It’s time for high school football to get underway once again. As the 2025 season begins, here’s the preseason Prep Zone Football Power Poll. 

And starting off as the top-ranked team is the team that finished last season at the top of the regional rankings. 

Raines (Jacksonville) was the 3A state runner-up last season, finishing 13-1 with a loss to Northwestern (Miami) in the state title game. The Vikings, who are off this week as their opener against Central (Miami) was cancelled, received six of the eight first-place votes to start the season in the top spot. 

Buchholz (Gainesville) is at No. 2. The Bobcats advanced to their fourth straight state semifinal appearance in 2024, and they must replace quarterback Trace Johnson, who transferred to California. The Bobcats garnered a first-place vote and open the season at home on Thursday night against No. 7 Vanguard (Ocala). 

St. Augustine comes in at No. 3. After a state runner-up finish two years ago, the Yellow Jackets advanced back to the 4A state semifinal last fall, losing to American Heritage (Plantation). St. Augustine opens their season at home against RV (receiving votes) Palatka in the annual rivalry game. 

Bolles (Jacksonville) is at No. 4. The Bulldogs were eliminated in the 2A region final at Gadsden County (Havana). Bolles returns most of its players and opens the new season against Monarch (Coconut Creek) at the Broward County Showcase on Thursday. The Bulldogs receive the final first-place vote. 

Rounding out the top five is the defending Rural State Champion, Madison County. The Cowboys, who edged No. 10 Hawthorne, 21-14, in the rural state championship, ending the Hornets’ chance for a three-peat, open their 2025 season at home on Friday against RV DeLand. 

Nease (Ponte Vedra) leads off the second five. The Panthers are coming off a 2024 season in which they were unbeaten in the regular season before being eliminated by Oakleaf (Orange Park) in a 6A region semifinal. Nease opens up at 14th-ranked Ponte Vedra in a St. Johns County rivalry. 

Vanguard is next, followed by Oakleaf at No. 8. Rounding out the top 10 are Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) and Hawthorne. 

Among the Mainstreet Daily News area teams, the remainder of the poll are 11th-ranked Newberry, No. 12 Bradford (Starke), No. 19 Columbia (Lake City) and 20th-ranked Union County (Lake Butler), who is tied for the final spot with Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville). Eastside (Gainesville) and Chiefland are all receiving votes. 

Moving into the rankings from last year’s final poll are No. 17 Mainland (Daytona Beach) and Columbia. Chiefland and University Christian (Jacksonville) dropped out. 

The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, girls basketball, boys basketball, softball & baseball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.

THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2024 FOOTBALL POLL #1 (PRESEASON POLL)

(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, final 2024 record, and total voting points)

Teams in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area are in bold

1. Raines (Jacksonville) (3A) (6) (13-1) – 156

2. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (1) (10-4) – 145

3. St. Augustine (4A) (11-2) – 139

4. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2A) (1) (10-2) – 125

5. Madison County (Rural) (10-3) – 117

6. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (6A) (10-1) – 113

7. Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (11-2) – 104

8. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (9-4) – 97

9. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (10-4) – 91

10. Hawthorne (Rural) (10-2) – 84

11. Newberry (2A) (10-3) – 79

12. Bradford (Starke) (2A) (9-2) – 77

13. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (8-4) – 58

14. Ponte Vedra (5A) (9-3) – 43

15. University (Orange City) (7A) (9-3) – 41

16. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (6A) (7-4) – 40

17. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (5A) (5-6) – 27

18. Flagler Palm Coast (7A) (9-2) – 23

19. Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (5-6) – 19

20T. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (3A) (9-4) – 15

20T. Union County (Lake Butler) (Rural) (10-2) – 15

Also receiving votes: Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (4-6) – 9; Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (5-6) – 8; Chiefland (Rural) (9-2) – 7; Eastside (Gainesville) (3A) (7-4) – 7; Fleming Island (Orange Park) (8-4) – 7; South Sumter (Bushnell) (3A) (4-6) – 7; University Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (7-6) – 7; Palatka (3A) (7-4) – 5; DeLand (7A) (5-6) – 4; Dunnellon (3A) (8-4) – 2.