Top 25 Florida high school football rankings: Buchholz, Lake Mary break into the ranks

Both the Bobcats and Rams are each off to undefeated starts at the midway point

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 matchup that stands out in the Sunshine State this week featuring Power 25 teams is between Broward County foes Cardinal Gibbons and Plantation American Heritage. 

Here’s the complete breakdown of Florida's elite high school football teams, heading into Week 6 of the 2023 season, as we see it. 

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SBLive Florida Power 25 Rankings: Week 6

1. IMG Academy (4-0)

Next game: at No. 21 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 (5-0)

Next game: at Coconut Creek

Ranking rationale: After all the dust and smoke settled, it would be the Lions upending the neighborhood heros. Defeating Miami Central in a nail biter 31-28 is the most impressive win to date for Dameon Jones' crew. Now the Lions will focus on finishing the remaining five games and going undefeated. 

3. Miami Central (1-2)

Next game: vs. North Miami Beach 

Ranking rationale: The hopes of winning a national championship are out the window with losses now to Bishop Gorman (Nevada) and Chaminade-Madonna. There's still the 'Drive For Five' the Rockets are on and trying to win the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) championship as well. Stay tuned.

4. Columbus (5-0)

Next game: vs. Miami 

Ranking rationale: A likely contender to Miami Central for the GMAC championship is the Explorers, who just keep taking care of business week in and week out. They did it again by dispatching Miami Northwestern 24-7. A matchup against Homestead looms in Oct. 7. 

5. St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1)

Next game: vs. Miramar

Ranking rationale: If anyone thinks the Raiders are going to let a team come within striking distance of them again this season, think again. St. Thomas Aquinas made a statement last week in a 42-6 thrashing of Treasure Coast. Anymore questions about how good this group can still be?

6. Plantation American Heritage (2-1)

Next game: vs. No. 16 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 had a bye week before facing Cardinal Gibbons this Friday. 

7. Miami Norland (5-0)

Next game: 

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 now head into the toughest stretch of the season, with the Tornadoes and Rockets in back-to-back games. 

8. Cocoa (3-1)

Next game: vs. No. 19 Treasure Coast 

Ranking rationale: The Tigers still have a chance to turn heads throughout the remaining slate of games they have left. Defeating a talented Eau Gallie bunch 28-7 was the start of it. Cocoa still has tough contests coming up against Sanford Seminole and Treasure Coast. 

9. Mainland (5-0)

Next game: at Pine Ridge

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 hit the road this week to take on Pine Ridge. A home game on Nov. 3 versus Lake Mary will be the toughest game left on the slate for the Buccaneers. 

10. Homestead (3-1)

Next game: at South Miami 

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: at Coral Gables

Ranking rationale: Losing a heartbreaker to Columbus a couple weeks ago was tough for this Panthers' team, but there's no rest for the weary. Miami Palmetto looks to bounce back this week against a surging Coral Gables team. 

12. Lakeland (3-2)

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

13. Edgewater (5-0)

Next game: vs. Wekiva 

Ranking rationale: The first four games of the season have been all reasonably challenging contests for the Fighting Eagles against Apopka, Bishop Moore, Clearwater Academy International, Jones and West Orange. Now they face their another talented ball club this week in Wekiva. 

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

Next game: at Jackson

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. 

15. Venice (2-2)

Next game: vs. Sarasota Riverview

Ranking rationale: The Indians amassed over 600 yards of offense in the team’s 63-46 victory over Miami Northwestern a few weeks ago. John Peacock’s team has a chance to run the table the remaining six games and it started with a 54-0 rout of River Ridge last week. 

16. Cardinal Gibbons (3-1)

Next game: vs. No. 6 Plantation American Heritage

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 the highly anticipated meeting against Broward County foe Plantation American Heritage. 

17. Buchholz (5-0)

Next game: at Gainesville, Oct. 7th

Ranking rationale: Wait, Bobcats break into the Power 25 and jump all the way to 17? But, but, but how? Well, they're ranked No. 2 in the release of the first FHSAA state rankings. We like to give them credit, though, more for some of their wins beating teams like Columbia, Sarasota Riverview, Creekside and now Vanguard.  

18. Lake Wales (4-0)

Next game: at Davenport

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. 

19. Treasure Coast (4-1)

Next game: at No. 8 Cocoa

Ranking rationale: Pulling off the unthinkable just wasn't in the cards for the Titans last week against the mighty St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders. If Treasure Coast thought that was a doozy, now they turnaround and play a Cocoa team that for all intents and purposes should've beat the Raiders. Oof. 

20. Sanford Seminole (4-1)

Next game: vs. Apopka

Ranking rationale: See, everything is fine in Seminoles' land as they breezed past Vero Beach 45-20 last week. Now the Seminoles will return home to face district rival Apopka. This game always brings the best out of these two programs. 

21. St. Augustine (4-0)

Next game: vs. Mantanzas

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 made another big wave by defeating rival Bartram Trail with backup quarterback Dylan Cook filling in for Hewlett. 

22. Bartram Trail (2-2)

Next game: at Fleming Island

Ranking rationale: The Bears lost to rival St. Augustine 34-31 in a heated contest. Cory Johns' crew has their work cut out for them the next few weeks as they travel to Fleming Island against old assistant Chad Parker before facing No. 1 IMG Academy at home. Yikes. 

23. Bishop Verot (5-0)

Next game: vs. Key West

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. 

24. Lake Mary (4-0)

Next game: vs. Mandarin

Ranking rationale: We just can't hold this group back from entering our Power 25 any longer. Behind the historic play of sophomore quarterback Noah Grubbs, who is on pace for 60 touchdowns, this Rams team has a chance to exit out of the 'District of Death' of Class 4M, District 2. 

25. Clearwater Central Catholic (5-0)

Next game: vs. Carrollwood Day 

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 return home this week to make another statement versus a super talented Carrollwood Day club. 

On the outside looking in: Delray Beach Atlantic, Apopka, Armwood, Blanche Ely, Bartow, Benjamin, Bradford, Cardinal Newman, Carrollwood Day, Choctawhatchee, Coconut Creek, Creekside, Dunbar, Edison, FSU High, Hawthorne, Jones, Lincoln, 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, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills

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