Florida High School Football Top 25 Rankings - Sept. 1

The high school football season continued in Florida last week, as many of the Sunshine State’s top programs were in action. Plenty of interesting results followed. IMG Academy earned a solid interstate victory in New Jersey, St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders took out some frustrations against Boyd Anderson and Miami Central opened its season with a win.

Another jam-packed slate is on deck as teams continue their quests for state championships. Below are the top 25 high school football teams in Florida, according to the Massey Ratings, as of Sept. 1.

1. IMG Academy Ascenders (3-0)

The undefeated Ascenders continue sit atop of our Sunshine State rankings after a 35-14 victory over Winslow Township at the Battle at the Beach Classic in Ocean City, N.J.

IMG Academy has looked a lot more like its dominant self under the watch of first-year head coach Greg Studrawa. It’s been no easy path, either, with wins over The First Academy, Hoover (Ala.) and now Winslow Township.

Up next for IMG Academy is a home matchup against Nevada’s Coronado (1-1).

2. St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (1-1)

St. Thomas Aquinas maintains the second spot in the rankings after taking out some frustrations on Boyd Anderson in a 70-6 rout on Friday night.

Three-star quarterback Mason Mallory, who transferred from West Boca Raton during the offseason, has displayed what he could do as the Raiders’ dual-threat behind center. Mallory compiled nearly 200 all-purpose yards against Mater Dei in Week 1 and added to those totals in Week 2.

Up next for head coach Roger Harriott’s group is a home game against Columbus, which fell on the road last week versus Good Counsel (Md.), 14-7.

3. American Heritage Patriots (1-0)

There’s no better way to see your team fly up the charts than by winning in dramatic fashion and that’s how American Heritage got things done a week and a half ago against St. Joseph’s Prep.

Five-star Texas commit Dia Bell, wide receiver Jamar Denson (Troy commit) and junior running back Jonathan Bueno Jr., all put the team on their shoulders and stormed back for a thrilling 31-28 victory over St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.) for win No. 1 of the season.

Trailing 28-0 at one point, American Heritage displayed grit, fight in their comeback victory over the Hawks. The Patriots are coming off a bye week and now will be up against neighboring Chaminade-Madonna (0-1) this week.

4. Northwestern Bulls (0-1)

The Bulls didn’t get to play No. 9 ranked Venice last week due to inclement weather. Northwestern will be back in action Thursday at home against Miami Carol City.

Despite the departure of coach Teddy Bridgewater, the Bulls remain one of Florida’s top tier programs. When looking at this team, there’s a very real possibility of repeating as state champions, regardless of the 0-1 start.

There’s a real possibility that Miami Northwestern could run the table the rest of the way as the Bulls play a fairly advantageous schedule from here on out. That and the fact that they dominated last year’s Class 3A playoffs, out-scoring opponents 262-12, we think that there’s a fair chance it could happen again this fall.

5. Miami Central Rockets (1-0)

The Rockets finally got a chance to start the Derrick Gibson era as they took the field against Miami Edison on Saturday morning and routed the Red Raiders, 50-12.

Miami Central won’t have to wait too long to play again as they return to Traz Powell Stadium to face off against Miami Booker T. Washington on Friday.

6. Tampa Bay Tech Titans (2-0)

Tampa Bay Tech seems like a team of destiny. The Titans weren’t expected to be in the conversation as one of the state’s best, yet here they are after a dominant opening win over Venice and a 50-14 beatdown of Wharton last week.

The team has a massive matchup this week against No. 7 Armwood in what could be Game of the Year out of the Tampa Bay region. Bring your popcorn this Friday because the winner will be crowned the kings of the 813.

7. Chaminade-Madonna Prep Lions (1-1)

Chaminade-Madonna Prep rebounded from its Week 1 loss to nationally ranked St. Frances Academy with a 28-14 victory over an improved McArthur team.

Four-star Derrek Cooper (Texas commit) is as good as they come for running backs, but he can not do it alone if Chaminade-Madonna wants to remain in the conversation as one of the nation’s best.

A bright spot is the youth movement at quarterback for the Lions as 13-year old Malik Leonard got the starting nod against St. Frances Academy. The young southpaw threw for nearly 100 yards and a touchdown against a vaunted Panthers’ defense in Week 1.

The Lions this week look to get back into the national conversation when they take on No. 3 American Heritage (1-0).

8. Armwood Hawks (2-0)

Rising up the charts in last week’s Florida high school football rankings are the Hawks of Seffner, who are now coming off their second straight win, 31-14 over Sumner.

There’s plenty of reasons to like this Armwood team, including senior three-star quarterback Rhys Brush, who is committed to USF.

Looking deeper at this Armwood roster and head coach Evan Davis has a slew of Power Four recruits littered all over, including in the secondary with cornerbacks Jaelen Waters (Miami commit), Larry Warren (UNLV commit) and safeties D’Montae Tims (Colorado commit), Kallen Martinez (UConn commit).

We’re looking forward to the team’s tilt against No. 5 Tampa Bay Tech this week.

9. Venice Indians (0-1)

Venice looked to rebound from their season-opening loss when they traveled down to South Florida to face off against Miami Northwestern.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had her own plans and postponed the game indefinitely, giving the Indians essentially a bye week.

The Indians struggled to move the ball on offensively in Week 1 against Tampa Bay Tech with quarterback Sean Long, who came away winning the quarterback battle. Now head coach John Peacock has to figure out how to change the team’s fortunes as they face a difficult slate of games to start the season.

Up next is a showdown with Bishop Verot at Powell Davis Stadium.

10. Mainland Buccaneers (1-0)

Making the biggest jump of any team in this week’s Florida high school football rankings are the Buccaneers as they leaped 10 spots after a 19-14 victory over Cocoa this past Friday.

The first victory of the season is certainly a big one as the team lost to the Tigers last year in a 51-0 decision. Mainland will get a chance to show everyone they are for real the rest of the way they face the likes of teams like Coffee (Ga.) and Deland (Fla.).

Florida High School Football Rankings: Nos. 11 – 25

11. Jones (2-0)
12. The Bolles School (2-0)
13. Edgewater (2-0)
14. Lincoln (2-0)
15. Columbus (1-1)

16. St. Augustine (2-0)
17. Lake Mary (2-0)
18. Oakleaf (2-0)
19. Jesuit (2-0)
20. Miami Palmetto (1-0)

21. South Dade (2-0)
22. Raines (1-0)
23. Clearwater Central Catholic (2-0)
24. Norland (1-1)
25. Port Charlotte (2-0)