TREASURE COAST – We have a new team in our Top 10 and a new No. 1 this week.
After previously unbeaten and then-No. 1 Vero Beach (8-1; 2-1 in District 12-4S play) was upset on the road by then-No. 6 Martin County (6-2; 1-2 in District 12-4S) in Week 9 – a 28-21 loss – it was clear that the top-ranked team had to be different now.
The question here was this: then-No. 4 Jensen Beach (7-1; 2-0 in District 12-3S play), then-No. 3 John Carroll (6-1; 1-0 in District 6-1S play), or then-No. 2 Treasure Coast (3-4; 3-0 in District 12-4S play)?
There was a legitimate case for each of the three teams, two of which has already been crowned as district champions.
For starters, Jensen Beach is in the midst of its best season in school history. Led by head coach Timothy Caffey, the Falcons have beaten the likes of Dwyer (24-10 road win in Week 2), Wellington (17-14 road win in Week 3), and Stoneman Douglas (33-30 home win in Week 4) – all of which were well-earned triumph moments for the District 12-3S champions.
Meanwhile, John Carroll is the one team that has a realistic shot of winning a state title this season.
How so?
After taking down Cardinal Mooney in a 26-3 home triumph on Oct. 14, head coach Mickey Groody and his team were crowned as the District 6-1S champions. This is significant because the Golden Rams will certainly have at least one home game in the playoffs, as they are now 3-0 at home this season.
Home is where Groody’s crew thrives at. Home is where the journey to a state title is real.
In short, for both John Carroll and Jensen Beach, they are worthy of being the Treasure Coast’s flagship team at No. 1 right now.
But for these two teams, they are not Treasure Coast, who we have selected as the No. 1 team in the Treasure Coast this week.
After reading the entire Top 10, we will explain how Treasure Coast earned our No. 1 spot.
Crowning Treasure Coast was not an easy feat, considering the fact that it is 3-4 on the season.
But the reason why Irvin Jones and his team have the losing record is because of who they played in the regular season.
Let us look at teams such as Tampa Jesuit (14-13 winner over Treasure Coast in Week 2) and St. Thomas Aquinas (21-7 winner over Treasure Coast in Week 5).
No Treasure Coast-area team can ever say they played two defending state champions in the early going of a regular season. And despite the four overall losses, Treasure Coast was competitive in all four of its games, including the ones that were specifically mentioned.
By the time this regular season ends, Treasure Coast will have played three defending state champions. The Week 11 matchup is at Chaminade-Madonna on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.
As for the games at home?
All three Treasure Coast home games were blowout wins this season against now-No. 5 Martin County (28-7 winner in Week 4), now-No. 8 Fort Pierce Central (44-7 winner in Week 8), and now-No. 6 Centennial (40-7 winner in Week 9).
The regular season-deciding game will be tomorrow night (Oct. 28; 7 p.m. kickoff) at now-No. 4 Vero Beach. The winner of this game will almost certainly be the District 12-4S champion, while the loser will likely earn an at-large 4S playoff berth.
So there you have it folks. Treasure Coast is No. 1 primarily due to its vastly superior strength of schedule over every other team in the Treasure Coast area – something that nobody can disagree on.
NEW TOP 10
Welcome back to the Top 10, Fort Pierce Central.
After holding on tight for a 19-18 win over then-No. 7/now-No. 9 Fort Pierce Westwood in Fort Pierce Showdown 43, it was time to give the Cobras their due respect.
Head coach Mike Watkins and his team may be 2-6 on the season. But they are much better than what their record indicates, given that they play in one of the state’s toughest and most competitive districts this season.
Week 10 will be Fort Pierce Central’s final District 12-4S game. It will come against Martin County at home on Friday night (Oct. 28; 7 p.m. kickoff).
We expect a show to go down at Lawnwood Stadium between two invigorated teams that pulled off upset wins last week.
LAST CALL OUTS
Port St. Lucie (4-3) moved up a spot from No. 8 to No. 7 this week. It happened due to its 14-0 win over South Fork in Week 9.
Meanwhile, Sebastian River (3-4) dropped two spots from No. 8 to No. 10 due to its 35-0 loss to Jensen Beach in Week 9.
Finally, St. Edward’s had a one-week stay in our Top 10 because of its 42-0 loss at home to Palm Beach Christian Prep in Week 9.
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, Nov. 1 or Wednesday, Nov. 2
PHOTO CREDITS: Future Draft Style and Mark Riemer (RRR Photography)
