PALM BEACH COUNTY – The fourth week of the regular season is officially in the books, which was highlighted by some marquee matchups.
With that said, we have complied a list of the top 10 teams in the county. The rankings are separated into public school ranks and private/charter school ranks.
Stay tuned as the list will be updated each week based on the teams’ performances, strength of schedule, team record, and coaches’ suggestions.
PUBLIC SCHOOL RANKINGS: TOP 10
1. Atlantic (Delray Beach) (3-0) [Last Week: 1]
Atlantic had a bye in Week 4. The Eagles will be preparing to take on Park Vista in Week 5.
2. Dwyer (3-1) [Last Week: 2]
The block is hot!
Dwyer looks focused after posting another 40 piece last week.
The Panthers were able to take down Palm Beach Lakes in a 41-13 victory. They have a good thing going right now and they’ll be hard to stop from here on out.
Dwyer will host Palm Beach Gardens in Week 5.
3. Pahokee (2-1) [Last Week: 3]
The Blue Devils look to be back on track after posting a 34-10 victory over a good Cardinal Newman team in Week 4. They will have to bring that same energy in Week 5 as they prepare to host Vero Beach (4-0), a team that has outscored opponents 174-23 thus far.
4. Palm Beach Central (3-1) [Last Week: 4]
Palm Beach Central captured another victory at home in Week 4 against crosstown rival Wellington. In a 52-10 victory over the Wolverines, the Broncos showed they’re capable of limiting mistakes and able to simply overpower opponents with their big-play capability.
Central will need to keep coming together as a team to keep its state title dreams alive, as it will be on the road to face Palm Bay (2-2) in Week 5.
5. Forest Hill (4-0) [Last Week: 6]
The Falcons are improving each week and remain one of the more consistent teams in Palm Beach County. Forest Hill posted another blowout win, this time a 41-7 victory over Royal Palm Beach in Week 4.
Forest Hill look to capture its fifth win in a row against a struggling West Boca Raton squad in Week 5.
6. Boca Raton (3-1) [Last Week: 9; Greatest Gainer]
The Bobcats throttled a depleted Spanish River squad in a 51-0 shutout win. It’s their second blowout victory in a row.
Boca Raton started the game off slow, but exploded in the second quarter against Spanish River. Michael Pratt is still hot as ever, he accounted for 11-16 passing, 197 yards, and four touchdowns. Davion Maxwell led the receiving core with two receiving touchdowns.
Boca will try and make it three games in a row with a victory when they travel to Santaluces (2-2) on Thursday to start conference play.
7. Seminole Ridge (3-0) [Last Week: 10; Greatest Gainer]
Seminole Ridge took advantage of its bye week and surprisingly pulled off a 21-14 overtime victory against No. 5 Palm Beach Gardens. The Hawks needed to beat a top team to cement themselves as a top 10 team in Palm Beach County. By doing that, they get to share Greatest Gainer status with Boca Raton this week.
Kaimyn Castilla and the Hawks will not be slept on from this point moving forward. They will try to extend their winning streak to four in a row as they prepare to get on the road and play Boynton Beach (0-3) Thursday.
8. Palm Beach Gardens (3-1) [Last Week: 5; Biggest Drop]
Palm Beach Gardens got its first real test of the season against previous. No. 10 Seminole Ridge and lost 21-14 in overtime. Antonio Outler continued his hot streak by scoring both of the Gators touchdowns.
This was Gardens’ first loss of the season, and it was definitely a tough one.
Gardens will look to pull an upset of their own in Week 5 as it travels to take on a hot Dwyer (3-1) squad.
9. Wellington (2-2) [Last Week: 7]
Wellington was routed in a 52-10 loss in the Wellington Cup rivalry game against No. 4 Palm Beach Central in Week 4. This loss with such a huge deficit came as a shock to many, and it definitely rocked the boat for a Wellington squad that has been playing well as of late.
The Wolverines district title hopes are still alive though.
Wellington will try to get back on track as it travels to play John I. Leonard (0-3) in Week 5.
10. Park Vista (2-2) [Last Week: NR]
Park Vista took care of business against Lake Worth and scored a 45-6 victory.
Back in the Top 10 after a one-week absence, the Cobras are a resilient squad that is always dangerous to play and well-coached. This win helps as they get into the grind of their conference matchups.
Park Vista will try and pull off an upset at home as they host No. 1 Atlantic (3-0).
Honorable Mention: Palm Beach Lakes (1-2) [Last Week: 8; Dropped out of Top 10 this week]
The Rams have lost matchups to two Top 10 teams this season. The most recent one was to No. 2 Dwyer in 41-13 defeat.
Lakes has the talents to be a very dangerous team, but this team hasn’t been able to knock off “big time” opponents. They’re still a team to watch in the near future, as they try to prove they’re still a top team in the county.
Palm Beach Lakes will host Trinity Christian Academy (3-0), a team out of Jacksonville, in Week 5.
PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOL RANKINGS: TOP 10
1. American Heritage (Delray Beach) (3-0) [Last Week: 1]
Heritage posted an impressive 42-7 victory over a favorited Monsignor Pace squad in Week 4.
Dalis Small was able to score two touchdowns on the ground against Pace. Quarterback Zachary Bohannon was lethal as he and Connor Hindsley hooked up twice for touchdowns. Deion Small also scored on a 60-yard punt return in the first quarter.
The Stallions will be on the road to face Archbishop McCarthy (1-3) in Week 5.
2. King’s Academy (4-0) [Last Week: 2]
The King’s Academy Lions took a huge 37-0 conference victory on the road against LaSalle in Week 4.
Junior running back Presley Almond would be a difference maker for the Lions again in Week 4, as he racked up 10 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Justin Wake went 8-13, 113 yards, and two touchdowns.
Senior wideouts Cory Croteau and Jeremiah Scroggins would each score a touchdown for the Lions. Drew Luchey led the Lions in receiving yards with four catches for 51 yards.
King’s will host North Broward Prep (1-3) in Week 5.
3. Benjamin (4-0) [Last Week: 3]
The Bucs had a 22-14 come from behind win against Gulliver Prep in Week 4. The Bucs showed grit, and their leaders showed up to seal the victory
Quarterback Santino Marucci was 12-of-19 for 183 yards and one passing touchdown, along with nine carries for 38 yards. Josh Pierre-Louis keeps making a name for himself at Benjamin, as he had another stellar game by racking up 16 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Pierre-Louis also had himself a game on defense as he recorded a safety, interception, and fumble recovery.
Luke Cannata led the team’s defensive charge once again in Week 4 with four tackles, three assists, two sacks and two tackles for loss. The Bucs defense recorded seven total sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and three fumble recoveries.
Benjamin will host Key West (3-1) in Week 5.
4. Cardinal Newman (3-1) [Last Week: 4]
After starting the season off with three wins in a row, the Crusaders were downed 34-10 by a very talented Pahokee squad, which is ranked No. 3 for public schools in Palm Beach County.
Although Newman suffered its first loss, it is still not a team you want to sleep on.
Newman will be on the road to face Royal Palm Beach (0-4) in Week 5.
5. Jupiter Christian (3-0) [Last Week: 5]
Jupiter Christian posted a 41-7 win over Berean Christian.
The Eagles jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, even though they surrendered a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Jupiter Christian is on roll as they’ve won three game in a row and outscored opponents 136-27 in the process. This Eagles team is slowly rising in the private school ranks.
Jupiter Christian will host the (0-3) St. Edward’s Pirates (Vero Beach) in Week 5.
6. Glades Day (1-2) [Last Week: 7]
The Gators were able to get back on track in Week 4 against St. Andrews, as they posted a 32-6 victory over the Scots. They got off to a slow start but opened things up in the second and third quarters of the game.
Glades Day racked up 298 total yards (260 passing and 38 rushing).
Glades Day will host Berean Christian (1-3) in Week 5.
7. St. Andrews (2-2) [Last Week: 6]
St. Andrews was defeated by Glades Day. Multiple miscues and turnovers plagued the Scots.
St. Andrews will be on a bye in Week 5 and will have time to regroup for Week 6.
8. Boca Raton Christian (2-2) [Last Week: NR]
Boca Raton Christian has bounced back from its 0-2 start to now being on a two-game winning streak. The Blazers downed a talented Inlet Grove squad, 37-20.
The Blazers will look to make it three in a row in Week 5 as they host Westminster Academy (3-1).
9. Inlet Grove (2-2) [Last Week: 8]
After starting off 2-0, the Hurricanes have gone into a little slump by losing two straight games in a row, with the most recent to Boca Raton Christian.
Inlet Grove will look to bounce back on the road in Week 5 against Gateway Charter.
10. Somerset Academy – Canyons (1-3) [Last Week: 10]
The cougars lost 40-7 to Westminster Academy on the road in Week 4. Canyons will look to get another taste of victory at home against Village Academy in Week 5 to stop its two-game losing skid.
Week 5 team rankings release (public and private/charter): Monday, Sept. 24
