Columbus reenters the Top 25 while American Heritage – Delray enters for the first time

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Columbus Explorers (6-1) reenter the Top 25 this week after several week away, while American Heritage – Delray (5-1) enters the poll for the first time this season.

However, the Booker T. Washington Tornadoes (7-0) maintain a lock on the top spot going into Week 8 despite a scare from Miami Northwestern last week. The Tornadoes current win streak now extends out to 33 games.

Miami Central (6-1) keeps its spot at No. 2 after a shutout win over Miami Norland who had just defeated Miami Northwestern days earlier in an overtime victory.

Mainland remains at No. 3 (7-0) and flexed its muscle big time, taking a 41-7 victory over Oviedo last Thursday to keep the undefeated streak going.

Rounding out the top five includes St. Thomas Aquinas (5-1) remaining steady at No. 4 and First Coast (6-0) at No. 5, resulting in no changes to the top five compared to last week.

Rounding out the top 10, there are changes as Armwood (6-0) leaps over Dr. Phillips (6-0) to take the No. 6 spot while the Panthers slip down to No. 7 going into this week. Flanagan (7-0) hold steady at No. 8 and will face a critical showdown this week against No. 14 Miramar (5-2) in while likely be the District 8A-12 championship game.

East Lake (6-0) rises up two spots this week from No. 11 to No. 9, bumping Niceville (6-1) down one spot to No. 10, which also resulted in American Heritage – Plantation (4-2) getting bumped out of the Top 10 for the first time this season despite winning on the road against Bolles.

West Orange (7-0), which has seen its value rise in recent weeks, rises up one spot to No. 16 after jumping into the Top 25 last week at No. 17. The Warriors face Olympia this week in which could put them in a clinching situation for the District 8A-4 title with a win.

Columbus (6-1) reenters the poll this week at No. 24 after several weeks away. The Explorers have picked up several big victories, including their most recent one on the road against Highlands, KY, a 38-34 win over the 25 time Kentucky state champions.

American Heritage – Delray (5-1) enter the poll for the first time at tied at No. 25 with South Sumter (7-0). The Stallions have been on a big hot streak, especially in the last few weeks that includes a big district victory over Pahokee and a big road victory over Central – Phenix City, AL this past Friday night, handing that team their first loss of the season.

Florida’s HSFB Top 25 is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters from around the state. Florida’s HSFB Top 25 is the only all-classification poll voted on through out the state during the season by members of the media.

Florida’s #HSFB Top 25 – Week 7
Rank, Team, First Place Votes in parenthesis, record, points, previous
1. Booker T. Washington (19) (4A), 7-0, 475, 1
2. Miami Central (6A), 6-1, 444, 2
3. Mainland (6A), 7-0, 436, 3
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (7A), 5-1, 415, 4
5. First Coast (8A), 6-0, 369, 5
6. Armwood (6A), 6-0, 346, 7
7. Dr. Phillips (8A), 6-0, 343, 6
8. Flanagan (8A), 7-0, 328, 8
9. East Lake (7A), 6-0, 280, 11
10. Niceville (7A), 6-1, 274, 9
11. American Heritage – Plantation (5A), 4-2, 256, 10
12. Trinity Christian – Jacksonviile (3A), 5-1, 244, 12
13. Lakeland (7A), 7-0, 219, 14
14. Miramar (8A), 5-2, 205, 15
15. Cocoa (4A), 5-1, 199, 13
16. West Orange (8A), 7-0, 193, 17
17. Osceola – Kissimmee (7A), 6-1, 170, 16
18. Plant (8A), 6-1, 151, 18
19. Manatee (8A), 6-1, 124, 21
20. Boynton Beach (6A), 7-0, 99, 19
21. Lake Mary (8A), 6-0, 91, 20
22. Miami Killian (8A), 6-0, 81, 22
23. Venice (6A), 7-0, 66, 24
24. Columbus (8A), 6-1, 43, NR
25T. American Heritage – Delray, 5-1, 39, NR
25T. South Sumter (5A), 7-0, 39, 25

Dropped Out: No. 23 St. Augustine (6A, 6-1)

Others Receiving Votes: Naples (6A, 5-1) – 32; Clearwater Central Catholic (3A, 6-0) – 24; Oakleaf (7A, 7-0) – 23; Hallandale (6A, 6-0) – 18; Clewiston (4A, 7-0) – 17; Dwyer (7A, 6-1) – 15; Westminster Christian (3A, 6-1) – 15; Apopka (8A, 5-2) – 14; Monarch (8A, 6-0) – 12; Winter Haven (6A, 6-1) – 11; Suwannee (5A, 6-0) – 9; Clay (5A, 6-1) – 7; Oak Ridge (7A, 6-1) – 4; Viera (7A, 6-0) – 3; Cardinal Gibbons (5A, 6-0) – 1