Week 3 – Tough Schedules Keep Teams Relevant
In this article:
As we have watched so far in the first two weeks of the 2025 high school football season here in Florida, things will be ever-changing when it comes to ranking teams.
Challenging schedules will ensure that teams will move up and down – and as impressive matchups loom nearly every week – nothing will be for sure.
As you will see, teams move up and down, and while you want to give the past champions their respect, if they lose, they will move down – with a chance to finish on top by the end of the season.
We have always rewarded programs for winning, and while many have a problem with moving “lesser” teams ahead in the rankings, everything will play out by the end of the season. They always do and this year will be no exception, but you cannot penalize a team for winning!
Here is a look at this week's top programs:
1 Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 2-0). The Ascenders remained on top with a convincing 35-14 win against Atco Winslow Township, New Jersey. THIS WEEK: Bye. NEXT WEEK: Bye.
2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 1-1). The Raiders jumped into the win column with a convincing 72-6 win against Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @ No. 16 Miami Christopher Columbus. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 – Davie Western,
3. Orlando Jones (4A, 2-0). The Tigers pitched their second consecutive shutout of the season, 36-0, against Orlando Timber Creek. THIS WEEK: 9/6 – Orlando Evans. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @ No. 14 Orlando Edgewater.
4. Plantation American Heritage (4A, 1-0). The defending 4A state champion Patriots were off during Week 2. THIS WEEK: 9/5 – No. 7 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @New Orleans Edna Karr, Louisiana.
5. Miami Northwestern (3A, 0-1). The Bulls' game with Venice was postponed due to lightning and bad weather. THIS WEEK: 9/4 – Miami Carol City. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 – No. 24 Miami Norland.
6. Miami Central (3A, 1-0). The Rockets finally played a game – beating Miami Edison, 50-12. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @Miami Booker T. Washington. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 – Pompano Beach.
7. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1A, 1-1). The Lions registered their first win of the season – on the road against Hollywood McArthur, 28-14. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 4 Plantation American Heritage. NEXT WEEK: @Miami Edison.
8. West Boca Raton (6A, 1-0). The defending 6A state champions opened the season in dominating fashion, 50-7, against Wellington Palm Beach Central. THIS WEEK: 9/5 – Bergen Catholic, New Jersey. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @Loxahatchee Seminole Ridge.
9. Seffner Armwood (6A, 2-0). The Hawks rolled to a 31-14 win against Riverview Sumner. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 13 Tampa Bay Tech. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @Plant City Durant.
10. Jacksonville Raines (3A, 1-0). The defending 3A state runner up Vikings opened the season with a convincing 77-0, win against Jacksonville Sandalwood. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @Jacksonville Trinity Christian Academy. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @No. 19 Lake Mary.
11. Miami Southridge (6A, 1-0). After several lightning delays against Miami Christopher Columbus to open the season, the Spartans had no problem with Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman, 63-22. THIS WEEK: 9/4 - @Miami Palmetto. NEXT WEEK: 9/13 - @Hialeah.
12. Jacksonville Bolles (2A, 2-0). The Bulldogs rolled to a 35-12 win against rival Jacksonville Trinity Christian. THIS WEEK: 9/5 – No. 20 St. Augustine St. Augustine FL . NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @Jacksonville Bishop Kenny.
13. Tampa Bay Tech (5A, 2-0). The Titans stayed unbeaten with a 50-14 win against Tampa Wharton. THIS WEEK: 9/12 - @Jacksonville Bishop Kenny. NEXT WEEK: No. 9 Seffner Armwood.
14. Orlando Edgewater (5A, 2-0). The Eagles stayed unbeaten after the first two weeks with a 42-7 win against the NFL Academy. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @Orlando Freedom. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 – No. 3 Orlando Jones.
15. Lakeland (5A, 1-1). The Dreadnaughts lost a tough road game in California against power Concord De La Salle, 10-6. THIS WEEK: 9/5 – No. 19 Lake Mary. NEXT WEEK: Bye.
16. Miami Christopher Columbus (7A, 0-1). After having their game with Miami Southridge stopped several times because of the weather, the Explorers traveled to Maryland to play Olney Our Lady of Good Counsel, losing a tough 14-7 decision. THIS WEEK: 9/5 – No. 2 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 – Miami Palmetto.
17. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (2A, 1-1). The Cougars dropped a tough 24-21 decision to Colorado powerhouse Cherry Creek. THIS WEEK: 9/5 – Rockledge. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @Tampa Berkeley Prep.
18. Venice (7A, 0-1). The defending state champions had their game in Miami against Northwestern cancelled because of lightning and bad weather. THIS WEEK: 9/25 – Fort Myers Bishop Verot. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 – A competitive contest against emerging power Port Charlotte.
19. Lake Mary (7A, 2-0). The defending 7A runner up Rams remained unbeaten in the first two weeks with an impressive 17-12 win on the road at Kissimmee Osceola. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 15 Lakeland. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 – No. 12 Jacksonville Raines.
20. Saint Augustine (4A, 2-0). The Yellow Jackets remained unbeaten with a convincing 48-6 win against rival Saint Augustine Menendez. NEXT WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 12 Jacksonville Bolles. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @Jacksonville Riverside.
21. Clearwater Central Catholic (1A, 2-0). The Marauders had a convincing 35-0 road win against Sebring. THIS WEEK: 9/5 – Tampa Catholic. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @Clearwater/
22. Tallahassee Lincoln (5A, 2-0). The Trojans are indeed one of the teams that fans will need to keep an eye on after beating defending Rural state champion Madison County, 23-12. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @Ponte Vedra Nease. NEXT WEEK: Bye.
23. Vero Beach (7A, 2-0). The Indians won a huge road game against Gainesville Buchholz to remain unbeaten after two weeks, 28-24. THIS WEEK: 9/5 – No. 27 Cocoa. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 – Port St. Lucie Centennial.
24. Miami Norland (4A, 1-1). The Vikings rebounded from an opening night loss with a dominating 42-13 win against Miami Carol City. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @Homestead South Dade. NEXT GAME: 9/12 - @ No. 5 Miami Northwestern.
25. Orlando The First Academy (Independent, 0-2). The Royals dropped their second national schedule game against Alabama power Phenix City Central, 38-35. THIS WEEK: 9/4 – @Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @Eau Gallie.
26. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (1A, 1-1). The Crusaders were beaten by Pennsylvania power Philadelphia Roman Catholic, 49-35. THIS WEEK: 9/5 – North Palm Beach Benjamin. NEXT WEEK: @Pahokee.
27. Cocoa (2A, 1-1). After a tough opening night overtime win, the three-time defending state champions dropped a home game against unranked Daytona Beach Mainland, 19-14. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @No. 26 Vero Beach. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @Palm Bay Heritage.
28. Niceville (5A, 1-1). The Eagles bounced back after an opening-night loss with a 27-6 win against Pensacola Escambia. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @Pensacola Pine Forest. NEXT WEEK: Crestview.
29. Sarasota Booker (3A, 1-1). The Tornadoes got in the win column with a tough 29-23 decision to Tampa Berkeley Prep. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @Clearwater Calvary Christian. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - Naples.
30. Tampa Jesuit (4A, 2-0). The Tigers won for the second time this season against North Palm Beach Benjamin, 37-3. THIS WEEK: 9/5 - @Valdosta, Georgia. NEXT WEEK: 9/12 - @Tampa Blake.
KEEP AN EYE ON:
RURAL
Blountstown (1-0)
Chiefland (1-1)
Fort Meade (2-0)
Hawthorne (2-0)
Madison County (0-2)
Pahokee (2-0)
1A
Jacksonville Trinity Christian (0-2)
Miami Edison (1-1)
Miami True North Classical Academy (0-2)
Tampa Carrollwood Day (2-0)
2A
Belle Glade Glades Central (2-0)
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (0-1)
Fort Myers Bishop Verot (1-1)
Havana Gadsden County (0-1)
Newberry (0-2)
Pensacola Catholic (1-1)
Starke Bradford County (1-1)
St. Petersburg Lakewood (2-0)
Tampa Berkeley Prep (0-2)
3A
Crawfordville Wakulla (1-1)
Eau Gallie (1-1)
Merritt Island (1-1)
Naples (1-0-1)
Panama City Bay (2-0)
4A
Clearwater (2-0)
Fort Lauderdale Dillard (2-0)
Fort Pierce John Carroll (0-1)
Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (2-0)
Lake Wales (2-0)
Ocala Vanguard (1-1)
Pensacola Escambia (0-2)
Pensacola Pine Forest (1-1)
Plantation (1-1)
Port Charlotte (2-0)
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (2-0)
5A
Bradenton Manatee (1-1)
Daytona Beach Mainland (2-0)
Delray Beach Atlantic (2-0)
Lynn Haven Mosley (1-1)
Miramar (1-1)
Sebring (1-1)
6A
Coconut Creek Monarch (1-1)
Gainesville Buchholz (1-1)
Jacksonville Mandarin (2-0)
Kissimmee Osceola (1-1)
Largo (0-2)
Orange Park Oakleaf (2-0)
Pace (1-1)
West Broward (0-2)
Ponte Vedra Nease (2-0)
Ruskin Lennard (2-0)
Sunrise Piper (0-2)
Trinity Mitchell (2-0)
7A
DeLand (2-0)
Jupiter (2-0)
Miami Palmetto (0-0)
Orlando Dr. Phillips (1-1)
Orange City University (1-1)
Port Orange Spruce Creek (2-0)
Sanford Seminole (1-1)
Wellington Palm Beach Central (0-2)
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