Telegraph Staff Writer
The Florida High School Athletic Association released its third RPI football rankings on Oct. 12, but no change occurred in regard to Bradford and Union County high schools as each maintained the number-one spot in its region.
Bradford is also the number-one team in its classification as a whole.
End-of-the season rankings will be used to determine playoff qualifiers and postseason seeding.
Bradford (6-0) is a member of Region 2 in Class 2S. The top 10 (in descending order behind Bradford) also consists of Baldwin (5-1), Palatka (6-0), Eastside (4-1), Baker County (4-2), North Marion (5-2), Tocoi Creek (5-2), Yulee (3-2), Crescent City (3-3) and Fernandina Beach (2-3).
The Tornadoes have wins over three of those top-10 teams — Baldwin, Eastside and Baker County — by a combined score of 84-0. Bradford hosts Tocoi Creek for homecoming on Friday, Oct. 14, and will play Palatka on Oct. 28.
When looking at Class 2S overall, the top 10 teams in order are Bradford, Florida High (6-0), South Sumter (7-0), Baldwin, Wakulla (6-1), Pensacola Catholic (7-0), Bay (5-1), West Florida (4-2), Bishop Verot (3-2) and Palatka.
To qualify for the playoffs, Bradford will either have to be the District 6 champion, coming out on top of Keystone Heights, Palatka and Tocoi Creek, or have one of the top-four RPI rankings among non-district champions in Region 2.
In Class 1R, Union (4-1) is ranked first in Region 3 ahead of Hilliard (4-2), Lafayette (4-2), Madison County (2-4), Branford (5-1), Fort White (3-3), Bell (4-3) and Hamilton County (1-3).
When looking at Class 1R as a whole, the Tigers are fourth behind Chiefland (5-0), Pahokee (5-2) and Northview (6-0).
Williston (6-0), which was ranked number one, dropped to fifth. The rest of the top 10 (in descending order) consists of Sneads (6-0), Hawthorne (6-0), Chipley (6-0), Wildwood (4-2) and Port St. Joe (5-1).
Hawthorne, which was previously ranked third, plays Union on Friday, Oct. 14, in Lake Butler.
To qualify for the playoffs, the Tigers must have one of the top-six RPI rankings among the eight total teams in Region 3.
