When things kick off this week across the state of Florida, we will be crossing over the halfway point of this fast-moving season.
With district games and cross-state matchups taking place there will be plenty at stake for teams all over the Sunshine State.
From a race for the 1A through 6A state title games to the newly minted “Open Division”, which will feature the eight best teams, the contests that are played now until the end of the season will certainly sort things out.
Here is a look at the Top 30 programs for Week 6 – with additional teams that have a chance to be special this year:
1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A, 5-0). The nation’s No. 1 team rolled on the road for the second straight week – beating Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, 40-7. THIS WEEK: The Raiders will have the week off. NEXT WEEK: They will stay on the road for a big matchup with No. 9 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (10/2).
2. Bradenton IMG Academy (Independent, 4-0). The Ascenders fell behind No. 22 Orlando The First Academy but rallied and came away with a strong second-half performance, winning 48-27. THIS WEEK: A home game against Spring Legacy School of Sport Sciences (9/25). NEXT WEEK: A road contest to Springfield, Virginia to play The St. James Performance Academy (10/3).
3. Venice (6A, 5-0). The Indians continue to show why they are one of the best teams in the state with a 63-21 win against Cape Coral. The third time this year over 60 points. THIS WEEK: A home district game against Sarasota (9/25). NEXT WEEK: It’s a big one with Open Division on the line at No. 6 Jacksonville Raines (10/2).
4. Miami Christopher Columbus (6A, 4-1). The Explorers continued to roll with a district win against Homestead South Dade, 45-7. THIS WEEK: Another district game – at home against Homestead (9/24). NEXT WEEK: Another district game at home against Southwest Miami (10/1).
5. Miami Central (3A, 3-1). The Rockets rebounded from their loss at Buford, Georgia with a 54-18 win against Miami Jackson. THIS WEEK: The annual showdown against Miami Northwestern (9/25). NEXT WEEK: A district game on the road against Miami Springs (10/3).
6. Jacksonville Raines (3A, 5-0). The defending state champions flexed some muscle with a convincing 31-13 win against No. 21 Jacksonville Mandarin. THIS WEEK: Off. NEXT WEEK: A huge contest at home that will have a direct impact on the Open Division against No. 3 Venice (10/2).
7. West Boca Raton (5A, 3-1). The Bulls dropped their first game of the season against unbeaten St. John’s Prep of Washington D.C., 15-14. THIS WEEK: A home district game against Boca Raton Olympic Heights (9/24). NEXT WEEK: A road game to Belle Glade to play Glades Central (10/2).
8. Gainesville Buchholz (5A, 5-0). It wasn’t pretty but the Bobcats stayed perfect on the season – on the road against No. 27 Tampa Jesuit with a last second field goal, 20-17. THIS WEEK: A home game against an unbeaten No. 30 (5-0) Ocala Forest team (9/24). NEXT WEEK: A road trip to play another unbeaten team, Alachua Santa Fe (10/1).
9. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (2A, 3-1). Bad weather and flooding pushed the game against Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons back. THIS WEEK: A home district game against Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s (9/25). NEXT WEEK: It’s the No. 1 team in the country – Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – coming into Hollywood for a big matchup (10/2).
10. DeLand (6A, 3-1). The Bulldogs continued to roll along with a convincing 43-0 win against Deltona. THIS WEEK: A home game against the always competitive Port Orange Spruce Creek team (9/25). NEXT WEEK: A home game against Port St. Lucie Centennial (10/2).
11. Vero Beach (6A, 4-1). The Indians showed a strong defense and a timely offense in beating Boca Raton Spanish River, 28-3. THIS WEEK: A huge district showdown against unbeaten (4-0) Fort Pierce Central at home (9/25). NEXT WEEK: Yet another home game will take place against Daytona Beach Mainland (10/2).
12. Lakeland (5A, 3-1). The Dreadnaughts came up with a huge home win, keeping their Open Division hopes alive with a 21-16 win against two-time defending state champion Plantation American Heritage. THIS WEEK: A home district game against Auburndale (9/25). NEXT WEEK: Another home game against Dover Specialty Fit Academy (10/2).
13. Seffner Armwood (5A, 4-1). The Hawks won for the third straight time, 43-6, against Riverview Sumner. THIS WEEK: A road district matchup with Tampa Plant (9/25). NEXT WEEK: Off.
14. Clearwater Central Catholic (2A, 3-0). The Marauders got back to work after a week off and continued to show that they are one of the best 2A programs in the state, 35-11, over St. Petersburg Catholic. THIS WEEK: A key road game against a much-improved Tampa Catholic (4-1) squad (9/25). NEXT WEEK: A huge road matchup against defending state champion, No. 18 Sarasota Cardinal Mooney.
15. Tampa Carrollwood Day (1A, 5-0). The highest scoring team in the state rolled to a 67-0 decision against Tampa Chamberlain. The Patriots have outscored their opponents by an insane, 285-21 margin. THIS WEEK: Back on the road to play Zephyrhills Christian Academy (9/25). NEXT WEEK: A challenging home game against Jacksonville Trinity Christian (10/2).
16. Tampa Bay Tech (5A, 5-0). The Titans remained unbeaten with a competitive 35-28 win against Tampa Gaither. THIS WEEK: A home game against Valrico Bloomingdale (9/25). NEXT WEEK: A huge non district road game against 4-1 Ruskin Lennard (10/2).
17. West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (2A, 4-1). The Crusaders rebounded from their loss to West Boca Raton and beat Jensen Beach, 22-7. THIS WEEK: The defending state champions will have the week off. NEXT WEEK: A big road trip to play the always competitive Delray Beach Atlantic Eagles.
18. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (3A, 3-1). The Cougars enjoyed the week off getting ready for the stretch run. THIS WEEK: Another big home district game against unbeaten Bradenton Braden River (9/25). NEXT WEEK: A major home game against No. 14 Clearwater Central Catholic.
19. St. Augustine (4A, 5-0). The Yellow Jackets rolled to their fifth straight win – at home – against Orlando Evans, 24-20. THIS WEEK: A home game against much-improved Green Cove Springs Clay (9/24). NEXT WEEK: They will enjoy the week off.
20. Lake Wales (4A, 4-1). The way under-the-radar Highlanders had no problem with Kissimmee Osceola, 35-3. THIS WEEK: A home district game against Brandon (9/25). NEXT WEEK: They will enjoy the week off.
21. Jacksonville Mandarin (5A, 3-1). Their hopes of making the Open Division took a blow on the road against the defending 3A state champion, No. 6 Jacksonville Raines, 31-13. THIS WEEK: A home district game against Neptune Beach Fletcher (9/25). NEXT WEEK: A home game against the defending state champion Lake Mary Rams.
22. Orlando The First Academy (2A, 4-1). The Royals sprinted out to a huge lead against No. 2 Bradenton IMG Academy, but didn’t have enough, losing 48-27. THIS WEEK: After a busy start, they will have the week off. NEXT WEEK: A home game against the Cocoa Tigers.
23. Port Charlotte (4A, 2-2). The Pirates were off this past week. THIS WEEK: A trip to play a solid and unbeaten (4-0) South Fort Myers team (9/26). NEXT WEEK: A home game against Fort Myers Bishop Verot (10/2).
24. Lake City Columbia (4A, 5-0). The Tigers keep winning and slowly making believers across the state. THIS WEEK: A home game against Jacksonville Riverside. NEXT WEEK: A competitive trip to play the always tough Bradenton Manatee Hurricanes (10/2).
25. Lynn Haven Mosley (4A, 5-0). The Dolphins continue to win over those who are mom believers, beating Havana Gadsden County, 49-24. THIS WEEK: A home contest against Tallahassee Lincoln (9/25). NEXT WEEK: After a great start, they will have the week off.
26. Sanford Seminole (6A, 5-0). It wasn’t pretty but the Seminoles remained unbeaten halfway through the season against Daytona Beach Mainland, 27-21. THIS WEEK: A home game against Apopka (9/25). NEXT WEEK: A well deserved off week.
27. Tampa Jesuit (4A, 3-1). The Tigers dropped a last second contest on a field goal against No. 6 Gainesville Buchholz at home, 20-17. THIS WEEK: A trip to play Tampa Middleton (9/25). NEXT WEEK: The team will enjoy the week off.
28. Miami Palmetto (6A, 4-1). The Panthers got back on the winning track with a district win against Coral Gables, 28-6. THIS WEEK: The district schedule continues with a game against Southwest Miami (9/25). NEXT WEEK: The team will enjoy a much-needed week off.
29. Miami Carol City (2A, 2-2). The Chiefs got back on the winning track by taking down Miami Edison, 58-0. THIS WEEK: A home contest against Miami Booker T. Washington (9/24). NEXT WEEK: A trip back to Georgia to take on a competitive Grayson (10/2).
30. Ocala Forest (5A, 5-0). The Wildcats make their Top 30 debut after a 17-7 win against Clermont East Ridge. THIS WEEK: Talk about getting to test their unbeaten streak this year, it’s a short trip to Gainesville to take on No. 8 Gainesville Buchholz. NEXT WEEK: It’s back home for a contest against Belleview.
KEEP AN EYE ON:
1A
Blountstown (3-1)
Fort Pierce John Carroll (3-1)
Hawthorne (5-0)
Jacksonville Trinity Christian (2-3)
Jacksonville University Christian (3-2)
Lakeland Christian (5-0)
Madison County (3-2)
Melbourne Central Catholic (3-1)
Miami Westminster Christian (4-0)
Naples First Baptist (5-0)
Naples St. John Neumann (4-1)
Pahokee (4-1)
St. Petersburg Catholic (2-3)
Wildwood (4-0)
2A
Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s (4-2)
DeFuniak Springs Walton (4-0)
Jacksonville Bolles (3-1)
Miami Immaculata LaSalle (4-0)
Pensacola Catholic (4-1)
Starke Bradford County (4-0)
Tallahassee Florida High (4-0)
Tampa Berkeley Prep (2-2)
Tampa Catholic (4-1)
3A
Alachua Santa Fe (3A, 4-0)
Bradenton Braden River (4-0)
Brooksville Nature Coast Tech (3-1)
Bushnell South Sumter (4-1)
Crawfordville Wakulla (4-1)
Eau Gallie (3-2)
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2-2)
Fort Lauderdale Dillard (3-2)
Merritt Island (4-1)
Miami Springs (4-1)
North Miami Beach (4-1)
Santa Rosa Beach South Walton (4-1)
The Villages Charter (4-0)
Titusville (4-1)
4A
Plantation American Heritage (2-3)
Clearwater (5-0)
Delray Beach Atlantic (3-1)
Fort Myers Dunbar (3-2)
Fort Pierce Westwood (2-2)
Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (2-2)
Hialeah American (4-1)
Jacksonville Ed White (2-1)
Jensen Beach (3-2)
Miami Norland (2-2)
Miami Northwestern (4-1)
Middleburg (3-2)
New Smyrna Beach (4-0)
Ocala Vanguard (2-2)
Orlando Bishop Moore (3-2)
Orlando Jones (2-1)
Pompano Beach Blanche Ely (3-2)
South Fort Myers (4-0)
Tallahassee Godby (3-2)
Zephyrhills (3-2)
5A
Auburndale (3-1)
Bradenton Manatee (3-2)
Clermont East Ridge (3-2)
Coconut Creek (4-1)
Coconut Creek Monarch (2-2)
Fort Myers Riverdale (3-2)
Immokalee (3-1)
Kissimmee Osceola (2-3)
Melbourne (3-2)
Miami Southridge (1-3)
Niceville (2-3)
Orange Park Oakleaf (2-2)
Orlando Evans (2-3)
Oviedo (3-2)
Pace (2-2)
Palmetto (3-2)
Riverview Sumner (3-2)
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy (2-2)
St. John Bartram Trail (4-1)
Stuart Martin County (2-2)
Tampa Gaither (3-2)
Trinity Mitchell (3-1)
Viera (3-1
6A
Daytona Beach Mainland (1-2)
Flagler Palm Coast (4-0)
Fort Pierce Central (4-0)
Jupiter (4-0)
Lake Mary (1-3)
Lantana Santaluces (2-2)
Orlando Edgewater (2-2)
Orlando Lake Nona (4-1)
Palm Beach Lakes (3-1)
Port Orange Spruce Creek (4-1)
Ruskin Lennard (4-1)
Sarasota Riverview (4-1)
St. Cloud (3-1)
Tampa Alonso (4-0)
Wellington (3-1)
Wellington Palm Beach Central (4-0)
Weston Cypress Bay (5-0)
Winter Garden West Orange (5-0)
Winter Park (2-3)
Week 1 State Football Rankings: St. Thomas Aquinas Is The One. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-1-state-football-rankings-st-thomas-aquinas-is-the-one
Week 2 State Football Rankings: Top Teams Get Off To A Fast Start. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-2-state-football-rankings-top-teams-get-off-to-a-fast-start
Week 3 Florida State High School Football Rankings: The Nation Was Watching. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-3-state-football-rankings-the-nation-was-watching
Week 4 Florida State Football Rankings: Elite Teams Stay On Top. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-4-florida-state-football-rankings-elite-teams-stay-on-top
Week 5 Florida State Football Rankings: Things Are Getting Very Exciting. https://larryblustein.com/news/week-5-florida-state-football-rankings-things-are-getting-very-exciting
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
For the past 56 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein), Instagram (OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..