TREASURE COAST – After seven regular season weeks played, we are seeing even more clearly which teams represent the class of the Treasure Coast area.
As with any other week, we look at a few factors in ranking our area’s programs. So with that said, here are the top three determinants on how the Top 10 turned out this week – in order:
•Strength of overall team
•Strength of schedule
•Wins and losses
A fourth determinant serves as a key to how far a team will drop – if it loses a game in a blowout:
•Margin of loss
In consultation with a host of coaches from the entire Treasure Coast area, we have decided on the Top 10 will look like this week.
After reading the entire Top 10 for yourself, read on for all the details of how we assembled this particular team ranking iteration.
HONEST IMPRESSIONS
1. Top 10 return for Port. St. Lucie
A convincing 68-0 home win over Tradition Prep last week was enough for Port St. Lucie (3-3) to be back in our Top 10.
Jaguars running back Saleem Felder had seven rushing touchdowns in the blowout win – a school record.
Now with Port St. Lucie having a favorable schedule for the remainder of the regular season – Week 8 on the road at Okeechobee (1-5), Week 9 at home against previously ranked South Fork (1-5), Week 10 at home against No. 6 Fort Pierce Westwood (5–1), and Week 11 on the road at No. 3 Centennial (5–1) – it would
not be a surprise to see this team finishing with a least a .500 record.
ONLY CALL OUT THIS WEEK: Aside from Port St. Lucie’s return to the Top 10 – and South Fork’s subsequent Top 10 exit after its 48-10 loss last week to Benjamin – every Top 10 team remained in the same place from last week.
Half of our Top 10 enjoyed their byes in Week 7 – No. 2 Treasure Coast (1-4), No. 3 Centennial (5-1), No. 4 John Carroll (4-1), No. 5 Jensen Beach (5-1), and No. 10 Fort Pierce Central (1-5).
Meanwhile, No. 1 Vero Beach (7-0; 41-7 winner over Wellington), No. 6 Fort Pierce Westwood (5-1; 27-7 winner over Spanish River), and No. 7 Martin County (5-2; 21-11 winner over Stranahan) all won their Week 7 games by double digits.
Though No. 8 Sebastian River (3-2) dropped a 30-7 decision to Heritage in Week 7, there was no justification in dropping down a team that still has a winning record. Also, there is no way we will ignore the head-to-head result with now-No. 9 Port St. Lucie from Week 5, which was a 10-6 road win.
PLEASE NOTE: We will consult with coaches from the majority of our 14 Treasure Coast teams before each weekly Top 10 list is released. This ensures that the best possible order is published and all 14 teams are fairly represented.
NEXT RELEASE: Tuesday, Oct. 17 or Wednesday, Oct. 18
PHOTO CREDITS: Future Draft Style and Port St. Lucie Jaguars Football
