @No. 3 Venice. NEXT GAME: 10/4 – No. 9 Miami Norland.
9. Miami Norland (3-0, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Vikings won a thriller against Miami Northwestern, 21-17. THIS WEEK: 9/12 - @No. 11 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy.
10. Lake Mary (2-1, 7A). LAST WEEK: The Rams were off after three games. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @Orlando Dr. Phillips. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Oviedo Hagerty.
11. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (2-2, 1A). LAST WEEK: The Lions won for the second straight time, 56-19, over Miami Edison. THIS WEEK: 9/19 – No. 9 Miami Norland. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Davie Western.
12. Plantation American Heritage (2-2, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Patriots rebounded with a 23-3 win at previously unbeaten Naples. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @No. 7 Miami Central. NEXT GAME: 9/27 – Plantation.
13. Clearwater Central Catholic (4-0, 1A). LAST WEEK: The Marauders remained hot with a 42-14 win against Clearwater continued to roll along with a 48-7 win. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @Ocala Trinity Catholic. NEXT GAME: 9/27 @Largo Indian Rocks Christian.
14. St. Augustine (3-0, 4A). LAST WEEK: Got back on track with a convincing 47-35 win against Jacksonville Riverside. THIS WEEK: 9/20 – Ponte Vedra Nease. NEXT WEEK: 9/27 - @Lake City Columbia.
15. Lake Wales (4-0, 4A). LAST WEEK: The Highlanders went on the road and beat Sebring in a close 14-13 decision. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @ No. 27 Sanford Seminole. NEXT GAME: 9/27 – Eagle Lake – Lake Region.
16. Jacksonville Raines (4-0, 3A). LAST WEEK: The Vikings stayed unbeaten with a 35-14 win against Daytona Beach Mainland. THIS WEEK: They will take the week off. NEXT GAME: 9/27 – Jacksonville Riverside.
17. Delray Beach Atlantic (4-0, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Eagles continued to impress with a 42-13 win against previously unbeaten No. 29 Pompano Beach Blanche Ely. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @ No. 18 Orlando The First Academy. NEXT GAME: 10/4 – Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast.
18. Orlando The First Academy (4-0, 1A). LAST WEEK: The Royals remained hot with a win against Melbourne Central Catholic, 42-6. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - No. 17 Delray Beach Atlantic. NEXT GAME: 9/27 – Orlando Christian Prep.
19. Niceville (3-0, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Eagles had no problem with Crestview, 35-14. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee. NEXT GAME: 9/27 – Gulf Breeze.
20. Starke Bradford County (4-0, 2A). LAST WEEK: The state finally woke up to one of the biggest secrets as the Tornadoes beat No. 21 Jacksonville Mandarin, 18-13. THIS WEEK: After a huge win, they will take the week off. NEXT GAME: 9/27 – Keystone Heights.
21. Jacksonville Mandarin (3-1, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Mustangs, who have been losing key players to injury, dropped an 18-13 decision to No. 20 Starke Bradford County. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @No. 5 Bradenton IMG Academy. NEXT GAME: 9/27 – Jacksonville First Coast.
22. Bradenton Manatee (3-1, 5A). LAST WEEK: After losing to Lowndes County, Georgia the week before, the Hurricanes knocked off previously unbeaten No. 23 Gainesville Buchholz, 34-27. THIS WEEK: 9/20 – Bradenton IMG White. NEXT GAME: 9/27 – Pinellas Park.
23. Gainesville Buchholz (3-1, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Bobcats were upended at home by No. 22 Bradenton Manatee, 34-27. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @Richmond Hill, Georgia. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Ponte Vedra Nease.
24. Fort Myers Bishop Verot (3-1, 2A). LAST WEEK: The Vikings rebounded with a 43-13 win against Clearwater Calvary Christian. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @ No. 28 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Naples First Baptist.
25. Eau Gallie (4-0, 3A). LAST WEEK: The Commodores remained unbeaten with a 33-3 win against Satellite. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @Orange City University. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Titusville.
26. West Boca Raton (3-0, 6A). LAST WEEK: The Bulls stayed hot with a 42-8 win against Loxahatchee Seminole Ridge. THIS WEEK: 9/20 – A home game against Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer.
27. Sanford Seminole (3-0, 7A), LAST WEEK: The Seminoles came from behind to knock off previously unbeaten Coconut Creek Monarch, 30-26. THIS WEEK: A home game against unbeaten No. 15 Lake Wales. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley.
28. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (4-0, 2A). LAST WEEK: The defending 1S state champion Cougars won for the 10th straight time, 72-0, over Tampa Leto. THIS WEEK: A home game against No. 24 Fort Myers Bishop Verot. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @St. Petersburg Laklewood.
29. Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-1, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Tigers were brought back down to earth with a 42-13 setback against No. 17 Delray Beach Atlantic. THIS WEEK: 9/20 - @Sunrise Piper. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @Deerfield Beach.
30. Fort Myers (4-0, 5A). LAST WEEK: The Green Wave took care of South Fort Myers, 33-7, to enter the Top 30 for the first time. THIS WEEK: 9/20 – Punta Gorda Charlotte. NEXT GAME: 9/27 - @North Fort Myers.
MORE TO WATCH: Belle Glade Glades Central (4-0, 2A), South Sumter (1-3, 3A), Clearwater Calvary Christian (1-2, 2A), Coconut Creek Monarch (1-1, 6A), Cantonment Tate (4-0, 6A), Crawfordville Wakulla Crawfordville Wakulla FL (2-1, 3A), Crestview (2-2, 6A), Davie Western (0-3, 7A), DeLand (3-1, 7A), Dover Strawberry Crest (4-0, 7A), Dunnellon (3-1, 3A), Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian (4-0, 2A), Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (1-2, 2A), Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (3-1, 4A), Glen St. Mary Baker County (2-1, 3A), Hawthorne (3-1, R), Homestead (2-2, 6A), Homestead South Dade (2-2, 7A), Jacksonville Bolles (2-1, 2A), Jacksonville Trinity Christian (2-2, 1A), Jensen Beach (4-0, 4A), Kissimmee Osceola (3-1, 6A), Madison County (3-1, R), Miami Booker T. Washington (2-1, 2A), Miami Christopher Columbus (2-2, 7A), Miami Northwestern (2-2, 3A), Miami Palmetto (1-2), 7A), Miami Southridge (3-1, 6A), Middleburg (4-0, 5A), Naples (3-1, 4A), Naples First Baptist (4-0, 1A), Neptune Beach Fletcher (2-1, 6A), Newberry (2-2, 2A), North Palm Beach Benjamin (0-3, 1A), Ocala Vanguard (3-1, 4A), Orange City University (4-0), Orlando Bishop Moore (4-0, 3A), Orlando Dr. Phillips (3-0, 7A), Orlando Edgewater (2-2, 5A), Pace (2-1, 6A), Palm Bay Heritage (1-3, 5A), Palm Beach Central 3-1, 7A), Pembroke Pines West Broward Pembroke Pines West Broward FL (2-2, 6A), Pensacola Catholic (2-1, 2S), Pensacola Escambia (2-1, 4A), Ponte Vedra Nease (3-0, 6A), Port Charlotte (3-1, 4A), Port Orange Spruce Creek (2-1, 7A), Sarasota Booker (3-1, 3A), St. John's Bartram Trail (1-3, 6A), Tallahassee Florida High (2-2, 2A), Tallahassee Lincoln (3-0, 5A), Tampa Bay Tech (1-2, 5A), Tampa Berkeley Prep (2-2, 2A), Tampa Carrollwood Day (1-3, 1A), Tampa Gaither (5A, 3-1), Tampa Jesuit (2-2, 4A), Tampa Plant (2-2, 6A), Tarpon Springs (4-0, 2A), Trinity Mitchell (4-0, 6A), Vero Beach (1-3, 7A), Wellington Palm Beach Central (3-1, 7A), Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch (4-0, 6A), West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (4-0, 1A), Williston (2-1, R), Winter Park (2-0, 7A).
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