The strength of Florida high school football flexed its muscles Monday with four teams in High School Football America’s Preseason Top 25. The only state with more teams in the Top 25 is Texas with six.
For those of you unfamiliar with our rankings, this is the fourth straight year that High School Football America will be using its proprietary algorithm to rank teams nationally, regionally and locally. What that means is, our computer does all the work, there’s no opinion involved. Over the past three seasons, our preseason poll included some opinion, but this year marks the first time that our algorithm is completely in-charge of determining our “mythical” national champ from start to finish.
Heading the teams from the Sunshine State is IMG Academy, which checks-in at #2 behind preseason #1 St. John Bosco from Bellflower, California. The Ascenders will play another impressive national schedule with two trips to California to play SoCal powers Corona Centennial and Long Beach Poly. The Ascenders will be tested in Week 1 against Georgia’s Grayson High School, which is ranked #7 in our preseason poll. In October, IMG will play preseason #25 Trinity Christian Academy from Jacksonville, Florida.
In all, IMG will play teams from seven different states, plus Washington, D.C. Of course, you can’t discuss IMG without pointing-out that there are many coaches around America that believe the Ascenders shouldn’t be in national polls, because of their ability to bring-in players from around the nation.
Nine-time Florida state champ St. Thomas Aquinas enters 2016 ranked #7. The Raiders have a showdown with preseason #5 Bishop Gorman from Nevada on September 30th, plus an in-state marquee match-up with four-time Florida state champ Booker T. Washington.
Speaking of four-time champs, Miami Central begins the season ranked #12 in the national Top 25. The Rockets may have been ranked higher in our algorithm, however, they only have eight regular season games scheduled, which hurt them in strength of schedule. Miami Central’s big game will be against Booker T. Washington on September 24th.
Speaking of strength of schedule, Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville was held back in last year’s rankings by its SOS, but the Conquerors check-in at #25 in the preseason poll thanks to their opener against Cocoa and the aforementioned game against IMG on October 21st. Last year, TCA finished #49 in the national rankings, but the top team in our small school rankings.
High School Football America 2016 Preseason Top 25
#1 St. John Bosco Braves (Bellflower, California)
2015: 13-1
Final Ranking: #9
#2 IMG Academy Ascenders (Bradenton, Florida)
2015: 9-0
Final Ranking: #7
#3 Cedar Hill Longhorns (Texas)
2015: 9-2
Final Ranking: Not Ranked
#4 Mater Dei Monarchs (Santa Ana, California)
2015: 10-3
Final Ranking: #37
#5 Bishop Gorman Gaels (Las Vegas, Nevada)
2015: 15-0
Final Ranking: #4
#6 Katy Tigers (Texas)
2015: 16-0
Final Ranking: #3
#7 St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
2015: 13-1
Final Ranking: #12
#8 Grayson Rams (Loganville, Georgia)
2015: 13-1
Final Ranking: Not Ranked
#9 Cibolo Steele Knights (Texas)
2015: 14-1
Final Ranking: #31
#10 DeMatha Stags (Hyattsville, Maryland)
2015: 11-1
Final Ranking: #13
#11 Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (Pennsylvania)
2015: 15-1
Final Ranking: #24
#12 Miami Central Rockets (Florida)
2015: 12-2
Final Ranking: #22
#13 St. Joseph Regional Green Knights (Montvale, NJ)
2015: 7-4
Final Ranking: #35
#14 Allen Eagles (Texas)
2015: 14-1
Final Ranking: #9
#15 Roswell Hornets (Georgia)
2015: 14-1
Final Ranking: #40
#16 Don Bosco Prep Ironmen (Ramsey, New Jersey)
2015: 9-3
Final Ranking: #20
#17 Westlake Chaparrals (Austin, Texas)
2015: 12-2
Final Ranking: #30
#18 Mallard Creek (Charlotte, North Carolina)
2015: 14-2
Final Ranking: #26
#19 Northwestern Trojans (Rock Hill, South Carolina)
2015: 14-1
Final Ranking: #50
#20 Colerain Cardinals (Cincinnati, Ohio)
2015: 12-2
Final Ranking: #18
#21 Lake Travis Cavaliers (Austin, Texas)
2015: 15-1
Final Ranking: #29
#22 Center Grove Trojans (Greenwood, Indiana)
2015: 14-0
Final Ranking: #10
#23 Good Counsel Falcons (Olney, Maryland)
2015: 7-4
Final Ranking: Not Ranked
#24 McGill-Toolen Yellowjackets (Mobile, Alabama)
2015: 13-1
Final Ranking: Not Ranked
#25 Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors (Jacksonville, Florida)
2015: 14-0
Final Ranking: #49
