Top 20 most dominant Florida high school football teams in the MaxPreps era

By Staff Report Jul 15, 2014, 10:22pm

After compiling data since 2004, we have come up with the 20 best high school football programs in Florida.

St. Thomas Aquinas is Florida's best football team during the MaxPreps era.
St. Thomas Aquinas is Florida's best football team during the MaxPreps era.
Photo by Stuart Browning
It has been 10 years now that MaxPreps has put out football computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard.

That's plenty of time to come up with a solid list of which programs have been the most dominant during the MaxPreps era.

For the purpose of the rankings, each team will be awarded points based off where it finished in the computer rankings after each season. For example, if a team finished No. 1 overall it receives 25 points. If the team finished No. 25 overall, it would get one point. A team also receives 30 points for winning a state title and 15 for being the runner-up.

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View Florida rankings for the past 10 years

Most dominant Florida football programs in the MaxPreps era

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) - 351 Points
Overall record: 127-15
Over the past 10 years, the Raiders have compiled a number of accolades including two undefeated seasons, twice finishing with the No. 1 ranking, and they have claimed four state championships. They also have not missed the Top 25 in the past 10 seasons.

2. Bolles (Jacksonville) - 278
Overall record: 125-12
Bolles has compiled five state titles since 2004, as well as completing three undefeated seasons along the way and reaching the No. 2 ranking in 2004.

3. Armwood (Seffner) - 276
Overall record: 99-44
The Hawks have missed the Top 25 just once over the past 10 years, racking up seven Top 10 finishes and two state titles in the process.

4. Plant (Tampa) - 275
Overall record: 114-20-1
An undefeated season in 2006 helped Plant capture its first state title since 2004. The school followed that up with three more in the next seven years, along with four Top 5 finishes.

5. Lakeland - 243
Overall record: 125-11
Three straight undefeated seasons assisted the Dreadnaughts in capturing three straight 5A state titles as well as three consecutive No. 1 finishes.



6. Washington (Miami) - 235
Overall record: 115-15
Washington has held claim to two No. 1 rankings since 2004 as well as being the victor in three 4A state title games.

7. Central (Miami) - 216
Overall record: 92-34
The Rockets have participated in four state championship games since 2004, being crowned the 6A champions three of those times. They also have had five Top 10 finishes in the past 10 seasons.

8. Pahokee - 199
Overall record: 85-37
Although Pahokee hasn't cracked the Top 25 since 2008, it competed in five consecutive state championship games from 2004-08, winning four 2B state titles along the way.

9. Cocoa - 174
Overall record: 107-23
Having only one loss in three successive seasons helped the Tigers hoist state championship trophies from 2008-10.

10. Northwestern (Miami) - 167
Overall record: 101-24
Northwestern won back-to-back state titles in 2006 and 2007. It also has seven Top 25 finishes since 2004.

11. Madison County (Madison) - 145
Overall record: 105-21-1
The Cowboys capped off their best season in the past 10 years with a 2A state championship and Top 10 finish in 2007.



12. Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) - 144
Overall record: 113-18
Dwyer claimed the No. 1 rank in 2009, capturing one of its two state titles since 2004.

13. Glades Central (Belle Glade) - 143
Overall record: 108-26
The Raiders have finished in the Top 25 in eight of the past 10 seasons. They have two runner-up finishes and one 3A state championship.

14. Manatee (Bradenton) - 135
Overall record: 102-26
Since 2009, Manatee has not missed the Top 25, and has captured a No. 1 ranking and a 7A state title in the process.

14. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) - 135
Overall record: 100-29
Two undefeated seasons helped the Celtics capture a pair of 2B state titles in the past 10 seasons.

16. American Heritage (Delray Beach) - 130
Overall record: 89-29
The Stallions have been in four state championship bouts since 2004, winning three and finishing as the runner-up in once.

17. Nease (Ponte Vedra) - 123
Overall record: 79-42
In the only three years Nease cracked the Top 25, it managed to win one 4A state title and finished as runner-up the other two years.



18. Miramar - 117
Overall record: 87-34
Miramar won a 6A state title in 2009, its only state championship since 2004. Miramar finished with the No. 4 ranking in the same year.

19. St. Augustine - 109
Overall record: 116-15
The Yellowjackets posted an undefeated season in 2005, helping them capture their lone 3A state title since 2004.

20. Apopka - 105
Overall record: 102-28
Apopka has four Top 25 finishes over the past 10 years, including an 8A state championship victory in 2012.