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HomeTeam 25: Football rankings for Tampa Bay

 
Armwood High School quarterback Devin Black (7) hands the ball off to running back Larry Anderson (13) during the Spring Football Jamboree in Seffner, Fla. on Thursday, May 18, 2017.
Armwood High School quarterback Devin Black (7) hands the ball off to running back Larry Anderson (13) during the Spring Football Jamboree in Seffner, Fla. on Thursday, May 18, 2017.
Published Sept. 25, 2017

1. Armwood (2-0)

Up next: at Blake (Thursday)

Skinny: The Hawks have been dominant so far, beating Tampa Bay Tech and Jefferson by a combined 77-15. Those wins will likely give Armwood a lot of points in the new playoff system. October is a busy month for the Hawks — and everyone else in Hillsborough County — with six games crammed into the next four weeks. Its starts Thursday with a game against Blake followed by another Oct. 2 against Chamberlain.

2. Plant (3-0)

Up next: vs. Sickles (Thursday)

Skinny: After a slow start, the Panthers turned it on in a 28-0 win over Gaither. Plant quarterback Jordan McCloud had his best game of the season, throwing for four touchdowns. The defense also played well in the shutout and allowed just 23 points all season. Thursday's game against Sickles is Homecoming and continues a string of four straight Class 7A, District 8 contests before Monday night showdown with Armwood on Oct. 16.

3. Durant (3-0)

Up next: at Newsome (Wednesday)

Skinny: The Cougars cruised to a 35-2 win over Strawberry Crest in their Class 7A, District 9 opener. Cameron Myers, an Arkansas State commit, ran for three first-half touchdowns to help Durant build a 35-0 lead. Durant has a short week with a game Wednesday against rival Newsome that was originally scheduled two weeks ago.

4. Tampa Bay Tech (1-1)

Up next: vs. Lennard (Thursday)

Skinny: The running game, led by Jaquavious Johnson and Treshaun Ward, has been one of the team's strength this season. Against Hillsborough last week, the Titans ran for 210 yards in a 26-14 win. On Thursday, Tampa Bay Tech opens up play in Class 7A, District 9 against Lennard.

5. St. Petersburg (3-0)

Up next: at Pinellas Park (Thursday)

Skinny: The Green Devils are off to an impressive start, beating Largo, Lakewood and Gibbs by a combined 97-31. The defense has been opportunistic, forcing 11 turnovers. Anthony Johnson, an Iowa State commit, has an interception in each of the first three games. Thursday's game against Pinellas Park is a big one in the Class 7A, District 10 standings.

6. Clearwater Central Catholic (4-0)

Up next: vs. St. Petersburg Catholic

Skinny: It is a father-son matchup this week as Marauders offensive coordinator John Davis, the former longtime coach of the school, goes up against his son Jay, who is in his first year as coach of the Barons. CCC's offense is starting to put up big numbers. Last week's 50-27 win over Northeast was the Marauders' highest point total of the season.

7. Wiregrass Ranch (4-0)

Up next: Idle

Skinny: The last-minute, goal-line stand in the season opener against Zephyrhills has given the Bulls' defense confidence and momentum. In the last three games, Wiregrass Ranch has allowed a combined 16 points, including a shutout of Wharton last week. The Bulls have a week off to prepare for a big Class 7A, District 8 showdown against Sickles on Oct. 2.

Octavio Jones | Times

Octavio Jones | Times

8. Mitchell (4-0)

Up next: at Pasco

Skinny: The Mustangs keep getting better. Last week, they whipped Ridgewood 56-6 and rallied in the fourth quarter to beat previously undefeated Clearwater 45-28. Jakob Mattos threw for seven touchdowns in those two games. The defense might be the biggest story. Mitchell has forced 18 turnovers, including a whopping 13 fumble recoveries. Adam Rogers has three interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

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gt;9. Jefferson (2-1)

Up next: at Middleton (Thursday)

Skinny: The Dragons lost for the first time last week against Armwood. The offense had trouble protecting the quarterback and the defense allowed plenty of big plays, especially in the run game. The good news is that it was not a district contest. Jefferson starts play in Class 5A, District 10 against undefeated Middleton.

10. Clearwater (2-1)

Up next: vs. Osceola

Skinny: The Tornadoes' had their 11-game regular-season win streak snapped with a 45-28 loss to Mitchell. That came four days after Clearwater knocked off rival Countryside 35-14 in a makeup game from two weeks ago. Running back Jarius Williams played well this past week, rushing for a combined five touchdowns in two games.

11. East Lake (2-2)

Up next: at Countryside

Skinny: The dramatic finishes continued early last week with the Eagles holding on to beat Pinellas Park 17-16. The game came down to a two-point conversion the Patriots failed to convert in the final minute. East Lake's first three games were all decided by two points or less. That was not the case in the Eagles' other game last week, a 24-7 loss to powerhouse Lakeland.

12. Jesuit (1-2)

Up next: vs. Spoto

Skinny: The Tigers got a much-needed win against previously undefeated Ridge Community. Larry Hodges had pair a touchdown catches in the second half to help Jesuit pull away in the second half. Friday's game against undefeated Spoto could be a pivotal one in the Class 5A, District 10 standings.

Scott Purks | Special to the Times

Scott Purks | Special to the Times

13. Hillsborough (1-2)

Up next: Idle

Skinny: The Terriers got things going early against Tampa Bay Tech before falling 26-14. The defense has been tough, allowing just 35 points this season. Trouble is, the offense has scored just as much and has not put up more than 14 in any game this season.

14. Nature Coast (2-0)

Up next: at Lake Wales

Skinny: The Sharks extended their regular-season win streak to 24 with last week's victory over Crystal River. Michael Weston has 237 yards rushing and five touchdowns in the first two games. Quarterback Fabian Burnett also has put up big numbers on the ground, rushing for 228 yards and a touchdown so far this season.

15. Berkeley Prep (1-2)

Up next: vs. Tampa Catholic

Skinny: The Bucs have lost a pair of shootouts to Clearwater Central Catholic (29-28) and Lakeland Christian (48-40) in the first three games of the season. Those losses could hurt in picking up points in the new playoff system. But Berkeley Prep can make up ground with a win over rival Tampa Catholic in a rematch of last year's Class 3A region final.

16. Pinellas Park (3-1)

Up next: vs. St. Petersburg (Thursday)

Skinny: The Patriots shook off their last-minute loss to East Lake and routed Osceola 42-0. Thursday's game against St. Petersburg could be Pinellas Park's biggest of the season, especially for any aspirations of winning the Class 7A, District 10 title. The Green Devils have won the past two meetings by a combined 65-22.

17. Chamberlain (2-0)

Up next: vs. King (Thursday)

Skinny: A 27-day layoff ends with a game against King. The Chiefs should have no trouble staying undefeated against the winless Lions. The biggest challenge comes on Oct. 2 in a rescheduled matchup against powerhouse Armwood.

18. Calvary Christian (2-1)

Up next: at Sarasota Cardinal Mooney

Skinny: The Warriors fell from the unbeaten ranks with a heartbreaking 26-24 loss to Orlando First Academy. A bigger game in the playoff picture comes this week against undefeated Sarasota Cardinal Mooney. Calvary Christian is in Class 3A, Region 3, one of the toughest in the state, and needs the win — and points — to stay in the postseason hunt.

19. Lakewood (2-1)

Up next: vs. Dunedin (Thursday)

Skinny: Games against Ocala Vanguard and Delray Beach American Heritage will likely not be rescheduled, so the Spartans made sure they got in last week's game against Lehigh to secure the eight games needed on the schedule to qualify for the playoffs. Lakewood not only played but won 21-13 to move above .500.

Lara Cerri | Times

Lara Cerri | Times

20. Wesley Chapel (4-1)

Up next: at Anclote

Skinny: We're at the halfway point of the season and the Wildcats are the only team in the top 25 that has played five games. Since taking over as the starting quarterback three weeks ago, Justin Trapnell has completed 11 of 19 passes for 250 yards and seven touchdowns.

21. Largo (3-1)

Up next: at Boca Ciega (Thursday)

Skinny: With victories against Dixie Hollins and Countryside last week, the Packers have already equaled their win total from last season. The three-game win streak will be put to the test Thursday against defending region quarterfinalist Boca Ciega in a game that could go a long toward deciding the Class 6A, District 9 champion.

22. Zephyrhills (3-1)

Up next: at Gulf

Skinny: The high-powered offense posted video game numbers last week in wins over Ridgewood (59-6) and Fivay (70-0). Quarterback Charles Harrison III has thrown for 418 yards, ran for 218 and accounted for nine touchdowns in the first four games.

23. Newsome (3-0)

gt;Up next: vs. Durant (Wednesday)

Skinny: After dramatic wins against Bloomingdale and East Bay, the Wolves were able to cruise in a 48-27 victory over Riverview. Newsome only gets two days of practice this week before facing rival Durant on Wednesday.

24. Tampa Catholic (1-2)

Up next: at Berkeley Prep (Thursday)

Skinny: Last week's 34-31 loss to Melbourne Central Catholic will count on the record but not with points under the new playoff format because the game was added to the schedule after the season started. The Crusaders have looking forward to Friday's matchup with Berkeley Prep after losing in the region final last year.

25. Tarpon Springs (2-1)

Up next: vs. Gibbs (Thursday)

Skinny: The Spongers nearly beat Tampa Catholic last month and had a nice win against Naples First Baptist last week. Adam Hardy, a sophomore, made his first start against First Baptist and threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Tarpon Springs is looking to exact revenge Thursday after losing 8-6 to the Gladiators last season.

On the bubble: Springstead (2-1), Tarpon Springs (2-1), River Ridge (2-2), East Bay (1-1), Admiral Farragut (1-1), Superior Collegiate (1-1), Cambridge Christian (3-1), Hernando (3-0), Spoto (3-0), Middleton (3-0), Blake (3-0), Zephyrhills Christian (5-0).