We are through three weeks of the high school football season in the Sunshine State. Each Monday throughout the season, HSSportsFlorida will reveal their Top 15 Statewide Rankings across all classifications. Here is this week’s edition of the Top 15 teams in Florida.
#1 IMG Academy (2-1)
Previous Rank: 2
Last Week: Defeated Cocoa, 34-13
This Week: vs Mt. Zion Prep Academy (MD)- Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
The Ascenders retake the No. 1 spot in this week’s HSSportsFlorida Top 15 statewide football rankings after taking down the previous top-ranked Cocoa Tigers, 34-13 in their last game.
#2 St. Thomas Aquinas (2-1)
Previous Rank: 3
Last Week: Defeated Columbus, 42-6
This Week: at Western- Friday at 7:00 p.m.
The Raiders have picked up back-to-back wins over Boyd Anderson and Columbus as they check in at No. 2 in this week’s rankings. In the previous two games, the Raiders have outscored their opponents a combined 92-6.
#3 Cocoa (2-1)
Previous Rank: 1
Last Week: Lost to IMG Academy, 34-13
This Week: vs Heritage (Palm Bay)- Friday at 7:00 p.m.
The Tigers dropped from No. 1 to No. 3 in this week’s rankings after sustaining their first loss of the season to nationally-ranked IMG Academy in their last game.
#4 Lakeland (2-0)
Previous Rank: 4
Last Week: Defeated Lake Mary, 35-34 (OT)
This Week: at Winter Haven- Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Dreadnaughts are coming off a wild back-and-forth game against Notre Dame commit Noah Grubbs and the Lake Mary Rams. Senior wide receiver Shanard Clower is coming off his best performance of the young season where he had 8 catches for 219 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
#5 Venice (3-0)
Previous Rank: 6
Last Week: Defeated Bishop Verot, 71-56
This Week: at Port Charlotte- Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Indians have the top-ranked offense in the state where they’re averaging 60.6 points per game through their first three games of the season.
#6 Clearwater Central Catholic (3-0)
Previous Rank: 7
Last Week: Defeated Tampa Catholic, 48-7
This Week: vs Clearwater- Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Junior running back Nasir Hutchinson had a monster game where he had 20 carries for 153 yards in the win over Tampa Catholic. Junior wide receiver Brendan Wright had a team-high 7 catches for 74 yards in their last game as well.
#7 Blanche Ely (3-0)
Previous Rank: Not Ranked
Last Week: Defeated Stranahan, 54-20
This Week: vs Atlantic (Delray Beach)- Friday at 7:00 p.m.
The Tigers make their season debut in the HSSportsFlorida Top 15 football rankings. They picked up a marquee win over Chaminade-Madonna back on August 30.
#8 Miami Central (2-1)
Previous Rank: 8
Last Week: Defeated Booker T. Washington (Miami), 55-25
This Week: at Pompano Beach- Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
The Rockets remain at No. 8 in this week’s rankings despite a blowout win over Booker T. Washington.
#9 Armwood (3-0)
Previous Rank: 13
Last Week: Defeated Tampa Bay Tech, 31-27
This Week: vs Durant- Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Hawks are in the Top 10 of the HSSportsFlorida Top 15 statewide football rankings for the first time this season. Senior running back Girard Pringle (Miami commit) had a team-high 24 carries for 119 yards and three touchdowns (Including the game-winner) in their last game.
#10 Chaminade-Madonna (1-2)
Previous Rank: Not Ranked
Last Week: Defeated American Heritage Plantation, 48-45
This Week: vs Miami Edison- Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
The Lions are coming off a back-and-forth battle with American Heritage Plantation where they ended up pulling off the upset. Senior quarterback Preston Wright had a marquee performance completing 27-of-43 passes for 487 yards and four touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Jasen Lopez had a team-high 11 catches for 256 yards in the win last game as well.
#11 American Heritage Plantation (1-2)
Previous Rank: 5
Last Week: Lost to Chaminade-Madonna, 48-45
This Week: at Naples- Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Patriots were led by junior quarterback Dia Bell (Texas commit) completing 24-of-33 passes for 358 yards and four touchdowns in the loss to Chaminade-Madonna. Bell also had 9 carries for 71 yards and a rushing touchdown.
#12 Mandarin (Jacksonville) (3-0)
Previous Rank: 9
Last Week: Defeated Sandalwood, 41-0
This Week: at Bradford- Friday at 7:00 p.m.
The Mustangs are coming off back-to-back shutouts over Atlantic Coast and Sandalwood. Freshman quarterback Knox Annis, taking the place of the injured Tramell Jones (Florida State commit) went just 4-of-8 passing for 129 yards and three touchdowns in the win last game.
#13 Lake Mary (2-1)
Previous Rank: 10
Last Week: Lost to Lakeland, 35-34 (OT)
This Week: Bye Week
The Rams drop three spots from No. 10 to No. 13 in this week’s statewide football rankings. Junior quarterback Noah Grubbs completed 14-of-26 passes for 176 yards and four touchdown passes despite the loss. Senior running back Isaiah Thomas had a team-high 30 carries for 135 yards and a rushing touchdown.
#14 Buchholz (Gainesville) (3-0)
Previous Rank: Not Ranked
Last Week: Defeated Eastside, 35-7
This Week: vs Manatee- Friday at 7:00 p.m.
The Bobcats debut in the statewide football rankings, checking in at No. 14. Junior quarterback Trace Johnson completed 16-of-28 passes for 165 yards and four touchdown passes in the win over Eastside in their last game. Sophomore running back Jasiah Powell led the rushing attack finishing with 22 carries for 148 yards and had a rushing touchdown.
#15 Eau Gallie (Melbourne) (3-0)
Previous Rank: 15
Last Week: Defeated Heritage (Palm Bay), 21-0
This Week: at Satellite- Friday at 7:00 p.m.
The Commodores are coming off back-to-back shutouts with wins over Rockledge and Heritage. Sophomore quarterback Joseph Allen is clicking on all cylinders where he’s coming off a performance completing 14-of-23 passes for 195 yards and had a touchdown pass in the win. Senior wide receiver DJ Maultsby had a team-high 7 catches for 85 yards in the win over Heritage in their last game.
On The Bubble: Bartram Trail, Berkeley Prep, Bishop Moore, Bishop Verot, Bolles (Jacksonville), Bradford, Cardinal Newman, Choctawhatchee, Columbus (Miami), Gadsden County, Lincoln (Tallahassee), Miami Norland, Miami Northwestern, Jesuit (Tampa), Naples, Niceville, Orlando Jones, Raines (Jacksonville), Seminole (Sanford), St. Augustine, The First Academy (Orlando)
