For the third week this season, DeLand, following a 33-0 dismantling of a depleted Lake Mary team on Friday night, comes in as the unanimous No. 1 choice of the 15 coaches voting in this week’s Sentinel Super 16. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams.
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DeLand (2-1) is currently No. 3 in Class 6A, behind Miami Columbus and Venice, according to MaxPreps rankings. The Bulldogs are No. 10 in the state — not counting IMG Academy, which plays outside the FHSAA playoff system. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season will qualify for the inaugural Open Division playoffs.
Last week’s top three teams remained the same, with The First Academy (4-0) and Jones (2-1) following DeLand. West Orange (4-0) and Seminole (4-0) each moved up a spot.
The biggest change of the week saw Lake Nona (3-1), having fallen to No. 13 last week after a loss, jump six spots up to No. 7 after a 24-3 win against then No. 4 Edgewater (2-2). That caused Edgewater to tumble to No. 9.
Ocoee (2-2) moved into the Super 16 for the first time this year after giving West Orange a 13-12 scare. East Ridge (3-1), No. 12 last week, fell out of the poll after losing to South Sumter 42-28.
There could be more big changes after this week’s games, which have a couple of Super 16 teams battling each other. Edgewater will be at No. 3 Jones and No. 4 West Orange will be at No. 8 Lake Mary (1-2).
No. 2 TFA will be hosting IMG Academy (3-0), ranked No. 3 in the nation by MaxPreps. No. 5 Seminole faces a tough challenge with a trip to Mainland in Daytona Beach. And No. 11 Evans faces a difficult trip to St. Augustine (4-0), which was a 4A region finalist a year ago.
Other interesting matchups have South Lake at No. 6 Bishop Moore, No. 10 Oviedo at rival Hagerty, which just missed getting into this week’s Super 16 poll, and No. 12 Osceola (2-2) will be at Lake Wales (3-1).
Friday Football Rewind: DeLand blanks defending state champion Lake Mary
Super 16 Coaches Poll
Teams are listed with (record), number of votes, (first-place votes), results from last week, next game.
Voting: First-place vote = 1 point, second = 2 points, etc. There were 17 coaches voting this week (listed below). A coach cannot vote for his own team.
1. DeLand (2-1), 15 (15):def. No. 8 Lake Mary 33-0. Next: Friday, vs. Deltona (2-1).
2. The First Academy (4-0) 30: def. South Lake 42-0; Next: Friday, vs. IMG Academy (3-0).
3. Jones (2-1) 40: def. Boone 24-9; Next: Friday vs. No. 9 Edgewater (3-1).
4. West Orange (4-0) 62: def. Ocoee 13-12. Next: Friday, at No. 8 Lake Mary (2-2).
5. Seminole (4-0) 69: def. University (Orange City) 42-7, Next: Friday, at Mainland (1-1).
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6. Bishop Moore (2-2) 93: def. Seabreeze 35-7. Next: Friday, vs. South Lake (0-3).
7. Lake Nona (3-1) 109: def. No. 4 Edgewater 24-3. Next: Friday, at Wekiva (2-2).
8. Lake Mary (1-2) 111: lost to No. 1 DeLand 33-0. Next: Friday, vs. No. 4 West Orange (4-0).
9. Edgewater (2-2) 122: lost to No. 13 Lake Nona 24-3. Next: Friday, at No. 3 Jones (2-1).
10. Oviedo (2-2) 124: def. Melbourne 48-24. Next: Friday, at Hagerty (2-0).
11. Evans (2-2) 132: def. No. 14 Winter Park 38-14. Next: Friday, at St. Augustine (4-0).
12. Osceola (2-2) 156: lost to Lakeland 40-6. Next: Friday, at Lake Wales (3-1).
13. St. Cloud (3-1) 179: def. Lake Minneola 50-13. Next: Sept. 25, at Lake Nona (3-1).
14. Ocoee (2-2) 183: lost to No. 5 West Orange 13-12. Next: Sept. 25, at Horizon (2-2).
15. Winter Park (2-2) 185: lost to No. 10 Evans 38-14. Next: Friday, vs. Dr. Phillips (1-2).
16. Lake Brantley (2-2) 188: lost to Manatee 48-27. Next: Friday, at Lake Howell (2-2).
Others receiving votes, in order of votes received: Innovation, Hagerty, East Ridge, Gateway (Kissimmee), Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Boone.
Coaching panel: Orange County — Patrick Browning (Edgewater), Travis Gabriel (Olympia), Tim Shifflet (Winter Park), Dennis Thomas (Horizon), Geno Thompson (West Orange), Elijah Williams (Jones). Seminole County — Karl Calhoun (Seminole), Tim Dykus (Winter Springs), Dazzie Morris (Lake Howell), Greg Odierno (Oviedo), Scott Perry (Lake Mary). Lake County — Donnie Burchfield (East Ridge), Brad Lord (South Lake). Osceola County — Eric Pinellas (Osceola), Mike Short (St. Cloud).
Thursday Football Rewind: Lake Nona defense stymies Edgewater; West Orange survives Ocoee
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Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.