Florida Youth and High School Sports News Blog

LocalReplay Class 5A Florida Football Rankings (Preseason Edition)

Links to other Florida high school football class previews:
Class 1A Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 1B Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 2A Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 2B Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 3A Florida High School Football Rankings
Class 4A Florida High School Football Rankings

It’s almost game time for some teams kicking off their seasons on Thursday. We’ll factor in those games when we release our big 6A rankings on Friday. For now, enjoy these 5A predictions and don’t forget to pull out your cameras and camcorders, because you’re a part of the team here. Learn all about it here and here, or just click on the links at the top of the page and find out why you’ll want to make us part of your weekly routine.

1. (Melbourne) Palm Bay—The Pirates were rolling along when Bartram Trail tripped them up 23-20 in the regional semifinals last Nov. 17. With senior RB/LB Ramon Buchanon, senior RB Stephon Mercer, three senior offensive linemen and newly-anointed senior QB Darren Sewell leading the way, expect a state semifinals game for Palm Bay this fall.

2. (Fort Lauderdale) St. Thomas Aquinas—The team is looking toward another trip to the postseason, where Aquinas can’t seem to get its hands on that title trophy. With Lakeland forced to fill some holes, this could be the year the Raiders finally finish off their foes. Lots of guys are gone from the Raiders’ three straight runner-up teams, but they’ll build a nucleus around senior RB Jeremiah Harden, who could go for 25 touchdowns and 1,700 yards in a watered-down District 5A-16.

3. Lakeland—The Dreadnaughts pounded the competition last fall en route to winning a state championship in an exciting double-overtime state title game, but times have changed. The team lost talented RB Chris Rainey, who’s now a freshman at the University of Florida. He took with him the Pouncey brothers—Maurkice and Michael—, a monstrous pair of offensive linemen who gave Lakeland’s offense all the time in the world to throw the ball. Freshmen QB Scooter Haggins and RB Ben McRoy appear to be the next generation of stars for the Dreadnaughts offense, but the defense is really what will get it done this fall. The team’s first big test will come Sept. 14 at Winter Haven, but the bigger game on the schedule is a Sept. 21 home game against Boyd Anderson.

4. North Fort Myers—The Red Knights were tripped up by Manatee in what many called an upset last fall in the regional finals. Now, the team hopes to go deeper into the playoffs behind a host of returning starters, including QB Bo Billman Jr.

5. Dunedin—Senior QB Darius Anderson and RB Darius Bellamy have the same name and the same goal, to find the end zone. If they produce 30-plus touchdowns this fall, it should get the Falcons into the playoffs again. But Anderson is new to the starting lineup and could struggle. Bellamy might carry a heavier load, and that could mean 230 rushes and more than 1,200 yards.

6. (Daytona Beach) Mainland—In the team’s preseason classic, they lost their top running back, senior RB Dwuan King, to injury. There are rumors that he may play this year, but there’s every reason to believe that the team will need someone to step up in his absence, particularly since the team lost some of its firepower to graduation last spring. The defense, though, is always a menace, so expect them to be around come playoff time and perhaps go as deep as last year’s squad, which finished 13-1 after losing to Lakeland in the state semifinals.

7. (Jacksonville) Bartram Trail—Before Kyle Parker packs his bags for Clemson next spring, the senior quarterback hopes to load his things into a bus and head to Orlando, where the state finals will be held at the Citrus Bowl this year. A 35-10 loss in the regional finals kept Bartram Trail from achieving its goal last year, and most of the key players are back and hungry for more success. Senior WR Charles Bailey gives Parker a nice target, but the target is really on the backs of this team, which will have several other squads pumped up. On Sept. 28, the Bears face Lake Brantley, the 2006 6A state runner-up.

8. Osceola—The Kowboys were great in ’06. Their 8-3 record, though, included two district losses, and Osceola missed the playoffs. Fortunately, most of their starters are back for revenge this fall, and there’s every reason to believe they could march right into state championship contention. T’Sharvin Bell is a monster on both sides. He scores touchdowns and picks off passes. The leader, though, is senior RB Kwamaine Brown, who topped 1,000 yards last fall.

9. (Bradenton) Manatee—The Hurricanes lost some big bodies, but they have lost nothing in the passing game, where sophomore QB Brion Carnes is ready to put himself on the map after emerging as a freshman. When a coach is complaining that he has more talent than he can utilize, it’s a good sign of what’s to come. Carnes will be better next year, but the time is now for this squad, which finished last season with a 36-29 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the state semifinals.

10. Atlantic—Senior Karnell Hatcher is a difference-maker at safety, but the blue-chip recruit needs some help from Atlantic’s offense following last year’s successful 10-2 campaign. Senior QB Chivas Jones will once again lead the offense, which was shut out 64-0 against St. Thomas Aquinas in the regional semifinals last year.

11. Largo—RB Brynn Harvey will lead Largo, which hopes to build on its 2006 season, which ended at 10-2 after a 23-19 regional semifinals loss to North Fort Myers. On Friday, the team gets a big test from East Lake. Expect Rick Rodriguez’s squad to pass, with Harvey running all over the place after going for more than 1,800 yards as a sophomore last fall.

12. (Lakeland) Lake Gibson—Almost the entire offense is back for a Braves team that finished 8-2, reaching the regional finals last fall. Senior QB Brode Bulloch could emerge as one of the state’s top signal-callers this season, his third as the starter, and junior RB Aaron Truedell is poised to break out with a 1,000-plus yard season.

13. Pine Forest—Here’s a good team that moves up from 3A to compete with the bigger boys. Pine Forest was 14-1 last fall, so there’s no reason to expect them to be pushovers.

14. Washington—Along with Pine Forest, Washington is bumped up to 5A this fall. The team was strong last year at the 4A level, and they’ve been up at the top in the past, including in 1994, when they won the 6A state title. But it’s going to take something special in District 5A-1, where Pine Forest also roams. The team will need some new athletes to emerge, because many of the keys to the team’s record the past two seasons are gone.

15. Fleming Island—Senior QB Ryan Aplin looks to finish off his prep days without another big season. He topped 1,500 passing yards and another 700-plus on the ground last fall during the Golden Eagles’ 6-4 campaign, which ended without a playoff run. With two veteran lineman and sophomore newcomer OL Ian Silberman (6-5, 245), he should have some run to work this fall. A new district helps, too.

16. East Lake—Micah Powell, who emerged last fall after an injury gave him a chance, is the star of this squad. The 6-0, 190-pounder, who has given an oral commitment to Vanderbilt, should rush for more than 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns. Blake Robles can hold his own at the quarterback spot.

17. (Tampa) Alonso—The team is looking for its fourth playoff berth in just five years of football, but they’ll be putting their faith in senior QB Geno Quintana, who hasn’t played a down at the varsity level. He’s among one of few new starters this fall, so his success could lead to big things for the Ravens.

18. Blanche Ely—Senior DB Patrick Johnson is a big-time recruit headed to Miami next fall, but who else does the team have? It might be a tough year for Ely. Senior RB Dominique Groom will be counted on heavily. So he goes, so goes the team.

19. South Broward—After an 8-2 season last fall, the Bulldogs hope to have enough to make the playoffs again this fall. Hollywood Hills lost some of its wallop, and that should help in District 5A-16.

20. Cape Coral—Under new coach Mike Goebbel, the Seahawks hope to build on their 7-3 season. A key to the team’s success is QB David Pasquale, a senior who threw for more than 1,000 yards last fall.

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