TREASURE COAST – After eight regular season weeks played, we are seeing the best teams unfold right before our eyes in the Treasure Coast.
As with any other week, we look at a few factors in ranking our area’s programs. So with that said, here are the top three determinants on how the Top 10 turned out this week – in order:
•Strength of overall team
•Strength of schedule
•Wins and losses
A fourth determinant serves as a key to how far a team will drop – if it loses a game in a blowout:
•Margin of loss
In consultation with a host of coaches from the entire Treasure Coast area, we have decided on the Top 10 will look like this week.
After reading the entire Top 10 for yourself, read on for all the details of how we assembled this particular team ranking iteration.
HONEST IMPRESSION
1. Top 10 debut for St. Edward’s
The Pirates (3-3) have earned their Top 10 spot.
They got a masterful performance by senior quarterback and athlete Dylan Redmon in their 34-22 home win over Tradition Prep (0-5) this past Thursday night (Oct. 13).
Redmon completed 15 of 26 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He added six carries for 45 yards on the ground, in addition to his one catch that turned into a 61-yard score.
Overall, Redmon accounted for 339 yards on the offensive side of the ball by himself.
On defense, the senior standout caught three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
This was a complete performance by Redmon, to say the very least.
As for his team as a whole, they have two other wins in this regular season.
•Week 2: 41-14 home win over SLAM West Palm Beach (1-6) on Thursday, Sept. 1
•Week 3: 42-16 home win over Berean Christian (1-6) on Saturday, Sept. 10
St. Edward’s has one more regular season game left. It comes on Thursday (Oct. 20; 7 p.m. kickoff) at home against Palm Beach Christian Prep (4-1).
After Thursday, the Pirates – led by head coach Rich Schofield – will be in preparation mode for the Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC) postseason.
More information on the SSAC postseason will most likely be forthcoming this weekend.
Stay tuned.
SEPARATION MOMENTS
2. It is quite clear that No. 1 Vero Beach (8-0) is the most successful team in the Treasure Coast this year.
We say most successful instead of best because Vero Beach has not played No. 2 Treasure Coast (2-4) yet.
Vero Beach and Treasure Coast will be playing each other no matter what next week. But both teams need to win this week to ensure our first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup.
Vero Beach, a 41-13 winner over Centennial this past Friday night (Oct. 14), will need to show what it can do in Week 9 at then-No. 7/now-No. 6 Martin County (5-2).
Treasure Coast, meanwhile, will need to show what it can do in Week 9 against then-No. 3/now-No. 5 Centennial (5-2).
If both teams win this week, then we will have both a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown and a District 12-4S title game as the two teams would be 3-0 in district play.
Of course, Centennial and/or Martin County have the ability to take the luster off this Week 10 matchup with an upset or two in one fell swoop.
We will see what happens on Friday night (Oct. 21; 7 p.m.) at Martin County in Stuart and at South County Stadium in Port St. Lucie.
CROWN THEM NOW
3. We have two district champions in the Treasure Coast.
One of them is John Carroll (5-1; 1-0 in District 6-1S play), a 26-3 winner at home over Cardinal Mooney (1-5; 0-1 in District 6-1S play) in Week 8.
The Mickey Groody-led team never trailed in the District 6-1S tilt. Junior running back Tony Colebrook scored twice in this one to help lead his team capture the title in grand fashion.
We expect then-No. 4/now-No. 3 John Carroll to make at least a deep run in the Class 1S playoffs next month.
As for our other district champion, then-No. 5/now-No. 4 Jensen Beach (6-1; 2-0 in District 12-3S) clinched it by posting a 37-0 shutout win on the road over South Fork (1-6; 0-2 in 12-3S) in Week 8.
Senior team leader and athlete Nick Venezia had three catches for 90 yards and one score, while fellow senior athlete Ryland Hauser had five catches for 150 in this one.
This has been a historic season for the Timothy Caffey-led program, which is off to its best seven-game start in school history.
We are expecting Jensen Beach to win at least one game – and maybe more – in the Class 3S playoffs next month.
Congratulations to both John Carroll and Jensen Beach for their milestone moments in Week 8.
FINAL CALL OUTS: Then-No. 6/now-No. 7 Fort Pierce Westwood (5-2; 1-1 in District 11-3S play) had a chance to clinch its own district title at home. But Sebring (4-2; 1-0 in District 11-3S) had other plans, as it handed Fort Pierce Westwood a 49-7 loss in the process.
Now Fort Pierce Westwood will be focusing on its annual rivalry this week with previously ranked Fort Pierce Central (1-6; 0-3 in District 12-4S). Bragging rights are on the line here.
We will have more from this rivalry in the coming days ahead.
Meanwhile, No. 8 Sebastian River (3-3) dropped a 29-7 decision to New Smyrna Beach (4-2). But it will not drop because the Week 8 game between No. 9 Port St. Lucie (3-3; 0-1 in District 12-3S) and Okeechobee (1-5; 0-1 in District 11-3S) was canceled due to inclement weather.
PLEASE NOTE: We will consult with coaches from the majority of our 14 Treasure Coast teams before each weekly Top 10 list is released. This ensures that the best possible order is published and all 14 teams are fairly represented.
NEXT RELEASE: Tuesday, Oct. 24 or Wednesday, Oct. 25
PHOTO CREDITS: Future Draft Style and St. Edward’s School – Vero Beach
