Top 25 Florida high school football rankings: Palm Beach Central, Tampa Bay Tech enter the rankings

Both the Broncos and Titans are undefeated through the first seven weeks of the season

We’re now in the second half of the season here and some things have become clearer than others when it comes to the Top 25 Florida football rankings.

We've seen some surprising results across the board and to take any given week for granted would be a mistake. Any one of these teams in our 25 can beat the other seemingly and this week provides a great glimpse as there's many that will be facing one another.

The matchup that stands out in the Sunshine State this week featuring Power 25 teams is between South Florida foes Miami Central and Miami Norland.

Here’s the complete breakdown of Florida's elite high school football teams, heading into Week 8 of the 2023 season, as we see it.  

1. IMG Academy (5-0)

Next game: vs. Pine Forest 

Ranking rationale: The Ascenders keep on winning and for all intents and purposes will likely go undefeated. IMG Academy is coming off a 49-20 victory on the road at Bartram Trail. 

2. Chaminade-Madonna (7-0)

Next game: vs. Avant Garde Academy, Oct. 20

Ranking rationale: After all the dust and smoke settled, it would be the Lions upending the neighborhood heros. Defeating Miami Central in a nail biter 31-28 is the most impressive win to date for Dameon Jones' crew. Now the Lions will focus on finishing the remaining three games and going undefeated. 

3. Miami Central (3-2)

Next game: at No. 7 Miami Norland

Ranking rationale: The hopes of winning a national championship are out the window with losses now to Bishop Gorman (Nevada) and Chaminade-Madonna. There's still the 'Drive For Five' the Rockets are on and trying to win the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) championship as well. Stay tuned.

4. St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1)

Next game: at Fort Lauderdale 

Ranking rationale: If anyone thinks the Raiders are going to let a team come within striking distance of them again this season, think again. St. Thomas Aquinas made a statement last week in a 42-6 thrashing of Treasure Coast. Anymore questions about how good this group can still be?

5. Plantation American Heritage (4-1)

Next game: vs. Stranahan 

Ranking rationale: Losing to Chaminade-Madonna a couple weeks ago is no shame for a youthful Plantation American Heritage team. They'll be at the top in the years to come. Mike Smith's team thrashed Cardinal Gibbons 48-7 last week and are now on a roll behind sophomore quarterback Dia Bell. 

6. Cocoa (5-1)

Next game: at Titusville 

Ranking rationale: The Tigers still have a chance to turn heads throughout the remaining slate of games they have left. Defeating a talented Eau Gallie bunch 28-7 was the start of it. Cocoa’s latest impressive win was a 28-3 defeat of Sanford Seminole last Friday. 

7. Miami Norland (6-0)

Next game: at No. 3 Miami Central 

Ranking rationale: We've been saying it since after the season opening win over Lakeland that these Vikings would likely be undefeated before facing Miami Booker T. Washington and Miami Central. Norland now heads into the toughest stretch of the season, with the Tornadoes and Rockets in back-to-back games. 

8. Homestead (4-1)

Next game: vs. Southridge 

Ranking rationale: The Broncos took care of business against Southwest and ran away with the victory 55.0. Ronnie Thornton Jr.’s most impressive win to date was this past Saturday’s 32-16 victory over Columbus. 

9. Columbus (6-1)

Next game: vs. Doral Academy 

Ranking rationale: A likely contender to Miami Central for the GMAC championship is the Explorers, who are still in line to compete for a title despite a 32-16 setback against Homestead. 

10. Mainland (6-0)

Next game: vs. Deltona 

Ranking rationale: Another tough team and another win for Travis Roland's crew. All the questions offensively have been answered and defensively, this team can ball. A home game on Nov. 3 versus Lake Mary will be the toughest game left on the slate for the Buccaneers. 

11. Miami Palmetto (4-1)

Next game: vs. South Dade 

Ranking rationale: Losing a heartbreaker to Columbus a few weeks ago was tough for this Panthers' team, but there's no rest for the weary. Miami Palmetto bounced back with a solid win against Miami Edison. 

12. Lakeland (5-2)

Next game: vs. George Jenkins 

Ranking rationale: On the positive side for the Dreadnaughts, their losses have come against very good opponents in Miami Norland and St. Joseph’s Prep (Pennsylvania). The next three games, Lakeland should be the favorite in all of them, including an interesting tilt versus Clearwater Academy International looming. 

13. Edgewater (7-0)

Next game: vs. Ocoee

Ranking rationale: The first seven games of the season have been all reasonably challenging contests for the Fighting Eagles against Apopka, Bishop Moore, Clearwater Academy International, Jones, Wekiva and West Orange. Now they face their another talented ball club this week in Ocoee. 

14. Venice (4-2)

Next game: vs. Sarasota 

Ranking rationale: The Indians amassed over 600 yards of offense in the team’s 63-46 victory over Miami Northwestern a few weeks ago. John Peacock’s team has a chance to run the table the remaining five games and it started with a 54-0 rout of River Ridge three weeks ago. A 56-24 rout of Manatee proves Venice’s dominance on the South Suncoast continues. 

15. Miami Booker T. Washington (3-2)

Next game: at Miami Northwestern 

Ranking rationale: Bouncing back with a big wins over LaSalle and Jackson was just what the doctor ordered for the Tornadoes. If not for an injury to their starting quarterback, the Tornadoes may be higher in this poll after falling 20-19 to Miami Norland. Booker T. Washington’s next big game will be against Miami Northwestern. 

16. Buchholz (6-0)

Next game: at Oakleaf 

Ranking rationale: The Bobcats broke into the Power 25 and jump all the way to 17. We like to give them credit, though, more for some of their wins beating teams like Columbia, Sarasota Riverview, Creekside and now Vanguard. A upcoming game against Bartram Trail is looming large. 

17. Lake Wales (6-0)

Next game: vs. Gateway 

Ranking rationale: The Highlanders’ defense is for real. Lake Wales has only allowed 27 points this season and running back Rashad Orr leads the team at 750 rushing yards through six games. 

18. St. Augustine (6-0)

Next game: at Gainesville, Oct. 20 

Ranking rationale: We’re convinced that the Yellow Jackets may have the most potent offense in all of Class 3S. With Wake Forest commitment Locklan Hewlett and a talented group of wide receivers, this is a team on the rise. The Yellow Jackets made a big wave a couple weeks ago by defeating rival Bartram Trail with backup quarterback Dylan Cook filling in for Hewlett. 

19. Treasure Coast (4-2)

Next game: vs. Fort Pierce Central

Ranking rationale: If any team on this list has had it rough, it’s been the Titans. Back-to-back losses against St. Thomas Aquinas and Cocoa have been tough. Now they get a much deserved bye week. 

20. Lake Mary (6-0)

Next game: vs. Evans

Ranking rationale: We just can't hold this group back from entering our Power 25 any longer. Behind the historic play of sophomore quarterback Noah Grubbs, who is on pace for 60 touchdowns, this Rams team has a chance to exit out of the 'District of Death' of Class 4M, District 2. 

21. Sanford Seminole (5-2)

Next game: vs. DeLand

Ranking rationale: The Seminoles will have no time to wallow after a 28-3 drubbing by Cocoa as they face a red hot DeLand club this week. 

22. Coconut Creek (5-2)

Next game: vs. West Boca Raton

Ranking rationale: How does a team lose and enter the power rankings? When you only fall 35-27 to arguably the most talented team in the country in Chaminade-Madonna, that’s how. 

23. Clearwater Central Catholic (7-0)

Next game: at Cambridge Christian

Ranking rationale: It probably shouldn't have taken this long to realize the Marauders are as good as they were last year, but we digress. The Marauders have proven they're the second best team in Class 1M and proved it again with a last minute 45-0 blowout win over Northside Christian. 

24. Tampa Bay Tech (7-0)

Next game: at Wharton 

Ranking rationale: Now if you based the Titans on the preseason, it was hard to think this team would be back to being an undefeated power. All Jayson Roberts has done is pull off one of the best coaching jobs in the Tampa Bay Area so far. 

25. Palm Beach Broncos (6-0)

Next game: vs. Forest Hill

Ranking rationale: After last week’s thrilling 27-24 win over Benjamin, we just can’t rationalize keeping the Broncos out of the Power 25 any longer. The best team in the 561 has proven they’re on a march back to attempting to reach the Class 4M state semifinals. 

On the outside looking in: Delray Beach Atlantic, Apopka, Armwood, Blanche Ely, Bartow, Bartram Trail, Benjamin, Bishop Verot, Bradford, Cardinal Newman, Cardinal Gibbons, Carrollwood Day, Choctawhatchee, Creekside, Dunbar, Escambia, Edison, FSU High, Hawthorne, Jones, Lincoln, Manatee, Mandarin, Monarch, Naples, Newberry, Ponte Vedra, Sarasota Riverview, Sebring, Sumner, Tampa Catholic, Trinity Christian Academy, Vanguard, Vero Beach, Western, Williston, Winter Park, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl