Clearwater Central Catholic vaulted eight spots to No. 21 in the statewide Florida Power 25 football rankings after a 42-7 rout of Calvary Christian in Week 4.

Marauders' win narrows gap in state rankings

The Marauders' climb, published Wednesday, Sept. 16, by FloridaHSFootball.com, marks a sharp turnaround. CCC had slipped to No. 29 during an open week in the Week 3 rankings. The Marauders sat outside the Power 25 entirely. The blowout win over a fellow Class 2A Power 10 opponent pushed them back inside the top 25 and up to No. 3 in the Class 2A classification rankings, trailing only Cardinal Newman and Chaminade-Madonna.

CCC now carries an 80.70 rating in the Florida Power Rankings Index (FPRI). Just 0.29 points separate the Marauders from No. 20 DeLand, which holds an 80.99 rating. FloridaHSFootball.com described CCC's trajectory as "one of the biggest climbs near the bottom half of the Power 25."

Program history, Barrett's play fuel the surge

Head coach Chris Harvey's program entered 2026 with momentum built over years. The Marauders have made three straight state championship game appearances, according to a Tampa Bay Beacons preseason report. CCC also reached the regional final in 2025. Senior quarterback Khayse Barrett, who posted a 75% completion rate with nearly 2,000 passing yards and 20 touchdowns last season, has helped CCC open 2026 with wins over Palmetto (28-24) and Port Charlotte (43-24) before the Calvary Christian blowout.

Newton family legacy drives team's success

Harvey told Bay News 9 in August that the program has gone 102-23 in seasons when a member of the Newton family has been on the roster, a streak dating to 2014 that underscores the culture driving this year's climb.

Clearwater High rises in Class 4A

The Tornadoes also gained ground in the Week 4 FPRI, climbing one spot to No. 8 in the Class 4A classification rankings after sitting at No. 9 a week earlier. Clearwater had been unbeaten through three games, including a dominant 26-0 shutout of rival Countryside on Sept. 5 in which junior Marquis Robinson Jr. recorded three sacks.

Sophomore quarterback Jaysean Glenn has led the offense under head coach Thor Joz. After the Countryside win, Joz praised Glenn's ability to translate practice reps to game situations, telling the Tampa Bay Beacons that Glenn recognizes defensive looks on the field and "knows what to do."

Statewide leader set, CCC's next test ahead

St. Thomas Aquinas holds the No. 1 spot in the statewide Power 25 with a 100.49 rating. CCC's next chance to close the gap comes Friday at 7 p.m. when the Marauders travel to St. Petersburg Catholic at Joe Paul Stadium.