Top 25 Florida high school football rankings: Coconut Creek enters the ranks

The Cougars narrowly lost to Chaminade-Madonna, earning themselves a spot in our Power 25 rankings

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 Central Florida foes Cocoa and Sanford Seminole.

Here’s the complete breakdown of Florida's elite high school football teams, heading into Week 7 of the 2023 season, as we see it. 

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1. IMG Academy (4-0)

Next game: at No. 20 Bartram Trail, 

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 and had two weeks off before facing Bartram Trail on the road this week. 

2. Chaminade-Madonna (6-0)

Next game: at Dillard 

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 four games and going undefeated. 

3. Miami Central (2-2)

Next game: vs. Miami Northwestern 

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 (6-0)

Next game: vs. No. 10 Homestead 

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. The Explorers have a highly anticipated matchup against Homestead this Saturday. 

5. St. Thomas Aquinas (5-1)

Next game: vs. Boyd Anderson 

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 (3-1)

Next game: vs. No. 16 Cardinal Gibbons

Ranking rationale: Losing to Chaminade-Madonna a couple weeks ago is no shame for a youthful Plantation American Heritage team. They'll be at the top in the years to come. Mike Smith's team thrashed Cardinal Gibbons 48-7 last week and are now on a roll behind sophomore quarterback Dia Bell. 

7. Miami Norland (5-0)

Next game: vs. No. 14 Miami Booker T. Washington

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

8. Cocoa (4-1)

Next game: vs. No. 18 Sanford Seminole

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 contest coming up against Sanford Seminole on Friday. 

9. Mainland (6-0)

Next game: vs. Deltona, Oct. 12

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. 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 No. 4 Columbus 

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 Saturday. 

11. Miami Palmetto (4-1)

Next game: vs. South Dade, Oct. 12

Ranking rationale: Losing a heartbreaker to Columbus a few weeks ago was tough for this Panthers' team, but there's no rest for the weary. Miami Palmetto bounced back with a solid win against Miami Edison. 

12. Lakeland (4-2)

Next game: vs. Bartow 

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 four games, Lakeland should be the favorite in all of them, including an interesting tilt versus Bartow. 

13. Edgewater (6-0)

Next game: at Timber Creek

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

14. Miami Booker T. Washington (3-1)

Next game: at No. 7 Miami Norland

Ranking rationale: Bouncing back with a big wins over LaSalle and Jackson was just what the doctor ordered for the Tornadoes. Booker T. Washington’s next big game will be against No. 7 Miami Norland. 

15. Venice (3-2)

Next game: vs. Manatee

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 five games and it started with a 54-0 rout of River Ridge two weeks ago. Now a big South Suncoast tilt with Manatee is on tap. 

16. Buchholz (6-0)

Next game: at Gainesville 

Ranking rationale: The Bobcats broke into the Power 25 and jump all the way to 17. We like to give them credit, though, more for some of their wins beating teams like Columbia, Sarasota Riverview, Creekside and now Vanguard. A upcoming game against Bartram Trail is looming large. 

17. Lake Wales (5-0)

Next game: at Lake Gibson

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. 

18. Sanford Seminole (5-1)

Next game: at No. 8 Cocoa 

Ranking rationale: See, everything is fine in Seminoles' land as they breezed past Vero Beach 45-20 last week and routing Apopka out of the rankings. Now the Seminoles will face No. 8 Cocoa, a game that went into overtime a year ago. 

19. St. Augustine (5-0)

Next game: at Nease

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 a couple weeks ago. 

20. Bartram Trail (3-2)

Next game: vs. No. 1 IMG Academy 

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 just defeated Fleming Island 49-28 and now face No. 1 IMG Academy at home. Yikes. 

21. Treasure Coast (4-2)

Next game: vs. Fort Pierce Central, Oct. 13

Ranking rationale: If any team on this list has had it rough, it’s been the Titans. Back-to-back losses against St. Thomas Aquinas and Cocoa have been tough. Now they get a much deserved bye week. 

22. Bishop Verot (6-0)

Next game: at Jesuit 

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. 

23. Lake Mary (5-0)

Next game: vs. North Miami Beach

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. 

24. Coconut Creek (4-2)

Next game: vs. Fort Lauderdale 

Ranking rationale: How does a team lose and enter the power rankings? When you only fall 35-27 to arguably the most talented team in the country in Chaminade-Madonna, that’s how. 

25. Clearwater Central Catholic (6-0)

Next game: vs. Northside Christian 

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 proved it again with a last minute 28-27 win over Carrollwood Day.  

On the outside looking in: Delray Beach Atlantic, Apopka, Armwood, Blanche Ely, Bartow, Benjamin, Bradford, Cardinal Newman, Cardinal Gibbons, Carrollwood Day, Choctawhatchee, Creekside, Dunbar, Escambia, Edison, FSU High, Hawthorne, Jones, Lincoln, Manatee, Mandarin, Monarch, Naples, 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