Booker T. Washington takes top spot in Florida’s #HSFB Top 25 2014 Preseason Poll

GAINESVILLE, FL – The defending Class 4A and National Champions, the Booker T. Washington Tornadoes in Miami will start on top of Florida’s High School Football Top 25 (also titled as Florida’s #HSFB Top 25).

Florida’s High School Football Top 25 is a brand new weekly poll showcasing the Top 25 teams from around the state regardless of classification. The poll is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters from around the Sunshine State, and is sponsored by FloridaHSFootball.com and FlaVarsity.com.

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The Tornadoes, who clinched their second straight Class 4A state championship and the programs first National Championship last season received seven first place votes, the second most in the poll. The Tornadoes entered the season with a new head coach in Tim Harris, Jr. and will be replacing several key players including QB Treon Harris and DE Chad Thomas. However, the expectations are for the Tornadoes to repeat once again as Class 4A state champions this season.

Miami Central, the defending Class 4A state champion took the second place spot while garnering one first place vote. The Rockets will be replacing a lot of key talent including the entire offensive line and running backs Joseph Yearby and Dalvin Cook. Miami Central will open the 2014 season at Hoover High School in Alabama as part of a doubleheader that will be on ESPN.

Rounding out the Top Five includes defending Class 5A state champion, the American Heritage-Plantation Patriots, Class 7A state championship contender, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders and 2013 Class 6A state runner-up, the Armwood Hawks. American Heritage-Plantation and St. Thomas Aquinas received two and 11 first place votes respectively.

Defending Class 3A state champion Trinity Christian, which opens the season this weekend at Buford, Georgia, will start at the No. 6 position. The Conquerors will be featured on ESPN’s family of sports channels twice this season showcasing one of the top defenses in the nation.

Miramar, which is expected to be a favorite to make a run in Class 8A South will start at No. 7. while Mainaland who is expected to have one of their best teams this season will start at No 8.

Rounding out the Top 10 includes 2013 Class 8A Runner-up Apopka and Cocoa which has been a team that has been to the state semifinals or higher every season since 2008.

The two teams from the 2013 Class 7A State Championship game, Dwyer and Niceville will start at No. 11 and No. 12 respectively. Niceville will open its season this Saturday against Clay-Chalkville of Alabama which is part of the doubleheader at Hoover High in Alabama.

2013 Class 4A state runner-up which is looking to make its fourth straight trip to the state finals this season will start at No. 17, while defending Class 8A state champion South Dade will be looking to reload as they start at No. 18.

The Clay Blue Devils, which magically rode through the 2013 playoffs and finished as the Class 5A state runner-up will start the season inside the Top 25 at No. 24.

The next poll will be released on Tuesday, September 2, following Week 1 action from around the state.

Florida’s #HSFB Top 25 – Preseason
Rank, Team, First Place Votes in parenthesis, 2013 record, points
1. Booker T. Washington (7) (4A), 14-0, 476
2. Miami Central (1) (6A), 13-1, 467
3. American Heritage – Plantation (2) (5A), 14-1, 466
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (11) (7A), 10-3, 440
5. Armwood (6A), 14-1, 397
6. Trinity Christian – Jacksonville (3A), 13-1, 378
7. Miramar (8A), 12-1, 311
8. Mainland (6A), 12-2, 279
9. Apopka (8A), 13-2, 278
10. Cocoa (4A), 11-2, 269
11. Dwyer (7A), 15-0, 263
12. Niceville (7A), 13-2, 242
13. Dr. Phillips (8A), 11-1, 224
14. First Coast (8A), 11-2, 215
15. Plant (8A), 11-2-1, 192
16. Osceola – Kissimmee (7A), 11-3, 137
17. Bolles (4A), 10-4, 135
18. South Dade (8A), 14-1, 128
19. Flanagan (8A), 9-2, 119
20. Coral Gables (8A), 11-2, 106
21. East Lake (7A), 13-1, 87
22. Columbia (6A), 10-2, 85
23. Fort Pierce Central (8A), 10-2, 80
24. Clay (5A), 10-5, 61
25. Naples (6A), 9-3, 60

Also Receiving Votes: Godby (5A) – 59; Sickles (7A) – 53; Pensacola Catholic (5A) – 49; Palm Beach Gardens (8A) – 47; Monarch (8A) – 45; South Sumter (5A) – 45; Lake Wales (5A) – 43; Champagnat (2A) – 41; Lakeland (7A) – 40; Miami Carol City (6A) – 40; Fletcher (7A) – 36; Manatee (8A) – 36; Boynton Beach (6A) – 31; Ed White (6A) – 27; West Orange (8A) – 21; Hallandale (6A) – 21; Lake Gibson (6A) – 20; Lake Mary (8A) – 20; American Heritage – Delray Beach (3A) – 19; Clearwater Central Catholic (3A) – 18; Lakewood (5A)– 18; Merritt Island (5A) – 18; Trenton (1A) – 17; Miami Killian (8A) – 16; St. Augustine (6A) – 16; Trinity Catholic (3A) – 15; Westminster Christian (3A) – 15; Largo (6A) – 13; Venice (6A) – 11; North Marion (5A) – 10; Wakulla (5A) – 10; Lincoln (7A) – 9; Melbourne Central Catholic (3A) – 8; Winter Haven (6A) – 8; Oak Ridge (7A) – 6; Palm Bay (5A) – 6; Port Charlotte (7A) – 5; Viera (7A) – 4; Oviedo (8A) – 3; Fleming Island (7A) – 2; Dillard (6A) – 1; Rockledge (5A) – 1; Vero Beach (8A) – 1

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