GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The battle between both American Heritage programs end up resulting a shake up Florida’s HSFB Top 25 heading into Week 10.
American Heritage-Delray (6-1), which has now been on a six game winning streak since losing to Miramar Week 1, has found itself as the fastest riser in the poll after giving Class 5A favorite, American Heritage-Plantation (5-3) a run for its money Friday night in a 45-35 win. The Stallions rised up from No. 23 to No. 19.
However, American Heritage-Plantation suffered the biggest drop in the poll this week going from No. 10 last week all the way down to No. 22 for a fall of 12 spots. The Patriots will try to rebound this week as they close in on another district title with a major district contest against Cardinal Gibbons.
Booker T. Washington (9-0), keeps possession of the first place receiving a unanimous 22 first place votes after defeating Miami Norland, 28-14 and will face Miami Edison in the game can clinch them another district tittle.
Mainland (8-0) flips to the No. 2 spot while Miami Central (8-1) drops to No. 3. after Miami Central’s scare from Miami Carol City sent some of the panel flipping their votes around. However, Miami Central did clinch their district and Mainland can win their district this week with a win over Seabreeze.
St. Thomas Aquinas (7-1) holds steady at No. 4 after clinching a playoff berth with a win over Hollywood Hills, Friday night, while Flanagan (9-0) rounds out the top five after defeating West Broward soundly to stay undefeated on the season.
First Coast (8-0) breaks its tie with Armwood (8-0) to take solid control of the No. 6 spot while the Hawks drop to No. 7. Both teams have already secured district titles and their spot in the playoffs.
Rounding out the Top 10 includes Dr. Phillips (8-0) at No. 8, while Lakeland (9-0) rises from No. 12 to No. 9 and East Lake (8-0) dropping one spot from No. 9 to No. 10.
Venice (8-0), which dropped out last week, reenters the Top 25 this week at No. 25 and can clinch their district this week with with a win over Osceola (Seminole).
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.
Special Note: Due to possible pending tiebreakers that could have an effect on some teams that are either ranked or receiving votes, next week’s release of the Top 25 will occur on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.
Florida’s #HSFB Top 25 – Week 9
Rank, Team, First Place Votes in parenthesis, record, points, previous
1. Booker T. Washington (22) (4A), 9-0, 550, 1
2. Mainland (6A), 8-0, 514, 3
3. Miami Central (6A), 8-1, 507, 2
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (7A), 7-1, 478, 4
5. Flanagan (8A), 9-0, 449, 5
6. First Coast (8A), 8-0, 420, 6T
7. Armwood (6A), 8-0, 410, 6T
8. Dr. Phillips (8A), 8-0, 405, 7
9. Lakeland (7A), 9-0, 327, 12
10. East Lake (7A), 8-0, 324, 9
11. Niceville (7A), 7-1, 318, 11
12. West Orange (8A), 8-0, 279, 13
13. Cocoa (4A), 6-1, 254, 14
14. Manatee (8A), 7-1, 228, 16
15. Osceola – Kissimmee (7A), 8-1, 225, 15
16. Plant (8A), 8-1, 209, 17
17. Miami Killian (8A), 8-0, 193, 19
18. Boynton Beach (6A), 9-0, 169, 18
19. American Heritage – Delray, 6-1, 165, 23
20. Lake Mary (8A), 8-0, 106, 21
21. Trinity Christian – Jacksonviile (3A), 6-2, 91, 20
22. American Heritage – Plantation (5A), 5-3, 89, 10
23. Columbus (8A), 8-1, 87, 22
24. Monarch (8A), 8-0, 61, 25
25. Venice (6A), 8-0, 37, NR
Dropped Out: No. 24. Miramar (8A), 6-3
Others Receiving Votes: South Sumter (5A, 9-0) – 36; Hallandale (6A, 8-0) – 33; Clearwater Central Catholic (3A, 8-0) – 25; Clewiston (4A, 9-0) – 24; Naples (6A, 7-1) – 15; Winter Haven (6A, 7-1) – 15; Westminster Christian (3A, 7-1) – 14; Miramar (8A, 6-3) – 13; Suwannee (5A, 8-0) – 13; Viera (7A, 8-0) – 13; Oakleaf (7A, 8-0) – 8; Fort Myers (7A, 8-0) – 7; Clay (5A, 8-1) – 6; Ed White (6A, 7-1) – 3; Oak Ridge (7A, 8-1) – 2; St. Augustine (6A, 7-1) – 2; Vero Beach (8A, 8-0) – 1
