This fall, high school football fans in the state of Florida have several polls to follow throughout the season as FloridaHSFootball.com now has weekly state rankings, which are voted on by high school sports writers and broadcasters from around the state.
Meanwhile, this is the fourth year of the USA Today Florida Network state rankings, which made its debut in 2021.
Of course, the most important rankings will be the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) rankings, but those won’t come out for a few more weeks.
In addition to the state rankings, you can also find a regional ranking, The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties in Florida.
Based on the two rankings below, our two high school football broadcasts this week feature matchups of teams either ranked or receiving votes.
Buchholz (2-0), which has been to three straight state semifinal games, is ranked third in Class 6A in both state rankings, while host Eastside (1-1) is receiving votes in the FloridaHSFootball.com Sports Media Weekly Football Poll.
The USA Today Florida Network does not have receiving votes for any of their classifications.
You can listen to the Buchholz at Eastside game online at Mainstreet Daily News beginning at 7:15 p.m. with Cam Parker (Play-by-play) and Aiden Wacksman (Color) calling the action. Kickoff is at 7:35 p.m.
Former Gator Hank Rone and I will call the Newberry at Vanguard (Ocala) game on 106.9 FM “I am Country” beginning at 7 p.m. Both teams are ranked among the top 10 in the state.
The visiting Panthers (1-1), who lost a heartbreaker in overtime at Rural No. 1 Hawthorne last Friday, are ranked 10th in Class 2A in both rankings below. The Knights (1-1) are ranked ninth and 10th in Class 4A.
Kickoff from Booster Stadium is at 7:30 p.m.
Outside of Buchholz, the highest-ranked area teams are Bradford (Starke) (2-0), which is ranked third and sixth in 2A, and Union County (Lake Butler) (2-0), which is ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the two polls. Chiefland (2-0) is also ranked in the top five in both.
Here are both state rankings which were released on Wednesday. Area teams in bold.
FloridaHSFootball.com Sports Media Weekly Football Poll – Sept. 4
Ranking, School, First Place Votes in Parenthesis, Record, Voting Points, Previous Ranking
CLASS 7A
1. Venice (15), 2-0, 159, T1
2. Lake Mary, 2-0, 137, T3
3. Columbus (Miami) (1), 1-1, 116, T1
4. Seminole (Sanford), 1-0, 116, T3
5. Miami Palmetto, 1-0, 96, 5
6. University (Orange City), 2-0, 74, 8
7. Apopka, 2-0, 41, NR
8. DeLand, 1-1, 34, 10
9. Vero Beach, 0-2, 28, 9
T10. South Dade (Homestead), 1-1, 24, NR
T10. Western (Davie), 0-2, 24, 6
T10. Palm Beach Central (Wellington), 1-1, 24, 7
Receiving Votes: Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie), 4; Spruce Creek (Port Orange), 3.
CLASS 6A
1. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (11), 2-0, 154, 1
2. Armwood (Seffner) (3), 2-0, 143, 2
3. Buchholz (Gainesville) (2), 2-0, 133, 3
4. Monarch (Coconut Creek), 1-0, 102, 7
5. West Boca Raton, 2-0, 79, 9
6. Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 1-1, 49, 6
7. Homestead, 0-2, 47, 4
8. Osceola (Kissimmee), 1-1, 38, 8
9. Plant (Tampa), 1-1, 32, 5
10. Miami Southridge, 1-1, 27, T10
Receiving Votes: Nease (Ponte Vedra), 26; Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel), 18; Pace, 11; Tate (Cantonment), 7; Oakleaf (Orange Park), 7; Fletcher (Neptune Beach), 6; Durant (Plant City), 1.
CLASS 5A
1. Lakeland (9), 1-0, 149, 1
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (6), 1-1, 148, 2
3. Niceville, 2-0, 121, 4
4. Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach) (1), 2-0, 82, NR
5. Tampa Bay Tech, 1-1, 77, 6
6. Manatee (Bradenton), 2-0, 73, 7
7. Edgewater (Orlando), 1-1, 65, 3
8. Atlantic (Delray Beach), 2-0, 57, 8
9. Lincoln (Tallahassee), 2-0, 51, 10
10. Gaither (Tampa), 1-1, 18, NR
Receiving Votes: Mainland (Daytona Beach), 17; Miramar, 9; Heritage (Palm Bay), 4; Coconut Creek, 4; Ponte Vedra, 3; Beachside (St. Johns), 2.
CLASS 4A
1. Miami Norland (9), 2-0, 152, 1
2. American Heritage (Plantation) (6), 1-1, 147, 2
3. Jones (Orlando), 1-0, 127, 3
4. St. Augustine (1), 2-0, 106, 4
5. Lake Wales, 2-0, 84, 5
6. Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach), 2-0, 75, 6
7. Naples, 2-0, 71, 7
8. Jesuit (Tampa), 1-1, 47, 8
9. Vanguard (Ocala), 1-1, 24, 10
10. Dunbar (Fort Myers), 1-0, 23, 9
Receiving Votes: Jensen Beach, 12; Plantation, 5; Leesburg, 2; Escambia (Pensacola), 2; Port Charlotte, 2; Riverside (Jacksonville), 1.
CLASS 3A
1. Miami Central (14), 1-1, 156, 1
2. Raines (Jacksonville) (1), 2-0, 135, 3
3. Miami Northwestern (1), 1-1, 133, 2
4. Eau Gallie (Melbourne), 2-0, 115, 4
5. Bishop Moore (Orlando), 2-0, 96, 5
6. South Sumter (Bushnell), 1-1, 74, 6
7. Booker (Sarasota), 1-1, 47, 7
8. Dunnellon, 1-1, 37, 9
9. Baker County (Glen St. Mary), 1-1, 27, NR
10. Nature Coast (Brooksville), 1-1, 25, NR
Receiving Votes: Wakulla (Crawfordville), 12; Eastside (Gainesville), 6; Suwannee (Live Oak), 6; North Marion (Citra), 4; West Florida (Pensacola), 4; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), 3.
CLASS 2A
1. Cocoa (16), 2-0, 160, 1
2. Berkeley Prep (Tampa), 1-1, 139, 2
3. Bradford (Starke), 2-0, 118, 3
4. Bishop Verot (Fort Myers), 2-0, 97, 5
5. Booker T. Washington (Miami), 1-0, 95, 4
6. Pensacola Catholic, 2-0, 81, 6
7. Bolles (Jacksonville), 1-1, 61, 7
8. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), 1-1, 47, 8
9. Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota), 2-0, 43, 9
10. Newberry, 1-1, 16, 10
Receiving Votes: Kings Academy (West Palm Beach), 12; Gadsden County (Havana), 8; Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale), 2; Florida High (Tallahassee), 1.
CLASS 1A
1. Clearwater Central Catholic (10), 2-0, 151, 2
2. Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) (1), 2-0, 132, 4
3. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (4), 0-2, 117, 1
4. First Academy (Orlando) (1), 2-0, 106, 7
5. First Baptist (Naples), 2-0, 94, 5
6. Melbourne Central Catholic, 2-0, 91, 6
7. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), 1-1, 48, 3
8. Orlando Christian Prep, 1-1, 34, NR
9. Archbishop Carroll (Miami), 2-0, 32, NR
10. Carrollwood Day (Tampa), 0-2, 16, T8
Receiving Votes: Lakeland Christian, 14; Benjamin (Palm Beach Gardens), 12; Trinity Catholic (Ocala), 10; Miami Edison, 7; True North (Miami), 7; Victory Christian (Lakeland), 4; University Christian (Jacksonville), 3; Maclay (Tallahassee), 1; Providence (Jacksonville), 1.
CLASS RURAL
1. Hawthorne (16), 2-0, 160, 1
2. Madison County (Madison), 1-1, 127, 2
3. Union County (Lake Butler), 2-0, 126, 3
4. Blountstown, 2-0, 108, 4
5. Chiefland, 2-0, 96, T5
6. Williston, 0-1, 70, T5
7. Holmes County (Bonifay), 2-0, 64, T5
8. Baker, 2-0, 45, 8
9. Chipley, 2-0, 35, T9
10. Fort White, 1-1, 24, T9
Receiving Votes: Pahokee, 12; Lafayette (Mayo), 10; Fort Meade, 3.
SSAA 11-MAN
1. Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) (5), 2-0, 143, 2
2. The Master’s Academy (Oviedo) (6), 3-0, 135, 3
3. NSU University School (Fort Lauderdale) (5), 2-1, 133, 1
4. Mount Dora Christian, 3-0, 112, 4
5. Out-of-Door (Sarasota), 3-0, 86, 5
6. Oak Hall (Gainesville), 2-1, 69, 8
7. Jupiter Christian, 2-1, 59, 7
8. Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville), 3-0, 9
9. Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville), 2-1, 32, 6
10. Oasis (Cape Coral), 2-0, 22, 10
Receiving Votes: Glades Day (Belle Glade), 19; Seffner Christian, 9; Old Plank Christian (Jacksonville), 4; Saint Stephen’s Episcopal (Bradenton), 2; St. Joseph (St. Augustine), 1; Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach), 1.
SSAA 8-MAN
1. Shorecrest Prep (St. Petersburg) (7), 2-0, 79, 1
2. Merritt Island Christian (1), 3-0, 72, 3
3. Canterbury (St. Petersburg), 1-0, 58, 4
4. Master’s Academy (Vero Beach), 2-1, 52, 2
5. Ocala Christian, 2-0, 47, 6
6. Lake Mary Prep, 1-1, 38, 5
7. Donhaue Catholic (Ave Maria), 1-0, 28, 8
8. Florida Deaf & Blind (St. Augustine), 1-0, 22, 10
9. Geneva Classical (Lakeland), 3-0, 20, NR
10. Hernando Christian (Brooksville), 1-2, 12, 7
Receiving Votes: Real Life Christian (Clermont), 5; Riverside Christian (Trenton), 3; The Geneva School (Casselberry), 2; Academy at the Lakes (Land O’ Lakes), 1; Countryside Christian (Gainesville), 1.
SSAA-ATLANTIC LEAGUE 11-MAN
1. American Heritage (Delray Beach) (4), 2-1, 84, 1
2. Frostproof (3), 2-1, 76, 2
3. Lake Weir (Ocala), 2-0, 66, 3
4. LaBelle (2), 3-0, 62, 5
5. Paxon (Jacksonville), 2-1, 24, 4
Receiving Votes: West Nassau (Callahan) 21; Fernandina Beach, 20; Bayside (Palm Bay), 7.
USA Today Florida Network
School, 1st place votes, Record
Class 7A
1. Venice (7) (2-0)
2. Lake Mary (2-0)
3. Columbus (Miami) (1-1)
4. Seminole (Sanford) (1-0)
5. Miami Palmetto (1-0)
6. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (2-0)
7. University (Orange City) (2-0)
8. Apopka (2-0)
9. Western (Davie) (0-2)
10. DeLand (1-1)
Class 6A
1. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (6) (2-0)
2. Armwood (Seffner) (1) (2-0)
3. Buchholz (2-0)
4. West Boca (2-0)
5. Monarch (Coconut Creek) (2-0)
6. Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel) (2-0)
7. Nease (Ponte Vedra) (2-0)
8. Plant (Tampa) (1-1)
9. Pace (1-1)
10. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (2-0)
Class 5A
1. Lakeland (7) (1-0)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) (1-1)
3. Niceville (2-0)
4. Tampa Bay Tech (1-1)
5. Atlantic (Delray Beach) (2-0)
6. Manatee (Bradenton) (2-0)
7. Gaither (Tampa) (1-1)
8. Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach) (2-0)
9. Edgewater (Orlando) (0-1)
10. Lincoln (Tallahassee) (2-0)
Class 4A
1. Plantation-American Heritage (6) (1-1)
2. Jones (Orlando) (1) (1-0)
3. St. Augustine (2-0)
4. Norland (Miami) (2-0)
5. Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) (2-0)
6. Lake Wales (2-0)
7. Naples (2-0)
8. Dunbar (Fort Myers) (1-0)
9. Leesburg (2-0)
10. Vanguard (Ocala) (1-1)
Class 3A
1. Miami Central (6) (1-1)
2. Miami Northwestern (1) (1-1)
3. Raines (Jacksonville) (2-0)
4. Bishop Moore (Orlando) (2-0)
5. South Sumter (Bushnell) (1-1)
6. Eau Gallie (Melbourne (1-0)
7. Booker (Sarasota) (1-1)
8. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (1-1)
9. Dunnellon (1-1)
10. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (2-0)
Class 2A
1. Cocoa (7) (2-0)
2. Bishop Verot (Fort Myers (2-0)
3. Pensacola Catholic (2-0)
4. Berkeley Prep (Tampa) (0-1)
5. Booker T. Washington (Miami) (2-0)
6. Bradford (Starke) (2-0)
7. Bolles (Jacksonville) (1-1)
8. Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota) (2-0)
9. Gadsden County (Havana) (2-0)
10. Newberry (1-1)
Class 1A
1. Clearwater Central Catholic (7) (2-0)
2. Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) (2-0)
3. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) (0-2)
4. The First Academy (Orlando) (2-0)
5. First Baptist Academy (Naples) (2-0)
6. True North Classical (Miami) (1-0)
7. Melbourne Central Catholic (2-0)
8. Edison (Miami) (1-1)
9. Benjamin (Palm Beach Gardens) (0-2)
10. Carrollwood Day (Tampa) (0-2)
Rural
1. Hawthorne (7) (2-0)
2. Madison County (1-1)
3. Chiefland (2-0)
4. Union County (Lake Butler) (2-0)
5. Williston (0-1)