Florida High School Football Sees Major Shakeup in Rankings
This week in Florida, high school football kicked off with a bang as the first week of the season turned the rankings upside down. In a surprising turn of events, Lakeland has claimed the top spot in the USA Today Florida Network rankings after delivering a stunning victory against the nationally ranked Central in Miami, winning the game 16-8. This win was particularly impressive as Lakeland played without several key offensive starters due to injuries.
Following this victory, Lakeland received seven out of twelve first-place votes from media members, while the previous number one, IMG Academy, faced a close defeat against Corner Canyon from Utah, losing 35-34, and received the remaining five first-place votes. The shakeup doesn’t stop there, as Week 1 was filled with surprises, with six of the top ten teams in the Super 25 rankings—including IMG Academy, Chaminade-Madonna, and St. Thomas Aquinas—all suffering losses.
Here’s a look at how the top ten teams currently sit:
- Lakeland – Record: 1-0. This week: Off.
- IMG Academy – Record: 0-1. This week: at Bergen Catholic (N.J.).
- St. Thomas Aquinas – Record: 0-1. This week: at Boyd Anderson.
- Chaminade-Madonna – Record: 0-1. This week: at Blanche Ely.
- Cocoa – Record: 1-0. This week: at Mainland.
- Mandarin – Record: 1-0. This week: at Atlantic Coast.
- Plantation-American Heritage – Record: 0-1. This week: vs. Western.
- Venice – Record: 1-0. This week: vs. Miami Northwestern.
- Armwood – Record: 1-0. This week: at Sumner.
- Miami Central – Record: 0-1. This week: vs. Miami Edison.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how these teams rebound from their Week 1 performances and how the rankings will continue to shift. With multiple games lined up for the coming week, fans can expect more thrilling action on the field.
