Top 25 Florida high school football rankings: Little movement heading into the final three weeks

Miami Norland makes a jump up the rankings after overtime win over Miami Central

We’re now in the second half of the season here and some things have become 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 South Florida powers Miami Norland and Columbus. 

Here’s the complete breakdown of Florida's elite high school football teams, heading into Week 9 of the 2023 season, as we see it. 

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1. IMG Academy (6-0)

Next game: vs. Gray Collegiate Academy (South Carolina)

Ranking rationale: The Ascenders keep on winning and for all intents and purposes will likely go undefeated. IMG Academy is coming off a 55-14 victory against Pine Forest at the friendly confines of home. 

2. Chaminade-Madonna (7-0)

Next game: vs. Avant Garde Academy

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 three games and going undefeated. 

3. Plantation American Heritage (5-1)

Next game: vs. Naples

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 are started to find their groove and are now on a roll behind sophomore quarterback Dia Bell. 

4. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-1)

Next game: at Monarch

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 continue to make statements and a 42-0 win over Fort Lauderdale was another one. Any more questions about how good this group can still be?

5. Miami Norland (7-0)

Next game: vs. No. 9 Columbus 

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, the Vikings notched a huge 29-26 win over the Rockets and now focus on Columbus. 

6. Miami Central (3-3)

Next game: at Southridge

Ranking rationale: The hopes of winning a national championship are out the window with losses now to Bishop Gorman (Nevada), Chaminade-Madonna and Miami Norland. There's still the 'Drive For Five' the Rockets are on and head coach Jube Joseph won't let this team forget everything is still there in front of them. 

7. Cocoa (6-1)

Next game: vs. Astronaut 

Ranking rationale: The Tigers are right there among the state's elite teams even though they fell out of the SBLive Sports national rankings. Something tells us they'll be back there in the future eventually. 

8. Homestead (5-1)

Next game: vs. Miami Edison

Ranking rationale: The Broncos have really started to find their stride in the second half of the season. Ronnie Thornton Jr.’s most impressive win to date was this past last Saturday’s 32-16 victory over Columbus. 

9. Columbus (7-1)

Next game: at No. 5 Miami Norland 

Ranking rationale: A contender to the GMAC championship is the Explorers, who are still in line to compete for a title despite a 32-16 setback against Homestead a couple weeks ago. This team can still win it all potentially in Class 4M. 

10. Mainland (7-0)

Next game: vs. Kissimmee Osceola 

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. 

11. Miami Palmetto (6-1)

Next game: vs. Dr. Krop 

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 solid wins against Miami Edison and South Dade. 

12. Lakeland (6-2)

Next game: vs. Clearwater Academy International 

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 two games, Lakeland should be the favorite in all of them, including an interesting tilt versus Clearwater Academy International this Friday. 

13. Edgewater (8-0)

Next game: at Horizon

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

14. Venice (5-2)

Next game: vs. Sarasota

Ranking rationale: 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 a month ago. A 56-24 rout of Manatee proves Venice’s dominance on the South Suncoast continues. The Indians still have tough games against IMG Academy White and Clearwater Academy International looming.

15. Miami Booker T. Washington (6-2)

Next game: at Miami Northwestern

Ranking rationale: If not for an injury to their starting quarterback, the Tornadoes may be higher in this poll after falling 20-19 to Miami Norland. Ice Harris' crew notched back-to-back victories over Miami Northwestern and Miami Edison in a span of five days. 

16. Buchholz (7-0)

Next game: vs. Bartram Trail 

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 (7-0)

Next game: vs. Liberty 

Ranking rationale: The Highlanders’ defense is for real. Lake Wales has only allowed 27 points this season and they've recorded four shutout victories. Only once this season have they allowed more than 10 points. 

18. St. Augustine (6-0)

Next game: at Gainesville

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 a big wave a couple weeks ago by defeating rival Bartram Trail with backup quarterback Dylan Cook filling in for Hewlett. 

19. Treasure Coast (5-2)

Next game: at Centennial 

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 face Centennial on the road on a Saturday. 

20. Lake Mary (7-0)

Next game: at Apopka

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. 

21. Sanford Seminole (6-2)

Next game: at Lake Brantley 

Ranking rationale: The Seminoles bounced back after a loss to Cocoa by defeating a very talented DeLand club. Now Karl Calhoun's crew must continue with the momentum as the have Lake Brantley and Lake Mary to close the season. 

22. Coconut Creek (6-2)

Next game: at McArthur 

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. 

23. Clearwater Central Catholic (8-0)

Next game: vs. Seffner 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 will have a tough test at the end of the season on the road at Cardinal Gibbons. 

24. Tampa Bay Tech (8-0)

Next game: vs. Jesuit 

Ranking rationale: Now if you based the Titans on the preseason, it was hard to think this team would be back to being an undefeated power. All Jayson Roberts has done is pull off one of the best coaching jobs in the Tampa Bay Area so far. A visit from a surging Jesuit Tigers team will be one of the toughest games of the season. 

25. Palm Beach Broncos (7-0)

Next game: at Palm Beach Gardens

Ranking rationale: After a thrilling 27-24 win over Benjamin a couple weeks ago, we just can’t rationalize keeping the Broncos out of the Power 25 any longer. The best team in the 561 has proven they’re on a march back to attempting to reach the Class 4M state semifinals. 

On the outside looking in: Delray Beach Atlantic, Apopka, Armwood, Blanche Ely, Bartow, Bartram Trail, Benjamin, Bishop Verot, Bradford, Cardinal Newman, Cardinal Gibbons, Carrollwood Day, Choctawhatchee, Clearwater Academy International, Creekside, Dunbar, Escambia, Edison, FSU High, Hawthorne, Jones, Lincoln, Manatee, Mandarin, Monarch, Naples, Newberry, Ponte Vedra, Sebring, Sumner, Tampa Catholic, Trinity Christian Academy, Vanguard, Vero Beach, Western, Williston, Winter Park, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills

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