PALM BEACH COUNTY – As you many know by now, the regular season for our area’s public schools has ended.
It has been an interesting yet exhilarating four-week run, from Dwyer’s resurgence to Glades Central morphing into both the most improved and clear-cut No. 1 team in Palm Beach County.
It has been a year like not other, with Jupiter finishing the regular season undefeated for the first time in any kind of memory. It has also been a unique year in which Wellington was a few plays away from possibly having its own unbeaten regular season.
Speaking of Wellington, a lot of consideration was given into the program making its first Top 10 appearance this season. After looking at the Wolverines strength of schedule, it appears that they have done enough to get there.
Wellington (2-2) lost its two games by a combined total of 11 points to Royal Palm Beach in Week 1 (26-21 loss) and Top 10 mainstay Pahokee in Week 2 (22-16 loss in double overtime). The next two games were bounce back efforts, with wins in Weeks 3 and 4 over Santaluces (26-13) and Olympic Heights (40-3), respectively.
With that said, it was a battle between Wellington, Seminole Ridge, and Boynton Beach for the final two spots in this week’s Top 10.
For Seminole Ridge (1–1), it cannot be faulted for missing two game due to health concerns. This happened in Weeks 1 and 4, when games against Pahokee and Santaluces were canceled.
Regardless of what happened, Seminole Ridge went on to blow out previously-ranked Royal Palm Beach by a score of 38-0 in Week 3. This was a bounce back effort from what happened in Week 2, when it dropped a 35-0 decision to Park Vista.
As for Boynton Beach, it benefited from an easy regular season schedule. Wins over West Boca Raton (27-13 in Week 2), Village Academy (42-0 in Week 3), and Spanish River (40-0 in Week 4) are impressive in its own right.
So it comes down to one thing: schedule strength. This is where it was easy to decide the teams that take the No. 9 and No. 10 spots.
Look at the entire Top 10 to see who made the cut and who got left out this time.
WEEK 4: PALM BEACH TOP 10
1. Glades Central (4-0) [Last week: 1]: Defeated Park Vista, 35-7
2. Dwyer (4-0) [Last week: 2]: Defeated Suncoast, 53-0
3. Atlantic (Delray Beach) (2-1) [Last week: 3]: Defeated Palm Beach Lakes, 68-0
4. Jupiter (4-0) [Last week: 5]: Defeated Lake Worth, 35-0
5. Park Vista (3-1) [Last week: 4]: Lost to Glades Central, 35-7
6. Pahokee (2-2) [Last week: 6]: Defeated Royal Palm Beach, 36-8
7. Palm Beach Gardens (2-2) [Last week: 8]: Defeated Forest Hill, 27-14
8. Boca Raton (3-1) [Last week: 10]: Defeated West Boca Raton, 41-7
9. Seminole Ridge (1-1) [Last week: 9]: Did not play due to health concerns
10. Wellington (2-2) [Last week: Not ranked]: Defeated Olympic Heights, 40-3
Dropped from rankings: Former No. 7 Forest Hill (1-2)
Close to 10: Boynton Beach (3-1), Forest Hill (1-2), Palm Beach Central (0-1), Santaluces (1-2), Suncoast (2-2)
WEEK 5 GAMES – POSTSEASON: Thursday, Dec. 3, Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5
