The Florida high school football playoffs began with a significant shock as Lakeland defeated the second-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas.
The 27-24 overtime victory, as detailed by “Lakeland’s upset win”, occurred during FHSAA Open Division pool play on Friday, Nov. 13.
This result is expected to trigger a major shakeup in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings, according to “the latest national analysis”.
The St. Thomas Aquinas team, which previously held the No. 2 spot, saw its postseason run complicated by the narrow loss in Fort Lauderdale.
Nationally, the bottom half of the rankings faced additional volatility after No. 19 Mater Dei suffered a decisive 45-15 defeat against Centennial on the same evening.
Other top-ranked programs managed to maintain their momentum throughout the weekend.
Santa Margarita claimed a 7-0 victory over San Clemente, while Buford dominated Marietta with a 30-6 final score, as noted in “USA TODAY’s comprehensive scoreboard”.
Allen continued its strong season by shutting out Hebron 73-0, and Columbus defeated Central 30-3.
Bishop Gorman also recorded a shutout, defeating Faith Lutheran 53-0.
The rankings landscape remains fluid as teams like IMG Academy and St. Frances Academy prepared for their respective matchups on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Analysts suggest that the potential for an open top-five spot in the Super 25 has increased significantly due to the weekend’s outcomes.
Additional results included Carrollton defeating North Forsyth 55-7, Baylor beating CPA 49-7, and Thomas County Central topping Veterans 56-6.
Brownsburg secured a 55-19 win over Lawrence North, while De La Salle finished its game against Liberty with a 63-13 victory.
Hough, Trinity, C.E. King, St. John Bosco, Waxahachie, Central Catholic, and Tupelo also recorded wins during the busy Friday night slate.
The full scope of the impact on the national standings will be finalized once the remaining games conclude.