Compiled by Rod Gipson
1. SEFFNER ARMWOOD (1-0) – No more ties. Armwood clearly and firmly established itself at its usual perch atop the Tampa Bay football pecking order. The Hawks opened the season with a 48-6 bashing of a good Newsome team. New QB Josh Grady tossed two touchdowns as Armwood rolled up 373 total yards. Armwood is off this week.
2. LARGO (1-0)
– The Packers are potent on defense (limiting Dunedin to 86 total yards) and offense (4 TD passes from QB Alex Skinner, a transfer from Ottawa, Canada), and it showed in a 40-6 dismantling of Dunedin. Up next: at home against Tarpon Springs East Lake.
3. TAMPA BAY TECH (1-0)
– The Titans pulled off their biggest win arguably in team history with a 32-30 comeback victory against former No. 1 Tampa Plant. In doing so, coach C.C. Culpepper’s team responded from a 24-0 second-half deficit. Running back Maurice Hagens bulled his way for 146 yards and a score on 29 carries. Tampa Bay Tech hosts Riverview this week.
4. TAMPA ALONSO (1-0)
– C.J. Bennett’s rocket right arm was on full display in the Ravens’ opener: 14 of 30, 232 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-7 victory against Brandon. For good measure, Bennett also ran for 71 yards, including a 5-yard scoring dash. The Ravens host No. 10 Riverview Spoto next.
5. TAMPA PLANT (0-1)
– All of South Tampa remains in collective shock after the Panthers' 32-30 loss against Tech. No excuses, but Plant was playing without quarterback Phillip Ely (sore back). Still, newcomer James Wilder Jr. was solid with 70 yards and two scores. And the road gets no easier with a trip to No. 8 Tampa Hillsborough this week.
6. TAMPA CATHOLIC (1-0)
– QB Christian Green gets most of the publicity, but running back Hank McCloud put in the work in the opener at Groveland South Lake, running wild for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Catholic hosts Berkeley Prep on Friday.
7. TAMPA JEFFERSON (1-0)
– Junior quarterback Quentin Williams cemented his status as the next big thing in a 16-15 win against Tampa Hillsborough. Williams threw for 200 yards, ran for another 62, scored a touchdown and led the Dragons on the game-winning drive and two-point conversion in the final moments. The Dragons host Lithia Newsome next.
8. TAMPA HILLSBOROUGH (0-1)
– The Terriers couldn’t get untracked offensively, and it came back to bite them in the 16-15 loss to Jefferson. Hillsborough couldn’t hold its late lead or generate a last-chance shot at a win in the fourth quarter. The Terriers quickly have to put the disappointing start away and get ready for this week’s opponent: No. 5 Plant.
9. BROOKSVILLE NATURE COAST (1-0)
– The Sharks earned their first win ever against Brooksville Central with a 44-6 thumping. JaJuan Story filled in at quarterback for injured starter C.J. Baker and ran for two scores. Tailback Tevin Drake added 123 yards and two more touchdowns. Nature Coast plays at Spring Hill Springstead this week.
10. RIVERVIEW SPOTO (1-0)
– Spoto’s defense was outstanding in its 28-0 win against Tampa Wharton. The Spartans defense limited the Wildcats to just 85 yards of offense. Meanwhile, Spoto’s run-heavy offense rolled up 300-plus yards of offense. Up Next: at No. 4 Alonso.
11. CLEARWATER COUNTRYSIDE (1-0)
- How’s this for dominant: Cougars running back Alton Taylor ran for 212 yards and four touchdowns in the 34-26 opening-night win. Countryside hosts Gibbs next.
12. TARPON SPRINGS (1-0)
– Status update on the Bubba Golden transfer: Golden returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown in the Spongers’ 40-10 win against Paln Harbor University. All totaled, he had 285 yards and scored again on a run and a catch. Tarpon Springs hosts Dunedin next.
13. ST. PETERSBURG (1-0)
– The Green Devils posted a 14-3 halftime lead and made it stand up in a 14-11 win against Tarpon Springs East Lake. St. Petersburg travels to rival St. Petersburg Lakewood this week.
14. LITHIA NEWSOME (0-1)
– Plenty of good teams will lose to Armwood this season; Newsome did 48-6 for openers. The Wolves try to regroup this week at No. 7 Jefferson.
15. DADE CITY PASCO (0-0)
– The Pirates open the season Friday at home against Plantation American Heritage.
16. ST. PETERSBURG LAKEWOOD (1-0)
– Spartans’ do-it-all man, Bernard Reedy, torched St. Petersburg Gibbs for 161 yards and four touchdowns in a 40-6 win. The Spartans host St. Petersburg this week.
17. PLANT CITY DURANT (1-0)
– Durant posted a workman-like 17-3 victory against Tampa Chamberlain. Je’Twan Smith and Antonio Morris ran for fourth-quarter touchdowns to top the Chiefs. Durant hosts Brandon on Friday.
18. TAMPA FREEDOM (1-0)
– The Patriots are out of the gate and running with a 49-19 win against Riverview. Or, we should say out and passing, after new quarterback Tyler Guy passed for 200 yards and four touchdowns. Freedom plays at Tampa King on Friday.
19. TAMPA SICKLES (1-0)
– How about Sickles beating neighborhood rival Gaither 14-8 in their first regular-season matchup since 2006. The Gryphons’ defense thwarted Gaither on fourth-and-goal as the clock ran out to preserve the win and take the Northwest Classic trophy. Sickles hosts Tampa Blake this week.
20. LAND O’ LAKES (1-0)
– Quarterback Stephen Weatherford passed for three touchdowns and running back Tyler Peak ran for 250 yards and three touchdowns as the Gators cruised to a 52-0 win against New Port Richey Ridgewood. The likely tired Gators will get to rest this Friday as they are off.
Others to watch:
St. Petersburg Northeast (1-0), Tampa Berkeley Prep (1-0), Clearwater Central Catholic (1-0), New Port Richey Mitchell (1-0), Indian Rocks Christian (1-0).