Monarch enters Florida’s HSFB Top 25 for the first time this season

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – There is some changes amongst the Top 25 this week, including one team jumping in while, two teams jump out despite wins this past week.

First, the Booker T. Washington Tornadoes, keep solid control of the No. 1 spot, a spot they have held since the start of the season. The Tornadoes are now 8-0 and are just one game away from securing another district title and berth into the Class 4A playoffs.

Miami Central (7-1) and Mainland (8-0), both keep control of the No. 2 and No. 3 spots respectively after both earned district wins last week, inching closer to the playoffs, where a collision course for a possible State Semifinal meeting could be in the works.

St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1) keeps also keeps it spot at No. 4 after routing Cypress Bay last week. The Raiders are just one district win away from securing playoff berth.

Rounding out the Top 5 this week is Flanagan which rise up from No. 8 last week to No. 5 after securing a significant victory of Miramar. Flanagan which is now 8-0 on the season secured the District 8A-12 championship Friday night, giving the Falcons their first-ever district title in school history.

Rounding out the Top 10 includes Armwood (7-0) and First Coast (7-0) tied at No. 6. Dr. Phillips drops one spot from No. 7 to No. 8, with East Lake keeping the No. 9 position this week.

American Heritage – Plantation (5-2) which had slipped outside the Top 10 last week, bounces back in at No. 10 after a convincing 30-20 road victory over Apopka last week. The Patriots will clash against No. 23 American Heritage – Delray in a rivaly game this week.

West Orange (8-0) rises up three spots from No. 16 to No. 13 after the Warriors clinched their first district title since 1999 with a big victory over Olympia.
Trinity Christian – Jacksonville (5-2) will look to rebound this week as they makeup a game against Warner Christian this week. The Conqeueros fell from No. 12 to No. 20 this week after losing to independent IMG Academy on the road last Thursday.

Miramar (5-3) which was ranked No. 14last week fell 10 spots to No. 24 after losing their third game of the season to now-No. 5 Flanagan, putting the Patriots in a must-win position this week to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Monarch, which has been on a hot streak, clinched their first district title in school history last week and now checks in at No. 25 for the first time this season. The Knights, now 7-0, look to finish out the season with three more games that could give them their first undefeated regular season.

Venice (8-0) and South Sumter (8-0), both dropped out of the Top 25 this week, despite district wins last week.

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 8
Rank, Team, First Place Votes in parenthesis, record, points, previous
1. Booker T. Washington (20) (4A), 8-0, 500, 1
2. Miami Central (6A), 7-1, 470, 2
3. Mainland (6A), 8-0, 463, 3
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (7A), 6-1, 415, 4
5. Flanagan (8A), 8-0, 384, 8
6T. Armwood (6A), 7-0, 383, 6
6T. First Coast (8A), 7-0, 383, 5
8. Dr. Phillips (8A), 7-0, 366, 7
9. East Lake (7A), 7-0, 298, 9
10. American Heritage – Plantation (5A), 5-2, 289, 11
11. Niceville (7A), 7-1, 288, 10
12. Lakeland (7A), 8-0, 279, 13
13. West Orange (8A), 8-0, 227, 16
14. Cocoa (4A), 6-1, 224, 15
15. Osceola – Kissimmee (7A), 7-1, 183, 17
16. Manatee (8A), 7-1, 171, 19
17. Plant (8A), 7-1, 156, 18
18. Boynton Beach (6A), 8-0, 154, 20
19. Miami Killian (8A), 7-0, 128, 22
20. Trinity Christian – Jacksonviile (3A), 5-2, 115, 12
21. Lake Mary (8A), 7-0, 96, 21
22. Columbus (8A), 7-1, 67, 24
23. American Heritage – Delray, 5-1, 55, 25T
24. Miramar (8A), 5-3, 51, 14
25. Monarch (8A), 7-0, 50, NR

Dropped Out: No. 23. Venice (6A, 8-0); No. 25T. South Sumter (5A, 8-0)

Others Receiving Votes: South Sumter (5A, 8-0) – 38; Venice (6A, 8-0) – 37; Hallandale (6A, 7-0) – 21; Clewiston (4A, 8-0) – 20; Naples (6A, 6-1) – 19; Oakleaf (7A, 8-0) – 19; Dwyer (7A, 7-1) – 19; Clearwater Central Catholic (3A, 6-0) – 18; Westminster Christian (3A, 7-1) – 15; Suwannee (5A, 7-0) – 13; Viera (7A, 7-0) – 13; Winter Haven (6A, 7-1) – 11; Clay (5A, 7-1) – 4; Oak Ridge (7A, 7-1) – 3; Fort Myers (7A, 7-0) – 3; Ed White (6A, 6-1) – 2; Escambia (6A, 6-1) – 1