In the last five seasons, Florida has been home to some of the top teams in the country each season. Additionally, the Sunshine State is home to some of the nation's most dominant small school programs.
MaxPreps examines the Top 10 football dynasties in Florida over the last five seasons according to the Freeman computer rankings.
1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)Record: 69-4
Head coach: George Smith/Rocco Casullo
Jelani Hamilton will lead Aquinas in
2011.
Photo by Stuart Browning
Unquestionably the state's most dominant program over the last five seasons, Aquinas has followed a predictable pattern: graduate numerous Division I players and replace them the following fall with similarly talented athletes. New head coach Rocco Casullo, who takes over for the legendary George Smith, will face the program's most ambitious schedule to date, with early season matchups against Prattville and De La Salle.
2. Plant (Tampa)Record: 65-7
Head coach: Robert Weiner
Plant has been one of the most successful public school programs in the country over the last five years, as few have matched the sustained level of success that the Panthers have achieved. Four appearances in state title games and three championships in grueling playoff brackets is a hard feat to top. After a rough start to the season, with losses to Armwood and Abilene in the early going, Plant rebounded with a run to the 5A state finals before losing to Aquinas 29-7. In the newly created 8A classification, Plant could find itself back in the title game this season.
3. Lakeland Record: 65-5
Head Coach: Bill Castle
Bill Castle is one of the most well-respected coaches in the country, and with good reason: he's the mastermind behind a Lakeland program that has lost only three games over the last three seasons. The Dreadnaughts' 2006 team was simply special, finishing 16-0 and claiming victories over St. Xavier and Aquinas, the latter a 45-42 double-overtime thriller. The 2011 forecast would indicate that Lakeland could experience a down year, but it's hard to expect anything less than a deep playoff run for the Dreadnaughts.
4. Northwestern (Miami)Record: 62-8
Head Coach: Roland Smith/Billy Rolle
Northwestern has been at or near the top of the Dade County football season for the past five seasons, a testament to the job that Billy Rolle has done in taking over for Roland Smith as head coach. The Bulls are also gifted with great talent, as the class of 2008 famously sent eight players to the University of Miami. That group of Bulls traveled to Texas to down Southlake Carroll in one of the most publicized games of the 2000s.
5. Armwood (Seffner)Record: 62-7
Head Coach: Sean Callahan
Tampa-area football has enjoyed a nice five-year run, and Armwood is a big reason why. The Hawks, lead by Sean Callahan, have not lost more than two games in a single season during that time. Armwood was nationally ranked for much of last year, and nearly completed a perfect season before falling to Lincoln in the 4A state final. With running back
Matt Jones returning alongside a loaded defense, it could be a special season for Armwood, which will head to Nevada to tangle with Bishop Gorman.
6. Cocoa Record: 61-7
Head Coach: John Wilkinson
Cocoa has defied the odds as a small school power that has been a thorn in the sides to some much bigger programs around the country. Not only have the Tigers beaten small school powerhouses around Florida, in 2010 they claimed victories over Olive Branch and Abilene, two of the biggest, most respected programs in their respective states. In 2011, coach Wilkinson will put his program's 38-game winning streak on the line against the likes of Colerain, West Monroe and Miami Central.
7. Glades Central (Belle Glade)Record: 59-10
Head Coach: Willie Snead/Jesse Hester/Roosevelt Blackmon
Expectations are always high at Glades Central, given its rich football tradition. Over the past five years, the combination of Willie Snead and Jessie Hester helped guide the Raiders to two state finals appearances, one title, and three wins over Dwyer, whom the Raiders will take on in their 2011 season opener in the debut of new head coach Roosevelt Blackmon.
T-9. Bolles (Jacksonville)Record: 62-3
Head Coach: Corky Rogers
With a better record over the last five years than any program on this list, Bolles definitely earned its spot. The Bulldogs captured state titles in 2008 and 2009, while coming up short in 2010 to Trinity Catholic. The 2011 Bolles squad will be led by blue-chip recruit
John Theus, a punishing offensive tackle being courted by programs around the country. Head coach Corky Rogers is sitting at 398 career wins; if Bolles wins its first game against Bayside, Rogers will go for No. 400 against American Heritage.
T-9. St. Augustine (Fla.)Record: 61-7
Head coach: Joey Wiles
Though St. Augustine's last state title came six years ago, the Yellowjackets have continued to be one of the top programs in the state, one that has not suffered a regular season setback since the middle of the 2007 season. That streak will be on the line this season, as St. Augustine is traveling to Georgia to take on North Gwinnett. While the Yellowjackets' defense has some holes to fill, look for the offense to rely on a potent ground game that should carry the team early on.
