By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
Funny what one month of playing actual games can do to a preseason poll.
Four weeks into the season, a few things have remained constant in Tampa Bay-area prep football: Seffner Armwood, Tampa Hillsborough, Largo and Tampa Plant were expected to be among the area's best and have lived up to their billing.
But of the other six teams that made the MaxPreps Tampa Bay preseason poll, five have fallen off the poll since the footballs started flying. And the one team of those six still on the poll is having a tough time: Tampa Jefferson.
After going 9-3 last season and advancing to the Class 5A region semifinals, Jefferson was primed to be a team to beat this season. Of course, the loss of all-world quarterback Stephen Garcia, now at the University of South Carolina, has hurt.
But with a more than capable replacement in Zack Grossi, the Dragons expected to be better than 1-2 a month into the season and preparing to face undefeated and No. 1 Armwood.
Grossi has played well for the most part, despite nursing a Grade 1 shoulder separation on his throwing arm. He has thrown for five touchdowns in three games but the Dragons real problem has been running the ball and trying to stop the run. The Dragons are averaging less than 100 yards per game on the ground, meanwhile their defense is giving up 230 yards to its opponents' running backs.
All that said, Jefferson can still look to a weak district schedule (outside of its late-season showdown with defending state champion Plant) for a shot at getting into the postseason.
This week's MaxPreps Tampa Bay Top 10 poll:
1. SEFFNER ARMWOOD (4-0) - Another week, another rout. The Hawks flattened up-and-coming Lithia Newsome, 42-3. Armwood is at No. 9 Jefferson Friday.
2. TAMPA HILLSBOROUGH (4-0) - The Terriers got a huge, come-from-behind district win against a tough, No. 10 Middleton team last week. Friday: at Riverview.
3. LARGO (3-0) - Largo rolled St. Petersburg 28-0 behind four Brynn Harvey scoring runs. That sets up Friday's showdown against visiting No. 9 Dunedin.
4. TAMPA PLANT (3-1) - Wideout Cornelius Gallon's line in the Panthers 43-22 win: eight catches, 180 yards and two touchdowns. Plant is off until opening district play Oct. 5 at Tampa Blake.
5. ST. PETERSBURG NORTHEAST (4-0) - Another 300-yard performance put running back Jeff Brinson past 1,000 yards on the season in just the fourth game of the season. Oh, and Northeast topped Bradenton Southeast 49-7 to stay unbeaten. The Vikings are off this week.
6. NEW PORT RICHEY RIDGEWOOD (3-0) - Bulldozing running back Byronell Arline continues to lead the Rams after a 330-yard, six touchdown performance in a 42-21 win against Brooksville Central. The Rams face neighborhood rival New Port Richey Gulf Friday.
7. DUNEDIN (3-1) - The Falcons got past Clearwater Countryside 39-22. Their reward this week: No. 3 Largo.
8. TAMPA JEFFERSON (1-2) - The Dragons are struggling, evidenced by last week's 27-17 loss to Tampa Gaither and things aren't getting any easier this week against Armwood.
9. ST. PETERSBURG BOCA CIEGA (3-0) - The Pirates were out-of-sync but managed a 12-3 win against St. Petersburg Lakewood. Boca Ciega travels to face St. Petersburg Friday.
10. TAMPA MIDDLETON (2-2) - The Tigers showed plenty of grit in a tough 35-32 loss to No. 2 Hillsborough. They'll bounce back Saturday night in the Heritage Classic game against Tampa Blake held at Raymond James Stadium.
Honorable Mention: Tarpon Springs, Lithia Newsome, Riverview, Tampa Bay Tech, Clearwater Central Catholic, Tampa Gaither.