Top 25 Florida high school football rankings (10/27/2024)

IMG Academy holds down the top spot, with Chaminade-Madonna and Lakeland following as we head into the last two weeks of the season

IMG Academy players run onto the field. The IMG Academy National squad hosted the Cocoa High School Tigers Friday, Sept. 6, 2024 in Bradenton. / Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

Florida high school football has had plenty of ups and downs through the first nine weeks and now with an extra week added to the schedule, things will get a bit more hectic before the playoffs.

Upsets and close calls have filled the scoreboards as we try and configure every week who are exactly the Sunshine State's top football programs week in and week out.

This past week was no different. Plenty of exciting games were on tap, bringing to you a whole new perspective on the best out of Florida.

Here's the Top 25 Florida high school football teams after Week 10, as we see it.

High School On SI Top 25 Florida football rankings

1. IMG Academy (6-1)

De Smet vs IMG Academy football Sept 3 2022 / Ron Rigdon

Another test against a Florida-ranked club and the Ascenders passed, barely. IMG Academy went out-of-state and came away with a 14-13 win over East St. Louis. Billy Miller's team can absolutely win out at this point. Toughest game will likely be against rival St. Frances Academy (Maryland) this week on the road.

2. Chaminade-Madonna (8-2)

Chris Ewald of Chaminade-Madonna, a University of Miami commit and one of the best defensive backs in the nation, has been nominated for the prestigious Nat Moore Award in South Florida. / Matt Christopher

Sooner or later, you had to imagine these guys would be back near the top of the rankings. The Lions conclude the regular season with a 62-17 thumping of Broward County foe Cardinal Gibbons.

3. Lakeland (8-0)

LakelandFootball2023.jpeg /

One week and two wins for the Dreadanaughts as they started off the week with a rout of Specially Fit Academy on a Monday before routing rival Kathleen on Friday. No big deal.

4. Armwood (6-0)

The Portal 305

Armwood was another team that was able to run away with a win, as the Hawks blasted Wharton, 55-0. Evan Davis' group should easily finish 10-0.

5. Venice (8-1)

Venice High quarterback Jayce Nixon (#2) passes the ball in the first quarter. The Venice High School Indians hosted the IMG Academy Ascenders National team on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. / Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

John Peacock's crew took care of business when they crushed Sarasota, 76-0. Next up is a tilt against rival Sarasota Riverview, which will decide a district championship.

6. Miami Central (8-1)

Miami Central football / Robson Lopes

The Rockets cap the regular season with two victories last week against Stranahan and Somerset Academy, both blowouts.

7. Miami Norland (7-2)

Miami Norland quarterback Ennior Yapoor (17). / Jeff Klein

Yes, we know they Vikings just lost a game, but their two losses are to teams that were ranked ahead of them to begin with. Miami Norland finished the regular season with a 37-20 win over Plantation.

8. Plantation American Heritage (5-4)

American Heritage quarterback and Texas commit Dia Bell (3). / Jeff Klein

There’s no reason to drop the Patriots too far down the rankings as they lost in the final seconds to Miami Norland a couple weeks ago. Mike Smith's team then ended the regular season with a wild 42-38 come-from-behind win over St. Thomas Aquinas.

9. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-3)

Both St. Thomas Aquinas and American Heritage have face grueling schedule thus far in 2024. Tonight's meeting in Fort Lauderdale is one more major test for each squad. / Matt Christopher

Last time the Raiders had three losses in a season was 2017, when they lost to Venice in the Class 7A state championship.

10. Jones (7-0)

Dereon Coleman selected Miami (FL) over Oklahoma, Ole Miss and UCF / Dereon Coleman/X

The Fightin’ Tigers got a historical performance from Miami (FL) commit Dereon Coleman, who threw seven first half touchdowns in a 77-0 win over Lake Region.

11. Cocoa (5-3)

Class of 2026 quarterback Brady Hart (Cocoa High School, Florida) is committed to play college football at Michigan. / Matt Christopher

The Tigers are ready to show folks they are still the team to beat in Class 2A after a 48-0 throttling of Astronaut. Cocoa ends the season against Rockledge.

12. Miami Northwestern (6-3)

Miami high school powers Northwestern and Norland will meet in a big South Florida showdown. /

Teddy Bridgewater’s bunch ended the regular season with a 54-7 thrashing of St. Brendan.

13. The First Academy (7-1)

The First Academy quarterback Salomon Georges threw a pair of touchdown passes in a 77-19 Kickoff Classic rout of Leto High School. / The First Academy

The First Academy made another statement when it comes to picking up big wins, defeating Sanford Seminole, 36-25. We wish the Royals played Jones this season for the title of the best in the 407.

14. Clearwater Central Catholic (6-2)

FHSAA 1M Championship Chaminade-Madonna vs Clearwater Central Catholic December 8, 2022 / Matt Christopher

There's no shame in the latest loss for the Marauders, falling to arguably one of the nation's most talented teams in St. Frances Academy (Maryland).

15. Lake Mary (7-2)

After a 52-13 demolishment of Lake Brantley, Lake Mary will conclude the regular season with a quarterback-eccentric tilt against Bishop Moore.

16. Western (5-4)

Western Football - Adam Ratkevich - 8:24:2023 /

The Wildcats are starting to find their stride at the right time and could win out with a game against West Broward remaining this week.

17. Sanford Seminole (7-2)

Seminole high football plans to once again be the standard-bearer for Central Florida football excellence. / Seminole High football

The Seminoles two losses have come against Lake Mary and The First Academy. Both are ranked ahead and we could see the 'Noles making a playoff run if they can get healthy.

18. Manatee (7-1)

The Manatee Hurricanes with a 41-0 win over the Southeast Seminoles in a non-district game Friday night, Aug. 30, 2024, in Bradenton. / Thomas Bender/ Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

Manatee locked up the Class 5A, District 9 championship with a win over Braden River last week. The Hurricanes have no more games remaining, thus concluding their season until the playoffs.

19. Nease (7-0)

Ponte Vedra Sharks Mason Hauseman (24) makes an ankle tackle on Nease Panthers quarterback Nate Harry (4) during late first quarter action. The Nease Panthers hosted the Ponte Vedra Sharks in High School Football Friday evening, August 23, 2024. The Panthers were the 24 to 7 victors over the Sharks. / Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nease kept its undefeated ways intact and rolled to a 48-15 defeat of Tocoi Creek. The Panthers have two games remaining against Bartram Trail and Beachside.

20. Cardinal Mooney (8-0)

Cardinal Mooney quarterback Devin Mignery (#14) pitches the ball to his running back on the Cougar's opening play. The Riverview High Rams hosted the Cardinal Mooney Catholic High Cougars Friday evening, Oct. 18, 2024 in Sarasota. / Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cougars will put their undefeated record on the line when they take on a talented Sebring team. Mooney route Tarpon Springs last week, 55-18.

21. Gadsden County (7-1)

Gadsden County football defeat Lincoln 31-21 at Gene Cox on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 / Liam Rooney/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Stop stratching your head on this one. The Jaguars deserve to be in this list and we should’ve realized it sooner rather than later when they played Venice somewhat tight, 34-19, in the preseason. The Jaguars have compiled wins over McCallie (Tennessee), Lincoln and now FSU High. A chance to go 8-1 is within sight.

22. Monarch (5-3)

Monarch's Samari Reed led the Knights to a 30-29 victory over Peachtree Ridge / Samari Reed/X

There's no doubting the talent that's there at Monarch, with players like Jabari Brady and Samari Reed. The Knights earned themselves a 22-20 victory over a pesky Piper club last week.

23. Raines (8-0)

Raines Vikings Jayson Farfan (32) looks for running room during first quarter action. The Raines High School Vikings traveled to the Andrew Jackson Tigers home field for their football matchup Thursday, October 26, 2023. The Vikings led 28 to 10 at the end of the half. / Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

There's really a lot to like about this Vikings squad. Raines should finish out undefeated with games against Atlantic Coast and Nocana (Texas) to cap the regular season.

24. West Boca Raton (7-1)

West Boca Raton football's Javian Mallory (3) runs during a win over Benjamin on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. / Chet Peterman / Special to The Post / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Bulls are just the difference of one point away from being undefeated this season. West Boca Raton's defense has recorded three shutouts.

25. Mosley (9-0)

Mosley plays Niceville at Tommy Oliver Stadium in Panama City, Fla., Oct. 11, 2024. Mosley won the Class 5A-District 1 championship game, 37-28. (Tyler Orsburn/News Herald) / Tyler Orsburn/News Herald / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Lo’Kavion Jackson (Mississippi State commitment) showed why this Dolphins’ team could be a real threat in Class 5A with the athlete leading the way. Mosley has locked up the Bay County championship with a win over Arnold and a district title as well.

On the outside looking in: Berkeley Prep, Bishop Moore, Bishop Verot, Blanche Ely, Bolles, Bradford, Buchholz, Cardinal Newman, Choctawhatchee, Delray Beach Atlantic, Dr. Phillips, Eau Gallie, Edgewater, Kissimmee Osceola, Lincoln, First Baptist Academy, Hawthorne, Glades Central, Jesuit, Lake Wales, Leesburg, Madison County, Mandarin, Miami Booker T. Washington, Mitchell, Naples, Newberry, Niceville, Pensacola Catholic, Piper, Port Charlotte, Plant, Southridge, St. Augustine, Tampa Bay Tech, Union County, Vanguard, Wiregrass Ranch

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