As we head toward Week No. 7 here in Florida, district titles, Open Division slots and just post season play will start to define football programs.
While some teams have been eliminated from the playoffs, others will continue to realize their dreams as the Top 30 programs remained the same at the top, but changed quite a bit toward the end of these weekly rankings.
Competition remains fierce as those teams who are not going to be the top eight to compete in the inaugural Open Division to be considered the best in the Sunshine State are looking to still play for a state title in Classes 1A-6A.
There are also independent titles up for grabs in the last few weeks with games becoming very important for those programs who had worked all off season.
Here is a look at the Top 30 programs for Week 7 – with additional teams that have a chance to be special this year:
1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 5-0). The nation’s No. 1 team enjoyed the week off after a solid start. THIS WEEK: They will stay on the road for a big matchup with No. 9 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (10/2). NEXT WEEK: It’s a home game against Hollywood McArthur (10/9).
2. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 5-0). The Ascenders rolled to a 56-7 win against Spring Legacy School of Sport Sciences. THIS WEEK: A road contest to Springfield, Virginia to play The St. James Performance Academy (10/3). NEXT WEEK: A road trip to Indiana to play New Palestine (10/9).
3. Venice (6A, 6-0). Easily one of the best teams in the state, the Indians continued to roll along with a 57-33 district win against Sarasota. THIS WEEK: It’s a big one with Open Division on the line at No. 6 Jacksonville Raines (10/2). NEXT WEEK: Another district home game against Bradenton Lakewood Ranch (10/9).
4. Miami Christopher Columbus (6A, 5-1). The Explorers had no problem with Homestead in a district contest, 58-0. THIS WEEK: Another district game at home against Southwest Miami (10/1). NEXT WEEK: They wrap up the district season with a road game against Coral Gables (10/9).
5. Miami Central (3A, 4-1). The Rockets got a little payback with their huge rival, Miami Northwestern, 52-10. THIS WEEK: A district game on the road against Miami Springs (10/3). NEXT WEEK: A home district game against Key West (10/8).
6. Jacksonville Raines (3A, 5-0). The defending state champions had the week off to prepare for the stretch run. THIS WEEK: A huge contest at home that will have a direct impact on the Open Division against No. 3 Venice (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A district road trip to play Jacksonville Bishop Kenny (10/9).
7. West Boca Raton (5A, 4-1). The Bulls rebounded from their first loss with a convincing 57-0 district win against Boca Raton Olympic Heights. THIS WEEK: A road game to Belle Glade to play Glades Central (10/2). NEXT WEEK: Another district game on the road against Deerfield Beach (10/8).
8. Gainesville Buchholz (5A, 6-0). While they may not be in the Open Division race currently, they did what they had to against previously unbeaten Ocala Forest, 38-20. THIS WEEK: A road trip to play another unbeaten team, Alachua Santa Fe (10/1). NEXT WEEK: Yet another road game against Palm Coast Matanzas (10/9).
9. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (2A, 4-1). The Lions won their district opener against Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s Academy, 48-3. THIS WEEK: It’s the No. 1 team in the country – Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – coming into Hollywood for a big matchup (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A huge district contest on the road with a 1A state championship rematch against No. 17 West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (10/9).
10. DeLand (6A, 4-1). The Bulldogs continue to make a case as one of the top eight teams in the state as they rolled over Port Orange Spruce Creek, 42-14. THIS WEEK: A home game against Port St. Lucie Centennial (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A road district contest at Orange City University (10/9).
11. Vero Beach (6A, 5-1). It was a huge district battle and the Indians showed a strong defense once again in a 10-7 win against Fort Pierce Central. THIS WEEK: Yet another home game will take place against Daytona Beach Mainland (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A home non-district contest against 1A Pahokee.
12. Lakeland (5A, 4-1). Keeping their Open Division hopes alive, the Dreadnaughts came up with a convincing 49-14 win against Auburndale. THIS WEEK: Another home game against Dover Specialty Fit Academy (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A road district game at Sebring (10/9).
13. Seffner Armwood (5A, 5-1). The Hawks jumped back in the Open Division picture with 56-0 win against Tampa Plant. THIS WEEK: Off. NEXT WEEK: A huge winner takes all district matchup against No. 14 unbeaten Tampa Bay Tech (10/9).
14. Tampa Bay Tech (5A, 6-0). The Titans remained unbeaten and in the Open Division conversation with a 41-0 win against Valrico Bloomingdale. THIS WEEK: A huge non district road game against 5-1 No. 30 Ruskin Lennard (10/2). NEXT WEEK: The biggest game of the season at home against No. 13 Seffner Armwood in a huge district contest (10/9).
15. Clearwater Central Catholic (2A, 5-0). It wasn’t easy, but the Marauders held on for a huge 14-10 district win against unranked Tampa Catholic. THIS WEEK: A huge road matchup against defending state champion, No. 18 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A home district game against Tampa Berkeley Prep (10/9).
16. Tampa Carrollwood Day (1A, 6-0). The highest scoring team in the state once again made short work over an opponent – Zephyrhills Christian, 56-3. The Patriots outscored their opponents by a 341-24 margin. THIS WEEK: A challenging home game against Jacksonville Trinity Christian (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A well deserved off week.
17. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (2A, 4-1). The Crusaders enjoyed the week off. THIS WEEK: A big road trip to play the always competitive Delray Beach Atlantic Eagles. NEXT WEEK: A huge district showdown and a 1A state championship showdown from last year when No. 8 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna heads north (10/9).
18. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (3A, 4-1). The Cougars handed Bradenton Braden River their first loss of the season, 62-7. THIS WEEK: A major home game against No. 15 Clearwater Central Catholic (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A home district contest against Bradenton Bayshore (10/9).
19. St. Augustine (4A, 6-0). The Yellow Jackets came up with a district win against Green Cove Springs Clay. THIS WEEK: They will enjoy the week off. NEXT WEEK: Another district game on the road against Orange Park Ridgeview (10/9).
20. Lake Wales (4A, 5-1). The Highlanders rolled to a district win against Brandon, 66-0, and have gone three games without giving up a touchdown. They will enjoy the week off. NEXT WEEK: A major road district game against two-time defending state runner up Orlando Jones (10/8).
21. Jacksonville Mandarin (5A, 4-1). The Mustangs rebounded from their first loss of the year with a 31-10 wion against Neptune Beach Fletcher. THIS WEEK: A home game against the defending state champion Lake Mary Rams (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A district game on the road against Ponte Vedra (10/9).
22. Orlando The First Academy (2A, 4-1). The Royals enjoyed a much-needed week off. THIS WEEK: A home game against the Cocoa Tigers. NEXT WEEK: Will stay at home for a contest against Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (10/9).
23. Port Charlotte (4A, 3-2). The Pirates won a huge district road game against previously unbeaten South Fort Myers, 35-7. THIS WEEK: A home game against Fort Myers Bishop Verot (10/2). NEXT WEEK: Will have the week off.
24. Lake City Columbia (4A, 6-0). The Tigers stayed unbeaten with a 35-17 win against Jacksonville Riverside. THIS WEEK: A competitive trip to play the always tough Bradenton Manatee Hurricanes (10/2). NEXT WEEK: They will have the week off before a tough stretch run.
25. Lynn Haven Mosley (4A, 6-0). The Dolphins stayed unbeaten with a convincing 35-7 win against Tallahassee Lincoln. THIS WEEK: After a great start, they will have the week off. NEXT WEEK: A home district matchup with Panama City Beach Arnold (10/9).
26. Sanford Seminole (6A, 6-0). The Seminoles continued to roll along without a loss as they beat Apopka in a district game, 43-18. THIS WEEK: A well-deserved off week. NEXT WEEK: A home district contest against defending state champion Lake Mary.
27. Tampa Jesuit (4A, 4-1). The Tigers rebounded from their first loss of the season with a 50-6 district win against Tampa Middleton, 50-6. THIS WEEK: The team will enjoy the week off. NEXT WEEK: Another district game at home against Gibsonton East Bay (10/9).
28. Miami Palmetto (6A, 5-1). The Panthers rolled to a district win against Southwest Miami, 72-0. THIS WEEK: The team will enjoy a much-needed week off. NEXT WEEK: Another district game at home against Homestead (10/9).
29. Miami Carol City (2A, 3-2). The Chiefs continued to gain momentum with a 42-0 win against Miami Booker T. Washington. THIS WEEK: A trip back to Georgia to take on a competitive Grayson (10/2). NEXT WEEK: A return to Miami-Dade County with a home contest against Miami Northwestern (10/9).
30. Ruskin Lennard (6A, 5-1). The Longhorns make their debut in the Top 30 after a 19-14 win district road game against Plant City. THIS WEEK: A major home game against unbeaten No. 14 Tampa Bay Tech, which could define this season. NEXT WEEK: A home district contest against Plant City Durant (10/9).
KEEP AN EYE ON:
1A
Blountstown (4-1)
Fort Pierce John Carroll (4-1)
Hawthorne (6-0)
Jacksonville Trinity Christian (3-3)
Jacksonville University Christian (4-2)
Lakeland Christian (6-0)
Madison County (3-3)
Melbourne Central Catholic (4-1)
Miami Westminster Christian (4-1)
Naples First Baptist (6-0)
Naples St. John Neumann (5-1)
Pahokee (4-2)
St. Petersburg Catholic (2-3)
Wildwood (4-1)
2A
Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s (4-3)
DeFuniak Springs Walton (5-0)
Jacksonville Bolles (4-1)
Miami Immaculata LaSalle (5-0)
Miami Killian (5-1)
Pensacola Catholic (5-1)
Starke Bradford County (5-0)
Tallahassee Florida High (5-0)
Tampa Berkeley Prep (3-2)
Tampa Catholic (4-2)
3A
Alachua Santa Fe (3A, 5-0)
Bradenton Braden River (4-1)
Brooksville Nature Coast Tech (4-1)
Bushnell South Sumter (5-1)
Crawfordville Wakulla (5-1)
Eau Gallie (4-2)
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (3-2)
Fort Lauderdale Dillard (4-2)
Merritt Island (6-0)
Miami Springs (5-1)
North Miami Beach (5-1)
Santa Rosa Beach South Walton (5-1)
The Villages Charter (5-0)
Titusville (4-2)
4A
Plantation American Heritage (3-3)
Clearwater (6-0)
Delray Beach Atlantic (3-1)
Fort Myers Dunbar (4-2)
Fort Pierce Westwood (3-2)
Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (3-2)
Hialeah American (5-1)
Jacksonville Ed White (3-1)
Jensen Beach (4-2)
Miami Norland (3-2)
Miami Northwestern (4-2)
Middleburg (4-2)
New Smyrna Beach (4-1)
Ocala Vanguard (3-2)
Orlando Bishop Moore (4-2)
Orlando Jones (3-1)
Pensacola Washington (5-0)
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (4-2)
South Fort Myers (4-1)
Tallahassee Godby (4-2)
Zephyrhills (4-2)
5A
Auburndale (3-2)
Bradenton Manatee (4-2)
Clermont East Ridge (4-2)
Coconut Creek (4-1)
Coconut Creek Monarch (3-2)
Fort Myers Riverdale (4-2)
Immokalee (4-1)
Melbourne (3-2)
Niceville (3-3)
Ocala Forest (5-1)
Orange Park Oakleaf (3-2)
Orlando Evans (3-3)
Oviedo (4-2)
Pace (3-2)
Palmetto (4-2)
Riverview Sumner (3-3)
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (2-3)
St. John Bartram Trail (5-1)
Stuart Martin County (3-2)
Tampa Gaither (4-2)
Trinity Mitchell (4-1)
Viera (3-2)
6A
Daytona Beach Mainland (2-2)
Flagler Palm Coast (4-1)
Fort Pierce Central (4-1)
Jupiter (5-0)
Kissimmee Gateway (5-0)
Lake Mary (1-4)
Lantana Santaluces (3-2)
Orlando Edgewater (3-2)
Orlando Lake Nona (5-1)
Palm Beach Lakes (3-2)
Port Orange Spruce Creek (4-2)
Sarasota Riverview (5-1)
St. Cloud (3-2)
Tampa Alonso (5-0)
Wellington (3-2)
Wellington Palm Beach Central (5-0)
Weston Cypress Bay (6-0)
Winter Garden West Orange (5-1)
Week 1 State Football Rankings: St. Thomas Aquinas Is The One. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-1-state-football-rankings-st-thomas-aquinas-is-the-one
Week 2 State Football Rankings: Top Teams Get Off To A Fast Start. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-2-state-football-rankings-top-teams-get-off-to-a-fast-start
Week 3 Florida State High School Football Rankings: The Nation Was Watching. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-3-state-football-rankings-the-nation-was-watching
Week 4 Florida State Football Rankings: Elite Teams Stay On Top. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-4-florida-state-football-rankings-elite-teams-stay-on-top
Week 5 Florida State Football Rankings: Things Are Getting Very Exciting. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-5-florida-state-football-rankings-things-are-getting-very-exciting
Week 6 Florida State Football Rankings: Every Game Will Have Meaning. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-6-florida-state-football-rankings-every-game-will-have-meaning
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
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