Edgewater (5-0) solidified its No. 1 spot in the Sentinel’s Super 16 coaches poll this week, gaining one more first-place vote to become a near-unanimous selection.
The First Academy (3-2), after an impressive victory over reigning Class 7A state champion Venice on Friday night, received the other first-place vote. That victory was enough to boost TFA five spots from last week’s rankings, moving the Royals into the No. 4 position. Bishop Moore (5-0) and Jones (3-2) remained Nos. 2 and 3 and Dr. Phillips also stayed put at No. 5.
After improving to 5-0 with a 24-21 victory over then-No. 12 Ocoee, Boone moved up two spots to No. 6
Week 5 Football Rewind: Boone 5-0 for 1st time in 17 years; Jones, TFA win
Osceola, 3-2 after losing to Jones 28-14, fell five spots to No. 9. And with TFA’s move, Evans (4-1) fell one spot to No. 7 and DeLand (5-0) fell to No. 9. DeLand, despite remaining unbeaten and averaging 43 points per game, still is not gaining respect from the voting coaches, but coach Rick Darlington said last week, “That’s good. Keep it that way.”
Lake Brantley, also undefeated at 4-0, was idle last week and stayed at No. 10. Unbeaten East Ridge (5-0) moved into the poll for the first time this season and sits No. 16, but the coaches remained somewhat ambiguous about unbeaten Orange County Public Schools Independent Windermere.
The Wolverines, who have won 15 straight games and were No. 14 a week ago, dropped out of the rankings despite thumping East River 45-6. Windermere’s strength of schedule rating is low.
The game of the week among Super 16 teams this week has DeLand opening district play with a huge game at fellow unbeaten Spruce Creek of Port Orange. This game determined the district champion a year ago and will go a long way in doing so this season.
Also on Friday, Lake Brantley will face its first real test, traveling to traditional power Seminole. The Seminoles, having fallen on hard times at 2-3, will be looking to use the district opener as a springboard toward righting the ship.
There are still three other unbeaten teams remaining in the Orlando area. OCPS Independent Innovation, in only its second year of existence, has been impressive, rolling out to a 5-0 record. Sunshine State Athletic Association members Umatilla (5-0) and CFCA (4-0) also remain unscathed.
Sentinel Super 16 Coaches Poll
Teams are listed with record, number of votes, first-place votes, results from last week, and next game. All games start at 7 p.m., unless noted.
Voting: 1st-place vote = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, etc. There were 15 coaches voting this week (Listed below). Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
Edgewater (5-0) 14 (14): def. Apopka 35-0; Next: Friday, vs. Lyman (0-5)
Bishop Moore (5-0) 52: def. Melbourne Central Catholic 45-14; Next: Friday, vs. Tampa Catholic (1-4)
Jones (3-2) 53: def. No. 4 Osceola 20-14; Next: Friday, vs. Auburndale (3-1)
The First Academy (3-2) 67 (1): def. Venice 21-14; Next: Friday, vs. Gadsden County (0-3), 7:30 p.m.
Dr. Phillips (4-1) 74: def. Wekiva 35-6; Next: Friday, vs. Olympia (1-4)
Boone (5-0) 86: def. No. 12 Ocoee 24-21; Next: Friday, at Timber Creek (2-3)
Evans (4-1) 87: def. Horizon 44-0; Next: Friday, vs. Lake Howell (4-1)
DeLand (5-0) 98; def. Deltona 39-0; Next: Friday, at Spruce Creek (5-0)
Osceola (3-1) 103: lost to No. 3 Jones 28-14; Next: Friday, at Melbourne (4-1)
Lake Brantley (4-0) 126: idle; Next: at Seminole (2-3).
West Orange (4-1) 129: def. Lake Buena Vista 49-0; Next: Friday, at Apopka (1-4)
Lake Mary (2-2) 148: Idle; Next: Friday, vs. Hagerty (3-1)
Ocoee (3-2) 170: lost to No. 8 Boone 24-21; Next: Friday, at Westport (1-4)
Oviedo (2-2) 175: Idle; Next: Friday, at Wekiva (1-4)
Winter Park (2-2) 178: def. Creekside 45-29; Next: Friday, vs. Freedom 1-4)
East Ridge (5-0) 187: def. Ridge Community 49-7; Next: Friday, at Celebration (0-4)
Others receiving votes in order of votes received: South Lake, Windermere, Lake Howell, Lake Nona, Seminole, and Hagerty.
Coaching panel: Orange County — David Aubrey (Lake Nona), Patrick Browning (Edgewater), Travis Gabriel (Olympia), Matt Hedrick (Bishop Moore), Karlos Odum (Evans), Tim Shifflet (Winter Park), Riki Smith (Windermere), Geno Thompson (West Orange), Elijah Williams (Jones). Seminole County — Greg Odierno (Oviedo), Scott Perry (Lake Mary) Lake County — Luke Hutchinson (Mount Dora), Brad Lord (South Lake). Osceola County — Eric Pinellas (Osceola), Mike Short (St. Cloud).
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
