Florida high school football: Statewide top 25 scoreboard

By Jordan Divens Oct 2, 2024, 12:00pm

Nationally-ranked showdown between No. 6 IMG Academy and No. 19 Venice headlines schedule.

A nationally-ranked showdown between IMG Academy (Bradenton) and Venice headlines the high school football action in Florida this weekend as two of the most talented offenses in the state go head-to-head.

IMG Academy has won four in a row since a season-opening 35-34 loss at No. 21 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) and are winning by an average margin of 33.5 points per game. The Ascenders are averaging 40.2 points per contest this season and have held their last four opponents to 14 points or less.

Venice has one of the most explosive offenses in the country, averaging 55.8 points a game. The Indians are 6-0 on the season with notable wins over Cocoa and Northwestern (Miami), boosting them into the national rankings this week at No. 19.

Former IMG Academy standout Winston Watkins Jr. has been huge for Venice, hauling in 38 receptions for 485 yards and nine total touchdowns while also making plays on defense. A two-headed rushing attack features three-star James Madison commit Gata Wilder (93 carries, 764 yards) and sophomore Dorien Irving-Jones (104 carries, 832 yards).

In a matchup between teams ranked in the top 25 of the state according to MaxPreps computer rankings, No. 9 Cocoa hosts No. 18 Norland (Miami) on Friday night.

Cocoa has one of the best quarterback/wide receiver duos in the country in four-star Michigan commit Brady Hart and three-star UCF pledge Jayvan Boggs. Hart has thrown for 1,726 yards and 16 touchdowns while Boggs has hauled in 39 receptions for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns. 



Norland has one of the most prolific quarterbacks in state history. Senior signal caller Ennio Yapoor enters Friday's showdown with 12,294 career yards passing and 100 touchdowns. He has added 3,015 yards on the ground and 35 more scores.

Other games to watch include No. 5 Central (Miami) traveling to Northwestern, No. 19 First Baptist Academy (Naples) making a trip out-of-state to battle undefeated Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.) and No. 6 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) heading to Monarch (Coconut Creek).

Read on for a complete look at this week's top 25 scoreboard.