PALM BEACH COUNTY – Only four teams are making moves this week in our latest Top 10.
In a sense, the following teams will be swapping places due to their respective Week 1 wins and losses:
After then-No. 4 Cardinal Newman’s 40-12 road win over then-No. 2 Pahokee, we have decided it was best to these two teams will switch spots with each other.
With that, Cardinal Newman (1-0) is now our No. 2-ranked team in Palm Beach County, while Pahokee (0-1) will drop to No. 4 this week.
As for then-No. 3 Benjamin (0-1), its close 24-21 loss to John Carroll (1-0) will result in a two-spot drop this week to No. 5.
Finally, then-No. 5 Palm Beach Gardens (1-0) will move up two spots to No. 3. This is due it its thrilling 39-38 road win in overtime over No. 7 Atlantic (Delray Beach) (0-1).
So why did Atlantic stay put at No. 7?
We have three pieces of criteria for how we rank our teams each week:
- Strength of overall team
- Strength of schedule
- Wins and losses
If one compares Atlantic to No. 8 Boynton Beach (1-0), No. 9 Santaluces (1-0), and No. 10 Wellington (1-0), you would probably think that Atlantic is above the other three teams right now as far as strength of schedule is concerned – at the very least.
So since strength of schedule is generally valued more than wins and losses, there is your explanation for Atlantic staying at No. 7 this week.
Now with that being said, here is the entire Top 10 list – plus five teams that are in our Close to 10 mention.
1. Palm Beach Central (1-0) [PR: 1]
2. Cardinal Newman (1-0) [PR: 4]
3. Palm Beach Gardens (1-0) [PR: 5]
4. Pahokee (0-1) [PR: 2]
5. Benjamin (0-1) [PR: 3]
6. Dwyer (1-0) [PR: 6]
7. Atlantic (Delray Beach) (0-1) [PR: 7]
8. Boynton Beach (1-0) [PR: 8]
9. Santaluces (1-0) [PR: 9]
10. Wellington (1-0) [PR: 10]
Close to 10: Boca Raton (0-1), Inlet Grove (0-1), King’s Academy (1-0), Seminole Ridge (1-0), West Boca Raton (1-0)
NEXT TEAM RANKINGS RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 6
PHOTO CREDIT: Fred Self
