BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford and Union County high schools are the number-one teams in their respective classifications with the release of the season’s second Florida High School Athletic Association/MaxPreps football rankings, which are used to determine playoff qualifiers and seeding.
It was no change for Bradford (5-0), which sat atop Class 2A in the inaugural rankings that were released Sept. 24. Union (5-0) was behind Jay (5-1) in the inaugural Rural Classification rankings, but the teams switched positions in the latest rankings, which were released Oct. 1.
Despite having a 2-3 record, Keystone Heights would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today. The Indians are currently eighth in Region 2 of Class 2A (27th overall).
The top eight teams (including district champions) in each region qualify for the playoffs.
The Rural Classification isn’t divided into regions, so the top 16 teams in the class qualify for the playoffs.
Rankings, which take into account results and strength of schedule, are updated every week until the end of the regular season.
To view rankings, visit fhsaa.com.
BHS and Class 2A
In Region 2 of Class 2A Bradford is number one ahead of Cocoa (3-2), which defeated the Tornadoes 20-6 in last year’s state-championship game. Newberry (3-2) is third, followed by Clearwater’s Calvary Christian (3-2), Palatka (4-2), Tampa Catholic (2-3), Berkeley Prep (2-4) and Keystone.
The top-10 overall teams in 2A (regardless of region) are Bradford, Gadsden County (5-1), Pensacola Catholic (4-1), Bolles (4-1), Fort Meyers Bishop Verot (4-2), Taylor County (5-0), Marianna (6-0), West Palm Beach King’s Academy (5-0), Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (5-1) and Cocoa.
In combining all classifications (Rural-7A) Bradford is ranked fifth out of 460 teams. Class 7A Venice (6-0) is number one, followed by 6A Nease (5-0), 6A Seffner Armwood (5-0) and 5A Lakeland (5-0).
UCHS and Rural
In looking at the top 16 teams in Rural, Union is one of just five that are undefeated.
Last year’s state runner-up Madison County (4-1) is third behind Union and Jay, followed by two-time defending state champ Hawthorne (4-1), Chiefland (5-0), Chipley (5-1), Cottondale (5-0), Franklin County (5-0), Aucilla Christian (5-0), Fort White (3-2), Pahokee (2-2), Holmes County (4-2), Williston (3-2), Jefferson County (4-1), Baker (5-1) and Moore Haven (2-2).
In combining all classifications, Union is ranked 43rd.
