PALM BEACH COUNTY – Can anyone remember the last time – if ever – that both Glades Central and Pahokee lost at home by 30 or more points on the same night?
We do know that it hasn’t happened in recent history. That much is relatively safe to say.
But – as much as Palm Beach County high school football fans may not want to hear this – neither blowout loss by our two premiere Muck teams were what we would consider “bad” losses.
This is why, regardless of the final score, a team’s schedule strength will be the measuring stick to how we look at them on a weekly basis.
Consider this:
Then-No. 3 Glades Central (2-1) got blown out Monday night (Sept. 9) in a 44-13 home loss to then-No. 6 Palm Beach Lakes (2-0). This is what we can consider as at least a “decent” loss.
As for then-No. 7 Pahokee (0-2), Monday night’s 45-13 home loss to Dillard (3-0) will go down as a “quality” loss simply because the Fort Lauderdale-team is seen by analysts statewide as a team that’s not too far from Top 25 worthy, according to the latest all-classification state rankings from both Football Hotbed and Florida High School Football.
Yes, we know this is very hard to sink in. But let’s be honest about something here.
We strongly considered King’s Academy to take a Top 10 spot this week. But the schedule strength simply isn’t there yet.
A lot is probably going to change within the next couple of weeks – for several teams. But for now, here is our latest Top 10 team rankings.
TOP 10: WEEK 3
1. Delray Beach Atlantic (7A; 1-0) [LW: 1]
2. Benjamin (3A; 2-0) [LW: 2]
3. Palm Beach Lakes (7A; 2-0) [LW: 6]
4. Cardinal Newman (3A; 1-0) [LW: 4]
5. Palm Beach Gardens (8A; 2-0) [LW: 5]
6. Glades Central (4A; 2–1) [LW: 3]
7. Delray Beach American Heritage (4A; 2-1) [LW: 8]
8. Jupiter (8A; 3-0) [LW: 9]
9. Forest Hill (8A; 3-0) [LW: 10]
10. Pahokee (1A; 0-2) [LW: 7]
Teams on the outside looking in: King’s Academy (3A; 3-0), Lake Worth (8A; 1-1), Palm Beach Central (8A; 2-1), Park Vista (8A; 2-1), Royal Palm Beach (7A; 2-0)
Both Glades Central and Pahokee dropped three spots this week. But another loss by either team could open up a Top 10 spot for another program – as early as next week.
Schedule strength can only take a team so far. It’s simple as that.
WARRIORS AND RAMS
As we move on from the Muck teams, let’s celebrate the Jupiter Warriors for a moment.
For the first time in more than 15 years – and maybe ever – now-No. 8 Jupiter has started the season at 3-0. This rising program has a legitimate chance to have one of its best seasons ever, especially since its schedule to set up nicely to do so.
Jupiter’s next two games are at Jensen Beach in Week 4 and against Suncoast at home in Week 5. Both are winnable games and could send the Warriors into District 10-8A play with a 5-0 record.
We’ll see how this all shakes out.
And for the first time, Palm Beach Lakes is in our top three. What a rise for the Rams, a supremely talented team that’s coming together at just the right time.
The next two games for Palm Beach Lakes are at Royal Palm Beach in Week 4 and at home against Pahokee in Week 5. If this team can win both games, we will expect them to possibly be a No. 1 contender down the road.
Good times, good times for both Palm Beach Lakes and Jupiter.
WEEK 4 SLATE
No. 1 Atlantic (1-0): Away at No. 6 Glades Central (2-1) – Friday, Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m. kickoff
No. 2 Benjamin (2-0): Away at Pine Crest (1-1) – Friday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. kickoff
No. 3 Palm Beach Lakes (2-0): Away at Royal Palm Beach (2-0) – Friday, Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m. kickoff
No. 4 Cardinal Newman (1-0): Home vs. John Carroll Catholic (2-1) – Friday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. kickoff
No. 5 Palm Beach Gardens (2-0): Home vs. No. 9 Forest Hill (2-0) – Friday, Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m. kickoff
No. 6 Glades Central (2-1): Home vs. No. 1 Atlantic (1-0) – Friday, Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m. kickoff
No. 7 American Heritage (2-1): BYE
No. 8 Jupiter (3-0): Away at Jensen Beach (2-0), Friday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. kickoff
No. 9 Forest Hill (3-0): Away at No. 5 Palm Beach Gardens (2-0) – Friday, Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m. kickoff
No. 10 Pahokee (0-2): Home vs. Dwyer (1-1) – Saturday, Sept. 14, 6 p.m. kickoff
NEXT TEAM RANKINGS UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 16
PHOTO CREDIT: Ronaldo Garcia
