Top 25 Florida high school football rankings: St. Augustine enters the rankings

Columbus leap frogs St. Thomas Aquinas after last week's 42-14 win over Jesuit

Whatever can and will happen in high school football down in the Sunshine State just appears to be the theme for 2023.

You want the marquee matchups with out-of-state teams, we've got it. You want upsets of ranked teams, we've got that. Heck, if you're big into weather, we've even got inclement conditions you can look into every day leading into Friday nights.

What we're trying to say here is the Power 25 definitely has seen shakeups since the preseason and though not a lot of newbies, there has been some movement.

Here’s the complete breakdown of Florida's elite high school football teams, heading into Week 4 of the 2023 season, as we see it. 

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SBLive Florida Power 25 Rankings: Week 4

1. IMG Academy (3-0)

Next game: vs. Glenville (Ohio)

Ranking rationale: Three away games to start the season and three wins so far for the Ascenders. IMG Academy remains at the top as they welcome in Glenville (Ohio) for the home opener this week. 

2. Chaminade-Madonna (3-0)

Next game: at Plantation American Heritage

Ranking rationale: An unworldly 282-yard effort from Ohio State commitment Jeremiah Smith was all the talk when the Lions breezed past Bergen Catholic (New Jersey) last week. Now, a showdown with American Heritage this week should be a doozy. 

3. Miami Central (1-1)

Next game: vs. Carol City 

Ranking rationale: First Power 25 matchup for the Rockets and they were able to dispatch of Miami Booker T. Washington. Would be lying if we all didn't think that Jube Joseph's bunch is looking more ahead to next week's matchup against Chaminade-Madonna than Carol City. 

4. Plantation American Heritage (2-0)

Next game: vs. Chaminade-Madonna

Ranking rationale: A season opening win against St. John's should've made believers out of everyone, but if it didn't, the Patriots got you covered. Mike Smith's bunch dispatched an always tough Trinity Christian Academy 27-14 at home.

5. Columbus (3-0)

Next game: vs. Miami Palmetto 

Ranking rationale: It was the second time the Explorers had to head over to the 813 after beating Jesuit 42-14 and they arrived back to the 305 with another win. Now, Miami Palmetto is on the clock and that will be another Power 25 matchup to watch for this week. 

6. St. Thomas Aquinas (2-1)

Next game: vs. Western 

Ranking rationale: So you might've heard about the Raiders' last game against Cocoa? Yeah, who hasn't and the win snatched from the jaws of defeat is enough to drop St. Thomas Aquinas a spot down. They play Western this week, who is coming off a loss to Coconut Creek. 

7. Miami Norland

Next game: vs. Monsignor Pace 

Ranking rationale: In what was thought to be a somewhat competitive game versus Southridge turned into a 54-6 romp. Norland should be 5-0 by the time they face Miami Booker T. Washington and Miami Central back-to-back. 

8. Cocoa (2-1)

Next game: vs. Eau Gallie, Sep. 22 

Ranking rationale: The Tigers were fuming after the end result of the St. Thomas Aquinas game. It's now time to turn the page despite the loss and they'll have a bye week before facing a tough Eau Gallie squad. 

9. Mainland (3-0)

Next game: vs. Raines 

Ranking rationale: Talent all over the field on both sides of the ball and a gritty road win last week against Bartram Trail has this team brimming. Another week and another tough opponent as they welcome Raines into town on Friday. 

10. Homestead (2-1)

Next game: vs. Southwest 

Ranking rationale: The Broncos took care of business when the Lakewood Spartans came into town, winning 35-7. We think Homestead will be 4-1 when they face currently ranked No. 5 Columbus on October 7th.  

11. Miami Palmetto (3-0)

Next game: at Columbus 

Ranking rationale: The Panthers are coming off a 38-0 win over Killian and now head into a two-game stretch where they face Columbus and Clearwater Academy International. 

12. Lakeland (1-2)

Next game: at Kissimmee Osceola 

Ranking rationale: On the positive side for the Dreadnaughts, their losses have come against very good opponents in Miami Norland and St. Joseph’s Prep (Pennsylvania). The next seven games, Lakeland should be the favorite. 

13. Armwood (3-0)

Next game: at Jesuit, Sep. 22

Ranking rationale: The Hawks have out-scored opponents 137-37 behind the play of running back Girard Pringle. Pringle has rushed for 559 yards this season. 

14. Edgewater (3-0)

Next game: vs. Jones 

Ranking rationale: First three games of the season have been all close contests for the Fighting Eagles against Bishop Moore, Clearwater Academy International and West Orange. Now they face their toughest test so far versus Jones this week. 

15. Treasure Coast (3-0)

Next game: at Martin County 

Ranking rationale: Okay Treasure Coast, you’ve got everyone’s attention. The Titans’ last two wins against Jesuit and Sanford Seminole have been impressive. Now they get a regional contest against Martin County this week. 

16. Sanford Seminole (2-1)

Next game: at Evans 

Ranking rationale: The Seminoles suffered their first loss of the season in a 14-9 defensive slugfest on the road. Now Karl Calhoun’s squad will need to bounce back against a feisty Evans team. Seminole has yielded only 28 points this season. 

17. Bartram Trail (2-1)

Next game: at St. Augustine, Sep. 22 

Ranking rationale: The Bears lost to Mainland 28-24 and we hate to penalize them when they didn’t have the services of UCF commitment Riley Trujillo. They have a bye week before they face No. 25 St. Augustine next week. 

18. Western (1-1)

Next game: at St. Thomas Aquinas 

Ranking rationale: Not having running back Tovani Mizell for the rest of the season hurts Western offensively. It doesn’t get any easier when they face St. Thomas Aquinas this week. 

19. Apopka (3-0)

Next game: vs. Edgewater, Sep. 22

Ranking rationale: Another week and another scrappy victory for the Blue Darters. Apopka defeated Dr. Phillips 18-14 and now have a bye week before facing Edgewater next week. 

20. Jones (1-2)

Next game: at Edgewater 

Ranking rationale: It’s early in the season, but the Fightin’ Tigers have an important matchup against Edgewater this week. Jones will look to avoid their third loss of the season. 

21. Lake Wales (3-0)

Next game: at Lake Region

Ranking rationale: The Highlanders’ defense is for real. Lake Wales has only allowed two touchdowns this season and running back Rashad Orr leads the team at 587 rushing yards. 

22. Miami Booker T. Washington (1-1)

Next game: at LaSalle 

Ranking rationale: Despite losing to Miami Central 38-28, it showed this Tornadoes team can keep up with most in the state. Booker T. Washington’s next big game will be on Oct. 5 against Miami Norland. 

23. Venice (1-2)

Next game: vs. River Ridge, Sep. 22 

Ranking rationale: The Indians amassed over 600 yards of offense in the team’s 63-46 victory over Miami Northwestern last week. John Peacock’s team has a chance to run the table the remaining seven games starting with River Ridge on Sep. 22. 

24. Cardinal Gibbons (2-1)

Next game: at Northeast

Ranking rationale: The Chiefs bounced back from their 41-4 loss to Chaminade-Madonna in a 38-14 win over Dillard. Now Cardinal Gibbons will make a rare trip to Pinellas County before a Sep. 29 meeting against Plantation American Heritage. 

25. St. Augustine (2-0)

Next game: vs. Menendez 

Ranking rationale: We’re convinced that the Yellow Jackets may have the most potent offense in all of Class 3S. With Wake Forest commitment Locklan Hewlett and a talented group of wide receivers, this is a team on the rise. 

On the outside looking in: Delray Beach Atlantic, Bishop Verot, Blanche Ely, Bartow, Benjamin, Bradford, Buchholz, Cardinal Newman, Carrollwood Day, Clearwater Calvary Christian, Clearwater Central Catholic, Coconut Creek, Dunbar, FSU High, Hawthorne, Lake Mary, Manatee, Mandarin, Miramar, Monarch, Naples, Olympia, Palm Beach Central, Pine Forest, Ponte Vedra, Sarasota Riverview, Sebring, Tampa Bay Tech, Tampa Catholic, Trinity Christian Academy, Vanguard, Vero Beach, Williston, Winter Park

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl