Top 25 Florida High School Football Rankings (11/18/2024)

Lakeland remains the state's No. 1 team as the FHSAA playoffs head into the region semifinals

Lakeland Dreadnaughts (23) Jordan Henderson eludes a tackle from Winter Haven defense during first half action at Denison Stadium Friday September 13 2024, in Winter Haven Fl. Ernst Peters/The Ledger / Ernst Peters/The Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Florida high school football has had plenty of ups and downs through the regular season and now the entire state is now in the thick of the playoffs as the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) heads into the second round.

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.

2024 FHSAA high football state championship projections

5 takeaways from the FHSAA's high school football playoff bracket release

Florida high school football second round playoffs: Top 25 games to watch

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 the region quarterfinals and heading into the region semifinals, as we see it.

High School On SI Top 25 Florida football rankings

1. Lakeland (10-0)

Lakeland game captains Malik Morris (0), Orenthal Tinsley (20), D'Marius Rucker (3) and Caleb Stokes walk on the field for the coin toss prior to their game against Lake Minneola on Friday night in the Class 4S, Region 2 final at Bryant Stadium. / ROY FUOCO/THE LEDGER / USA TODAY NETWORK

Probably wondering how on earth can a team that didn't play leapfrog not one, but two teams. Well, we got to thinking and came up with that the Dreadnaughts own victories over Miami Central and Lake Mary, two ranked clubs. Unfortunately, Lakeland doesn't play Chaminade-Madonna or IMG Academy, but whose to say each one of these teams couldn't beat one another? The Dreadnaughts made easy work of Spoto in the opening round, 51-6.

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 opened up the playoffs with a 63-0 thumping of St. John Paul II in 1A.

3. IMG Academy (7-2)

IMG Academy at Ben Davis Indiana football 9-8-23 / Tyler Hart

Of course the argument is there on why IMG Academy could be second or even still the top-ranked club, but last week's blowout loss to St. Frances Academy has us taking a step back on the Ascenders. IMG Academy ended their season with a 28-7 win over St. Thomas More (Connecticut).

4. Armwood (11-0)

The Portal 305

Armwood started the postseason with a 49-0 romp of Melbourne. Now they have a rematch with Plant on tap.

5. Venice (10-1)

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 Haines City, 56-7. Next up is a visit from Newsome this week.

6. Plantation American Heritage (8-2)

American Heritage running back Byron Louis against Milton on Friday night at St. Thomas Aquinas High School /

There’s no reason to drop the Patriots too far down the rankings as they lost in the final seconds to Miami Norland a few weeks ago, only to get a win from that contest via a forfeit. Mike Smith's team cruised to a 40-7 win over Jensen Beach in Round 1.

7. Miami Norland (7-3)

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. The Vikings began the playoffs with a 39-7 beatdown of Hialeah.

8. St. Thomas Aquinas (8-3)

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. St. Thomas Aquinas blew the doors off North Miami, 58-0, in a 5A region quarterfinal.

9. Jones (10-0)

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

The Fightin’ Tigers have been playing as well as anyone and showed why again in a 42-7 dismantling of Lecanto.

10. Cocoa (7-3)

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

Cocoa ended the regular season against Rockledge, winning the rivalry game handily. The Tigers made easy work of Lake Placid, 63-0, to open the playoffs.

11. Miami Northwestern (7-3)

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

Teddy Bridgewater’s bunch continued their winning ways into the postseason with a 69-0 thumping of Barron Collier.

12. Clearwater Central Catholic (9-2)

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). Chris Harvey's crew defeated Holy Trinity Episcopal 64-14 in the first round.

13. Lake Mary (8-2)

Could this be the start to a deep playoff run? Lake Mary soundly defeated DeLand, 49-14.

14. Sanford Seminole (9-1)

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

The Seminoles one loss against Lake Mary, with the other against The First Academy now being reversed due to rules violations. We could easily see the 'Noles making a playoff run after a 38-28 victory over Creekside. Watch out for this group.

15. Manatee (8-1)

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

Jacquez Green's crew has a real shot of reaching the Class 5A state semifinals after cruising by Pinellas Park, 55-26.

16. Nease (10-0)

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 has kept its undefeated ways intact and rolled to a 42-14 defeat of Tate in the region quarterfinals.

17. Cardinal Mooney (10-0)

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

Cardinal Mooney proved they will be a serious contender in Class 2A after a 55-27 rout of Somerset Academy-Canyons last week.

18. Gadsden County (10-1)

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, Taylor County, FSU High and now Baldwin, 48-7 in the postseason.

19. Monarch (7-3)

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 barely edged out Homestead, 28-21, behind a controversial game-winning touchdown run.

20. Raines (10-0)

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 finished out the regular season undefeated and rolled into the postseason, beating Bay 53-14.

21. West Boca Raton (11-0)

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 end up being undefeated after all, with news that Western will be forfeiting its win to West Boca Raton. Dylan Potts' bunch followed it up with a 42-7 victory over Steinbrenner in the 6A playoffs.

22. Western (5-6)

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

Two forfeit losses by Western gives back games to Goleman and West Boca Raton, respectively. Instead of staring at the 'six' losses, understand that this Western team is still a very talented team and can absolutely make a deep run in the Class 7A playoffs.

23. Edgewater (10-1)

Before taking on its regular season schedule in Florida, the Edgewater Eagles will travel to London for an August 15th preseason game against the NFL Academy. / Edgewater Football

Edgewater makes their way back into the rankings after finishing the regular season strong and will get a victory from The First Academy forfeiture. Only loss has come at the hands of Jones, 31-21. The Eagles welcome Tampa Bay Tech into town this week.

24. Buchholz (8-3)

Buchholz Bobcats quarterback Trace Johnson (12) hands the ball to Buchholz Bobcats running back Justin Williams (13) against the Tocoi Creek Toros during the first half at Citizens Field in Gainesville, FL on Monday, October 14, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun] / Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Yes, the Bobcats have three losses on the season but take a closer look at who they came against. Buchholz fell by one score to Manatee, Nease and on the road in Georgia to Richmond Hill. The Bobcats impressed in the first round, winning 42-21 over Evans.

25. Port Charlotte (9-2)

Ike Perry/X

The Pirates re-enter the rankings after wrapping up the Class 4A, District 12 championship with a 21-18 win over Naples. Port Charlotte looked good in a 38-0 win over South Fort Myers and now will face a surging Jesuit squad.

On the outside looking in: Bishop Moore, Bishop Verot, Blanche Ely, Bolles, Bradford, Cardinal Newman, Choctawhatchee, Delray Beach Atlantic, Dr. Phillips, Eau Gallie, Kissimmee Osceola, Lincoln, First Baptist Academy, FSU High, Jesuit, Lake Wales, Madison County, Miami Booker T. Washington, Mitchell, Naples, Newberry, Niceville, Piper, Plant, Southridge, St. Augustine, Tampa Bay Tech, Union County, Vanguard, Wiregrass Ranch

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