Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21

The Florida high school football rankings have updated as the month of October rolls along.

Miami Northwestern picked up a crosstown win over Columbus to kick off the weekend on Thursday. Friday saw ranked wins by Venice, Miami Central and Niceville.

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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Below is the updated Florida On3 Massey Ratings top 25, as of Oct. 21.

1. IMG Academy

IMG is fresh off of a pair of bye weeks, plenty rested for its matchup with East St. Louis — the No. 1 team in Illinois. The Ascenders last played on Oct. 4, when they beat No. 2 Venice 21-16.

2. Venice

Venice is 7-1 on the year, its lone loss coming at the start of the month in a failed comeback big against IMG Academy. Since then, the Indians have bounced back with wins over Riverview and No. 21 Clearwater Central Catholic. This Friday, they will host Sarasota as 41-point favorites.

3. Miami Central (+2)

Miami Central is 6-1 coming off of its crosstown victory over No. 8 Miami Norland last Friday. The Rockets downed the Vikings 22-14. This week, Central will head to Stranahan. In addition to their win over Norland, the Rockets’ resume is highlighted by victories against No. 10 American Heritage and No. 14 Northwestern.

4. Chaminade-Madonna Prep (-1)

Chaminade-Madonna blew out Avant Garde 56-0 on Friday, making it seven straight wins for the Lions since they opened the year with losses to St. John Bosco (Calif.) and Blanche Ely. They will close out the regular season with Cardinal Gibbons this Friday.

5. St. Thomas Aquinas (-1)

St. Thomas Aquinas is 7-2 on the year with losses to Las Vegas Bishop Gorman (Nev.) and No. 4 Chaminade-Madonna. The Raiders bounced back from that Chaminade loss over the weekend with a 44-6 win against Monarch. They will look to start a winning streak this Friday on the road at No. 10 American Heritage.

6. Lakeland

Lakeland last played on Oct. 4 when it beat Sebring 38-7. Wins against No. 3 Miami Central and No. 16 Lake Mary highlight the Dreadnaughts’ perfect resume this year. Lakeland will look to resume action this Friday against Kathleen.

7. Armwood

Armwood is still perfect following a 62-3 blowout of Steinbrenner last week. The Hawks’ signature win came on Sept. 6 against No. 18 Tampa Bay Tech. They play no further ranked teams in the regular season, but will close against Wharton and Riverview.

8. Norland

Norland fell 22-14 to No. 3 Miami Central last week, its second loss of the season (joining a loss to No. 4 Chaminade-Madonna). The Vikings had previously rattled off three consecutive wins over Archbishop McCarthy, No. 12 Cocoa and No. 10 American Heritage. They will look to bounce back this Thursday against Plantation.

9. Jones (+1)

Jones beat Lake Wales 31-19 last week to stay undefeated in 2024. The Tigers will look to keep that perfect record alive this weekend as huge favorites over Lake Region.

10. American Heritage (-1)

American Heritage may be 4-4 on the season, but the Patriots have faced a brutal schedule. Losses have come to Milton (Ga.), No. 4 Chaminade-Madonna, No. 3 Miami Central and No. 8 Norland. On the flip side, they have accumulated wins against Western, No. 19 Naples, Plantation and Archbishop McCarthy. On deck is No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas.

Teams 11-25 in Florida High School football rankings

11. Nease
12. Cocoa (+1)
13. Raines (+2)
14. Northwestern (+6)
15. Gadsden County (-1)

16. Lake Mary (+8)
17. Niceville (+5)
18. Tampa Bay Tech (+5)
19. Naples
20. St. Augustine (NR)

21. Clearwater Central Catholic (-9)
22. Columbus (-1)
23. The Bolles School (NR)
24. Lincoln (-7)
25. A. Crawford Mosley (NR)

Dropped from rankings: Sanford Seminole, Cardinal Newman, Manatee