Undefeated DeLand jumped to No. 1 in Class 7A Region 1 in the latest update of the FHSAA football rankings. The Bulldogs (7-0), who were idle last week, moved into the position after Spruce Creek lost to Seminole 16-10 in overtime on Friday.
Jones (6-2) remained No. 1 in 4A-2, and Bishop Moore (8-0) is still No. 1 in 3A-2, They are the only other Orlando-area teams with No.1 positions.
DeLand is No. 2 overall in Class 7A, behind Vero Beach (8-0). Jones is No. 3 in 4A, behind St. Augustine (8-0) and Choctawhatchee (8-0). nd Bishop Moore is No. 4 in 3A, behind Sarasota Booker (7-1), Miami Northwestern (7-1) and Jacksonville Raines (7-0).
DeLand’s game with Spruce Creek (6-1) on Sept. 26 was interrupted by lightning and postponed until Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. The game will resume with DeLand leading 14-0 at the 8:07 mark of the first quarter. That game will determine the 7A, District 2 champion.
Orlando Area 2025 District Football Standings
It was as if being idle was a good thing last week. Winter Springs (5-3), also off on Friday, jumped into the playoff picture, moving into the No. 7 spot in 5A-5. Should the rankings in that region hold up, Winter Springs, which has not reached the state playoffs since 2013, would face a rematch with No. 2 Edgewater (9-0) in the first round. Edgewater walloped the Bears two weeks ago 47-0.
Seminole’s victory over Spruce Creek moved the ‘Noles six spots in Class 7A, up to No. 20 overall. They are now sitting No. 8 in 7A-1. Seminole (4-4), however, will need some help from rival Lake Mary to get into the playoffs.
Even though Seminole sits within the top 8 qualifying spots in 7A-1, Creekside, No. 9 in 7A-1, would knock the ‘Noles out of the playoffs as an automatic-qualifying district champion. But, if Lake Mary, No. 4 in 7A-1, can knock off No. 7 Lake Brantley (6-2), and Seminole can get past Hagerty (5-3) on Friday, the ‘Noles could leap over Brantley and move into the safer No. 7 spot.
Evans coach Karlos Odum has raised concerns about how the FHSAA comes up with its numbers in the current power rankings system, which determines who makes the playoffs and what their seedings will be. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
The FHSAA power rankings continue to draw the consternation of many coaches — mostly because exactly how the ratings are computed remains a mystery.
MaxPreps ranks teams with a “proprietary” formula and does not share the details. Its web site does make this statement:
“The system utilizes the huge number of game results stored in the MaxPreps database. Generally, the more a team wins, the higher the ranking. However, the system takes into account quality wins (against other highly ranked opponents) and strength of schedule.”
Last year, St. Cloud coach Mike Short was baffled as to how his team got left out of the playoffs in favor of Tohopekaliga, a district counterpart the Bulldogs had beaten in the regular season.
This year, Evans coach Karlos Odum is raising similar concerns.
“I’m not saying I like it or I don’t like it. I just don’t understand it,” Odum said. “I’m just trying to figure out how they are coming up with some of this. We’ve played Jones, which is a top-tier team, and we’ve played Lake Mary, which is a top tier team. So where are the points coming from?”
Evans is ranked No. 8 in Class 6A, and No. 6 in Region 1. Odum thought his team might see a more significant jump after a blowout victory over Lake Mary, which was ranked No. 5 in 7A last week and has a strength of schedule rating of 12.51. Evans was 11th last week, and moved up three spots. Evans’ strength of schedule is only 4.01, which is weighing down its ranking.
Week 10: Super 16 Coaches Poll: Edgewater stays No. 1; Evans jumps up
Orlando-area FHSAA region rankings
(* denotes district champ; district champs are automatic playoff qualifiers)
(Team, record, power rating)
Class 7A, Region 1
1. DeLand (7-0) 21.854
2. *Boone (8-0) 18.110
3. Spruce Creek (6-1) 16.859
4. *Lake Mary (5-3) 14.074
5. Hagerty (5-3) 10.450
6. Winter Park (4-4) 8.960
7. Lake Brantley (6-2) 8.697
8. Seminole (4-5) 5.349
Note: There are two huge games on Friday — Hagerty at Seminole and Lake Mary at Brantley — that could seriously shake up the Region 1 rankings.
7A, Region 2
1. *Venice (5-3) 16.099
2. Sarasota Riverview (6-1-1) 15.339
3. *Riverview Sumner (7-2) 14.374
4. West Orange (7-1) 13.774
5. Plant City (6-3) 10.176
6. Winter Haven (6-2) 7.786
7. Alonzo (6-1) 7.448
8. Ocoee (5-3) 6.133
Note: West Orange and Ocoee battle for the District 5 crown Friday night at Ocoee.
7A, Region 3
1. *Vero Beach (8-0) 24.145
2. *Jupiter (8-0) 14.467
3. Ft. Pierce Central (7-1) 12.210
4. *Dr. Phillips (6-2) 10.184
5. *St. Cloud (6-2) 9.384
6. Palm Beach Central (4-4) 7.495
7. East Ridge (6-2) 7.037
8. Lake Nona (5-3) 5.643
Note: Dr. Phillips eliminated Vero Beach from last year’s playoffs.
Class 6A, Region 1
1. *Buchholz (7-1) 21.666
2. *Pace (7-1) 18.527
3. Mandarin (7-1) 18.111
4. Oakleaf (7-1) 17.622
5. Nease (6-2) 17.286
6. Evans (7-1) 16.618
7. Oviedo (6-2) 9.673
8. Crestview (4-3) 8.335
Notes: Lake Howell (5-3) sits on the bubble at No. 11, so the Silverhawks hold out slim hopes and need some help. … Evans and Oviedo battle for the District 4 title on Friday night at Oviedo.
6A, Region 2
1, *Armwood (8-0) 20.862
2. *South Lake (7-1) 15.246
3. *Osceola (6-2) 14.322
4. Melbourne (6-2) 7.016
5. Viera (5-3) 6.799
6. Riverview (5-3) 4.839
7. Durant (4-5) 4.014
8. Forest (5-3) 3.729
Note: South Lake lost in the first round to Durant last season, its first playoff appearance since 2000.
5A, Region 5
1. *Lakeland (7-1) 21.454
2. *Edgewater (9-0) 17.984
3. *Gaither (7-1) 16.947
4. *Tampa Bay Tech *6-2) 15.444
5. Sebring (3-5) 6.450
6. Lake Gibson (5-3) 5.065
7. Winter Springs (5-3) 3.443
8. Spoto (5-3) 3.011
Note: Edgewater was ousted from the playoffs by Tampa Bay Tech in the second round last season.
4A, Region2
1. *Jones (6-2) 18.166
2. *Zephyrhills (8-0) 15.142
3. Lake Wales (6-2) 13.861
4. Auburndale (6-2) 12.227
5. *Vanguard (6-2) 11.525
6. New Smyrna Beach (6-2) 8.264
7. Rockledge (3-5) 4.943
8. Lecanto (5-3) 1.521
Note: No. 9 Leesburg (5-3) sits on the bubble with a 0.303 rating and the Jackets could help themselves out in a big way Friday night with a district win over Lecanto, which is ranked No. 8
3A, Region 2
1, *Bishop Moore (8-0) 17.238
2. Eau Gallie (602) 14.213
3. Merritt Island (5-2) 13.276
4. *Eastside (6-2) 10.729
5. South Sumter (5-3) 6.377
6. Tavares (5-3) 5.758
7. Titusville (3-5) 4.359
8. Dunnellon (4-5) 2.522
Note: Eau Gallie eliminated Bishop Moore in the Region final at Eau Gallie a year ago, but if there is a rematch, a home game could bode well for the Hornets this year.
1A, Region 2
1, Carrollwood Day (7-0) 19.859
2. Clearwater Cent. Catholic (7-2) 14.530
3. Lakeland Christian (6-2) 11.440
4. Orlando Christian Prep (5-3) 5.064
5. Melbourne Central Catholic (2-5) 2.600
6. Victory Christian (3-4) 0.585
7. Indian Rocks (2-6) -2.987
8. Father Lopez (5-30 -5.410
Note: The First Academy is ranked No. 3 in the region, but not eligible for postseason play this year.
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
Originally Published: October 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM EDT