Foundation Academy sitting pretty in FHSAA's first playoff points power rankings | Observer Preps

The Florida High School Athletic Association released its first playoff points power rankings for the 2018 season and — at least as far as local teams in West and Southwest Orange are concerned — Foundation Academy was the big winner of the debut rankings.

The Lions, who are 5-0 for just the second time in program history, are ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, Region 2. Their points average of 41.80 bests Victory Christian's 38.80 in second place. 

Foundation Academy is 5-0 for just the second time in program history.

In Class 1A-4A, six teams per region make the postseason, with all six berths based on the power rankings (district were eliminated in those classifications). The means the Lions find themselves in a good spot at the midway point of the season.

In the debut season of the playoff points power rankings system in 2017, during which just four teams from each region in 1A-4A advanced, Foundation Academy just barely missed the playoffs.

Joining Foundation Academy among local teams that would be in the playoffs if they began tomorrow is The First Academy in Class 3A. TFA (3-0) is ranked second in Class 3A, Region 2 with an average of 40 points — less than a point behind Kings Academy's average of 40.60.

Districts have been retained in Class 5A-8A, with district champs earning automatic bids to the postseason. District races have not been settled at this point in the season, though, and no local teams would be in the postseason if it began tomorrow based purely on the power rankings.

Remarkably, despite being in the midst of a 1-4 start to the season, Dr. Phillips is the closest of the coverage area's large-classification programs to making the playoffs. The Panthers' points average of 36.40 is good for 10th place in Class 8A, Region 2 — just 00.40 behind Gateway in eighth. Olympia, which is also 1-4, is not far behind in 11th place with an average of 35.40.

Both teams benefit in the points system power rankings from having losses to quality opponents.

Conversely, West Orange is 4-1 so far this fall, but finds itself ranked 11th in Class 8A, Region 1. The Warriors' four wins are all against teams with losing records — including wins against Dr. Phillips and Olympia. Those wins get bonus points because the Panthers and Titans both made the playoffs in 2017, and could become more valuable if those teams improve. Including Timber Creek and Cypress Creek, which West Orange also has defeated, the Warriors' wins have come against teams with four victories between them.

Games against Wekiva (4-0), Jones (3-1) and Apopka (4-1) the next three weeks will likely determine the Warriors' postseason fate.

The lack of power ranking points sets up a scenario that players and coaches had already anticipated concerning the middle of the team's schedule: that is, that games against Wekiva (4-0), Jones (3-1) and Apopka (4-1) the next three weeks will likely determine the Warriors' postseason fate.

In Class 7A, Ocoee (2-3) is ranked 15th in Region 1 and Windermere (1-3) is ranked No. 21 in Region 2. Each has serious ground to make up and would likely need to win most, or all, of its remaining games.