Life without quarterback Tramell Jones has been fine so far for the Mandarin (Jacksonville) Mustangs.
But the competition picks up a bit on Friday for the Mustangs, who are ranked No. 1 again this week in the Prep Zone Football Power Poll.
Jones, a four-star recruit who is committed to FSU, was hurt in Mandarin’s win at Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) in Week Two. The Mustangs (3-0) had no problem without Jones against winless Sandalwood (Jacksonville), blanking the Saints 41-0.
But Mandarin, who received eight of the 12 first-place votes this week, face their toughest challenge of the 2024 season this Friday at fifth-ranked Bradford (Starke).Â
Bradford (3-0) moved up a spot to No. 5 after disposing of No. 17 South Sumter (Bushnell), 28-7.
Meanwhile right behind Mandarin and remaining No. 2 is Buchholz (Gainesville). The Bobcats (3-0) picked up a first-place vote after they struggled for three quarters but pulled away from city rival Eastside (Gainesville), 35-7. Buchholz hosts Manatee (Bradenton) this week in a game that has been moved to Santa Fe High School in Alachua.
St. Augustine remains No. 3Â despite not playing last week. The Yellow Jackets (2-0) received three first-place votes, but their big matchup with No. 6 Bolles (Jacksonville) was canceled due to weather and will not be made up.Â
Raines (Jacksonville) is at No. 4. The Vikings (3-0) took care of then-No. 14 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), 48-23. Raines hosts defending state champion Mainland (Daytona Beach) this week. The Bucs, who are 0-3 after a 7-2 loss at RV (receiving votes) Flagler Palm Coast last week, were 16th a week ago but dropped out of the poll this week.Â
Bolles is at No. 6, followed by No. 7 Nease (Ponte Vedra). Nease also saw their game against Ridge Community (Davenport) wiped out because of bad weather in St. Johns County, and the game will also not be made up.
University (Orange City) won again to improve to 3-0 and settles in at No. 8. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) is No. 9, moving up six spots after a 43-42 overtime win on the road at Ware County (GA).
Rounding out the top 10 is two-time defending state champion Hawthorne. The Hornets (2-1) saw their 27-game winning streak come to an end and lost their first regular season game in four years as they dropped a 41-27 decision at Florida High (Tallahassee). Hawthorne faces another big test this week as they host 18th-ranked Oakleaf (Orange Park).
Among the Mainstreet Daily News teams in the second 10 are No. 16 Chiefland and Union County (Lake Butler), ranked 20th. Columbia (Lake City), Gainesville, Fort White, Newberry, Suwannee (Live Oak) and Williston received votes.
Gainesville is 3-0 for the first time since 2012 as the Hurricanes edged Leon (Tallahassee), 14-7, on the road.
Oakleaf, Ponte Vedra, and Union County are new to the poll. Newberry, Trinity Christian and Mainland drop out from a week ago.
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 #4
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
Teams in bold are inside the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area
1. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (6A) (8) (3-0) – 232
2. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (1) (3-0) – 224
3. St. Augustine (4A) (3) (2-0) – 218
4. Raines (Jacksonville) (3A) (3-0) – 204
5. Bradford (Starke) (2A) (3-0) – 189
6. Bolles (Jacksonville) (2A) (1-1) – 148
7. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (6A) (2-0) – 145
8. University (Orange City) (7A) (3-0) – 143
9. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (6A) (2-1) – 128
10. Hawthorne (Rural) (2-1) – 127
11. DeLand (7A) (2-1) – 120
12. Madison County (Rural) (2-1) – 113
13. Vanguard (Ocala) (4A) (2-1) – 99
14. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (3-0) – 74
15. Dunnellon (3A) (2-1) – 59
16. Chiefland (Rural) (3-0) – 48
17. South Sumter (Bushnell) (3A) (1-2) – 33
18. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (3-0) – 28
19. Ponte Vedra (5A) (1-1) – 22
20. Union County (Lake Butler) (Rural) (3-0) – 20
Also receiving votes: Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (2-1) – 19; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (3A) (3-0) – 16; Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (1-2) – 13; Leesburg (4A) (3-0) – 11; Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (3A) (1-1) – 10; Deltona (4A) (1-1) – 8; Gainesville (4A) (3-0) – 7; Mainland (Daytona Beach) (5A) (0-3) – 7; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (6A) (3-0) – 6; University Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (1-2) – 6; Riverside (Jacksonville) (4A) (2-1) – 5; Flagler Palm Coast (7A) (2-0) – 2; Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (3A) (3-0) – 2; Springstead (Spring Hill) (5A) (3-0) – 2; Fort White (Rural) (2-1) – 1; Newberry (2A) (1-2) – 1; Palatka (2A) (2-1) – 1; Suwannee (Live Oak) (3A) (1-2) – 1; Williston (Rural) (1-1) – 1.