Week 2: Tough Week For The State Powers
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It was a week when the state of Florida had the chance to make a statement – with national teams flocking to the Sunshine State.
But after the dust had settled and the games were complete, Florida didn't fare well with some elite competition.
Even in defeat, there were some outstanding games and tremendous performances by the school here in the state and those who opened their season in a region that annually produces as much talent as anywhere in the country.
As we head toward Week 2 there is a shakeup in the Top 30, but those powers who battled last weekend are still ready to continue their quest to win district, region and state titles.
As you will see in the coming weeks when many of our elite programs compete against each other that the talent level is still among the best in the country, and a few setbacks will NOT rattle the objective.
You will see each week that the cream will rise to the top, and while, several programs may not be receiving their full praise, you will see that everything will work out – as it has for nearly six decades.
Here is a look at this week's top programs:
1 Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 1-0). The Ascenders opened the season with a convincing nationally-televised 34-13 win against Hoover, Alabama. THIS WEEK: 8/28 - @Atco Winslow Township, New Jersey. NEXT WEEK: Bye.
2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 0-1). Six-time defending state champions dropped a thrilling ESPN contest to the No. 1 team in the country, Santa Ana Mater Dei, California, 26-23. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @ No. 13 Miami Christopher Columbus.
3. Orlando Jones (4A, 1-0). There started the season out with a convincing 35-0 win against Winter Park. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Orlando Timber Creek. NEXT WEEK: 9/6 – Orlando Evans.
4. Plantation American Heritage (4A, 1-0). The defending state champion Patriots came from 28-0 down to beat Philadelphia St. Joseph's Prep, 31-28 on ESPN 2. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – No. 6 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.
5. Miami Northwestern (3A, 0-1). The Bulls dropped their opener at home against California Trinity League power Orange Lutheran, 17-15. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – No. 18 Venice. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 – Miami Carol City.
6. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1A, 0-1). The Lions were soundly beaten in the Broward National Showcase by powerhouse Baltimore St. Frances Academy, 42-13. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Hollywood McArthur. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 4 Plantation American Heritage.
7. Miami Central (3A, 0-0). Because of the cancellation of the opening week of the season at Jacksonville Raines, the Rockets had the week off. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Miami Edison, 3:30 p.m. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Miami Booker T. Washington.
8. West Boca Raton (6A, 0-0). The defending state champions had the first week of the season off. THIS WEEK: 8/28 - Wellington Palm Beach Central. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – Bergen Catholic, New Jersey.
9. Seffner Armwood (6A, 1-0). The Hawks opened the season with a 38-21 win against Tampa Gaither. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Riverview Sumner. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 17 Tampa Bay Tech.
10. Jacksonville Raines (3A, 0-0). After their game with Miami Central was called off, they had the opening week off. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Jacksonville Sandalwood. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Jacksonville Trinity Christian Academy.
11. Cocoa (2A, 1-0). The three-time defending state champions started the season with a thrilling overtime win against Merritt Island, 30-24. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Daytona Beach Mainland. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 26 Vero Beach.
12. Lakeland (5A, 1-0). The defending 5A state runner up Dreadnaughts began the year with a 31-21 win against Auburndale. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Concord De La Salle, California. 9/5 – No. 21 Lake Mary.
13 Miami Christopher Columbus (7A, 0-0). After several tries over three days, their season opener against No. 14 Miami Southridge was called with the Explorers winning 14-7 late in the third quarter. They will finish this game before the season is over – with the points being very valuable when playoff time rolls around.THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Our Lady of Good Counsel, Maryland. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – No. 2 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.
14. Miami Southridge (6A, 0-0). After several tries over three days, their season opener against No. 13 Miami Christipher Columbus was called with the Explorers winning 14-7 late in the third quarter. They will finish this game before the season is over – with the points being very valuable when playoff time rolls around. THIS WEEK: 8/28 - @Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 - @Miami Palmetto.
15. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (2A, 1-0). The Cougars opened the season with a 42-14 win against Miami True North Classical Academy. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - Cherry Creek, Colorado. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – Rockledge.
16. Jacksonville Bolles (2A, 1-0). The Bulldogs started the season with a statement win in the Broward Showcase over Coconut Creek Monarch, 34-15. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Jacksonville Trinity Christian. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – No. 22 St. Augustine St. Augustine FL .
17. Tampa Bay Tech (5A, 1-0). The Titans got everyone's attention on opening night with a 29-7 win against defending 7A state champion Venice. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Tampa Wharton. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – No. 9 Seffner Armwood.
18. Venice (7A, 0-1). The defending state champions were shocked on the road against Tampa Bay Tech, 29-7. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @No. 5 Miami Northwestern. NEXT WEEK: 9/25 – Fort Myers Bishop Verot.
19. Orlando The First Academy (Independent, 0-1). The Royals lost their opener to national power Milton, Georgia, 24-17. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - Phenix City Central, Alabama. NEXT WEEK: 9/4 – @Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast.
20. Orlando Edgewater (5A, 1-0). This is going to be a team to keep an eye on this season and the Eagles showed it on opening night with a 65-8 win against Apopka Wekiva. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Orlando Freedom.
21. Lake Mary (7A, 1-0). The defending 7A runner up Rams came from three scores down to stun Miami Norland, 30-29. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Kissimmee Osceola. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 12 Lakeland.
22. St. Augustine St. Augustine FL (4A, 1-0). The Yellow Jackets started the season with a convincing 41-0 win against Palatka. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – St. Augustine St. Augustine FL Menendez. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 16 Jacksonville Bolles.
23. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (1A, 1-0). The Crusaders started the season with a 41-0 road win against Fort Pierce John Carroll. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Philadelphia Roman Catholic, Pennsylvania. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – North Palm Beach Benjamin.
24. Clearwater Central Catholic (1A, 1-0). The Marauders had a tough opener against Tampa Berkeley Prep, but came out on top, 21-20. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Sebring. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – Tampa Catholic.
25. Tallahassee Lincoln (5A, 1-0). The Trojans were out to show that they are one of the best in the state as they knocked off Panhandle power Niceville, 36-29. THIS WEEK: 8/28 – Madison County. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Ponte Vedra Nease.
26. Vero Beach (7A, 1-0). The Indians had a huge opening-night win at home against Eau Gallie, 41-31. THIS WEEK: 8/29 - @Gainesville Buchholz. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 – No. 11 Cocoa.
27. Miami Norland (4A, 0-1). The Vikings blew a large lead on the road against 7A power Lake Mary and lost, 30-29. THIS WEEK: 8/28 - @Miami Carol City. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Homestead South Dade.
28. Niceville (5A, 0-1). The Eagles suffered a very rare regular season loss in the opener against Tallahassee Lincoln, 36-29. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Pensacola Escambia. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Pensacola Pine Forest.
29. Sarasota Booker (3A, 0-1). The Tornadoes dropped their opening game on the road in Auburn, Alabama, 24-6. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – Tampa Berkeley Prep. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Clearwater Central Catholic.
30. Tampa Jesuit (4A, 1-0). The Tigers opened the season with a 33-14 win against Fort Myers Bishop Verot. THIS WEEK: 8/29 – North Palm Beach Benjamin. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @Valdosta, Georgia.
KEEP AN EYE ON:
RURAL
Blountstown (1-0)
Chiefland (1-0)
Fort Meade (1-0)
Hawthorne (1-0)
Madison County (0-1)
Pahokee (1-0)
1A
Jacksonville Trinity Christian (0-1)
Miami Edison (1-0)
Miami True North Classical Academy (0-1)
Tampa Carrollwood Day (1-0)
2A
Belle Glade Glades Central (1-0)
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (0-1)
Fort Myers Bishop Verot (0-1)
Havana Gadsden County (0-1)
Newberry (0-1)
Pensacola Catholic (1-0)
Starke Bradford County (0-1)
St. Petersburg Lakewood (1-0)
Tampa Berkeley Prep (1-0)
3A
Crawfordville Wakulla (1-0)
Eau Gallie (0-1)
Merritt Island (0-1)
Naples (1-0)
4A
Clearwater (1-0)
Fort Lauderdale Dillard (1-0)
Fort Pierce John Carroll (0-1)
Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (1-0)
Lake Wales (1-0)
Ocala Vanguard (0-1)
Pensacola Escambia (0-0)
Pensacola Pine Forest (1-0)
Plantation (1-0)
Port Charlotte (1-0)
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (1-0)
5A
Bradenton Manatee (0-1)
Daytona Beach Mainland (1-0)
Delray Beach Atlantic (1-0)
Lynn Haven Mosley (1-0)
Sebring (1-0)
6A
Coconut Creek Monarch (0-1)
Gainesville Buchholz (1-0)
Jacksonville Mandarin (1-0)
Kissimmee Osceola (1-0)
Largo (1-0)
Orange Park Oakleaf (1-0)
Pace (0-1)
Pembroke Pines West Broward Pembroke Pines West Broward FL (0-1)
Ponte Vedra Nease (1-0)
Ruskin Lennard (1-0)
Sunrise Piper (0-1)
Trinity Mitchell (1-0)
7A
Jupiter (1-0)
Miami Palmetto (0-0)
Orlando Dr. Phillips (0-1)
Orange City University (1-0)
Port Orange Spruce Creek (1-0)
Sanford Seminole (0-1)
Wellington Palm Beach Central (0-1)
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