Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 7

The Florida high school football rankings have updated after an exciting week of games in the Sunshine State. Another good slate is on deck this week, but the effects of Hurricane Milton are yet to be seen.

IMG Academy won the game of the week, holding off Venice’s comeback bid for a 21-16 victory. Miami Central snuck past Northwestern 24-21 while Norland dominated Cocoa.

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. 7.

1. IMG Academy

IMG played in the game of the week over the weekend, taking down previously second-ranked Venice 21-16. The Ascenders hold on to the No. 1 spot in Florida this week ahead of a pair of bye weeks before their Oct. 25 showdown with Illinois No. 1 East St. Louis.

2. St. Thomas Aquinas (+1)

St. Thomas Aquinas improved to 6-1 on the year with a 64-0 blowout victory against Hollywood Hills. The Raiders have now won six straight after dropping their season opener to Bishop Gorman (Nev.). On deck is a huge showdown with No. 6 Chaminade-Madonna Prep. The Raiders are 2-point underdogs on the road.

3. Venice (-1)

As we mentioned above, Venice’s second-half comeback bid fell short last week against IMG Academy, with the Indians losing 21-16. It was the Indians’ first loss of the season, and they will look to bounce back this week as four-score favorites against Riverview on Thursday.

4. Miami Central (+2)

Miami Central moved up two spots in the rankings after taking down No. 20 Northwestern in a crosstown showdown. The Rockets snuck by the Bulls with a 24-21 win to improve to 5-1. Up next is Stanahan with Miami Central favored to win 49-7.

5. Lakeland

Lakeland held steady at No. 5 in the Florida high school football rankings after shutting out Sumner 28-0 last Friday. The Dreadnoughts have impressive wins this year over No. 4 Miami Central and No. 25 Lake Mary. They are 30-point favorites this Friday against Sebring.

6. Chaminade-Madonna Prep (-2)

Chaminade-Madonna fell two spots in the rankings despite a 37-8 win against Monarch on Saturday. The Lions are 6-2 on the year and getting ready for a huge home clash with No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas this week. The On3 Massey Ratings have Chaminade-Madonna as 2-point home favorites.

7. Armwood

Armwood stayed perfect with a 26-0 win over Plant last Thursday ahead of a home game against Sickles this Thursday. The Hawks have the No. 12 offense and No. 7 defense in Florida and a signature win over No. 23 Tampa Bay Tech back at the start of September.

8. Norland (+6)

In one of the biggest games in the Sunshine State last week, Norland took down previously top-10 Cocoa 33-14 in a dominant road performance. The Vikings are right back at it this week with a home matchup against No. 9 American Heritage, before hosting No. 4 Miami Central the following week. Norland is a 6-point home underdog against Heritage this Saturday.

9. American Heritage

American Heritage bounced back from 35-32 loss to Miami Central with a 35-0 blowout win over Plantation on Sept. 27. The Patriots sat idle last week in preparation for their road showdown with No. 8 Norland this week.

10. Orlando Jones

Orlando Jones is still undefeated after handling Auburndale 49-7. The Tigers have two On3 Massey Ratings top-50 wins against Edgewater and Osceola, and they have a top-20 defense in the Sunshine State. Lake Wales is on deck with Jones walking into Thursday as 26-point favorites.

Teams 11-25 in Florida High School football rankings

11. Niceville (+2)
12. Nease (+5)
13. Clearwater Central Catholic (-2)
14. Bradford (+1)
15. Cocoa (-7)

16. Raines (+3)
17. Sanford Seminole (+1)
18. Naples (+3)
19. Cardinal Newman (-3)
20. Northwestern

21. Columbus (+2)
22. Lincoln (-10)
23. Tampa Bay Tech (-2)
24. Gadsden County (NR)
25. Lake Mary (NR)

Dropped from rankings: Manatee, F. W. Buchholz