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Heading into Week 11, who leads The News-Press/Naples Daily News Football rankings?

alex martin, fort myers news-press
·4 min read

Week 10 of the Southwest Florida high school football season is in the books.

The News-Press and Naples Daily News are ranking the Top 10 football teams in Collier and Lee counties and LaBelle each week. The power rankings are based on record, strength of schedule, and head-to-head matchups for the area's 30-plus schools.

Here are the Top 10 teams in The News-Press/Naples Daily News Football Rankings heading into Week 11.

Records of games played through Saturday, Oct. 28

1. Bishop Verot (9-1)

Charles "Tookie" Watts of the Bishop Verot High School football team catches a touchdown during a game against Estero High School at Bishop Verot on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Bishop Verot won 52-0.
Charles "Tookie" Watts of the Bishop Verot High School football team catches a touchdown during a game against Estero High School at Bishop Verot on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Bishop Verot won 52-0.

Last week: 1

Analysis: The Vikings closed their regular season with a bang, blanking Estero 52-0 to capture the Class 2S-District 16 championship. Verot averaged 49 points per game on offense during the regular season, posting 3,689 yards of total offense against a schedule that will feature at least six playoff teams. Next up for the Vikings is a Class 2S-Region 4 quarterfinal contest on Nov. 10.

2. First Baptist (7-2)

The Seahawks and Lions met at First Baptist to settle the district championship on Friday, Oct. 27. 2023. The First Baptist Lions won 42-2.
The Seahawks and Lions met at First Baptist to settle the district championship on Friday, Oct. 27. 2023. The First Baptist Lions won 42-2.

Last week: 2

Analysis: The Lions will begin their title defense in Class 1S, following a 42-2 win over Community School. It's FBA's third-largest margin of victory over CSN, as the offense once again posted over 400 yards in a game. First Baptist will be out of action for three weeks until Nov. 17 for its first playoff game.

3. Golden Gate (7-2)

The Golden Gate Titans compete against the Lely Trojans in a district game at Golden Gate High School in Naples on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
The Golden Gate Titans compete against the Lely Trojans in a district game at Golden Gate High School in Naples on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Last week: 3

Analysis: The Titans continue to dominate, most recently coming off a 38-7 rivalry win over Lely. The Trojans defense allowed seven points for the second straight week, an encouraging sign heading into the postseason. The Battle of the Gate against Palmetto Ridge is on the docket this week for the Titans, which will be heavy favorites to move to 8-2.

4. Naples (8-2)

Shawn Simeon of the Naples High School football team scores during a game against Lehigh Senior High School at Lehigh on Friday, Aug 25, 2023. Naples won.
Shawn Simeon of the Naples High School football team scores during a game against Lehigh Senior High School at Lehigh on Friday, Aug 25, 2023. Naples won.

Last week: 4

Analysis: The Golden Eagles posted another strong season, finishing it off with a 41-6 win over Bonita Springs to enter the playoffs with an 8-2 record. Naples may not have won the district, a streak that lasted for 13 years, but the Golden Eagles will enter the playoffs as the likely No. 2 seed in Class 3S-Region 4.

5. Dunbar (7-2)

Dunbar player Chris Singleton evades a defender and runs in for a touchdown. The Dunbar High School Tigers defeated the visiting South Fort Myers Wolfpack Friday night, October 27, 2023. Dunbar clinched the district title with a final score of 41-17.
Dunbar player Chris Singleton evades a defender and runs in for a touchdown. The Dunbar High School Tigers defeated the visiting South Fort Myers Wolfpack Friday night, October 27, 2023. Dunbar clinched the district title with a final score of 41-17.

Last week: 5

Analysis: The Tigers locked down another district championship under Sammy Brown on Friday, beating South Fort Myers 41-17 to avoid a three-way tiebreak for the title. The Tigers have won five of their last six games in the area and will look to make it six of their last seven when Dunbar travels to Lehigh for a bitter rivalry contest.

6. Fort Myers (7-2)

Fort Myers hosts South Fort Myers in a district matchup on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Fort Myers High School.
Fort Myers hosts South Fort Myers in a district matchup on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Fort Myers High School.

Last week: 6

Analysis: Fort Myers came one step closer to winning eight games this year, as the Greenies shut out Cypress Lake, 38-0. The Green Wave have something with their offense this year, scoring 30 or more points in eight of their nine games. Next up is a Thursday date with Cape Coral.

7. Barron Collier (7-2)

Barron Collier plays Lely in high school football on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
Barron Collier plays Lely in high school football on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

Last week: 7

Analysis: The Cougars turned in an impressive performance on the road, handling St. Brendan 34-7. Barron has been strong on the road this year, going a perfect 5-0 and winning those games by 20.4 points per game. Next up is a rivalry contest against Gulf Coast in the CatFish Bowl, where the Cougars will look to move to 6-0 on the road.

8. Immokalee (5-4)

Gilbert Charles of Immokalee (8) celebrates as Gulf Coast kicker Alexander Ghelman (98) and teammate Grant Anderson (8) react to Ghelman missing a field goal with just seconds left in the district championship game at Gulf Coast High on Friday night, October 27, 2023. Immokalee won 13-10. Photo by Darron R. Silva
Gilbert Charles of Immokalee (8) celebrates as Gulf Coast kicker Alexander Ghelman (98) and teammate Grant Anderson (8) react to Ghelman missing a field goal with just seconds left in the district championship game at Gulf Coast High on Friday night, October 27, 2023. Immokalee won 13-10. Photo by Darron R. Silva

Last week: NR

Analysis: The Indians got revenge and secured a playoff berth under coach James Delgado, as a 13-10 win over Gulf Coast in the district title game helped get Immokalee over .500. Redwood will look to move to 6-4 on the season with a road date against 4-5 Lely on Friday.

9. Gulf Coast (5-3)

Immokalee beat Gulf Coast in the district championship game at Gulf Coast High on Friday night, October 27, 2023. Photo by Darron R. Silva
Immokalee beat Gulf Coast in the district championship game at Gulf Coast High on Friday night, October 27, 2023. Photo by Darron R. Silva

Last week: 8

Analysis: The Sharks were on the wrong end of a 13-10 decision to Immokalee in the Class 4S-District 16 championship game, as Gulf Coast was unable to tie the game with a field goal in the closing moments. Todd Nichols' group will aim to turn the page against Barron Collier in the CatFish Bowl this Friday.

10. Estero (7-2)

Action from Bishop VerotÕs 52-0 win over Estero High School on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
Action from Bishop VerotÕs 52-0 win over Estero High School on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Last week: 9

Analysis: Estero can be welcomed into a club that is quite crowded, as the Wildcats were the eighth team this year to be running clocked by Bishop Verot in a 52-0 decision. Darren Nelson's group didn't get off to a good start, as getting into an offensive shootout with the Vikings is not a winning formula. Jaws vs. Claws is on deck for the Wildcats, as they'll host Bonita Springs.

First Five Out: Mariner (8-1), South Fort Myers (5-4), Community School (8-1), Evangelical Christian (6-3), Lehigh (3-6)

Follow Southwest Florida Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Football Rankings: Bishop Verot holds top spot for tenth straight week