PALM BEACH COUNTY – The 2019 season is officially here.
In just a few days, our area’s high school football teams will begin their respective quests to reach the FHSAA postseason and beyond. They are looking to give their all on the gridiron – and then some – for at least the next 11 weeks.
All the hard work in the weight days. All the offseason workouts. All the practices and scrimmages. All the film study sessions.
Teams have done all four of those aforementioned things in earnest. But what separates the best from the rest?
This is why there are weekly team rankings. It gives everyone a gauge of what the best programs are in Palm Beach County.
So with that said, let’s get right to it.
TOP 10: Week 0
1. Delray Beach Atlantic (7A; 0-0)
2. Benjamin (3A; 0-0)
3. Glades Central (4A; 0-0)
4. Cardinal Newman (3A; 0-0)
5. Delray Beach American Heritage (4A; 0-0)
6. Pahokee (1A; 0-0)
7. Palm Beach Gardens (8A; 0-0)
8. Palm Beach Lakes (7A; 0-0)
9. Palm Beach Central (8A; 0-0)
10. Jupiter (8A; 0-0)
Teams on outside looking in: King’s Academy (3A; 0-0), Park Vista (8A; 0-0), Santaluces (8A; 0-0), Seminole Ridge (7A; 0-0), Wellington (8A; 0-0)
EXPLANATION FOR JUPITER AT NO. 10
This is not a typo.
Yes, this rankings list may require a double, triple, or quadruple take. But take a close look at our No. 10 team.
The Jupiter Warriors pulled off the biggest upset of the regular season last year. They effectively took down would-be 8A playoff contender Seminole Ridge in Week 10 (35-31 win), which officially eliminated the Hawks from the postseason.
In short, Jupiter is not to be messed with this year.
Senior quarterback Johnathan Mosley is looking to lead his team to a 8A playoff berth. The dual-threat signal-caller was on a tear in the Kickoff Classic last week, as he accounted for 360+ total yards and three total touchdowns in a 28-21 win over Okeechobee.
Jupiter (3-7 last year) has a pretty manageable schedule, with its toughest games coming in a season-deciding three-week stretch of District 10-8A play (Week 6: home vs. No. 7 Palm Beach Gardens; Week 7: away at Wellington; Week 8: Bye; Week 9: at Palm Beach Central). If this team can win all three games, then the Warriors will almost certainly qualify for a postseason berth in November.
We like their chances to at least contend for the playoffs, and so should you.
WE’RE NOT SLEEPING ON KING’S ACADEMY, PARK VISTA
After looking at the schedules for both King’s Academy and Park Vista, it appears that their slates will be relatively easy for the next 11 weeks.
Translation: We expect them to make a case to be in our Top 10 as early as next week. And once one – or both teams – make a way to the Top 10, we expect them to stay somewhere in the Top 10 for a good part of the season.
Opponents should not take either team lightly. Both teams play well above their perceived talent level and are coached very well.
WEEK 1 SCHEDULE: TOP 10
Below is the listing of our Week 1 games with all of our Top 10 teams.
All kickoff times are at 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
1. Delray Beach Atlantic (7A; 0-0): Away at No. 9 Palm Beach Central – 7 p.m. kickoff
2. Benjamin (3A; 0-0): Away at Glades Day – 7 p.m. kickoff
3. Glades Central (4A; 0-0): Home vs. Boca Raton – 6 p.m. kickoff
4. Cardinal Newman (3A; 0-0): Home vs. Park Vista – 7 p.m. kickoff
5. Delray Beach American Heritage (4A; 0-0): Away at Vero Beach – 7 p.m. kickoff
6. Pahokee (1A; 0-0): Home vs. University School – 7 p.m. kickoff
7. Palm Beach Gardens (8A; 0-0): BYE
8. Palm Beach Lakes (7A; 0-0): Home vs. Wellington – 6 p.m. kickoff
9. Palm Beach Central (8A; 0-0): Home vs. No. 1 Delray Beach Atlantic – 7 p.m. kickoff
10. Jupiter (8A; 0-0): Away at Tohopekaliga (Kissimmee) – 7 p.m. kickoff
WEEK 1 RANKINGS RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 26
PHOTO CREDITS: Keith Forde and Ronaldo Garcia
