SBLive Sports' Florida Football Power 25: Chaminade-Madonna stays at No. 1 heading into Week 9 slate

Everyone is anxious for the November 4th to come and go, which that date is the last Friday of the regular season and then the playoffs begin on November 11th. Itching for where your team will exactly fall in place at might take a little bit longer, but there’s still plenty of good, meaningful games taking place with our SBLive Sports Florida Power 25. 

We’ve got our latest SBLive Sports Florida Power 25 rankings and the Chaminade-Madonna continues to remain the state’s top team, with little movement throughout the state entering the Week 9 slate. Let’s take a look at this week’s the newest Power 25 rankings.

SBLIVE SPORTS FLORIDA TOP 25 FOOTBALL RANKINGS

1. Chaminade-Madonna (6-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Avant Garde

Ranking rationale: Scoring 90 points on Somerset Key Academy seemed like frustration being dealt out because no one has wanted to play the Lions. They’ll be able to find a groove these last couple of weeks with games on the schedule. 

2. Miami Central (7-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. No. 6 Columbus 

Ranking rationale: A 53-7 beat down of Miami Norland just was another example of how good this Rockets team is. Now Miami Central will play in one of its toughest area games of the season when they face an undefeated Columbus squad. 

3. Plantation American Heritage (7-1)

Next game: Oct. 21 at No. 19 Naples

Ranking rationale: A SBLive Sports Florida Power 25 matchup that has been looming is finally here with the Patriots going head to head with the Naples Golden Eagles. One team likes to spread people out and the other is a triple option attack. Should be a fun one. 

4. IMG Academy (5-1)

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Middletown (DE)

Ranking rationale: IMG Academy ended up facing American Collegiate after all, with the Ascenders being able to easily cruise by 55-0. Now they’ll face a tough Middletown (DE) team at home and aim for their sixth straight victory. 

5. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Monarch

Ranking rationale: Rivalry game against Fort Lauderdale? The Raiders made it look like a piece of cake, rolling past the Flying L’s 49-13. Now they’ll face a good Monarch team, but we feel the Raiders will be too much in this one as well. 

6. Columbus (8-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 at No. 2 Miami Central

Ranking rationale: The 35-7 win over Doral Academy was just a little tuneup to this Friday’s huge matchup against No. 2 Miami Central. The Explorers have looked good all season long and now must put it altogether in order to defeat the mighty Rockets. 

7. Lakeland (6-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. No. 20 Clearwater Academy International 

Ranking rationale: Likely the Dreadnaughts’ toughest game of the season is Friday night when they face Clearwater Academy International. Both teams will be going into the game undefeated and Bryant Stadium is sure to be bumping. Very intriguing matchup. 

8. Tampa Bay Tech (8-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 at Jesuit 

Ranking rationale: Make that now five shutouts this season for the Titans as they added Wharton on their list of teams they held scoreless. Could Jesuit be next on that list? This is another good game to keep an eye on in the Tampa Bay Area. 

9. Pine Forest (7-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 at Escambia

Ranking rationale: Facing possibly their toughest game of the year, fourth down stops was key for the Eagles in the 28-7 win over Niceville. Pine Forest has continued to prove they will be the team to beat in Class 3A-Suburban.

10. Edgewater (7-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Horizon 

Ranking rationale: It will be ultimately up to the defense for Edgewater to hold things together until Cedric Baxter can become healthy once again and help the Fightin’ Eagles. They should be fine against Horizon and Boone in the last two regular season games. 

11. Cardinal Gibbons (7-1)

Next game: Oct. 21 at Manatee

Ranking rationale: The rest of the way should be a somewhat easier path for the Chiefs as they defeated Hallandale 49-6, Manatee and Stranahan to end the season. Cardinal Gibbons’ defense has been a strong unit.

12. Trinity Christian (7-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 at Christ’s Church Academy 

Ranking rationale: No Colin Hurley at quarterback? No problem for Trinity Christian Academy as they leaned upon the running game and the legs of backs Treyaun Webb and Darnell Rogers. The Conquerors should have no issues against Christ’s Church Academy on Friday night. 

13. Miami Northwestern (4-3)

Next game: Oct. 20 vs. No. 22 Homestead

Ranking rationale: From one ranked Power 25 team to the next, this Bulls team is closing out the season potentially on a little bit of a roll. Miami Northwestern faces Homestead on Thursday night, which should be the best game that evening in the state. 

14. Venice (3-2)

Next game: Oct. 21 at Sarasota Riverview

Ranking rationale: Venice took Sarasota’s best shot, but it was nowhere near enough for the Sailors to be of any threat. Now the Indians have a rivalry game on the road against Sarasota Riverview, which won’t be like past years. Venice should roll. 

15. Sanford Seminole (5-1)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Lake Brantley

Ranking rationale: Going on the road to Spec Martin Stadium and beating an improved DeLand team under Rick Darlington adds another notch to the Seminoles’ belt of wins. The Seminoles now face a Lake Brantley bunch stinging still after losing to Apopka. 

16. Buchholz (6-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 at No. 24 Bartram Trail

Ranking rationale: One of the most entertaining games over in northeast Florida of last week was between Buchholz and Oakleaf, with the Bobcats winning in a shootout. Now they will play in their toughest game yet on the road versus No. 24 Bartram Trail. 

17. Jones (5-2)

Next game: Oct. 21 at Wekiva

Ranking rationale: Defense has been the primary reason behind the Fightin’ Tigers’ four-game winning streak as they’ve only yielded 30 points during that time. On Friday, they’ll face another pesky team in Wekiva, whom could give Jones problems. 

18. Kissimmee Osceola (4-3)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Mainland

Ranking rationale: The entire regular season schedule has been one test after another for the Kowboys. They were able to nab a couple easy wins over Celebration and St. Cloud, but finish the season versus Mainland, Tohopekaliga and West Orange. 

19. Naples (6-1)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. No. 3 Plantation American Heritage 

Ranking rationale: It’s the matchup many down in Southwest Florida have been waiting for with Brandon Inniss bringing over one of the top teams in the country. The Golden Eagles will need to neutralize the Patriots on offense to have a shot. 

20. Booker T. Washington (6-2)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Southridge

Ranking rationale: The Tornadoes were becoming the feel good story in the return of Tim ‘Ice’ Harris back on the sideline. Booker T. Washington was overmatched when they faced Miami Northwestern, but have a chance to turn it around against Southridge this week. 

21. Clearwater Academy International (7-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 at No. 7 Lakeland 

Ranking rationale: Playing a rare Thursday night game for Clearwater Academy International helped give them extra time to prepare for No. 7 Lakeland. The Knights and Dreadnaughts colliding at Bryant Stadium should make for one of the best games in the area. 

22. Homestead (6-2)

Next game: Oct. 20 vs. No. 13 Miami Northwestern 

Ranking rationale: Back to back losses for Homestead drops them down a couple more notches, but they have a chance for redemption. Homestead has another test when they face No. 13 Miami Northwestern at home this week.

23. Lake Wales (7-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 at Liberty 

Ranking rationale: After this Friday’s game against winless Liberty, Lake Wales has a couple tough games to close out the season when they face Auburndale and Bartow. The Highlanders have a great chance to finish 10-0. 

24. Bartram Trail (7-0)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. No. 16 Buchholz 

Ranking rationale: Dominance. That was the word to associate the Bears’ victory over Creekside, 59-27. Now Bartram Trail will host one of their toughest games of the year when No. 16 Buchholz comes into town. Will be a huge test for the Bears. 

25. Wharton (5-2)

Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Bloomingdale 

Ranking rationale: It was a tough loss for Wharton on the road against Tampa Bay Tech, but the Wildcats should bounce back in their final games of the regular season. Wharton has Bloomingdale, Freedom and Hillsborough to end the season. 

On the outside looking in: Winter Park, Dillard, Western, Cocoa, FSU High, Niceville, Jesuit, Vanguard, South Sumter, Vero Beach, Hawthorne, Cardinal Newman, Trinity Catholic, Clearwater Central Catholic, Pahokee.

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo