New entrant in Top 10 team rankings

PALM BEACH COUNTY – It was a rough Week 1 for three of our ranked teams at the time.

Two of those teams suffered blowout losses at home – albeit to state-ranked opponents – while the other one lost a close defensive battle on the road to a well-respected program.

As a result, there were bound to be some changes in this week’s Top 10
rankings.

Let’s end the suspense right now by giving you the updated list.

TOP 10: Week 1

1. Delray Beach Atlantic (7A; 1-0) [LW: 1]
2. Benjamin (3A; 1-0) [LW: 2]
3. Glades Central (4A; 1-0) [LW: 3]
4. Cardinal Newman (3A; 1-0) [LW: 4]
5. Palm Beach Gardens (8A; 1-0) [LW: 7]
6. Palm Beach Lakes (7A; 1-0) [LW: 8]
7. Pahokee (1A; 0-1) [LW: 6]
8. Delray Beach American Heritage (4A; 0-1) [LW: 5]
9. Jupiter (8A; 1-0) [LW: 10]
10. Forest Hill (8A; 1-0) [LW: NR]

Teams on outside looking in: King’s Academy (3A; 1-0), Lake Worth (8A; 1-0), Palm Beach Central (8A; 0-1), Park Vista (8A; 0-1), Seminole Ridge (7A; 0-0)

SOMEONE HAD TO GO

The losers from Week 1 were then-No. 9 Palm Beach Central (40-13 home loss to No. 1 Delray Beach Atlantic), then-No. 5 Delray Beach American Heritage (7-3 road loss to Vero Beach), and then-No. 6 Pahokee (44-7 home loss to state-ranked University School).

There was a debate within our team about all three of these teams leaving the Top 10. After all, a loss is a loss, no matter how you spin it.

But two things mattered this time: strength of opponent and placement of ranking before the Week 1 game started.

None of the losers suffered a “bad” loss, regardless of the final margin. But of these three losing teams in question, Palm Beach Central had the worst loss, if that makes sense.

We totally get that Atlantic is the consensus No. 1 team in Palm Beach County, which means that Palm Beach Central would be expected to lose this one. But we expected Palm Beach Central to give Atlantic a game, which unfortunately did not happen.

Palm Beach Central is not getting a pass this week. But we do expect the Broncos to bounce back and return to the Top 10 at some point this season.

MOVEMENT UP RANKINGS

The biggest beneficiaries from Week 1 were Palm Beach Gardens (46-0 winner over Suncoast) and Palm Beach Lakes (41-15 winner over Wellington). Both teams won big, and both clearly deserve to be rewarded for that.

Palm Beach Gardens is in our top five and has a chance to climb up even further next week. This is possible due to its next opponent in John I. Leonard and the fact two of our top four face each in Week 2.

Palm Beach Lakes benefits with a two-spot jump to No. 6 and could see itself in the top five next week, depending on how it does against Treasure Coast in Week 2.

Both Gardens and Lakes should be interested in the Week 2 game between No. 2 Benjamin and No. 4 Cardinal Newman. This could go either way, but this will positively (or negatively) affect a slew of ranked teams over the next week.

Also on the rise is Jupiter, a beneficiary of Palm Beach Central’s drop from the rankings. The surprise Top 10 team moves up a spot due to its 32-21 win over Tohopekaliga and Palm Beach Central’s blowout loss to Atlantic.

HELLO FOREST HILL

Due to its thrilling 40-32 comeback win over Santaluces, we decided to put Forest Hill in at No. 10. The Falcons are young but supremely talented at multiple positions, and will have a bright future ahead of them.

Forest Hill needs to keep winning, though. Its Week 2 game is against Seminole Ridge, a team that is capable of doing anything.

WEEK 2 SLATE: TOP 10

No. 1 Delray Beach Atlantic (1-0): Home vs. Clearwater Academy International – Friday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.

No. 2 Benjamin (1-0): Home vs. No. 4 Cardinal Newman – Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.

No. 3 Glades Central (1-0): Home vs. Wellington – Thursday, Aug. 29
at 6 p.m.

No. 4 Cardinal Newman (1-0): Away at No. 2 Benjamin – Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.

No. 5 Palm Beach Gardens (1-0): Away at John I. Leonard – Friday, Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m.

No. 6 Palm Beach Lakes (1-0): Home vs. Treasure Coast – Friday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.

No. 7 Pahokee (0-1): Home vs. Raines – Friday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.

No. 8 Delray Beach American Heritage (0-1): Home vs. Coral Springs Charter – Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.

No. 9 Jupiter (1-0): Away at Lake Worth – Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.

No. 10 Forest Hill (1-0): Away at Seminole Ridge – Thursday, Aug. 29
at 6 p.m.