Idaho Football Coach Returns to Sidelines after Serving His Country

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

If you're a regular follower of me, you know that I preach that there are thousands of high school football stories that go untold every year!

Here's a story in today's USA Today that is being told, and I think my readers will enjoy it.

It's about Shelly (Idaho) High School head football coach Dwight Richins, who is returning to the sidelines after serving his country as a reservist in Afgahanistan last season.

The Russets' 2011 season with Coach Richins back, got off to a great start last Friday when Shelley came-back to beat Idaho Falls 38-33 with the game-winning touchdown coming with 1:27 to go in the game.

Shelley has won four state titles in the last eight years.

Click here to read the USA Today story.

Top 5 Remain Unchanged in Latest MaxPreps Xcellent 25; Three New Team Enter Poll

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

There's no change at the top of this week's MaxPreps.com's Xcellent 25 after a weekend of national showdowns.

Florida powers #2 Armwood and #4 St. Thomas Aquinas hung-on to last week's position after going out of state to prove they deserve their lofty national rankings.  The top six teams held their positions.

Armwood traveled 2,500 miles to beat former #9 Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 20-17.  The Hawks needed a blocked field goal at the end of the game to preserve the victory.  After the close loss, Bishop Gorman fell one spot to #10.

Like Armwood, St. Thomas Aquinas was also only a field goal better than former #6 Prattville (Alabama).  The 34-31 win keeps the Raiders at #4, while Prattville drops to #12.

The biggest mover from last week was Kentucky's Trinity that moves 12 spots to #7.

New additions to this week's poll: Mallard Creek (North Carolina) at #18, Columbus Miami (Florida) at #23 and DeSoto (Texas) at #25.

Dropping-out from last week: South Panola (Mississippi), Dwyer (Florida) and Aledo (Texas)

MaxPreps.com Xcellent 25

1. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 0-0, LW: #1
2. Armwood (FL) 1-0, LW: #2
3. De La Salle (CA) 0-0, LW: #3
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) 1-0, LW: #4
5. Allen (TX) 1-0, LW: #5
6. Trinity (TX) 1-0, LW: #7
7. Trinity (KY) 2-0, LW: #19
8. Pleasant Grove (CA) 1-0, LW: #8
9. St. Edward (OH) 1-0, LW: #10
10. Bishop Gorman (NV) 1-1, LW: #9
11. Katy (TX) 1-0, LW: #11
12. Prattville (AL) 0-1, LW: #6
13. Farmington Hills Harrison (MI) 1-0, LW: #15
14. Centennial (CA) 0-0, LW: #13
15. Good Counsel (MD) 0-0, LW: #14
16. St. Xavier (OH) 1-0, LW: #18
17. Buford (GA) 2-0, LW: #24
18. Mallard Creek (NC) 2-0, LW: #NR
19. Warren Central (IN) 1-0, LW: #19
20. Grayson (GA) 2-0, LW: #25
21. Oak Christian (CA) 0-0, LW: #21
22. Bellevue (WA) 0-0, LW: #22
23. Columbus (FL) 0-0, LW: NR
24. Glades Central (FL) 0-0, LW: #23
25. DeSoto (TX) 1-0, LW: NR

Sunday High School Football Scores - August 28th

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Glenbard West got its revenge on two-time defending Illinois 7A champ Wheaton Warrenville South Sunday before a national television audience on ESPN2.

The Hilltoppers scored 14-points off of WWS turnovers to win 21-7 at Red Grange Field.  The road victory was especially sweet for Glenbard West because WWS had beaten them in the postseason the last two years, including a double-overtime loss in the 2009 state championship game.

The victory snaps Wheaton Warrenville South's win streak at 26-games.

In Cincinnati, one big streak continued while another streak was snapped when Colerain (Ohio) beat Cocoa (Florida) 17-7 before a national television audience on ESPN.

The victory helped the Cardinals extended their home win streak to 60 straight and snapped the three-time Florida 2A champs win streak at 38 straight.

Click here to read a game report from The Enquirer.

High School Football Scores
Sunday, August 28, 2011

Colerain (OH)  17  Cocoa (FL)  7
Friendship (DC)  12  Taft (OH)  6
Glenbard West (IL)  21  Wheaton Warrenville South (IL)  7

Alcoa's 44-Game Win Streak Ends in Battle of Tennessee Powers

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Maryville now owns the bookends to Alcoa's win streak.

The Rebels, the last team to beat Alcoa before it went-on a 44-game win streak, beat the Tornadoes Saturday night 26-19 in a battle of defending Tennessee state champs that are located just 10-miles apart.

Maryville took a 20-6 lead into the fourth quarter before Alcoa was able to mount a comeback, closing to within a touchdown with 2:59 to go.

Click here to read a complete game wrap-up from the Knoxville News.

To learn more about the Alcoa program, click here to listen to my July 28th interview with head coach Gary Rankin on High School Football America's radio show.

Saturday High School Football Scoreboard - August 26th

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

When I spoke with St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Rocco Casullo on May 1st on the NHSCA Sports Hour about his first-year as the leader of the Raiders, he said he would learn a lot about his team in the first three games of the year.

The Raiders, who won ESPN's mythical national championship last year, showed on Saturday that the cupboard isn't bare with a big 34-31 interstate road victory over Alabama-power Prattville.

Casullo, who took over for the legendary George Smith, knows his team can't rest on its laurels with it's next game being against in-state rival Cypress Bay and then a September 23rd showdown with national power De La Salle from California.

Click here to listen to my interview with Coach Casullo.

Don't forget to check-in the High School Football America and The High School Football Huddle later tonight for the rest of Saturday's scores.

MaxPreps.com Xcellent 25 Scoreboard
Saturday, August 27, 2011

#4 St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)  34  #6 Prattville (AL)  31
#7 Euless Trinity (TX)  30  Tyler Lee (TX)  7
#8 Pleasant Grove (CA)  35  Monterey Trail (CA)  6
#10 St. Edward (OH)  17  Glenville (OH)  14
#11 Katy (TX)  34  Galena Park North Shore (TX)  6
Hoover (AL)  24  #12 South Panola (MS) 13
#15 Farmington Hills Harrison (MI)  43  Cass Tech (MI)  7
#17 Warren Central (IN)  27  Indianapolis Cathderal (IN)  24
#18 St. Xavier (OH)  30  Springfield (OH)  7
#25 Grayson (GA)  49  Edgewater (FL)  21

State-by-State Scores
Saturday, August 27, 2011

Alabama Scores
Alaska Scores
Georgia Scores
Illinois Scores
Michigan Scores
Mississippi Scores
Missouri Scores
Ohio Scores
Tennessee Scores
Texas Scores

Friday Night High School Football Scoreboard - August 26th

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The big national showdown between Armwood (Florida) and Bishop Gorman (Nevada) is now in the books.

Armwood, the #2 team in the MaxPreps' Xcellent 25, got out to a 20-3 lead Gaels, and then hung-on for a 20-17 victory before a national television audience on ESPN2.

The game came down to the final play when the Hawks block a 40-yard field goal attempt by Bishop Gorman, which entered the game ranked #9 in the latest MaxPreps' national rankings.



For the rest of the scores from around the nation, click on the state links below:

High School Football Scores
Friday, August 26, 2011

Alabama Scores
Alaska Scores
Arizona Scores
Colorado Scores
Florida Scores
Georgia Scores
Hawaii Scores
Idaho Scores
Illinois Scores
Indiana Scores
Iowa Scores
Kentucky Scores
Michigan Scores
Minnesota Scores
Mississippi Scores
Missouri Scores
Montana Scores
Nebraska Scores
New Mexico Scores
North Carolina Scores
Ohio Scores
South Dakota Scores
Tennessee Scores
Texas Scores
Utah Scores
West Virginia Scores
Wisconsin Scores
Wyoming Scores

Thursday Night High School Football Scoreboard - August 25th

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Add more states to the mix tonight as Week 3 sees more states, like Michigan, Ohio and Texas opening their regular seasons this weekend.

Plenty of games are being played tonight in North and South Carolina because of Hurricane Irene storming toward the east coast.

If you're looking for scores tonight, click on the links below to see how your team made-out at High School Football America.

Thursday Night High School Football Scores
August 25, 2011

Alabama Scores
Florida Scores
Georgia Scores
Michigan Scores
Minnesota Scores
Mississippi Scores
Nebraska Scores
New Mexico Scores
Texas Scores

August 18th High School Football America Radio Show Now Available On-Demand

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

If you missed last week's High School Football America radio show, it's now available on-demand in our archives.

Click here to listen to the show with guests: Tony Heath, head football coach at Pearland High School (Pearland, TX), Phil Stambaugh, head football coach at Pius X (Roseto, PA), Jason Caldarera, head football coach at Service High (Anchorage, AK) and Mark Tabb, author of the new book The Sacred Acre...the Ed Thomas Story.

Click here to listen to the August 18th show.

Two Legendary Michigan High School Football Coaches on August 25th High School Football America Radio Show, plus Bishop Gorman Head Coach Tony Sanchez

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

I have another great line-up for tomorrow night's High School Football America radio show!

Joining me as guests will be two of Michigan's best coaches who have 94-years experience as head coaches between them, plus Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) head coach Tony Sanchez.

We'll begin the show with Brother Rice's Al Fracassa and Farmington Hills Harrison's John Herrington.

Fracassa, who is Michigan's all-time winningest head coach, is five wins shy of 400 for his career.  He's been at Brother Rice since 1969 and has led the team to seven state championships.

Herrington captured his 13th state championship last season.  Herrington, who is entering his 42nd season at Harrison and 50th overall as a head coach, expects a lot out of this year's team with 23 seniors back from last year's championship squad.

Both coaches open the 2011 regular season this weekend in the Big Day Prep Showdown VII.   Brother Rice will face Detroit Martin Luther King Saturday at 5 PM.  That game will be followed by Harrison taking on Cass Tech at 8PM.

In all, eight games will be played in the Big Day Prep Showdown over three days at Eastern Michigan.

Below is an interview from last Sunday with both head coaches conducted by my former colleague at WFMZ-TV Tom Leyden. Tom currently works at WXYZ-TV in Detroit.



We'll then head to Las Vegas for a chat with Sanchez, who's built Bishop Gorman into a national power.

Friday night, Sanchez and his Gaels will host Florida's Armwood High School, ranked #2 by MaxPreps in a showdown of Top 10 powers.  Last Saturday, Bishop Gorman beat previously nationally-ranked Chaparral (Arizona).  BG is currently #9 in MaxPreps' Xcellent 25.

The game will be broadcast LIVE by ESPN2.

Also on tomorrow's show we'll talk about Friday Night Feats, a national high school football video contest to find the biggest moments of the 2011 season.  High school football schools from the country will have a shot at $160,000 in prize money when the contest begins tomorrow.  The contest is sponsored by State Farm.

Click here to listen to the show LIVE starting at 7PM EST

Hurricane Irene Shuffling High School Football Schedule

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Hurricane Irene is still heading toward the Carolinas, and that causing high school officials in several states to begin moving high school football games from Friday night to Thursday night, and in some cases Wednesday night.

Nick Stevens of WRAL-TV has tweeted that several games have been officially moved.

School officials in Savannah, Georgia, which is just south of the Carolinas, have also moved-up several games with more changes expected throughout the day.

In Florida, officials are also keeping an eye on the storm's movement.  As of now, seven games have been moved to Wednesday night.

Bottom line?

If you're a high school football fan in the southeast, watch The Weather Channel.

Small Changes in MaxPreps' Xcellent 25 National Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Bishop Gorman's (Nevada) 42-22 win over previously nationally-ranked Chaparral (Arizona) on Saturday helped the Gaels move-up one spot in the latest MaxPreps' Xcellent 25.

Gorman is ranked #9 this week, while the Firebirds fall-out of the poll after being ranked #24 in the preseason rankings.

Defending national champ South Panola (Mississippi) began the season with a 37-17 win over West Point to hold at #22.

#17 Warren Central (Indiana) and #19 Trinity (Kentucky) moved-up a notch each after season opening wins last week.

Buford (Georgia), which began the season #1 in MaxPreps' Small Schools poll, moves into the national poll at #24.

MaxPreps.com Xcellent 25

1. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 0-0
2. Armwood (FL) 0-0
3. De La Salle (CA) 0-0
4. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) 0-0
5. Allen (TX) 0-0
6. Prattville (AL) 0-0
7. Trinity (TX) 0-0
8. Pleasant Grove (CA) 0-0
9. Bishop Gorman (NV) 1-0
10. St. Edward (OH) 0-0
11.  Katy (TX) 0-0
12. South Panola (MS) 1-0
13. Centennial (CA) 0-0
14. Good Counsel (MD)  0-0
15. Harrison (MI) 0-0
16. Dwyer (FL) 0-0
17. Warren Central (IN) 1-0
18. St. Xavier (OH) 0-0
19. Trinity (KY) 1-0
20. Aledo (TX) 0-0
21. Oaks Christian (CA) 0-0
22. Bellevue (WA) 0-0
23. Glades Central (FL) 0-0
24. Buford (GA) 1-0
25. Grayson (GA) 1-0

Click here to read more from Steve Spiewak.

Saturday Night High School Football Scoreboard - August 20th

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Bishop Gorman (Nevada) started the season in a big way Saturday night with a solid 42-22 win over Chaparral (Arizona) in a battle of nationally-ranked teams at the Sollenberger Classic at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Gaels were led by Shaq Powell who scored six touchdowns while rushing for 303 yards on 28 carries.  Powell also catch three passes for 34 yards.

Bishop Gorman entered the game ranked #10 in MaxPreps.com's Preseason Top 25 Poll, while Chaparral was ranked #24.

For the rest of Saturday's scores, click on the links below:

Alaska Scores
Arizona Scores
Georgia Scores
Indiana Scores
Nevada Scores

Friday Night High School Football Scoreboard - August 19th

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The 2011 regular season in the Lower 48 began Friday night.

The biggest news last night came out of North Carolina where a couple of long win streaks came to an end.

The nation's longest active win streak ended when Mooresville beat West Rowan 21-14.  West Rowan, which had won 46 straight, jumped-out to a 14-0 lead, but Mooresville scored two touchdowns in a three minute span in the fourth quarter to pull-out the victory.

The longest active win streak now belongs to Phoebus (Hampton, VA).  The Phantoms have won 45 straight.

Back on July 21st, I spoke with West Rowan head coach Scott Young on the High School Football America radio show about the pressure of the streak and four-straight 3A state championships.  Click here to listen to that interview and the entire show.

Meanwhile, two-time defending state champ Butler saw its 31-game win streak end.

Mallard Creek beat the Bulldogs 28-20.  It was the first game new Butler head coach Brian Hales, who took over for Mike Newsome, who left the Bulldogs to take the head coaching job at A.J. Brown High School in Kannapolis (North Carolina).


Mallard Creek was led by quarterback Andrew Goodman threw for two touchdowns.

Click below to check-out scores from around the country:

Alabama Scores
Alaska Scores
Hawaii Scores
Indiana Scores
Iowa Scores
Kentucky Scores
Mississippi Scores
North Carolina Scores
South Carolina Scores
Tennessee Scores

Wisconsin Scores

Nine More States Open 2011 High School Football Regular Season This Weekend

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

You can really feel the flames turning-up on the 2011 season!

The regular season began last week with 33 games in Alaska and Hawaii. It’s Week 2 this week in both of those states, and now joining the party this weekend is Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

There’s also limited schedules in Alabama and Georgia where both states start with kick-off classics, and there’s the battle for bragging rights between Arizona and Nevada with two games in the Sollenberger Classic.

Don't forget that when the scores start coming-in tonight, make sure you go to High School Football America for our nightly scoreboard.

USA Today Releases Preseason Super 25

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

USA Today was the first media outlet to put out national high school football rankings way back in 1982.

Since then, many other media outlets have jumped into the who's #1 game.  However, many coaches, fans, players and teams consider USA Today the authority when it comes to crowning the "mythical" national champ.

Today, USA Today writer Jim Halley released his 2011 Preseason Super 25.

At the top of USA Today's list is Don Bosco Prep from Ramsey, New Jersey.  The Ironmen were also tapped as the #1 team in MaxPreps.com's preseason poll.

Right behind DBP is St. Thomas Aquinas from Florida.  The Raiders are no strangers to national championships, having won the USA Today national title in 2008.  This year, STA begins the Rocco Casullo-era.  Casullo, the Raiders' former defensive coordinator, takes over the reigns of the program from the legendary George Smith, who resigned earlier this year.

2010 USA Today national champ South Panola could be back in the hunt this year.  The Tigers begin the season ranked #12 in the Super 25.

BTW...the only time a team has repeated as USA Today national champs was in 2001, 2002 and 2003 when De La Salle (Concord, CA) was on its national record 151-game win streak.  The Spartans begin 2011 ranked #6 by U

Below is the rest of the poll:

USA Super 25 Preseason High School Football Rankings

1. Don Bosco Prep (NJ)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)
3. Prattville (AL)
4. St. Edward (OH)
5. Allen (TX)
6. De La Salle (CA)
7. Mullen (CO)
8. Servite (CA)
9. Byrnes (SC)
10. Armwood (FL)
11. Mission Viejo (CA)
12. South Panola (MS)
13. Bishop Gorman (NV)
14. Grayson (GA)
15. Oaks Christian (CA)
16. Camden County (GA)
17. Good Counsel (MD)
18. Katy (TX)
19. Miami Central (FL)
20. Warren Central (IN)
21. Miramar (FL)
22. Maine South (IL)
23. Bellevue (WA)
24. Desert Ridge (AZ)
25. Daphne (AL)

Tune-in for Tonight's High School Football America Radio Show at 7PM EST

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Big and small will be on tonight's High School Football America radio show.

Last year, the Pearland Oilers put together an incredible season that saw the team beat Euless Trinity in the Texas 5A Division 1 championship game.  Trinity entered that game ranked #1 in the nation, by just about every national ranking service.

Tonight, Tony Heath, who's turned around the Oilers fortunes in the last 15-years, will join me on the show that starts at 7PM EST.

Also on tonight's show will be Phil Stambaugh, head coach at Pius X High School in Roseto, Pennsylvania.  Stambaugh, who is in his second year at his alma mater, is in-charge of America's small high school playing 11-man football.  The Royals has 54-players on this year's roster with less than 100 boys in the school in grades 9-12.

Listeners will then be taken north to Alaska to meet Jason Caldarera, head football coach at Service High.  The Cougars, who finished runner-up in last year's Large Schools' championship game, opened the 2011 regular season in the Fire and Ice Bowl last Thursday against Leilehua High School in Hawaii.

My final guest is Mark Tabb, co-author of the new high school football book called The Sacred Acre.  The story looks at the life of former Aplington-Parkersburg head football coach Ed Thomas, who was murdered in June, 2009 by one of his former players.  The book, which was co-authored by members of the Thomas family, looks at how the Thomas family and the community has rebounded for the horrible incident with grace through foregiveness.

Click here to listen to the show LIVE beginning at 7 PM EST.

August 11th High School Football America Radio Show Now Available FREE On-Demand

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

If you missed last Thursday's incredible High School Football America radio show with the country's top two winningest high school football coaches, don't worry, it's now available FREE on-demand right now.

Click here to listen to my interviews with John McKissick of Summerville High School in South Carolina and J.T. Curtis of John Curtis Christian in Louisiana.

McKissick is America's winningest coach with 586 victories, while Curtis is eight wins shy of 500.

Saturday High School Football Scoreboard - Week 1

Alaska High School Football Scores

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Anchorage West  44  North Pole  28

Bartlett  51  West Valley 26

Barrow  73  Delta Junction  8

Chugiak  21  Anchorage South  18

Dimond  31  Colony  0

Homer  52  Valdez  14

Juneau-Douglas  68  Thunder Mountain  0

Kenai  42  Eielson  22

Palmer  14  Anchorage East  0

Skyview  32  Wasilla  20

Soldotna  41  Eagle River  16

Hawaii High School Football Scores

August 13, 2011

Iolani  26  Radford  7

Kailua  36  Kealakehe  34

Kaimuki  21  Hawaii Prep  14

Kamehehameha  26  Farrington  21

Kapa'a  27  Kalani  26

Konawaena  32  Kea'au  0

Pac-Five  14  Lahainaluna  0

Saint Louis  22  'Aiea  14

Friday Night High School Football Scoreboard

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

It wasn't a full on Friday Night Frenzy, but 13 games on the schedule in Alaska and Hawaii, the 2011 regular season is underway.

Below you'll find the scores for last night's games:

Alaska High School Football Scores
Friday, August 12, 2011

Kodiak  34  Houston  18
Lathrop  45  Seward  0
Nikiski 26, Monroe 7
Sitka 33, Ketchikan 19

Hawaii High School Football Scores
Friday, August 12, 2011

Campbell 68 Waipahu
Kahuku 26 Waianae 0
Kaiser wins by forfeit over Nanakuli
Kapolei 54 Pearl City
Honokaa 19 Hilo 13
Kamehameha-Hawaii 31 Kauai 28
McKinley 14 Castle 0
Mililani 36 Moanalua 7
Punahou 38 Roosevelt 0

There are 12 more games in Alaska and 10 in Hawaii today, including Barrow's home opener against Delta. 

On the inaugural High School Football America radio show, I spoke with head coach Brad Igou about the school's sixith season of football. Barrow is the only 11-man football team playing about the Arctic Circle.

Click here to listen to that interview.

Hawaii and Alaska Open the 2011 Regular Season

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

With the Lower 48 still going through fall camps, Alaska and Hawaii open the 2011 regular season this weekend.

Actually, the season got underway Thursday night with a match-up between teams off the mainland in the Fire and Ice Bowl in Oahu, Hawaii.

Service High School, Alaska's 2010 Large Schools runner-up,  faced Leilehua High, a Hawaii Division I semifinalist last year.  In the end, neither state could claim bragging rights as the game ended in a 34-34 tie that wasn't broken because there was no overtime played in the preseason contest.

The Anchorage Daily News reports that Leilehua mounted a brilliant comeback that saw the Mules score two touchdowns in the final 3:05 after Service took a 34-21 lead.

Now let's take a look at this weekend's schedule in both states:

Alaska Week 1 Schedule

Tonight's Games
Monroe at Nikiski, 6 p.m.
Seward at Lathrop, 6:30 p.m.
Kodiak at Houston, 7 p.m.

Saturday's Games
North Pole at West, AFS, 1 p.m.
Bartlett at West Valley, 1 p.m.
Delta at Barrow, 1 p.m.
Skyview at Wasilla, 2 p.m.
Eielson at Kenai, 2 p.m.
Eagle River at Soldotna, 3 p.m.
Valdez at Homer, 3 p.m.
South at Chugiak, Chugiak, 7 p.m.
Palmer at East, AFS, 7 p.m.
Dimond at Colony, 7 p.m.
Thunder Mountain at Juneau, 8 p.m

Hawaii Week 1 Schedule

Today's Games
Campbell at Waipahu, 7:30 p.m.
Hilo at Honoka'a, 7 p.m.
Kahuku at Wai'anae
Kauai at Kamehameha Hawai'i, 6 p.m.
McKinley at Castle, 7:30 p.m.
Mililani at Moanalua, 7:30 p.m.
Nanakuli at Kaiser, 7:30 p.m.
Pearl City at Kapolei, 7:30 p.m.
Punahou at Roosevelt, 7 p.m.

Saturday's Games
Kailua at Kealakehe, 7 p.m.
Kaimuki at Hawaii Prep, 2 p.m.
Kalani at Kapa'a, 4:45 p.m.
Kamehameha at Farrington, 6:30 p.m.
Kea'au at Konawaena, 5 p.m.
Konawaena at Kea'au, 5 p.m.
Pac-Five at Lahainaluna, 1:30 p.m.
Radford at 'Iolani, 7:30 p.m.
Saint Louis at 'Aiea, 7 p.m.
Waimea at Waiakea, 7 p.m.

High School Football Player with Down Syndrome Not Allowed to Participate Due to Age Restrictions

by Jeff Fisher

High School Football America

Courtesy: Let Brett Bowden Play
Facebook Page

Here's a story that proves that sometimes rules are meant to be broken or at least in some cases need to be bent.

On the surface, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association is doing the right thing by following its rule to not allow 19-year old Brett Bowden of Hobbton High School (North Carolina) to practice and play with his team because he is over the state's age limit for participation.  However, Bowden, who is a junior, has down syndrome and this is where, I think, common sense needs to come.

Bowden has spent the last two season wearing a full uniform during the games and practicing with his teammates.

According to several published reports, Bowden's teammates and the community have found his position on the team to be inspirational.  That is evidenced by the fact that more than 47,000 people have signed-up for the "Let Brett Bowden Play" Facebook page in the last two days.

The rule states that student-athletes who turn 19 on or before August 31st are ineligible to play.  Brett turned 19 in May.

Yesterday, one story headline from FOXNews.com read that the Brett had been "kick-off the team".  That caused NCHSAA commissioner Davis Whitfield to issue a statement that reads:

"I want to be clear that the student-athlete has not been 'kicked off the team,' " Whitfield said. "Brett Bowden could still be a part of the team, lead his team on the field, wear his jersey and be with his teammates, including some of the postgame activities he has done in the past."

Bottom line here, I do believe that rules are rules.  However, in this case, what is it going to hurt to allow Brett to suit up for the games as long as he doesn't go onto the field to participate in an actual game?

Here's hoping that common sense prevails and Brett is allowed to wear his uniform proudly once again!

America's Winningest Coaches to Appear on Tomorrow Night's High School Football America Radio Show

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

I've done a lot of interviews over the course of 35 years, but tomorrow night's High School Football America radio show is going to be a special one.

The reason?

I'm going to have two head football coaches on the show that are the best ever when it comes to get the all important W.

John McKissick of Summerville High School in South Carolina and J.T. Curtis of John Curtis Christian School in Louisiana are ranked #1 and #2 on the country's all-time victory list, and they join me to talk about their incredible careers that total 103 years combined as head coaches.

McKissick is America's winningest coach with 586 victories heading into this season, which will be his 60th at the school that is outside of Charleston.  Curtis needs eight wins to become only the second coach to win 500.  Curtis has done it at a school that carries his father's name from when he founded it back in the early 60's.

Below are a couple of older videos that reveal a little bit more about McKissick.





You can listen to tomorrow night's show LIVE starting at 7PM EST.

Just click here to listen to the show.

Arkansas High School Football Player Dies During Practice

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

More sad news today out of Arkansas where a 15-year old Gurdon High School sophomore died during his team's football practice.

Law enforcement authorities are reporting that Montel Williams died after practicing for about an hour-and-a-half on Tuesday evening.

Officials are not saying with the death is heat-related, but an autopsy is being conducted.

Williams is the fourth player to die during the first two weeks of fall practice.  An assistant coach in Texas also passed away on the practice field last week.

ESPN to Feature 26 High School Football Teams on Kickoff Weekend in Late August

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

You can hear Hank Williams, Jr. shouting..."Are You Ready for Some Football?"

High school football fans, ESPN will give you your high school football fix August 26th through the 28th with its annual ESPN High School Football Kickoff that will feature 26 teams from 13 different states.

Below is the three-day, 13-game schedule:

August 26th - Columbus North vs. Columbus East (Indiana) - ESPNU, 7PM EST
August 26th - Gainesville vs. Buford (Georgia) - ESPN3.com, 7PM EST
August 26th - Gaffney vs. Dorman (South Carolina) - ESPN3.com, 9PM EST
August 26th - Armwood (FL) vs. Bishop Gorman (NV) - ESPN2, 9PM EST
August 27th - St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) vs. Prattville (AL) - ESPN, Noon EST
August 27th - South Panola (MS) vs. Hoover (AL) - ESPN, 3:30 PM EST
August 27th - Indianapolis Cathedral vs. Warren Central (Indiana) - ESPNU, 4PM EST
August 27th - Sulphur Springs vs. Denton Ryan (Texas) - ESPN, 7 PM EST
August 27th - Hillcrest vs. Seneca (Missouri) - ESPNU, 9PM EST
August 27th - Pleasant Grove vs. Monterey Trail (California) - ESPN2,  10 PM EST
August 28th - Collegiate Academy (DC) vs. Taft (OH) - ESPNU, 11 AM EST
August 28th - Glenbard West vs. Wheaton Warrenville South (IL) - ESPN 2, Noon EST
August 28th - Cocoa (FL) vs. Colerain (OH) - ESPN, 3 PM EST

John McKissick & J.T. Curtis Closing-in on Milestone Victory Marks

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

When it comes to winning high school football games there are no better at it than John McKissick of Summerville High School in South Carolina and J.T. Curtis at John Curtis Christian in Louisiana.

McKissick and Curtis are #1 and #2 in America in the "W Department", and heading into the 2011 season, both are closing-in on some big milestone numbers.

McKissick, who will be coaching his 60th season, is 14 wins away from his 600th career victory.  The leader of the Green Wave brings a record of 586-138-13 into the season.

In order to become the first coach in America to reach the magical #600, McKissick's squad will need to be perfect...meaning the Green Wave will need to reach the state championship game, which would be the team's 15th of the season.

In the meantime, Curtis is just eight victories shy of the 500-win club.  Curtis, who's father founded the school in the early 60's will be coaching his 43rd season this year.

Curtis' record is an incredible 492-52-6.

Three other coaches are closing-in on the 400-win club, according to the website www.hsfootballcoachingrecords.com.   Robert Paroli of Seventy-First in North Carolina and Corky Rogers of Bolles in Florida each need one victory to enter the 400-victory club.

Paroli's owns a record of 399-190-13, while Rogers' resume is 399 wins, only 70 losses and one tie.

Al Fracassa of Brother Rice in Michigan is five victories away from #400.

Then there are eleven other coaches that could reach the 300-win club this season.  Below are those coaches:

Joe May, Nottoway, VA - 297 wins
Bob Lantzy, Utica Eisenhower, MI - 293 wins
Dwight Lundeen, Becker, MN - 293 wins
Rodney Walker, Persons, GA - 293 wins
John Outlaw, Lufkin, TX - 293 wins
Randy Allen, Highland Park, TX - 293 wins
Jim Algeo, Lansdale Catholic, PA - 291 wins
Reno Saccoccia - Steubenville, OH - 291 wins
Tom Nolen, Houston Lamar, TX - 290 wins
Alan Chadwick, Marist, GA - 290 wins
Tim Rimpfel, Cumberland Valley, PA - 288 wins

Finally, here's a look at the Top 10 All-Time Coaches by wins:

1. John McKissick, Summerville, SC - 586 wins
2. J.T. Curtis, John Curtis, LA - 492 wins
3. Larry Campbell, Lincoln County, GA - 447 wins
4. G.A. Moore, Jr, Aubrey, TX - 422 wins
5. Mike Smith, Hampton, VA - 419 wins
*6. George Curry, Pennsylvania - 413 wins
*7 Jack Holley, North Carolina - 412 wins
*8 Pete Adkins, Missouri - 405 wins
9. Robert Paroli, Seventy-First, NC - 399 wins
9. Corky Rogers, Bolles, FL - 399 wins

*Retired from coaching

August 4th High School Football America Radio Show now Available On-Demand

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Missed Thursday night's High School Football America radio show?

Well, don't worry...it's now available FREE on-demand.

My August 4th guests were: Chris Shields, head football coach at Joplin High School in Missouri, who talked about how his team and the community are coming back from the devastating May 22nd tornadoes that left 160 dead and destroyed the high school; Jess Simpson, head football coach at Buford High in Georgia, whose team is ranked #1 by MaxPreps.com in its Preseason Small Schools Top 25 Poll; and Dr. Lamar Hasbrouck, who talked about tragic heat-related deaths during the first week of high school football practice.

Click here to download and listen to the show.

Big 12 Says NO to Longhorn Television Network Broadcasting High School Football Games

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

It's official, there won't be any high school football games broadcast on the new Longhorn Television Network this year.

Monday, the Big 12 athletic directors voted unanimously to put a one-year hold on the televising of high school games, plus recommended that the NCAA establish a national moratorium on such games until the governing body can study the situation closer.

Last month, the Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe hit the pause button on the LTN, saying it couldn't move forward with an 18-game high school football schedule until further review from all Big 12 members.

The LTN is a joint venture between the Big 12 member Texas and ESPN.

July 28th High School Football America Radio Show Now Available On-Demand

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

If you missed last week's High School Football America radio show on the Artist First Radio Network, you can now listen to it on-demand.

The July 28th show features interviews with Maty Mauk, senior quarterback at Kenton High School in Ohio, who is poised to break several national career passing records this season; Gary Rankin, head football coach at Alcoa High in Tennessee, which has won seven straight state titles; and Don Bosco Prep head coach Greg Toal, whose team is ranked #1 in MaxPreps' Preseason Top 25 Poll.

Click here to listen to the show.

South Carolina High School Football Player Dies After Practice

by Jeff Fisher

High School Football America

With more-and-more focus being paid to the health and safety of high school football players during two-a-days in the heat of August, the news of the death of Lamar High School (South Carolina) freshman football player Tyquan Xavier Brantley on Saturday brings the spotlight back to what can be done to prevent such tragedies.

It should be noted that an autopsy will be performed on the 14-year old to determine the cause of death.  Right now, Brantley's death is not being called a heat-releated death.  

Published reports state that Brantley died after collapsing following a Saturday morning practice.  Branley and his teammates were reportedly working-out in only helmets, no pads.

According to the National Weather Service, the temperature on Saturday rose to 101 degrees.