In Lakeland, Florida, the high school football season started with a bang, creating a whirlwind of excitement and surprises in just the first week. The USA Today Florida Network has declared a new No. 1 team following the chaos. Lakeland stunned the nation by defeating the previously unbeaten nationally ranked Central with a score of 16-8 in Miami. This impressive victory has helped Lakeland secure the top spot, narrowly edging out the former No. 1, IMG Academy.
What makes Lakeland’s victory notable is that they accomplished this feat without several injured starters. Media members from the USA Today Florida Network gave Lakeland seven out of twelve first-place votes, highlighting the strength of their performance. In contrast, IMG Academy received the other five votes but faced a shocking loss to Corner Canyon from Utah, falling 35-34.
This chaotic Week 1 saw a significant shakeup in the rankings, with six of the top ten teams in the Super 25—as ranked earlier—suffering defeats. These teams included IMG Academy, Chaminade-Madonna, St. Thomas Aquinas, Plantation-American Heritage, Central, and Berkeley Prep.
Here’s a look at the new rankings after the intense first week:
- 1. Lakeland (1-0) – This week: Off
- 2. IMG Academy (0-1) – This week: at Bergen Catholic (N.J.)
- 3. St. Thomas Aquinas (0-1) – This week: at Boyd Anderson
- 4. Chaminade-Madonna (0-1) – This week: at Blanche Ely
- 5. Cocoa (1-0) – This week: at Mainland
- 6. Mandarin (1-0) – This week: at Atlantic Coast
- 7. Plantation-American Heritage (0-1) – This week: vs. Western
- 8. Venice (1-0) – This week: vs. Miami Northwestern
- 9. Armwood (1-0) – This week: at Sumner
- 10. Miami Central (0-1) – This week: vs. Miami Edison
With the season just starting, fans are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming matches and potential changes in rankings as teams look to bounce back from tough losses. This chaotic start certainly adds drama to an already intense high school football season in Florida.
