By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
With district play taking a full week off, Tampa Bay teams have another week of tune-ups before crucial - and poll-changing matchups take place.
In the coming weeks Tampa Bay's No. 1 team Seffner Armwood will square off with district foes Tampa Hillsborough (No. 2) and Tampa Middleton (No. 8). Unbeatens Largo (No. 3) and St. Petersburg Northeast will battle for Pinellas County supremacy in November and other top teams still have key matchups.
No. 4 Tampa Plant, the state's defending Class 4A champion still has a district meeting with Tampa Jefferson, while No. 6 New Port Richey Ridgewood still has a November date with perennial playoff team Land O'Lakes.
In short, as the weeks left in the season get smaller, the games get bigger. Here's this week's MaxPreps Tampa Bay Top Ten poll:
1. SEFFNER ARMWOOD (6-0) - Armwood topped Tampa Bay Tech 26-0. The Hawks, who have allowed 24 points in six games this season, play at Plant City Friday.
2. TAMPA HILLSBOROUGH (6-0) - The Terriers aren't looking ahead at their Oct. 18 game against No. 1 Armwood. Hillsborough hosts No. 4 Tampa Plant this week.
3. LARGO (5-0) - The Packers had little trouble with Pinellas Park (a 48-0 win) and host St. Petersburg Lakewood this week.
4. TAMPA PLANT (4-1) - After a 64-7 blasting of Tampa Blake, the Panthers are sure to be tested this week at No. 2 Hillsborough.
5. ST. PETERSBURG NORTHEAST (5-0) - The Vikings needed every bit of defense it had to nip No. 10 St. Petersburg Boca Ciega 16-13 last week. Northeast hosts Tarpon Springs East Lake next.
6. NEW PORT RICHEY RIDGEWOOD (5-0) - Ridgewood running back Byronell Arline continues to run over opponents (174 yards, 5 TDs in a 49-14 win against New Port Richey River Ridge). The Rams host New Port Richey Mitchell Friday.
7. DUNEDIN (4-2) - Dunedin wanted nothing more than beat Clearwater, which upset them a year ago. Dunedin did that and more, pounding the Tornadoes 53-0. Up next: Tarpon Springs.
8. TAMPA MIDDLETON (3-2) - Middleton running back Carlton Jones has led the Tigers through a tough schedule this season. They'll face an unpredictable Tampa Wharton team this week.
9. TAMPA GAITHER (4-2) - Gaither has won four straight games to get back on the poll. Now the Cowboys will face an upset minded Tampa Alonso team it beat twice last year, including once in the opening round of the state playoffs.
10. ST. PETERSBURG BOCA CIEGA (4-1) - Reeling from its tough loss to No. 5 St. Petersburg Northeast, the Pirates square off with Clearwater Countryside.
Honorable mention: Tampa Jefferson, Tampa Chamberlain, Brandon, Land O'Lakes, Tampa Bay Tech, Tampa Alonso.