Regional football power poll features four area teams in top 10

The top five of the Prep Zone Power Poll coming into this week were all unbeaten. And all five teams won again in Week 8. 

But the sixth-ranked team suffered it’s first setback of the season. So while there weren’t a lot of changes in the top 10, at least there were some. 

Remaining at the top this week is Mainland (Daytona Beach). The Bucs improved to 7-0 as they blasted Deltona 65-0 and received nine of the 12 first-place votes. Mainland hosts Osceola (Kissimmee) as they head to a week 11 showdown with another unbeaten team in Lake Mary. 

Buchholz (Gainesville) stays at No. 2. The Bobcats are also 7-0 after a 38-3 romp at Oakleaf (Orange Park). Buchholz receives the other three first-place votes and faces a showdown with 11th-ranked Bartram Trail (St. Johns) on Thursday night in Gainesville. The winner clinches the District 3-4S title. 

Hawthorne stays at No. 3 and is also 7-0 after a 28-0 blanking of Union County (Lake Butler). The Hornets hit the road this week to play North Marion (Citra). 

St. Augustine is at No. 4. The Yellow Jackets (6-0) had their bye in Week 8, and this Friday travel to Citizens Field to play Gainesville as they try to wrap up the District 4-3S championship. 

One more unbeaten, Bradford (Starke), rounds out the top five. The Tornadoes (7-0) made the six-hour trip to South Florida and knocked off previously unbeaten True North Classical (Miami), 24-13. Bradford is back home this Friday against Lecanto. 

Last week’s No. 6 team, Suwannee (Live Oak), took their first defeat of 2023 as the Bulldogs lost 38-13 at then-No. 18 Madison County. Suwannee drops nine spaces to 15^th this week, while Madison County moves up five spots to No. 13 with the big win.

Raines (Jacksonville) moves up to No. 6. The Vikings (6-1) had no problem with rival Ribault (Jacksonville) in the Northwest Classic, winning 47-18 over the Trojans in a game that was played at First Coast High School in Jacksonville due to Ribault having a new school built. 

Vanguard (Ocala) moves up a spot to No. 7 after being off last week. The Knights (6-1) hit the road for a tough assignment this Friday at No. 16 South Sumter (Bushnell). 

Undefeated Williston sits at No.8. The Red Devils also were off last week and face a tough test on the road again this week at undefeated Hudson. 

Yet another unbeaten team, University (Orange City) moves up two spots to No. 9 after beating Spruce Creek (Port Orange), 22-12. The Titans (7-0) put their unbeaten season on the line this week against No. 10 DeLand. 

DeLand (5-2) dropped three spots but rounds out the top after a 49-42 shootout loss at Seminole (Sanford). 

Suwannee is the only Mainstreet Daily News team in the second 10. Columbia (Lake City), Newberry, and Fort White are all receiving votes. 

Lake Minneola (Minneola) is the only team new to the rankings this week, moving in at No. 20. The Hawks (5-3) replace University Christian (Jacksonville). The Christians (4-3) were 17^th a week ago but dropped out after a 14-0 setback to No. 14 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville). 

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 – 2023 FOOTBALL POLL #9

(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. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (3S) (9) (7-0) – 237

2. Buchholz (Gainesville) (4S) (3) (7-0) – 226

3. Hawthorne (1R) (7-0) – 210

4. St. Augustine (3S) (6-0) – 205

5. Bradford (Starke) (2S) (7-0) – 184

6. Raines (Jacksonville) (2M) (6-1) – 161

7. Vanguard (Ocala) (3S) (6-1) – 157

8. Williston (1R) (7-0) – 146

9. University (Orange City) (4S) (7-0) – 143

10. DeLand (4S) (5-2) – 132

11. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (4S) (4-3) – 111

12. Ponte Vedra (4S) (6-1) – 101

13. Madison County (1R) (4-1) – 89

14. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (1M) (5-3) – 82

15. Suwannee (Live Oak) (2S) (6-1) – 78

16. South Sumter (Bushnell) (2S) (7-1) – 70

17. Mandarin (Jacksonville) (4M) (6-2) – 59

18. Providence (Jacksonville) (1M) (7-1) – 37

19. Riverside (Jacksonville) (2M) (6-2) – 22

20. Lake Minneola (Minneola) (4S) (5-3) – 17

Also receiving votes: Leesburg (3S) (7-1) – 16; Bolles (Jacksonville) (2M) (4-4) – 9; Columbia (Lake City) (3S) (3-4) – 8; Newberry (1R) (6-2) – 6; Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (2M) (5-2) – 5; Fort White (1R) (6-1) – 5; Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (3M) (6-2) – 2; University Christian (Jacksonville) (1M) (4-3) – 2.