Compiled By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
1. SEFFNER ARMWOOD (7-0) – Coming off last week’s 35-0 pasting of Plant City, Armwood has shutout its opponents in four of its last five games. A scheduling quirk has the Hawks trailing in the Class 4A, District 11 race. This week’s Hillsborough matchup could clear that up.
Up next: at No. 5 Tampa Hillsborough (5-2)
2. TAMPA CHAMBERLAIN (7-0) – A 200-yard passing night for two scores and another 106 on the ground for a touchdown. Who else? Chamberlain quarterback Dontae Aycock in a routine night en route to leading his squad to a 42-21 win against Tampa Jefferson.
Up next: at No. 4 Tampa Alonso (6-1)
3. TAMPA PLANT (5-1) – The heartbreaking news of the week: Plant quarterback Aaron Murray out for the rest of the season with a broken leg. Murray threw his 23rd, 24th and 25th scoring pass of the season before suffering the second-quarter injury in a 44-28 win against No. 5 Hillsborough. Sophomore Phillip Ely takes over.
Up next: at Tampa Leto (2-5)
4. TAMPA ALONSO (6-1) – The Ravens passed a big test last week, downing Tampa Gaither 34-24. Four more TD passes for C.J. Bennett, who could be on his way to the county’s passing title now that Murray is sidelined. The Ravens have a potent offense and plenty confidence heading into 5A District 6 winner-take-all matchup with no. 2 Chamberlain.
Up next: hosting No. 2 Tampa Chamberlain (7-0)
5. TAMPA HILLSBOROUGH (5-2) – Hard to knock the Terriers down the poll for scoring 28 points and still losing. Further proof: Hillsborough’s two losses have come to Chamberlain and Plant. Still, Hillsborough currently leads in the 4A-11 district race with rival Armwood coming in this week.
Up next: hosting No. 1 Seffner Armwood (7-0)
6. ST. PETERSBURG LAKEWOOD (5-1) – The biggest jumper of the week. The Spartans move up four spots after a shocking 32-24 comeback win against previously No. 4 Largo. Quarterback Jacquez Jenkins threw two touchdown passes and ran for another to turn a 18-point fourth-quarter deficit into the eight-point victory. Lakewood has won five games in a row.
Up next: hosting Seminole Osceola (0-7)
7. NEW PORT RICHEY GULF (6-0) – The undaunted Buccaneers were off last week. Counting Hudson (2-4) this week and Zephyrhills (2-4) next, that gives Gulf three weeks to prepare for the Class 3A, District 8 title tilt against No. 9 Pasco.
Up next: hosting Hudson (2-4)
8. TAMPA BAY TECH (6-1) – The Titans rebounded nicely last week, following up their pounding at the hands of top dog Armwood with some of their own. Tech walloped Ruskin Lennard 56-0. Tech alive and well in the playoff push.
Up next: off this week; hosting Tampa Middleton (2-4) Oct. 31.
9. DADE CITY PASCO (5-1) – The Pirates pitched their first shutout in eight games dating back to last season with last week’s 24-0 win against neighborhood rival Zephyrhills. With one-win Land O’ Lakes Sunlake and winless Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch up next, Pasco also may be peeking at that Nov. 7 game against No. 7 Gulf.
Up next: at Land O’ Lakes Sunlake (1-5)
10. LARGO (5-1) – The Packers find themselves clinging to their poll life after inexplicably watching a 24-8 fourth-quarter lead evaporate into a 32-24 loss against No. 6 Lakewood. What happened? Who knows, but the Packers likely won’t lose again en route to a 5A-10 district title.
Up next: at St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins (3-3)
Still Sniffing Around…
Tampa Wharton (5-2)
Dunedin (5-2)
Land O Lakes (4-2)
Tampa Jesuit (4-2)
Tampa Catholic (4-2)
St. Petersburg (4-2)
Tampa Berkeley Prep (4-2)
Tampa Gaither (3-4)
Tampa Jefferson (3-3)
Indian Rocks Christian (7-0)