![Buchholz holds the top spot still in North Central Florida with the top six remaining unchanged. [@BuchholzFB/X]](https://i0.wp.com/floridahsfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/FPRI-North-Central-Florida-Power-10-Week-of-Aug-30-2026.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)
There was no change in the first four spots of the North Central Florida Power 10 after Week 2, but that does not mean the region stood still.
Buchholz remains No. 1 after rolling past Gainesville 43-6, Hawthorne stays second following an 8-0 shutout of Newberry, Bradford holds No. 3 after beating Baker County 16-9, and Columbia remains fourth after a convincing 24-6 victory over Lakewood. All four are 2-0, giving the region a stable group at the top through the first two weeks.
The more interesting movement is happening underneath them. Vanguard rebounded from its overtime loss to Buchholz by beating Miami Norland 21-6, Dunnellon posted its second dominant victory, and South Sumter improved to 2-0 with a shutout of Williston.
North Central Florida Power 10
| # | ± | Team | Record | Rating | SOS | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | Buchholz (Gainesville) | 2-0 | -14.70 | Class 5A | |
| 2 | — | Hawthorne | 2-0 | -33.20 | Class 1A | |
| 3 | — | Bradford (Starke) | 2-0 | -0.10 | Class 2A | |
| 4 | — | Columbia (Lake City) | 2-0 | -16.40 | Class 4A | |
| 5 | — | The Villages | 1-0 | 3.40 | Class 3A | |
| 6 | — | Vanguard (Ocala) | 1-1 | 16.20 | Class 4A | |
| 7 | ↑ 2 | Dunnellon | 2-0 | -18.30 | Class 3A | |
| 8 | ↑ 2 | South Sumter (Bushnell) | 2-0 | -15.70 | Class 3A | |
| 9 | ↓ 2 | Williston | 1-1 | -2.90 | Class 1A | |
| 10 | ↑ 2 | Fort White | 2-0 | -37.20 | Class 1A |
The Top Four Keep Winning
Buchholz has now won in two very different ways. The Bobcats needed overtime to beat Vanguard 34-28 in the opener, then had considerably less trouble against Gainesville, winning 43-6 at Citizens Field. That combination — surviving a major challenge one week and dominating the next — keeps Buchholz firmly in control of the No. 1 spot.
Hawthorne has followed a similar path. The Hornets needed overtime to beat Bishop Moore 28-25 in Week 1 before grinding out an 8-0 victory over Newberry. The scoring dropped dramatically, but the result did not, and Hawthorne remains 2-0 at No. 2.
Bradford also showed a different side of itself after opening with a 65-0 rout of West Port. The Tornadoes went on the road and had to work for a 16-9 victory over Baker County, while Columbia improved to 2-0 by beating Lakewood 24-6 after its 20-19 win over Bolles in the opener. Neither Bradford nor Columbia needed another blowout to strengthen its position; both showed they could finish more competitive games.
Vanguard Responds in a Big Way
Vanguard’s 1-1 record does not tell the full story of its opening two weeks.
The Knights pushed Buchholz into overtime before losing 34-28 in Week 1, then came back with one of the region’s strongest Week 2 performances by beating Miami Norland 21-6. Holding Norland to six points was an important response for a team that had already shown it could compete with the region’s No. 1 program.
Rather than allowing the Buchholz loss to turn into an early slide, Vanguard immediately added a quality victory. That keeps the Knights firmly involved in the upper half of the regional picture entering another difficult matchup in Week 3.
Dunnellon and South Sumter Keep Applying Pressure
Dunnellon has quietly put together one of the most dominant starts in North Central Florida. The Tigers followed a 35-6 win over Tavares with a 36-0 shutout of Hernando, giving them a 71-6 scoring advantage through two games.
South Sumter’s rise has come in a different way. The Raiders opened with a 24-21 win over Wiregrass Ranch, then shut out Williston 14-0 in Week 2. That second result carries added value because it came head-to-head against another team that had been sitting inside the regional Power 10.
Williston, meanwhile, falls to 1-1 after opening with a 30-12 victory over Chiefland. Chiefland’s own start became even more difficult in Week 2 when Fort White handed the Indians a 61-19 loss, putting more pressure on their place in the regional picture.
The Villages Returns After an Open Week
The Villages had no Week 2 game after opening the season with a 31-14 win over Zephyrhills. The Buffalo had already made a significant move after Week 1, but an open date meant the teams around them had another opportunity to add current-season results while they waited.
That matters early in the FPRI because ratings remain connected even when a team does not play. Opponents continue producing results, strength-of-schedule relationships change and teams nearby can rise or fall based on new information.
The Villages gets its chance to add another result in Week 3.
Week 3 Spotlight: Columbia Gets Another Strong Test
Columbia’s 2-0 start will be tested again Friday when Madison County visits Tiger Stadium in Lake City for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The Tigers have already beaten Bolles 20-19 and Lakewood 24-6, showing they can win both a one-point game and a more comfortable contest. Madison County arrives unbeaten as well, making this one of the most significant games involving a North Central Florida Power 10 team this week.
Vanguard also gets no break in the schedule, traveling to Jesuit at 7:30 p.m. after opening against Buchholz and Miami Norland. The Knights have already demonstrated that they can compete with — and beat — strong opponents, and Friday gives them another chance to strengthen that early résumé.
Buchholz faces Eastside at Citizens Field, Hawthorne hosts Hernando and Bradford welcomes Zarephath Academy as all three look to improve to 3-0. Dunnellon hosts West Port, South Sumter travels to St. Cloud and The Villages returns from its open week against South Lake.
Stability at the Top, Pressure Underneath
The defining feature of North Central Florida through two weeks is the contrast between a stable top four and a rapidly developing chase behind them.
Buchholz, Hawthorne, Bradford and Columbia have all started 2-0 and remain Nos. 1 through 4. None has given the FPRI enough reason to move them from those positions.
But Vanguard’s win over Miami Norland changes the conversation behind them. Dunnellon’s two dominant victories are becoming difficult to ignore, while South Sumter has stacked two wins and now owns a direct victory over Williston.
With only two weeks of regular-season results in the system, preseason information still matters. Its influence will continue shrinking, and the teams producing the strongest current results will have increasing opportunities to move.
The top four held through Week 2. The battle underneath them is only getting started.
Explore the Complete Florida Power Rankings Index
The North Central Florida Power 10 is part of FloridaHSFootball.com’s Enhanced Florida Power Rankings Index, which ranks all 587 football teams in Florida — 563 11-man teams and 24 8-man teams — while also powering the Florida Power 25, classification rankings and eight regional rankings throughout the season.
As more games are played, current performance and opponent strength will continue replacing preseason information within the ratings.
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