Edgewater passes St. Thomas Aquinas in new FHSAA playoff power rankings
Edgewater overtook Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas atop the latest Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3M football playoff power rankings Wednesday morning.
The Eagles (8-0, 17.98 rating) will need help to hold that spot in the way of wins from opposing teams on their schedule over the final three weeks of the regular season.
St. Thomas Aquinas (7-1, 17.82) plays its last two games against teams with a combined 9-4 record. Edgewater finishes at Horizon (4-3) and Boone (3-4).
FHSAA power rankings use a MaxPreps formula that considers a team’s strength of schedule.
The Eagles are No. 6 in the state among all classifications. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (7-0, 24.58) ranks No. 1 followed by Cocoa (6-1), Miami Norland (7-0), Plantation American Heritage (5-1) and St. Augustine (6-0).
Lake Mary (7-0, 17.68) is No. 8 and Orange City University (7-0, 17.29) ranks No. 11 overall. Both hold the top seeds in their respective classifications on the eve of challenging district games.
The Rams play at Apopka (5-2, 11.28) on Friday and Sanford Seminole (6-2, 15.21) next week in outings that will decide the 4M District 2 championship. The ’Noles are No. 2 and Apopka is No. 7 in 4M.
University is home Friday versus DeLand (5-2, 9.10) in Class 4 Suburban District 9. The Bulldogs rank No. 6 in the region.
Four district champions and four at-large teams per region based on FHSAA power rankings qualify for the postseason in November.
On the rise
Olympia (5-2, 6.80) jumped five spots to No. 4 in 4M Region 2 after winning 31-21 at Dr. Phillips. The Panthers (4-3, 4.67) dropped to No. 8 with the loss.
The Titans need a win next week versus West Orange (3-4, 2.35) to secure a district title and avoid having their postseason fate decided by power rankings following Week 11 games.
Jones High (4-3, 7.24), which started the season with a 1-3 record, is up to No. 5 in 3M Region 1 entering Friday’s home game against No. 7 Wekiva (4-4, 4.79).
Bishop Moore (4-3, 8.88) is up two spots to No. 2 in 2M Region 1 behind Jacksonville Raines (6-1, 11.24). The Hornets have won four in a row since starting 0-3.
Despite losing the past two weeks by 84 combined points Tavares (4-2, 4.53) got a boost in the 3S Region 2 rankings after gaining a forfeit win versus Eustis. The Bulldogs are up four spots to No. 7 with three games scheduled over a period of eight days.
Tavares plays Friday at Mount Dora (5-2), Monday at Ocala Forest (6-1) in a makeup game and next Friday at home versus Belleview (0-6).
On the edge
The forfeit loss for Eustis (4-3, 1.24), which was the result of using an ineligible player in September, drops the Panthers to No. 9 in 2S Region 3. Eustis plays at No. 8 Mount Dora to decide the District 10 title for what is likely the final playoff spot in the region.
Things get no easier for Kissimmee Osceola (2-5, -0.22) this week as the Kowboys play tonight at unbeaten Daytona Beach Mainland (7-0, 17.42) while sitting at No. 11 in 4S Region 3.
Osceola, which started 0-5 for the first time since 2005, is in danger of missing
the state playoffs for the first time in 17 years when it finished 7-3 in 2006.
No matter what happens in Daytona, the Kowboys’ district championship game next week at No. 10 Tohopekliga (5-2, 3.06) will decide the postseason prospects for both teams.
Lyman (6-2, 3.77) is knocking on the playoff door at No. 9 in 3M Region 1. The Greyhounds host No. 4 Oviedo (5-2, 9.85) for the District 2 championship on Friday. The Lions won the past two years by a combined 100-19 score.
FHSAA rankings
Current rankings entering Week 9 are listed below for area teams and others of local interest in each region. Team records and FHSAA ratings are included in parentheses.
4M Region 1
1. Lake Mary (7-0, 17.68)
2. Seminole (6-2, 15.21)
3. Winter Park (6-0, 12.43)
4. Apopka (5-2, 11.28)
6. Evans (4-4, 4.91)
7. Hagerty (5-2, 3.72)
9. Boone (3-4, -0.86)
4M Region 2
4. Olympia (5-2, 6.80)
8. Dr. Phillips (4-3, 4.67)
10. Ocoee (3-5, 2.45)
11. West Orange (3-4, 2.35) 3M Region 1
1. Edgewater (8-0, 17.98)
4. Oviedo (5-2, 9.85)
5. Jones (4-3, 7.24)
7. Wekiva (4-4, 4.79)
9. Lyman (6-2, 3.77)
2M Region 1
2. Bishop Moore (4-3, 8.88)
10. Lake Buena Vista (4-2, -2.47)
1M Region 1
2. Orlando Christian Prep (7-1, 9.66)
5. The First Academy (5-2, 0.66)
6. Foundation Academy (4-3, -0.95)
4S Region 2
1. Lakeland (6-2, 13.90)
4. Lake Minneola (5-3, 8.08)
4S Region 3
1. Orange City University (7-0, 17.29)
4. New Smyrna Beach (6-1, 11.15)
6. DeLand (4-1, 9.28) (5-2, 9.10)
7. Spruce Creek (5-3, 7.48)
10. Tohopekaliga (5-2, 3.06)
11. Osceola (2-5, -0.22)
3S Region 2
3. Leesburg (7-1, 11.85)
7. Tavares (4-2, 4.53)
3S Region 3
1 Daytona Beach Mainland (7-0, 17.42)
10. Deltona Pine Ridge (3-4, -2.76)
2S Region 3
1. Cocoa (6-1, 21.05)
8. Mount Dora (5-2, 3.01)
9. Eustis (4-3, 1.24)