Cotey: Defense leads the way in the Top 25

If the first week got you fired up for high school football, the second week should engulf you in flames and….wait, that doesn't exactly work.

If the first week had you excited as can be for high school football, the second week should make you wet your….hold up. Not feeling that. One more try.

If the first week had you hungry for the start of the high school football season, then the second week is like a well-made dessert, with a creamy gooey chocolate cen…sigh.

Let's do this: Plant plays John Curtis Christian in a battle of nationally ranked teams, Armwood hosts Delray Beach American Heritage in a showdown between two 2011 state champions (until, well, you know), Countryside and East Lake do battle and Pasco opens its season.

And that's just in the top 10.

So if the first week had you filled with excitement and expectations, then the second week is just, well, wow!
(Nailed it)

This week's Top 25, with team record and last week's ranking in parentheses.

1. Plant 1-0 (1): When did Plant make the full and complete transition from high-powered record-setting offensive team to defensive monster? Did I miss that?

2. Armwood 1-0 (2): Alvin Bailey scored two ridiculous highlight-reel touchdowns and the Hawks defense was relentless, as always, and only going to get better.

3. Countryside 1-0 (3): Even with new quarterback Christian Strong still adapting, the Cougars dominated.

4. Largo 1-0 (4): I can't remember the last time I saw a last-play winning touchdown pass. Next time, how about a heads up, Packers?

5. East Lake 1-0 (5): If I could, I'd borrow the East Lake offensive line to lead me through rush hour traffic.

6. Robinson 1-0 (7): A 58-point performance on a night where district rival Jesuit scored zero? Message received, Knights.

7. Tampa Bay Tech 1-0 (8): Sept. 14 Armwood comes to town. That is all.

8. Jesuit 0-1 (6): Have the offensive losses (players and coaches) begun to take a toll at Jesuit? Or was it just a matter of playing a great defense? Those answers and more in the coming weeks.

9. Pasco 0-0 (9): Janarion Grant did not play again for the Pirates, which has to be a huge conc…..what? Oh, they had a bye week? Okay then, never mind.

10. Hillsborough 1-0 (10): Games with Cocoa and Newsome loom before a huge district showdown with Strawberry Crest. Wait, did I just write that?

11. Sickles 1-0 (14): The defense? Re-Donk-A-Donk!

12. Gaither 1-0 (15): Nothing comes easy for the Cowboys: five of last seven wins have been by eight points or less.

13. Lakewood 1-0 (16): Now that's how you do it. After barely escaping Seminole with a win last year, the Spartans showed a newfound killer instinct and beat a team they were supposed to beat bad badly.

14. CCC 0-1 (11): First game. Hot night. Up and down the field. Cramping so bad it reduced men to little crying boys on the sideline, begging for a sip of water, calling their mommy. But enough about me.

15. Hernando 0-1 (12): Disappointing loss, but a tough opener against 7A state quarterfinalist East Ridge.

16. Wharton 1-0 (17): Vernon Hargreaves scored on an interception return and a catch. What, no field goals? Slacker.

17 . Durant 1-0 (19): As far as rebuilding offensive lines go, the Cougars have been impressive so far and the offense has looked unstoppable.

18. St. Petersburg 1-0 (20): Between Maurice Hemingway and Laroy Williams, the Green Devils could boast a pair of 1,000-yard backs by the end of the season.

19. Alonso 0-1 (18): Ravens have lost five of six dating to let season. They have also asked me to quote that stat nevermore. And yes, that's officially my 100th Edgar Allen Poe reference in writing about Alonso. Do I win anything?

20. Jefferson 0-1 (13): Um. Well. Uhhhh.

21. Pinellas Park 1-0 (21): The Patriots are going to grind out enough wins to be in the playoff hunt, but I'm guessing it ain't going to be pretty.

22. Berkeley Prep 1-0 (25): The Bucs are only going to get better this season, which should be a scary proposition for teams (coughCCCcough) on their schedule down (coughTampaCatholiccough) the road.

23. Land O'Lakes 1-0 (NR): Feels like the Brian Wachtel era, which technically began last season, officially began with last week's win over Zephyrhills.

24. Sunlake 1-0 (NR): The Seahawks have only lost on the field to Land O'Lakes, Hernando and Pasco the past two seasons.

25. Newsome 0-1 (22): The Wolves ran into TBT last week (as opposed to, you know, running around and through it) but I still think they'll be fine.