Florida Youth and High School Sports News Blog

Florida Football: Week 8 1B Rankings

As mentioned in this week’s 1A rankings, we’re now going with separate posts for each class in an effort to shorten things a bit. Again, it’s also worth noting that teams are now highlighted. Clicking them sends you to the individual Team Card page. As athletes, coaches, fans, etc., it’s your five-minute investment that creates the Team Card for your particular team. In most cases, there’s already a spot ready. You just have to register and go on your merry way. Click here to get started and share the link with teammates, other parents, coaches, the high school newspaper staff or anyone else who might wish to contribute. It’s one team, but anyone who registers can upload under that Team Card.

Since Class 1B is comprised of dozens of private high schools, it’s worth noting that some of those teams weren’t in the database that was used to create the Team Card section. I know you exist, and you know you exist. But the site doesn’t acknowledge it until someone goes in and creates a Team Card. For several private schools, this has already been done. For others, you’ll need to follow the prompts in the registration process and shoot us an e-mail alerting us that we need to create your card.

As mentioned in the 1A rankings, we’re happy to report that Local Replay is rapidly going mainstream just three months since launching, and 2008 promises to be a big year. If you haven’t joined the party, you’re missing out. We’re adding photographers and writers every month, and we’re set to roll into the football playoffs and then carry the momentum over to basketball and soccer seasons.

Coaches, we’d also like to have your team stats, which can be sent directly to me by e-mail at: rwhite3135@cfl.rr.com or to the regular Local Replay e-mail.

The photos, video footage and stats will be there for years to come, as the site doesn’t have any plans to remove anything. Local Replay’s computer gurus (me included) wouldn’t know a mike back if he hit ‘em in the groin, but we start to salivate if you talk about server space and bandwidth. Anyway, on to this week’s rankings and on toward a fateful stop in Orlando.

In 1B, Week 7 brought another big matchup. Following the Week 6 game between FAMU and Aucilla Christian, which lost, Keswick Christian pounded on last week’s No. 8 team, Master’s Academy, 52-6, to secure another week at No. 1. But will it last? Keswick faces an improved Bradenton Prep team.

Meanwhile, Week 8 brings another big game, with No. 2 Deltona Trinity Christian (6-1) taking on new No. 4, DeLand Lighthouse Christian (7-0). Lighthouse has racked up the points on opponents, but the true nature of the team’s success has been its defense. With eighth-grader Marlin Lane Jr. rushing the ball much of the time, many of the team’s other athletes make their name with tight pass coverage, barreling tackles and quarterback sacks. But Lighthouse, just a year removed from its inaugural season, has played in the shadow of Trinity Christian all season. Now they can’t. We’ll have more on this one, including a feature on Lane, who we branded with the nickname Night Train even before he’d played a regular-season game. Oddly, we’ve actually never seen him play a game in almost two full seasons.

In any case, Lighthouse is one of four teams still undefeated in 1B. Eagle’s View (6-0) has had a few close calls, but there’s a chance the team will go into the playoffs at 9-0 after they defeated Arlington Country Day, ranked No. 15 last week, in 42-14 game. Hollywood Christian (6-0) is coming off a 41-12 win against Coral Shores. One-loss teams include Jupiter Christian and Santa Fe Catholic, out of Lakeland.

1B
1. (St. Petersburg) Keswick Christian (6-0)
2. (Deltona) Trinity Christian (6-1)
3. (Jacksonville) Eagle’s View Academy (6-0)
4. (DeLand) Lighthouse Christian Academy (7-0)
5. Hollywood Christian (6-0)
6 Jupiter Christian (6-1)
7. (Monticello) Aucilla Christian Academy (5-1)
8. (Lakeland) Santa Fe Catholic (5-1)
9. (Tallahassee) FAMU (3-4)
10. (Oviedo) Master’s Academy (5-2)
11. (South Daytona) Warner Christian Academy (4-2)
12. Graceville (4-2)
13. (Orlando) Pine Castle Christian (4-2)
14. (Titusville) Temple Christian (4-2)
15. (Sarasota) Out-of-Door Academy (3-2)
16. (Jacksonville) Arlington Country Day (4-2)
17. (Ormond Beach) Calvary Christian (3-3)
18. 18. Bradenton Prep (3-2)
19. (Tampa) Cambridge Christian (4-3)
20. (Maitland) Orangewood Christian (4-3)