Top 25 Florida high school football rankings: Bishop Verot, CCC make their debuts

The Vikings and Marauders have been on a tear through the first four weeks of the season

Just about at the midway point of the season here and some things are clearer than others when it comes to the Top 25 Florida football rankings. 

We've seen some surprising results across the board and to take any given week for granted would be a mistake. Any one of these teams in our 25 can beat the other seemingly and this week provides a great glimpse as there's many that will be facing one another. 

The marquee matchup will be on Thursday night between Chaminade-Madonna and Miami Central. Also good tilts between Bartram Trail-St. Augustine, Sanford Seminole-Vero Beach and Apopka-Edgewater. 

Here’s the complete breakdown of Florida's elite high school football teams, heading into Week 5 of the 2023 season, as we see it. 

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SBLive Florida Power 25 Rankings: Week 5

1. IMG Academy (4-0)

Next game: at No. 17 Bartram Trail, Oct. 6 

Ranking rationale: Glenville (Ohio) gave the Ascenders a bit more problems than they would've liked, but a win is a win. IMG Academy remains undefeated with two weeks off before facing Bartram Trail on the road. 

2. Chaminade-Madonna (4-0)

Next game: at No. 3 Miami Central 

Ranking rationale: All the fun and games are over. Leave all the talking back at home because the matchup everyone down in South Florida has been clamoring to see is finally taking place. Chaminade-Madonna vs. Miami Central at Traz Powell Stadium. Doesn't get much better than that on a Thursday night.  

3. Miami Central (1-1)

Next game: vs. No. 2 Chaminade-Madonna 

Ranking rationale: All the talk about the Rockets' defense not being up to par against the vaunted offense of the Lions will be put to the test on Thursday night. Miami Central head coach Jube Joseph will make sure his guys are motivated and up to the task, but then again, when are his players not motivated?

4. Columbus (4-0)

Next game: vs. Miami Northwestern

Ranking rationale: Weather played a role in the Explorers' 15-0 victory over Miami Palmetto as the two teams had to wait nearly two hours at halftime before resuming play. Columbus faces Northwestern this week in a game that seems like a runaway for Dave Dunn's bunch. 

5. St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1)

Next game: vs. No. 15 Treasure Coast 

Ranking rationale: A thorough 48-22 defeat of Western has this Raiders ball club starting to look a lot more like themselves. Though they could be easily 2-2 at this point, another challenge rolls into town with a hot Treasure Coast team looking to upset Aquinas. 

6. Plantation American Heritage (2-1)

Next game: vs. No. 22 Cardinal Gibbons 

Ranking rationale: Now losing to Chaminade-Madonna has no shame for a youthful Plantation American Heritage team. They'll be at the top in the years to come. Mike Smith's team gets a bye week before facing Cardinal Gibbons. 

7. Miami Norland (4-0)

Next game: vs. American

Ranking rationale: We've been saying it since after the season opening win over Lakeland that these Vikings would likely be undefeated before facing Miami Booker T. Washington and Miami Central. Norland should roll past American before facing the toughest stretch of the season. 

8. Cocoa (2-1)

Next game: vs. Eau Gallie

Ranking rationale: The Tigers were fuming after the end result of the St. Thomas Aquinas game a couple weeks ago. It's now time to turn the page despite the loss, they've had a bye week to recoup before facing a tough Eau Gallie squad. 

9. Mainland (4-0)

Next game: vs. Lake Minneola

Ranking rationale: Another tough team and another win for Travis Roland's crew. All the questions offensively have been answered and defensively, this team can ball. Now they welcome a talented Lake Minneola team into Daytona Beach. 

10. Homestead (3-1)

Next game: at South Miami, Sep. 27th

Ranking rationale: The Broncos took care of business against Southwest and ran away with the victory 55.0. We continue to believe Homestead will be 4-1 when they face No. 4 Columbus on October 7th. 

11. Miami Palmetto (3-1)

Next game: vs. Clearwater Academy International 

Ranking rationale: Losing a heartbreaker to Columbus was tough for this Panthers' team, but there's no rest for the weary. Miami Palmetto welcomes into the 305 a very talented Clearwater Academy International team that's given everyone fits. 

12. Lakeland (2-2)

Next game: at Winter Haven

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 six games, Lakeland should be the favorite in all of them. 

13. Armwood (3-0)

Next game: at Jesuit

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 (4-0)

Next game: at No. 18 Apopka 

Ranking rationale: The first four games of the season have been all reasonably contests for the Fighting Eagles against Bishop Moore, Clearwater Academy International, Jones and West Orange. Now they face their toughest test so far versus No. 18 Apopka this week. 

15. Treasure Coast (4-0)

Next game: at No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas 

Ranking rationale: Okay Treasure Coast, you’ve got everyone’s attention. The Titans’ last three wins against Jesuit, Martin County and Sanford Seminole have been impressive. Last time a team from the Treasure Coast visited St. Thomas Aquinas. ...Well, we won't get into that. Can the Treasure Coast Titans pull off the upset? 

16. Sanford Seminole (3-1)

Next game: at Vero Beach

Ranking rationale: See, everything is fine in Seminoles' land as they breezed past Evans 35-14 last week. Now the Seminoles will hit the road again into the Treasure Coast to face a feisty Vero Beach squad. 

17. Bartram Trail (2-1)

Next game: at No. 23 St. Augustine

Ranking rationale: The Bears lost to Mainland 28-24 a couple weeks ago and we hate to penalize them when they didn’t have the services of UCF commitment Riley Trujillo. They are coming off a bye week heading into Friday's road tilt versus No. 23 St. Augustine. 

18. Apopka (3-0)

Next game: vs. No. 14 Edgewater

Ranking rationale: Winning with defense and just enough offense has worked so far for the Blue Darters. They may need a little more from Ty Davison and group when they welcome in Edgewater. 

19. Lake Wales (4-0)

Next game: at Davenport, Sep. 29th

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 597 rushing yards through four games. 

20. Miami Booker T. Washington (2-1)

Next game: vs. Carol City 

Ranking rationale: Bouncing back with a big 42-0 over LaSalle was just what the doctor ordered for the Tornadoes. Booker T. Washington’s next big game will be on Oct. 5 against Miami Norland. 

21. Venice (1-2)

Next game: vs. River Ridge 

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

22. Cardinal Gibbons (3-1)

Next game: vs. No. 6 Plantation American Heritage, Sep. 29th

Ranking rationale: The Chiefs bounced back from their 41-4 loss to Chaminade-Madonna with back-to-back wins over Dillard and Northeast. Now Cardinal Gibbons will prepare for a highly anticipated Sep. 29 meeting against Broward County foe Plantation American Heritage. 

23. St. Augustine (3-0)

Next game: vs. No. 17 Bartram Trail 

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. The Yellow Jackets face their toughest test to date with rival Bartram Trail coming into town. 

24. Bishop Verot (4-0)

Next game: at Sarasota 

Ranking rationale: We wish the Vikings played more out of area teams to get a better image of what this Bishop Verot team is all about. A couple things we do know is they can score a lot of points and Carter Smith is one of the top 2025 quarterbacks in the Southeast region, period. 

25. Clearwater Central Catholic (4-0)

Next game: at Sebring 

Ranking rationale: It probably shouldn't have taken this long to realize the Marauders are as good as they were last year, but we digress. The Marauders have proven they're the second best team in Class 1M and now make a trip to Firemen's Field this week to make another statement versus a talented Sebring club. 

On the outside looking in: Delray Beach Atlantic, Blanche Ely, Bartow, Benjamin, Bradford, Buchholz, Cardinal Newman, Carrollwood Day, Choctawhatchee, Coconut Creek, Dunbar, Edison, FSU High, Hawthorne, Jones, Lake Mary, Manatee, Mandarin, Miramar, Monarch, Newberry, Palm Beach Central, Ponte Vedra, Sarasota Riverview, Sebring, Sumner, Tampa Bay Tech, Tampa Catholic, Trinity Christian Academy, Vanguard, Vero Beach, Western, Williston, Winter Park

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