Playoff Week 4: Cream Rises To The Top
When football programs – 1A through 7A take the field this Friday night across the state of Florida, the race for a state championship will continue.
From Fort Walton Beach down through the City of Miami, championship football will continue as the Race For Pitbull Stadium in Miami will continue.
Fourteen teams – seven defending state champions will battle for the right to move on to title games next week.
This season has certainly flown by and we have been there every week, attending games and seeing teams play, having a valid idea which programs are among the best, and if you look back at each week, we have been more than fair with our rankings – giving the programs who have played a competitive schedule the respect they deserve.
With all that in mind, here is a look at this week's Prep Redzone Florida's top programs:
1 Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 9-0). SEASON OVER.
2. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 12-1). LAST WEEK: The Raiders moved closer to a chance at seven straight state titles with a 34-7 win against Hollywood McArthur. THIS WEEK: No. 21 Fort Myers Riverdale (12-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 23Ponte Vedra (11-2) or No. 16 Lakeland (11-2) for the state title.
3. Miami Northwestern (3A, 12-0). LAST WEEK: In beating perhaps, the second-best team in 3A in the state, rival Miami Central, the Bulls rolled to a 50-29 win. THIS WEEK: No. 20Orlando Bishop Moore (12-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 8 Sarasota Booker (12-1) or No. 5 Jacksonville Raines (12-0) for the state title.
4. Seffner Armwood (6A, 13-0). LAST WEEK: The Hawks registered yet another shutout in beating Groveland South Lake, 42-0. THIS WEEK: Defending state champion No. 13 West Boca Raton (11-2). NEXT WEEK: No. 28 West Broward (11-2) or No. 12 Gainesville Buchholz (12-1) for the state title.
5. Jacksonville Raines (3A, 12-0). LAST WEEK: The defending 3A state runner up Vikings continued to dominate, 61-15 over Jacksonville Bishop Kenny. THIS WEEK: No. 8 Sarasota Booker (12-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 20 Orlando Bishop Moore (12-1) or No. 3 Miami Northwestern (12-0) for the state title.
6. Vero Beach (7A, 13-0). LAST WEEK: The Indians dominated yet another opponent, Orlando Dr. Phillips, 49-23. THIS WEEK: No. 26 Miami Palmetto (11-2). NEXT WEEK: No. 14 Venice (9-3) or No. 25 Lake Mary (10-3) for the state title.
7. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (1A, 10-2). LAST WEEK: The Lions moved one step closer to a 10th consecutive state championship appearance with a 35-14 win against Miami True North Classical Academy. THIS WEEK: Jacksonville Trinity Christian (9-4). NEXT WEEK: No. 19 Tampa Carrollwood Day (12-0) or No. 17 West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (10-3) for the state title.
8. Sarasota Booker (3A, 12-1). LAST WEEK: The Tornadoes remained one of the state's most dominant team with a convincing 50-14 win against Brooksville Nature Coast Tech. THIS WEEK: It's another trip to No. 5 Jacksonville Raines (12-0). NEXT WEEK: No. 20 Orlando Bishop Moore (12-1) at No. 3 Miami Northwestern (12-0) for the state title.
9. Jacksonville Bolles (2A, 12-1). LAST WEEK: The Bulldogs continued to roll along with a 44-10 win against Pensacola Catholic. THIS WEEK: Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (10-3). NEXT WEEK: No. 30 Cocoa (8-4) at No. 10 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (12-1) for the state title.
10. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (2A, 12-1). LAST WEEK: The Cougars continued to roll toward a state title appearance with a 49-29 win against St. Petersburg Lakewood. THIS WEEK: No. 30 Cocoa (8-4). NEXT WEEK: Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (10-3) or No. 9 Jacksonville Bolles (12-1) for the state title.
11. Orlando Jones (4A, 11-2). LAST WEEK: The Tigers beat district foe Lake Wales for the second time this season, 24-10. THIS WEEK: No. 29 Port Charlotte (11-2). NEXT WEEK: Defending state champion Plantation American Heritage (7-5) or No. 18 Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (12-1) for the state title.
12. Gainesville Buchholz (6A, 12-1). LAST WEEK: The Bobcats won a competitive 27-20 contest against Jacksonville Mandarin. THIS WEEK: No. 28 West Broward (11-2). NEXT WEEK: No. 13 West Boca Raton (11-2) No. 4 Seffner Armwood (13-0) for the state title.
13. West Boca Raton (6A, 11-2). LAST WEEK: The defending state champions rolled to a 41-3 win against Trinity Mitchell. THIS WEEK: No. 4 Seffner Armwood (13-0). NEXT WEEK: No. 28 West Broward (11-2) or No. 12 Gainesville Buchholz (12-1) for the state title.
14. Venice (7A, 9-3). LAST WEEK: The defending state champions moved closer to defending their title with a 41-22 win against Riverview Sumner. THIS WEEK: No. 25 Lake Mary (10-3). NEXT WEEK: No. 26 Miami Palmetto (11-2) or No. 6 Vero Beach (13-0) for the state title.
15. Orlando The First Academy (Independent, 5-5). SEASON OVER.
16. Lakeland (5A, 11-2). LAST WEEK: The defending state runner up Dreadnaughts beat No. 24 Orlando Edgewater, 27-14. THIS WEEK: No. 23 Ponte Vedra (11-2). NEXT WEEK: No. 21 Fort Myers Riverdale (12-1) or No. 2 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1) for the state title.
17. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (1A, 10-3). LAST WEEK: The Crusaders ran over previously unbeaten St. Petersburg Catholic, 42-13. THIS WEEK: No. 19 Tampa Carrollwood Day (12-0). NEXT WEEK: Jacksonville Trinity Christian (9-4) or No. 7 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (10-2) for the state title.
18. Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (12-1). LAST WEEK: The Indians earned the right to play in a state semifinal game with a thrilling 31-28 win against Saint Augustine. THIS WEEK: No. 30 defending state champion Plantation American Heritage (7-5). NEXT WEEK: No. 29 Port Charlotte (11-2) at No. 11 Orlando Jones (11-2) for the state title.
19. Tampa Carrollwood Day (1A, 12-0). LAST WEEK: The Patriots showed why they need to be taken serious with a thrilling 30-28 victory against Clearwater Central Catholic. THIS WEEK: No. 17 West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (10-3). THIS WEEK: Jacksonville Trinity Christian (9-4) or No. 7 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (10-2) for the state title.
20. Orlando Bishop Moore (3A, 12-1). LAST WEEK: The Hornets had a thriller against Melbourne Eau Gallie with a 31-28 win. THIS WEEK: No. 3 Miami Northwestern (3A, 12-0). NEXT WEEK: No. 8 Sarasota Booker (12-1) or No. 5 Jacksonville Raines (12-0) for the state title.
21. Fort Myers Riverdale (5A, 12-1). LAST WEEK: The Raiders won a thrilling 28-26 contest against Bradenton Manatee. THIS WEEK: No. 2 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 23 Ponte Vedra (11-2) or No. 16 Lakeland (11-2) for the state title game.
22. Miami Central (3A, 10-2). LAST WEEK: The Rockets dropped a 50-29 Region Final contest against No. 3 Miami Northwestern. SEASON OVER.
23. Ponte Vedra (5A, 11-2). LAST WEEK: The Sharks advanced to next round with a 27-10 win against Daytona Beach Mainland. THIS WEEK: No. 16 Lakeland (11-2). NEXT WEEK: No. 21 Fort Myers Riverdale (12-1) or No. 2 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1) for the state title.
24. Orlando Edgewater (5A, 12-1). LAST WEEK: The Eagles lost for the first time this season, 27-10, to No. 16 Lakeland. SEASON OVER.
25. Lake Mary (7A, 10-3). LAST WEEK: The defending state runner up Rams beat previously unbeaten No. 27 DeLand, 40-31. THIS WEEK: A rematch of last year's state title game with No. 14 Venice (9-3). NEXT WEEK: No. 26 Miami Palmetto (11-2) or No. 6 Vero Beach (13-0) for the state title.
26. Miami Palmetto (7A, 11-2). LAST WEEK: The Panthers moved one step closer to their first ever state title game with a 65-41 win against Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman. THIS WEEK: No. 6 Vero Beach (13-0). NEXT WEEK: No. 14 Venice (9-3) or No. 25 Lake Mary (10-3) for the state title.
27. DeLand (7A, 12-1). LAST WEEK: The Bulldogs lost a 40-31 decision to No. 25 Lake Mary. SEASON OVER.
28. West Broward (6A, 11-2). LAST WEEK: The Bobcats shocked state-rated Miami Southridge, 30-27, to move to the school's first ever state semifinal. THIS WEEK: No. 12 Gainesville Buchholz (12-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 13 West Boca Raton (11-2) or No. 4 Seffner Armwood (13-0) for the state title.
29. Port Charlotte (4A, 11-2). LAST WEEK: The Pirates pulled off a huge surprise against Tampa Jesuit, 22-21. THIS WEEK: No. 11 Orlando Jones (11-2). NEXT WEEK: Defending state champion, No. 30 Plantation American Heritage (7-5) or No. 18 Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (12-1) for the state title.
30. Cocoa (2A, 8-4). LAST WEEK: The three-time defending state champion Tigers got by Starke Bradford County, 17-10. THIS WEEK: No. 10 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (12-1). NEXT WEEK: Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (10-3) at No. 9 Jacksonville Bolles (12-1) for the state title.
(Tie) - Plantation American Heritage (4A, 7-5). LAST WEEK: The defending state champion Patriots held on for a 25-20 win against top region seed Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy. THIS WEEK: It's a 624-mile trip to play No. 18 Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (12-1). NEXT WEEK: No. 29 Port Charlotte (11-2) or No. 11 Orlando Jones (11-2) for the statetitle.
RURAL
Baker (11-1). SEASON OVER
Blountstown (12-0)
Bradenton Christian (11-1). SEASON OVER
Branford (7-4). SEASON OVER
Bristol Liberty County (7-3). SEASON OVER
Chiefland (11-1). SEASON OVER
Chipley (9-2). SEASON OVER
Community School of Naples (7-3), SEASON OVER
Cottondale (7-3). SEASON OVER
Fort Meade (7-4). SEASON OVER
Hawthorne (10-1)
Jay (6-5). SEASON OVER
Madison County (6-6). SEASON OVER
Mayo LaFayette (9-2). SEASON OVER
Pahokee (10-4). SEASON OVER
Perry Taylor County (10-2). SEASON OVER
Sneads (7-4). SEASON OVER
Trenton (7-4). SEASON OVER
Williston (10-2). SEASON OVER
CLASS 1A
Boca Raton St. Andrew's Academy (10-2). SEASON OVER
Clearwater Central Catholic (10-3). SEASON OVER
Daytona Beach Father Lopez (6-5). SEASON OVER
Fort Myers Evangelical Christian (3-8). SEASON OVER
Fort Myers Southwest Florida Christian (9-2). SEASON OVER
Jacksonville Episcopal (7-4). SEASON OVER
Jacksonville Impact Christian (7-4). SEASON OVER
Jacksonville North Florida Educational (6-5). SEASON OVER
Jacksonville Providence (4-7). SEASON OVER
Jacksonville Trinity Christian (9-4)
Jacksonville University Christian (9-4). SEASON OVER
Lakeland Christian (8-3). SEASON OVER
Lakeland Victory Christian (5-6). SEASON OVER
Largo Indian Rocks Christian (4-7). SEASON OVER
Melbourne Central Catholic (3-8). SEASON OVER
Miami Archbishop Carroll (8-3). SEASON OVER
Miami Edison (6-5). SEASON OVER
Miami Palmer Trinity (8-2). SEASON OVER
Miami True North Classical Academy (10-3). SEASON OVER
Miami Westminster Christian (8-3). SEASON OVER
North Palm Beach Benjamin (3-8). SEASON OVER
Ocala Trinity Catholic (4-6). SEASON OVER
Orlando Christian Prep (6-5). SEASON OVER
St. Petersburg Catholic (12-1). SEASON OVER.
St. Petersburg Northside Christian (7-4). SEASON OVER
Tallahassee Maclay (8-4). SEASON OVER
CLASS 2A
Alachua Santa Fe (7-4). SEASON OVER
Avon Park (6-5). SEASON OVER
Baldwin (7-4). SEASON OVER
Belle Glade Glades Central (10-2). SEASON OVER
Clearwater Calvary Christian (8-4). SEASON OVER
DeFuniak Springs Walton (4-7). SEASON OVER
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (10-3)
Fort Myers Bishop Verot (6-6). SEASON OVER
Freeport (5-5). SEASON OVER
Miami Carol City (6-5). SEASON OVER
Miami Gulliver (6-4). SEASON OVER
Miami Immaculata LaSalle (12-1). SEASON OVER
Miami Killian (8-3). SEASON OVER
Newberry (5-6). SEASON OVER
North Miami Beach (6-6)
Panama City Bozeman (4-7). SEASON OVER
Pensacola Catholic (11-2). SEASON OVER
Santa Rosa Beach South Walton (8-3). SEASON OVER
St. Petersburg Lakewood (11-2), SEASON OVER
Starke Bradford County (11-2). SEASON OVER
Somerset Silver Palms (6-5). SEASON OVER
Tallahassee FSU High (5-7). SEASON OVER
Tampa Berkeley Prep (5-5). SEASON OVER
The Villages (9-2). SEASON OVER
CLASS 3A
Bradenton Bayshore (5-7). SEASON OVER
Brooksville Hernando (7-4). SEASON OVER
Brooksville Nature Coast Tech (10-2)
Bushnell South Sumter (6-5). SEASON OVER
Eau Gallie (9-4). SEASON OVER
Estero (7-4). SEASON OVER
Fort Myers Cypress Lake (7-4). SEASON OVER
Gainesville Eastside (9-3). SEASON OVER
Glen St. Mary Baker County (4-7). SEASON OVER
Gulfport Boca Ciega (4-7). SEASON OVER
Jacksonville Bishop Kenny (10-3). SEASON OVER
Key West (7-5). SEASON OVER
Merritt Island (7-5). SEASON OVER
Miami St. Brendan (4-7). SEASON OVER
Mulberry (4-7). SEASON OVER
Naples Lely (8-4). SEASON OVER
Panama City Bay (9-2). SEASON OVER
Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (4-7). SEASON OVER
Pensacola West Florida (7-5). SEASON OVER
St. Petersburg Gibbs (4-7). SEASON OVER
Tallahassee Godby (5-7). SEASON OVER
Tampa Chamberlain (8-3). SEASON OVER
Tavares (6-5), SEASON OVER
Titusville (5-6). SEASON OVER
Wakulla (6-5). SEASON OVER
Yulee (8-3). SEASON OVER
CLASS 4A
Auburndale (8-3). SEASON OVER
Clearwater (8-4). SEASON OVER
Fort Myers Dunbar (7-4). SEASON OVER
Fort Lauderdale Dillard (10-1). SEASON OVER
Fort Pierce John Carroll (8-3). SEASON OVER
Hialeah (7-4). SEASON OVER
Jacksonville Ed White (9-3). SEASON OVER
Jensen Beach (8-3). SEASON OVER
Lake City Columbia (9-3). SEASON OVER
Lake Wales (10-3). SEASON OVER
Miami Norland (6-5). SEASON OVER
Naples (7-4-1). SEASON OVER
New Port Richey River Ridge (7-4). SEASON OVER
New Smyrna Beach (8-3). SEASON OVER
Ocala Vanguard (10-2). SEASON OVER
Panama City Beach Arnold (3-8). SEASON OVER
Pensacola Booker T. Washington (5-5). SEASON OVER
Pensacola Pine Forest (3-7). SEASON OVER
Plantation (7-5), SEASON OVER
Saint Augustine (11-2). SEASON OVER
Seminole Osceola (8-3). SEASON OVER
South Fort Myers (7-4). SEASON OVER
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (10-3). SEASON OVER
Tallahassee Rickards (3-8). SEASON OVER
Tampa Blake (7-4). SEASON OVER
Tampa Jesuit (11-2). SEASON OVER
Zephyrhills (11-1). SEASON OVER
CLASS 5A
Bradenton Manatee (6-7). SEASON OVER
Cape Coral (10-2). SEASON OVER
Coconut Creek (9-3). SEASON OVER
Daytona Beach Mainland (10-3). SEASON OVER
Delray Atlantic (10-2). SEASON OVER
Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (8-3). SEASON OVER
Hollywood McArthur (10-3). SEASON OVER
Immokalee (8-3). SEASON OVER
Lakeland Lake Gibson (5-6). SEASON OVER
Lynn Haven Mosley (10-2). SEASON OVER
Middleburg (8-3). SEASON OVER
Milton (8-3). SEASON OVER
Naples Gulf Coast (5-6), SEASON OVER
Niceville (6-5). SEASON OVER
North Fort Myers (4-7). SEASON OVER
North Miami (7-4). SEASON OVER
Palm Bay Heritage (4-7). SEASON OVER
Pinellas Park (5-6). SEASON OVER
Punta Gorda Charlotte (6-5). SEASON OVER
Sebring (5-6). SEASON OVER
St. Johns Beachside (8-4). SEASON OVER
Stuart Martin County (8-3). SEASON OVER
Tallahassee Lincoln (6-5). SEASON OVER
Tampa Bay Tech (9-3). SEASON OVER
Wesley Chapel (6-5). SEASON OVER
Winter Springs (7-4). SEASON OVER
CLASS 6A
Cantonment Tate (10-3)
Coconut Creek Monarch (7-5). SEASON OVER
Crestview (6-4). SEASON OVER
Davie Nova (5-6). SEASON OVER
Doral Academy (5-5). SEASON OVER
Groveland South Lake (11-2). SEASON OVER
Jacksonville Mandarin (11-2). SEASON OVER
Kissimmee Osceola (7-5). SEASON OVER
Largo (6-5). SEASON OVER
Melbourne (6-5). SEASON OVER
Miami Southridge (11-2). SEASON OVER
Neptune Beach Fletcher (6-4). SEASON OVER
Orange Park Oakleaf (8-3). SEASON OVER
Orlando Evans (8-3). SEASON OVER
Oviedo (8-3). SEASON OVER
Pace (10-2), SEASON OVER
Palmetto (10-2). SEASON OVER
Parrish Community (9-2). SEASON OVER
Pembroke Pines Flanagan (8-3). SEASON OVER
Plant City Durant (5-6). SEASON OVER
Ponte Vedra Nease (9-3). SEASON OVER
Riverview (6-5). SEASON OVER
Ruskin Lennard (9-2). SEASEON OVER
South Plantation (6-5). SEASON OVER
Sunrise Piper (7-5). SEASON OVER
Tampa Gaither (10-2). SEASON OVER
Tampa Plant (5-6). SEASON OVER
Tarpon Springs East Lake (8-3). SEASON OVER
Trinity Mitchell (10-3). SEASON OVER
Viera (7-5). SEASON OVER
Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch (5-6). SEASON OVER
CLASS 7A
Boca Raton Spanish River (7-5). SEASON OVER
Clermont East Ridge (6-5). SEASON OVER
Coral Springs Coral Glades (6-5). SEASON OVER
Davenport Ridge Community (5-6). SEASON OVER
Davie Western (4-7). SEASON OVER
Fort Pierce Central (10-2). SEASON OVER
Homestead South Dade (5-6). SEASON OVER
Jupiter (10-1). SEASON OVER
Lantana Santaluces (6-4). SEASON OVER
Miami Christopher Columbus (4-8). SEASON OVER
Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman (8-5). SEASON OVER
Orlando Boone (10-2). SEASON OVER
Orlando Dr. Phillips (9-4). SEASON OVER
Orlando Lake Nona (8-4). SEASON OVER
Plant City (7-4). SEASON OVER
Port Orange Spruce Creek (8-4). SEASON OVER
Riverview Sumner (10-3). SEASON OVER
Sanford Seminole (5-6). SEASON OVER
Sarasota Riverview (9-2-1). SEASON OVER
St. Cloud (9-2). SEASON OVER.
St. Johns Creekside (4-7). SEASON OVER
Wellington Palm Beach Central (6-5). SEASON OVER
Winter Garden West Orange (10-2). SEASON OVER
Winter Haven (6-5). SEASON OVER
STATE RANKINGS
WEEK 2 PLAYOFFS. https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/playoff-week-2-the-race-for-miami/
2025 Road To Miami & The Villages Charter. https://larryblustein.com/news/2025-road-to-miami-the-villages-charter
2026 PREP REDZONE FLORIDA STOCK UP EVENT. https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2137/register/stock-up-showcase-florida
Statewide Coverage Daily. https://prepredzone.com/florida/
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.
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