Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 1

Two new teams entered the top 10 of this week’s Florida high school football rankings, with Orlando Jones and American Heritage both making big four-spot leaps.

The rest of the top eight remain unchanged, but that likely won’t be the case after some huge matchups this coming week and the next.

Below is the updated Florida On3 Massey Ratings top 25, as of Sept. 30.

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

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1. IMG Academy

Previous Ranking: No. 1
After a season-opening loss to Corner Canyon (Utah), the Ascenders have been on a tear over the last four weeks as they moved to 4-1. One of their biggest challenges of the season was scheduled for Friday night against Phenix City Central (Ala.), but it was ultimately canceled due to Hurricane Helene. This Friday, they’ll face the state’s No. 2 team, Venice, in what should be a terrific showdown.

2. Venice

Previous Ranking: No. 2
The Indians survived a 54-51 thriller against Cocoa two weeks ago and then routed 0-5 Lehigh Senior by a score of 50-7 on Friday night. As we said above, the matchup between them and IMG should make for a fantastic football game.

3. St. Thomas Aquinas

Previous Ranking: No. 3
St. Thomas Aquinas has now scored 50-plus points in back-to-back games after routing Bishop Moore Catholic out of Orlando 50-15. Up next they’ll face a Hollywood Hills squad looking to pull off a huge upset before an October 11 showdown against No. 4 Chaminade-Madonna.

4. Chaminade-Madonna Prep

Previous Ranking: No. 4
The Lions are on a four-game winning streak after beating Western 26-9. That comes on the heels of a huge 45-20 victory over Miami Norland the week before. Monarch awaits on Friday night before the massive tilt against STA in two weeks.

5. Lakeland

Previous Ranking: No. 5 
Lakeland continues its dominant run to start the season, smoking Lake Gibson 63-0 last week in a game that was moved up due to the hurricane. They’ll get an extra few days of rest before taking on 3-2 Sumner on Friday night in a game the Dreadnaughts are heavily favored to win.

6. Miami Central

Previous Ranking: No. 6 
The Rockets got their biggest win of the season two weeks ago in a 35-32 nailbiter over No. 9 American Heritage. After a bye, they’ll face bitter rival Miami Northwestern in what has long been one of the Sunshine State’s best games each year.

7. Armwood

Previous Ranking: No. 7
Armwood stayed undefeated with a 49-7 blowout win over Hillsborough two weeks ago and then was scheduled to play rival Plant on Friday night. That game will now take place this Thursday night as the Hawks look to move to 6-0.

8. Cocoa

Previous Ranking: No. 8
Cocoa dropped its second game of the season with a heartbreaking 54-51 loss to No. 2 Venice on two weeks ago, but had the bye week to get back on track. Friday night, they’ll host one of South Florida’s best when Miami Norland comes to town.

9. American Heritage

Previous Ranking: No. 12 (+4) 
It’s been and up-and-down start to the year for perennial powerhouse American Heritage, which has dropped three games to Georgia No. 3 Milton, Florida No. 6 Miami Central, and Chaminade-Madonna. The Patriots got back to .500 with a win over previously unbeaten Plantation and now will have a bye week before a big game at No. 14 Norland in two weeks.

10. Jones

Previous Ranking: No. 14 (+4) 
The Tigers were one of the state’s biggest rankings movers this week, jumping from No. 14 into the top 10 after beating Auburndale 49-7. Jones now has the week off before a crucial matchup against 4-1 Lake Wales on October 10.

Teams 11-25 in Florida High School football rankings

11. Clearwater Central Catholic
12. Lincoln (-3)
13. Niceville (-3)
14. Norland (+1)
15. Bradford (-2)

16. Cardinal Newman
17. Nease
18. Seminole (+1)
19. Raines (-1)
20. Northwestern (+2)

21. Naples
22. Tampa Bay Tech (-2)
23. Columbus (previously unranked)
24. Manatee (-1)
25. F. W. Buchholz (-1)

Dropped from rankings: Gadsden County