PALM BEACH COUNTY – The eleventh and final week of the regular season is officially in the books, which was highlighted by some marquee matchups.
With that said, we have compiled a list of the top 10 teams in the county.
The rankings have been separated into public school ranks and private/charter school ranks.
The list has been updated on a weekly basis throughout the regular season, and it was based on these following factors: team performances, strength of schedule, team record, and coaches suggestions.
PUBLIC SCHOOL RANKINGS: FINAL TOP 10
1. Atlantic (Delray Beach) (10-0) [Last Week: 1]
The Eagles are the only undefeated team in Palm Beach County. What else is there to say about a team that manhandled Wellington (42-3 blowout win in Week 11) in the regular season finale?
They spoiled the Wolverines senior night in drip fashion, literally and figuratively. And they keep shutting up naysayers along the way, particularly those who didn’t think a 10-0 regular season was possible.
The only thing that can top this is the Eagles winning the Class 8A state championship and earning an impressive 15-0 final record. It would be its first state title in program history and a watershed moment in Delray Beach.
2. Dwyer (9-1) [Last Week: 2]
The Panthers ended their regular season in Week 10. It was a 33-2 win over West Boca Raton.
In all nine of their wins, they scored at least 30 points and allowed 14 points or less. It’s the definition of pure domination.
Can the Panthers continue this in the 7A playoffs? We’ll find out soon enough.
3. Palm Beach Central (9-1) [Last Week: 3]
The Broncos ended their regular season with a bang and a nine-game winning streak, second only to Atlantic’s 10 wins in a row and undefeated record. A 52-0 takedown of John I. Leonard was something to be blown away by because this is probably the last time Palm Beach Central will get to enjoy a 52-point margin of victory this year.
Why is that?
Well there’s this thing called revenge. And Palm Beach Central (No. 3 seed; Region 3) will host Wellington (No. 6 seed; Region 3) in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs, almost two months after the two Wellington-based teams squared off against each other in Week 4 for District 9-8A supremacy and the Wellington Cup.
But wait. Hold up.
Palm Beach Central did go on to beat Wellington by a score of 52-10, a 42-point margin of victory.
Oh, that part.
Oh, never mind.
4. Palm Beach Lakes (7-3) [Last Week: 4]
The Rams are riding high right now. After ending the regular season with a six-game winning streak, courtesy of a 46-6 win over Suncoast in Week 11, they think they have what it takes to make a surprise run in the 7A playoffs.
Palm Beach County’s most improved team (No. 6 seed; Region 4) can pull off an upset over McArthur (9-1; No. 3 seed in Region 4) this Friday night in Broward County. Can they really do it?
If so, their reward is probably going to be a rematch with No. 2 seed Dwyer. Sounds like a juicy piece of motivation, right?
5. Glades Central (7-3) [Last Week: 6]
The Raiders finished their regular season with a five-game winning streak, which was highlighted by a 22-12 Muck Bowl revenge victory over Pahokee on the road in Week 11.
The motivation to prove their naysayers wrong – which was just about everybody outside of their program – is evident in more ways than one. The next victim on their own revenge tour is 4A first round opponent Coral Springs Charter (7-1).
At least for one week, everyone believes Glades Central will win a playoff game for the first time in very recent memory. But can everyone believe in the Muck team’s drive to win its seventh state title in program history?
Of course that’s irrelevant. The Raiders believe in themselves, and that’s all what matters at this stage.
Prediction: Anything can happen, and don’t be surprised if they win the state title again, which would be their first one since 2006.
6. Wellington (6-4) [Last Week: 5]
The Wolverines retired the No. 2 jersey of their all-time best player in Ahmmon Richards this past Friday night. It was one of only two highlights from their 42-3 blowout loss to top-ranked Atlantic in Week 11. The other highlight was that Wellington sent its upperclassmen off nicely in a special Senior Night ceremony.
Can Wellington honor Richards by pulling off a shocking upset over Palm Beach Central in the first round of the playoffs? Can this team make a surprise postseason run?
You never know what can happen. Stay tuned.
7. Pahokee (5-5) [Last Week: 7]
As crazy as this sounds, Pahokee didn’t get penalized for losing the Muck Bowl (22-12 home defeat) to Glades Central. This 1A powerhouse team will get to rest a full week because it has a bye as the No. 2 seed in Region 4, even with a regular season-ending three-game losing streak in the books.
Do the Blue Devils have yet another scorching playoff run in them?
Everyone hopes so. Well, except for their opponent in Round 2 of the 1A playoffs next week.
8. Forest Hill (8-2) [Last Week: 8]
The Falcons may have the toughest luck out of every Palm Beach County team this year.
Last season’s pleasant surprise team made the 7A playoffs and nearly pulled off a win in the first round. But this season, it turned out differently for them.
Normally a record of 8-2 will get a team into the playoffs. But a relatively weak non-district schedule is effectively what did the Falcons in. They can’t schedule the likes of Spanish River and Suncoast for positive points. The FHSAA will simply show no respect for it, and they made it loud and clear what they’re looking for.
Strength of schedule is everything now. We’ll see if Forest Hill comes out with a better non-district schedule next season.
The loss to Dwyer was fine. The loss to Palm Beach Lakes proved to be a devastating one.
We’ll see you next season, Forest Hill.
9. Park Vista (7-3) [Last Week: 9]
The Cobras had a strong finish to their regular season. But the non-district schedule hurt them this time, with no quality wins to think of.
With that said, last year’s playoff team pulled off a first-round upset as a No. 8 seed and came close to knocking off a No. 2 seed in Atlantic. It would have been nice to see Park Vista back in the playoffs.
But the FHSAA has made it crystal clear. A team’s schedule is everything now – and it can never be said enough.
We’ll see you next year, Park Vista.
10. Santaluces (6-4) [Last Week: 10]
The Chief Squad had an inspiring season. Under head coach Brian Coe, they have something to build on for next season.
But like we have said about Forest Hill and Park Vista, Santaluces absolutely must beef up its non-district schedule for next season.
With only four games outside of District 10-8A, its opponents can’t be the likes of Olympic Heights, Suncoast, or Jupiter. The FHSAA penalized Santaluces heavily this season for its relatively weak non-district schedule, as it was never in playoff contention because of it.
Let’s see what happens next year.
Until then, enjoy the offseason, Chief Squad.
PRIVATE/CHARTER SCHOOLS
1. King’s Academy (9-1) [Last Week: 1]
2. Benjamin (9-1) [Last Week: 2]
3. Delray Beach American Heritage (7-3) [Last Week: 3]
4. Cardinal Newman (8-2) [Last Week: 3]
5. Glades Day (6-4) [Last Week: 5]
6. Jupiter Christian (7-2) [Last Week: 6]
7. Inlet Grove (5-4) [Last Week: 8]
8. Somerset Academy Canyons (5-5) [Last Week: 7]
9. St. Andrews (5-5) [Last Week: 9]
10. Boca Raton Christian (4-6) [Last Week 10]
