While there were several surprises in the opening week of the Florida high school football season, the one thing that held true were the top programs did what they had to.
As the season rolls into the second week you can expect those powers to start facing off against some elite competition that will certainly shift the powers in the state.
With the focus on being nationally ranked, there will be several matchups in the coming weeks that will change the state rankings around.
Here is a look at the Top 30 programs for Week 2 – with additional teams that have a chance to be special in a year that will feature the “Open Division” along with Class 1A-6A playing for a state title:
1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 1-0). The Raiders rolled to a 42-0 opener on the road against Davie Western. THIS WEEK: DeSoto, Texas in the Broward National Showcase (9/29). NEXT WEEK: No. 15 Miami Christopher Columbus at home (9/4).
2. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 1-0). The Ascenders opened the season on the road with a convincing 59-3 win against Lone Peak, Utah. THIS WEEK: San Antonio Cornerstone Christian (9/28). NEXT WEEK: Honolulu St. Louis at home (9/5).
3. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (2A, 1-0). The Lions opened the season with a rain-shortened 49-21 win against Coconut Creek Monarch. THIS WEEK: Sierra Canyon, California in the Broward County National Showcase at Hollywood McArthur (9/27). NEXT WEEK: A home game against No. 29 Plantation American Heritage.
4. Miami Central (3A, 1-0). The Rockets won a huge road game in California against Orange Lutheran, 23-22. THIS WEEK: Off. NEXT WEEK: Home game against Miami St. Brendan (9/3).
5. Miami Carol City (2A, 1-0). The Chiefs flexed some muscle on the road with a big win against Daytona Beach Mainland, 38-3. THIS WEEK: At Lee County, Georgia (8/28). NEXT WEEK: First home game of the season against rival Miami Norland (9/4).
6. West Boca Raton (5A, 1-0). The two-time defending state champions opened with a big road win against No. 30 Plantation American Heritage, 24-7. THIS WEEK: Off. NEXT WEEK: A road contest at Boca Raton Spanish River (9/4).
7. Vero Beach (6A, 1-0). The Indians opened the season with a dominating 34-0 win against Jensen Beach. THIS WEEK: Another home game against Delray Beach Atlantic (8/28). NEXT WEEK: They stay at home and welcome national power Baltimore St. Frances Academy (9/4).
8. Venice (6A, 1-0). The Indians went on the road to Georgia and came away with a thrilling 42-40 victory against Rabun Gap-Nacoochee. THIS WEEK: A home game against Miami SmartEn Sports Academy (8/28). NEXT WEEK: The biggest game of the year – on the road against No. 12 Lakeland (9/4).
9. DeLand (6A, 1-0). It wasn’t pretty, but a 35-34 road opener against No. 24 Lake Wales is a win that you will take any day! THIS WEEK: It’s national powerhouse St. Frances Academy, Maryland at home (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Off.
10. Gainesville Buchholz (5A, 1-0). Going on the road against a top program like Ocala Vanguard is never easy, but the Bobcats came away with a 34-28 overtime thriller. THIS WEEK: Home game against longtime rival Gainesville (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Another road trip across town to play Gainesville Eastside (9/4).
11. Seffner Armwood (5A, 1-0). The Hawks won another season opener against a competitive Ruskin Lennard squad, 17-7. THIS WEEK: A road trip to Ramsey, New Jersey to take on the always competitive Don Bosco Prep squad (8/28). NEXT WEEK: They will stay on the road to play at nearby Plant City (9/4).
12. Lakeland (5A, 1-0). The Dreadnaughts opened the season on the road with a 47-0 win against longtime rival Lakeland Kathleen. THIS WEEK: Off. NEXT WEEK: The home opener will be a huge one against No. 8 Venice (9/4).
13. Jacksonville Raines (3A, 1-0). The defending state champions opened with a big road win against Orange Park Oakleaf, 21-7. THIS WEEK: The Vikings have their home opener against Baldwin (8/28). NEXT WEEK: The first key contest of the season will come on the road against No. 28 Jacksonville Ed White (9/4).
14. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (3A, 0-0). The defending state champions opened the season at home with a big victory against Tampa Berkeley Prep, 39-21. THIS WEEK: Defending state champion No. 18 West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman at home (8/28). NEXT WEEK: A trip to south Florida to play against Miami True North Classical Academy (9/4).
15. Miami Christopher Columbus (6A, 1-0). The new look Explorers rolled to a 45-7 win against Miami Southridge. THIS WEEK: National power Las Vegas Bishop Gorman in the Broward County National Showcase who will come in as the No. 1 team in the country (8/29). NEXT WEEK: A road game against No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (9/4).
16. Miami Palmetto (6A, 1-0). The Panthers opened the season in the “Big Cat” contest with a win against longtime rival Miami Killian, 35-0. THIS WEEK: A home game against Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (8/28). NEXT WEEK: On the road to play against Miami Southridge (9/4).
17. Orlando Edgewater (6A, 1-0). The Eagles made a bid to grab the top spot in central Florida with a convincing 34-6 win against Ocoee. THIS WEEK: The home opener against a dangerous Orlando The First Academy (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Another home game against Windermere (9/4).
18. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (2A, 1-0). The defending state champion Crusaders opened the season with a 37-7 win against the Community School of Naples. THIS WEEK: At No. 14 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (9/4). NEXT WEEK: (9/11) At Fort Pierce John Carroll.
19. Jacksonville Mandarin (5A, 1-0). The Mustangs opened the season with a 38-21 win over Hollywood McArthur in the Broward County National Football Showcase. THIS WEEK: At Jacksonville Atlantic Coast (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Off.
20. Port Charlotte (4A, 1-0). The Pirates flexed some muscle as one of the top 4A programs with a 63-26 win against Cape Coral. THIS WEEK: At No. 23 Clearwater Central Catholic (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Orlando The First Academy (9/4).
21. St. Augustine (4A, 1-0). The Yellow Jackets looked sharp in an opening-night win against Palatka, 49-0. THIS WEEK: Ponte Vedra Nease (8/28). NEXT WEEK: At St. Augustine Menendez (9/4).
22. Miami Northwestern (4A, 1-0). The Bulls went on the road to play a tough St. Petersburg Lakewood team and came away with a 20-18 win. THIS WEEK: It’s the “Soul Bowl” and a date with Miami Jackson (8/27). NEXT WEEK: At Hialeah (9/4).
23. Clearwater Central Catholic (2A, 1-0). It wasn’t easy, but the Marauders came away with 28-24 decision against a solid No. 30 Palmetto team. THIS WEEK: No. 20 Port Charlotte (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Off.
24. Lake Wales (4A, 0-1). Even though they lost to No. 9 DeLand, 35-34, you can guarantee that the Highlanders will still be one of the top programs in the state. THIS WEEK: At Sebring (8/28). NEXT WEEK: At Winter Haven (9/4).
25. Tampa Carrollwood Day (1A, 1-0). The Patriots may have had the most impressive opening night game in the state, knocking off previous Top 30 program Eau Gallie, 41-7. THIS WEEK: At New Port Richey River Ridge (8/28). NEXT WEEK: St. Petersburg Northside Christian (9/4).
26. Fort Myers Dunbar (4A, 1-0). The Fightin’ Tigers, after an impressive off season, rolled to a 70-0 win in their season-opener against Fort Myers Cypress Lake. THIS WEEK: At North Fort Myers (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Cape Coral (9/3).
27. Tampa Bay Tech (5A, 1-0). The Titans opened the season with a convincing 27-6 win against Lakeland Lake Gibson. THIS WEEK: At Riverview Sumner (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Tampa Jefferson (9/4).
28. Jacksonville Ed White (4A, 1-0). The Commanders jumped into the spotlight with an exciting 42-40 overtime win against previously ranked Top 30 team Jacksonville Trinity Christian. THIS WEEK: Off. NEXT WEEK: A big one against No. 13 defending state champion Jacksonville Raines (9/4).
29. Plantation American Heritage (4A, 0-1). The two-time defending state champions got off to rough start at home, losing to No. 6 West Boca Raton, 24-7. THIS WEEK: A huge contest at home in the Broward County National Football Showcase against East St. Louis, Illinois (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Another battle with No. 3 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (9/4).
(TIE) 30. Lake City Columbia (4A, 1-0). The Tigers went on the road and stunned previous Top 30 defending state runner up Jacksonville Bolles, 20-19. THIS WEEK: A home game against a very competitive St. Petersburg Lakewood (8/28). NEXT WEEK: Another home game against the always dangerous Madison County Cowboys (9/4).
Palmetto (5A, 0-1). The Tigers dropped a tough opening-night contest against a very competitive No. 23 Clearwater Central Catholic squad, 28-24. THIS WEEK: A trip down to the Conch Republic to take on Key West (8/28). NEXT WEEK: A home game against an impressive Sarasota Riverview (9/4).
KEEP AN EYE ON:
1A
Blountstown (1-0)
Community School of Naples (0-1)
Fort Pierce John Carroll (1-0)
Hawthorne (1-0)
Jacksonville Trinity Christian (0-1)
Lakeland Christian (1-0)
Madison County (1-0)
Miami True North (0-0)
Naples St. John Neumann (1-0)
Pahokee (1-0)
St. Petersburg Catholic (1-0)
Jacksonville University Christian (1-0)
2A
Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s (0-1)
Cocoa (0-1)
Jacksonville Bolles (0-1)
Miami Immaculata LaSalle (1-0)
North Miami Beach (1-0)
Orlando The First Academy (1-0)
Pensacola Catholic (1-0)
Starke Bradford County (1-0)
St. Petersburg Lakewood (0-1)
Tallahassee Florida High (1-0)
Tampa Berkeley Prep (0-1)
3A
Belle Glade Glades Central (0-1)
Brooksville Nature Coast Tech (1-0)
Crawfordville Wakulla (1-0)
Eau Gallie (0-1)
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (1-0)
Fort Lauderdale Dillard (1-0)
Gainesville Eastside (0-1)
Jacksonville Bishop Kenny (1-0)
Merritt Island (1-0)
Santa Rosa Beach South Walton (1-0)
Tampa Chamberlain (0-1)
Tampa Jefferson (0-1)
The Villages Charter (1-0)
Titusville (1-0)
4A
Delray Beach Atlantic (1-0)
Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (0-1)
Hollywood McArthur (0-1)
Jensen Beach (0-1)
Lynn Haven Mosley (1-0)
Miami Norland (1-0)
Middleburg (1-0)
Milton (0-1)
Naples (0-1)
Ocala Vanguard (0-1)
Orlando Bishop Moore (0-1)
Orlando Jones (0-1)
Tallahassee Godby (1-0)
Tallahassee Lincoln (1-0)
Tallahassee Rickards (0-1)
Tampa Jesuit (1-0)
Zephyrhills (0-1)
5A
Auburndale (0-0)
Bradenton Manatee (0-1)
Clermont East Ridge (1-0)
Coconut Creek (1-0)
Coconut Creek Monarch (0-1)
Fort Myers Riverdale (1-0)
Groveland South Lake (0-1)
Kissimmee Osceola (0-1)
Melbourne (1-0)
Miami Southridge (0-1)
Niceville (0-1)
Orlando Evans (0-1)
Oviedo (0-1)
Pace (1-0)
Ponte Vedra (0-1)
Ponte Vedra Nease (0-1)
Riverview Sumner (1-0)
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (0-0)
Orange Park Oakleaf (0-1)
Tampa Gaither (1-0)
Trinity Mitchell (1-0)
Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch (0-1)
6A
Daytona Beach Mainland (0-1)
Fort Pierce Central (1-0)
Lake Mary (0-0)
Orlando Lake Nona (1-0)
Pembroke Pines West Broward (0-0)
Port Orange Spruce Creek (1-0)
Ruskin Lennard (0-1)
Sanford Seminole (1-0)
Sarasota Riverview (1-0)
St. Cloud (1-0)
Wellington Palm Beach Central (1-0)
Weston Cypress Bay (1-0)
Winter Garden West Orange (1-0)
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Week 1 Florida State Football Rankings: St. Thomas Aquinas Is The One. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-1-state-football-rankings-st-thomas-aquinas-is-the-one