Florida high school football: Top teams, games, players and prospects ahead of 2020 season

The fourth week of the high school football season kicks off with six more states ready to get their seasons underway. Florida is among the next set of states ready to get started, taking the field beginning Friday. As things stand, the postseason is set to begin Nov. 14 with championship games scheduled for Dec. 19.

Florida is one of 34 states planning to play football this fall. Sixteen others plus the District of Columbia have moved their respective seasons to 2021.

In Florida, a total of 117 games are set to kick off on Thursday through Saturday. Many of the state's powerhouse programs in Broward and Dade counties won't begin until later this month.

In advance of season openers, here's a look at what you need to know about Florida football in 2020.

Top games

Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) at Northwestern (Miami), Sept. 4
Columbus (Miami) at Booker T. Washington (Miami), Sept. 11
Edgewater (Orlando) at IMG Academy (Bradenton), Sept. 17
Booker T. Washington at Edgewater, Oct. 2
American Heritage (Plantation) at Chaminade-Madonna, Oct. 23

Top teams

1. IMG Academy
2. Northwestern
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
4. Booker T. Washington
5. Chaminade-Madonna

Defending champions

8A: Columbus
7A: St. Thomas Aquinas
6A: Central (Miami)
5A: Northwestern
4A: Booker T. Washington
3A: Chaminade-Madonna
2A: Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah)
1A: Madison County (Madison)

Top recruits
National ranking per 247Sports in parenthesis

1. JC Latham, T, IMG Academy (7)
2. Leonard Taylor, DT, Palmetto (Miami) (9)
3. James Williams, ATH, American Heritage (12)
4. Terrence Lewis, LB, Chaminade-Madonna (15)
5. J.J. McCarthy, QB, IMG Academy (16)

Returning stat leaders

Passing
Zach Tanner, Discovery (Lake Alfred) | 168-277 (61%), 3,099 yds., 31 TD *
Canaan Mobley, Edgewater | 174-289 (60%), 2,777 yds., 27 TD

Rushing
Joe Brunson, Baker | 283 car., 2,288 yds., 23 TD
Jamarian Samuel, Belleview | 240 car., 2,283 yds., 20 TD

Receiving