MaxPreps released its initial football rankings for the season last week. The computerized system rates teams with an aggregate number. Based on those results, here is a list of the top 25 teams in the Tampa Bay area. Below is each team’s MaxPreps rating and where each is ranked in the area, state and nationally according to its system.
MaxPreps’ area rankings also includes DeSoto, Manatee, Polk and Sarasota counties.
1. Armwood
Rating: 59.4
Tampa Bay: No. 2
State: No. 7
National: No. 44
2. Gaither
Rating: 54.8
Tampa Bay: 3
State: 10
National: 61

3. Tampa Bay Tech
Rating: 48.9
Tampa Bay: 4
State: 14
National: 109
4. Clearwater Academy
Rating: 46.4
Tampa Bay: 5
State: 17
National: 140
5. Jesuit
Rating: 39.3
Tampa Bay: 6
State: 25
National: 249
6. Berkeley Prep
Rating: 34.8
Tampa Bay: 11
State: 35
National: 375
7. Lakewood
Rating: 32.2
Tampa Bay: 13
State: 47
National: 474
8. Bloomingdale
Rating: 28.7
Tampa Bay: 16
State: 59
National: 646
9. Wiregrass Ranch
Rating: 23.6
Tampa Bay: 17
State: 74
National: 955

10. Steinbrenner
Rating: 23.1
Tampa Bay: 18
State: 77
National: 990
11. Plant City
Rating: 23.0
Tampa Bay: 20
State: 79
National: 1,005

12. Hillsborough
Rating: 21.1
Tampa Bay: 22
State: 88
National: 1,150
13. Mitchell
Rating: 20.9
Tampa Bay: 23
State: 89
National: 1,166
14. Newsome
Rating: 20.8
Tampa Bay: 24
State: 90
National: 1,175

15. Clearwater Central Catholic
Rating: 19.7
Tampa Bay: 25
State: 97
National: 1,270
16. Boca Ciega
Rating: 18.9
Tampa Bay: 26
State: 101
National: 1,342

17. Tampa Catholic
Rating: 18.8
Tampa Bay: 27
State: 104
National: 1,354
18. Clearwater
Rating: 16.4
Tampa Bay: 28
State: 114
National: 1,587
19. River Ridge
Rating: 14.7
Tampa Bay: 30
State: 120
National: 1,769
20. Chamberlain
Rating: 14.1
Tampa Bay: 31
State: 125
National: 1,841
21. Pinellas Park
Rating: 14
Tampa Bay: 32
State: 128
National: 1,856
22. Calvary Christian
Rating: 14
Tampa Bay: 33
State: 129
National: 1,857
23. Riverview
Rating: 13.6
Tampa Bay: 34
State: 130
National: 1,897
24. Jefferson
Rating: 13.3
Tampa Bay: 35
State: 136
National: 1,936
25. Lennard
Rating: 12.9
Tampa Bay: 36
State: 138
National: 1,994