Friday Night High School Football Scoreboard - October 28th

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

I've been around this wonderful game of high school football since I was 8-years old, and in the 42-years since, I can't remember a bigger weekend than this one when it comes to milestones.

First there's J.T. Curtis' historic 500th win in Louisiana.  His father's namesake, John Curtis Christian Academy beat Clark tonight 49-6 to improve J.T's record to 500-54-6 in his 43 years of leading the program.

Curtis is only the second coach in American high school football history to reach the 500 win milestone.  John McKissick of Summerville in South Carolina is the all-time leader in wins with a record 592 victories after a 17-7 loss tonight against Beaufort that dropped the Green Wave to 6-3 this season.

I spoke to both of these incredible high school coaches on the August 11th High School Football America radio show.  Click here to listen to those interviews.

Last night, Kenton (Ohio) High School's Maty Mauk set a new record for all-time pass attempts.  Mauk passed his brother Ben's record of 1,905 in his team's 52-32 win over Wapakoneta that also gave the Wildcats a perfect 10-0 regular season and the Western Buckeye League championship.

Mauk did come-up nine yards short of his brother's all-time yardage mark of 17,364 yards.  Mauk threw for 286 yards last night and ran for another 183 for 469 yards in total offense.  Mauk should set the record in his team's opening round playoff game next week.

Already this year, the Missouri-bound QB has set national marks for career completions, touchdown passes and total yards.

Back on July 27th, I spoke with Maty on High School Football America.  You can listen to that interview by clicking here.

Then there is Dorial Green-Beckham of Hillcrest High School in Missouri, who Thursday night became America's all-time leader in receiving yards.  Beckham-Green caught 11 balls for 303 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 6,109 yards in his career.  The senior passed Abram Booty of Evangel Christian (Louisiana), who had 5,867 yards in the mid-90's.

Below is the catch, an 81-yard catch-and-run, that broke the record.



High School Football Scores
Friday, October 28, 2011

Playoffs

Illinois Scores
Maine Scores
Michigan Scores
Wyoming Scores

Regular Season

Alabama Scores
Kentucky Scores
Missouri Scores
New Hampshire Scores
Pennsylvania Scores
Rhode Island Scores
Texas Scores

Texas' Best TD-maker - Johnathan Gray, Aledo High School

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

It seems every time Aledo's Johnathan Gray touches a football, another record falls.

Last night, the Bearcats senior running back scored seven touchdowns to move into second place nationally in career touchdowns.  Gray, who has verbally committed to Texas, passed T.A. McLendon, who scored 178 TDs from 1999 to 2001 at Albemarle High School in North Carolina.

Next-up on the TD-front for Gray who has 183 touchdowns?  Michael Hart who scored 204 career touchdowns at Nedrow Onondaga in New York before graduating in 2003.

Gray also moved into second place on the all-time scoring list with 1,092 points; again passing McLendon on the national list.  Hart is also the all-time leader with 1,246 points.

In last night's 67-42 win over Birdville, Gray also rushed for 258 yards, which gave him the Texas record for 100-yard games; it was his 44th game above the century mark.  He's currently fourth on the all-time list with Emmitt Smith, yes that Emmitt Smith, sitting at #3 with 45 100+ games.  The national record is 55 by Kevin Parks of West Rowan in North Carolina.

Gray also moved from 12th to 9th on the all-time rushing list.  He has rushed for 9,251 yards in his career.

The all-time mark of 11,232 yards by Ken Hall of Sugar Land (Texas) seems out-of-reach, because Gray would have to average over 280 yards a game and take his team back to its third straight Class 4A title game in December.

A couple of weeks ago, I talked with Gray on High School Football America.  You can watch that interview below:



National High School Career Rushing Leaders

11,232 - Ken Hall (Sugar Land, TX) 1950-53
11,045 - Michael Hart (Nedrow Onondaga, NY) 2000-03
10,895 - Kevin Parks (West Rowan, NC) 2006-09
10,241 - Toney Baker (Jamestown Ragsdale, NC) 2001-04
9,668 - Terrance Wilkes (Wadley, AL) 2003-06
9,662 - Toby Gerhart (Norco, CA) 2002-05
9,442 - Troy Fleming (Franklin Battle Ground Academy, TN) 1995-98
9,426 - Tyrell Sutton (Archbishop Hoban, OH) 2001-04
9,251 - Johnathan Gray (Aledo, TX) 2008-present

Last Night's High School Football America Radio Show Now Available On-Demand

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Listen to internet radio with HighSchoolFootballAmerica on Blog Talk Radio

In this episode of High School Football America, host Jeff Fisher talks with MaxPreps' Steve Spiewak about what should be a record-setting weekend ahead.

Also on the show is Dan Jones, head coach at Gaffney High School in South Carolina. The Indians are currently ranked #6 in the nation by MaxPreps. Gaffney has won the most South Carolina state high school football championships.

Jeff will then be joined by Carm DeFrancesco, head coach at Mt. Carmel HS in Pennsylvania. Last Friday, Mt. Carmel became just the fifth school in America to win 800 games.

The show closes with Armwood (FL) head coach Sean Callahan. Friday, Callahan's team, that is ranked #2 this week by MaxPreps, will face unbeaten Plant HS.

Mt. Carmel (PA) Becomes Fifth School to Win 800 Games

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Growing-up in eastern Pennsylvania, I always knew about the football tradition at Mt. Carmel High School.  Long before Hollywood glamorized Friday Night Lights, Mt. Carmel fans were creating a Friday night trend by turning the tiny community into a ghost town when their dearly-loved Red Tornadoes took to the road for away games.

Last Friday, on the road, Mt. Carmel became just the fifth team in America to reach the 800 win mark.

The Red Tornadoes, led by 1971 alum Carmen DeFrancesco, improved to 800-289-57 overall with a 35-14 win over Shikellamy.  Mt. Carmel has been playing football since 1893.

Valdosta (Georgia) still is America's winningest team with 868 victories, followed by Highlands (Kentucky) with 822, Male (Kentucky) with 814 wins and Washington Massillon (Ohio) with 810.

Lots of Points & Few Changes in MaxPreps Top 25

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Only one team in last week's MaxPreps' Xcellent 25 tasted defeat over the weekend.

Former #15 Archbishop Moeller dropped its first game of the season, a 26-24 loss to Indianapolis Cathedral (Indiana).  It's the second week in a row that an Ohio power has dropped out of the Top 25.  St. Edward got as high as #9 before losing two weeks ago to #1 Don Bosco Prep; this past weekend the Eagles dropped their second straight with a 17-10 loss at the hand's of Cincinnati's St. Xavier, another team that has spent some time in the Top 25 this year.

All-in-all, this past weekend could be characterized with exploding scoreboards.

Eleven teams in the Xcellent 25 scored 50 points or more, including Armwood, which crush Strawberry Crest 80-0.  In all, six teams (Bishop Gorman, Camden County, Hamilton, Katy, Lake Travis and Warren Central) topped 50 points; three (Bellevue, DeSoto, Mallard Creek) topped the 60-point mark, one topped 70 (Gaffney).

Pittsburgh Central Catholic (Pennsylvania) falls out of the Top 25 after a 13-7 win over Gateway.

Here's this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 from Steve Spiewak:

1. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 5-0, LW: #1
2. Armwood (FL) 7-0, LW: #2
3. Trinity (KY) 8-0, LW: #3
4. Miramar (FL) 6-0, LW: #5
5. DeSoto (TX) 7-0, LW: #4
6. Katy (TX) 7-0, LW: #6
7. Gaffney (SC) 8-0, LW: #7
8. Good Counsel (MD) 7-0, LW: #8
9. Bishop Gorman (NV) 8-1, LW: #10
10. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) 5-1, LW: #11
11. Allen (TX) 7-0, LW: #9
12. Mallard Creek (NC) 8-0, LW: #12
13. Buford (GA) 8-0, LW: #13
14. Grayson (GA) 7-0, LW: #14
15. Trinity (TX) 8-0, LW: #16
16. Warren Central (IN) 9-0, LW: #17
17. Bellevue (WA) 8-0, LW: #18
18. Central (FL) 5-0, LW: #20
19. Lake Travis (TX) 7-0, LW: #21
20. Camden County (GA) 7-0, LW: #22
21. Harrison (MI) 8-0, LW: #19
22. Mentor (OH) 8-0, LW: NR
23. Daphne (AL) 8-0, LW: #24
24. Hamilton (AZ) 8-0, LW: #25
25. University (FL) 8-0, LW: NR

New York High School Football Player Dies from Injury Suffered in Game

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

With the national spotlight shining bright on sports concussions and how to make the game of football safer, a New York high school football player died this weekend from an injury sustained during a game Friday night.

According to published reports, Phoenix High School junior Ridge Barden died Friday night after being rushed to the hospital after suffering a head injury in the third quarter of his team's game at Homer High School.

WSYR-TV in Syracuse is reporting that an autopsy shows that the 16-year old Barden died of bleeding in the brain, due to blunt force trauma as the result of a football injury.

First High School Football Championship Trophies Handed-Out

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The Nikiski Bulldogs are the first 2011 high school football champs.

Nikiski today beat Barrow 52-21 to win the Alaska Small School championship.  The Bulldogs won the first two Small School championship games in 2000 and 2001.  Kenai (5 titles) and Soldotna (4 titles) are the only other schools to win Small School crowns.

The Bulldogs used a strong running attack and the right arm of quarterback Colton Anderson to win the school's third state title.  Nikiski rushed for 391 yards, while Anderson was 6-of-8 for 128 yards and three touchdowns.

An Ohio High School Football Player's Battle with Cancer on Tonight's High School Football America Radio Show

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The saying that everyone is touched by cancer in some way is all too true.  Earlier this week, it creeped into my family's life again, but luckily this time everything turned out fine!

If you are a follower of High School Football America, you know that myself and Trish Hoffman have been touched by the story of the Pink Arrow Pride game Lowell High School in Michigan that has raised over $750,000 in four years to help residents of the tiny community in their battle with cancer.  We're currently working on a new video from the 2011 game, but in the meantime, you can check-out last year's story below.



Tonight on my radio show, I'm going to have the pleasure of talking with a young man, who has gone from one of the top offensive linemen in the country battling defensive linemen in Ohio to fighting the most important battle of his life.

In April, Ryan Anderson of Kent Roosevelt High School (Kent, Ohio), who was ranked among the top 35 offensive guards in the country, was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer called osteogenic sarcoma that ended his football career.

Anderson has been nominated by his coach John Nemec for the High School Football Rudy Awards.  The award honors inspirational high school football players who best define "The Four C's" of character, courage, contribution and commitment.

What makes the story unusual is back in 1992, Roosevelt quarterback Benny Cowgill died of the very same disease.

Anderson, who is a team captain, still attends his team's games while undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Also on tonight show tonight at 7PM Eastern Time will be Brianna Amat of Pinckney Community High School in Pinckney, Michigan. Amat has been shining in the national spotlight since September 30th when she not only kicked a game-winning field goal for her team, but also was named Homecoming Queen during the same game.

To read Brianna's story in the NY Times, click here.

To listen to High School Football America LIVE tonight, click here.

Two New Teams Enter MaxPreps' Xcellent 25

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

After  a couple of tough close battles had some thinking that Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) may not have been worthy of its #1 ranking.  That all changed Saturday when the top-ranked Ironmen dismantled St. Edward 38-7 in a battle of unbeatens at Fordham University in the Bronx in New York City.

As a result of the solid win over the defending Ohio Division I champs, DBP sits solidly atop the latest MaxPreps' Xcellent 25 this week.  St. Ed fell-out of the Top 25 as a result of the loss that snapped its 21-game win streak.  Bosco's win streak is now at 40.

For the first time in a long time, there are changes in the Top 5.  Miramar's 27-20 overtime win over former #5 St. Thomas Aquinas shuffles the Florida powers.  Miramar moves into the #5 slot, while the Raiders fall to #11 this week.

Former #4 Allen (Texas) falls five spots to #9 after a hard fought 42-38 win over Plano East.

Entering the poll this week at #24 and #25 respectively: #24 Daphne (Alabama) and #25 Hamilton (Chandler, AZ).

Hamilton owns the nation's second longest active win streak at 47 straight.  Not bad for a team that many felt was rebuilding in 2011.

Earlier this year on the NHSCA Sports Hour, I spoke to Husky head coach Steve Belles.  You can listen to that interview by clicking here.

MaxPreps Xcellent 25
1. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 5-0, LW: #1
2. Armwood (FL) 6-0, LW: #2
3. Trinity (KY) 7-0, LW: #3
4. DeSoto (TX) 6-0, LW: #6
5. Miramar (FL) 5-0, LW: #24
6. Katy (TX) 6-0, LW: #7
7. Gaffney (SC) 7-0, LW: #8
8. Good Counsel (MD) 6-0, LW: #10
9. Allen (TX) 6-0, LW: #4
10. Bishop Gorman (NV) 7-1, LW: #11
11. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) 4-1, LW: #5
12. Mallard Creek (NC) 7-0, LW: #12
13. Buford (GA) 8-0, LW: #13
14. Grayson (GA) 6-0, LW: #14
15. Archbishop Moeller (OH) 7-0, LW: #15
16. Trinity (TX) 7-0, LW: #16
17. Warren Central (IN), LW: #19
18. Bellevue (WA) 6-0, LW: 17
19. Harrison Hills Harrison (MI) 7-0, LW: #18
20. Central Miami (FL) 5-0, LW: #20
21. Lake Travis (TX) 6-0, LW: #21
22. Camden County (GA) 6-0, LW: #23
23. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (PA) 6-0, LW: #25
24. Daphne (AL) 7-0, LW: NR
25. Hamilton (AZ) 7-0, LW: NR

Top-Ranked Don Bosco Prep (NJ) Blows By #9 St. Edward (OH)

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ), the nation's #1 ranked team according to several national poll, including MaxPreps, took-down another power football team from another powerful state Saturday night.

The Ironmen beat #9 St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) 38-7 at Fordham University in the Bronx in New York City. The victory, which was DBP's 40th straight, gives the school wins over teams from California (Mission Viejo HS), Florida (Manatee HS) and Ohio this season.

Don Bosco (5-0) played well on both sides of the ball with quarterback Mike Yankovich completing 15 of 20 passes for 165 yards. Sophomore running back Jabrill Peppers also ran for three scores.

The win snapped St. Ed's 21-game win streak. Last year, the Eagles won Ohio's Division 1 state championship.



On Thursday, I spoke with St. Edward head coach Rick Finotti, who talked about the match-up and the program that he's turned-around since taking over in May of 2009.

To listen to that interview, click here or check it out on High School Football America's YouTube Channel below.



Check-out the rest of Saturday's scores from around America at the links below:

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Michigan Scores
New Jersey Scores
Pennsylvania Scores

Friday Night High School Football Scoreboard - October 7th

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Refugio High School (Texas) continued to light-up the scoreboard Friday night.

The Bobcats, a Class 2A semifinalist last year, beat Freer 91-6.  The blowout comes on the heels of an 82-6 win over Kaufer last week.

Refugio is now averaging over 63 points a game this season.

Friday High School Football Scores
Friday, October 7, 2011

Alabama Scores
Florida Scores
Georgia Scores
Illinois Scores
Indiana Scores
Kansas Scores
Maine Scores
Michigan Scores
New Hampshire Scores
Missouri Scores
Ohio Scores
Oklahoma Scores
Pennsylvania Scores
Rhode Island Scores
South Dakota Scores
Texas Scores
Wyoming Scores

#9 St. Edward vs. #1 Don Bosco Prep Discussed on High School Football America Tonight

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) head coach Rick Finotti will join me tonight on the High School Football America radio show to discuss his team's big game on Saturday against #1 Don Bosco Prep from New Jersey.

The game will actually played in New York City at Vince Lombardi's alma mater, Fordham University in the Bronx.  The game originally was going to be played at Army's Michie Stadium at West Point, but was moved to the Bronx shortly after the announcement was made.

Finotti has done an incredible job since taking over the program in March, 2009.  Last year, St. Ed went undefeated, winning Ohio's Division 1 title.  The Eagles are currently riding a 21-game win streak, while DBP brings a 39-game win streak into the game.

St. Ed's is playing one of the toughest schedules in the country, having beaten two out-of-state opponents already...Penn Hills (Pittsburgh, PA) 47-6 and Jefferson (Tampa, FL) 34-17, plus last year's Ohio Division 5 champ Ursuline 20-7.  It also doesn't get any easier at Saturday's game, because the Eagles still have to face in-state and national powers Archbishop Moeller and St. Xavier.  Also, not to be overlooked is the team's regular season finale against St. Ignatius.

St. Edward is strong upfront, led by offensive tackle Kyle Kalis, who's given his verbal to Michigan.

Don Bosco Prep won the country's "mythical" national championship back in 2009.  The Ironmen are led by Greg Toal, who owns a 136-10 record since taking over 12 years ago.  The Ramsey, New Jersey school has won five straight New Jersey Non-Public Group 4 state titles.

DBP also owns two victories over out-of-state opponents this year, beating Mission Viejo (CA) 35-7 and Manatee (FL) 22-16.

Back in July, Coach Toal also joined me as a guest on High School Football America.  You can listen to that show by clicking here or you can check it out on YouTube below.



Also on tonight's show that begins at 7 PM Eastern Time: Dylan Sheffield, quarterback at Wichita Falls High School in Texas and Trey Hall at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas.

Sheffield broke the Texas single-game passing record last week when he threw for 683 yards.  Hall will talk about his record-setting QB Zach Howell, who broke Kansas' single-game yards mark in early September and almost set a new one last week.

Click here to listen to the show LIVE tonight.

LeBron James Returns to High School Football Field...at least for a day

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Courtesy: Ohio Helmet Project

While Cleveland Cavalier fans may still be upset with LeBron James for leaving his hometown state, members James' alma mater football team are happy that the NBA All-Star still has a soft spot in his heart for his old team.

James, who was a pretty good wide receiver when he played at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, returned to the high school gridiron on Tuesday to work-out with the team that's undefeated and ranked #3 this week in the latest Division III Associated Press state rankings.

According to James, on his Twitter account, he practiced in full pads.

James, who caught 27 touchdown passes during his career, was an all-state player during his sophomore year; led the school to the state semifinals in his junior year, but didn't play as a senior, so as not to suffer an injury that would have cost him millions from the NBA.

Many believe that James would have had a great NFL career had he chosen football.

After the workout Tuesday, James tweeted on Twitter..."Just got done practicing with the St.V Varsity football team, full pads and all. Felt great being back on the field. Should I?"

Below is video of James making a couple of catches during his football career.



As an added bonus...I found this video of another NBA all-star Allen Iverson on the high school gridiron.  In 1992, Iverson led Bethel High School to the Virginia Division 5 state championship as a quarterback and defensive back.

High School Football America Radio Shows on YouTube

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

During the first two months of the 2011 high school football season, I've interviewed some of the top coaches and players around America on the High School Football America radio show that airs LIVE every Thursday night at 7 PM EDT on the Artist First Radio Network.

If you've missed any of the shows, don't fret, they're always available free and on-demand via my show webpage.  You can listen to every show at your convenience by clicking here.

Another way to listen to the show is via YouTube.  I'm currently uploading the first twelve episodes.  Below is the inaugural show on July 21st.

On this show, I talk with Brad Igou, head football coach at Barrow High School in Barrow, Alaska and his assistant Brian Houston about the start of the 2011 high school football season in the country's 49th State.  Barrow is the only school playing 11-man football above the Arctic Circle.

Also on the show: Steve Spiewak of MaxPreps.com, who talks about his Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders Poll; Scott Young, head football coach of West Rowan High School in Mt. Ulla, North Carolina, whose team has won three straight 3-A state titles and owns a 46-game win streak; and Brandon Sheppard, Executive Director of the National Select 7-on-7 Championship.

Saturday High School Football Scoreboard - October 1st

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

It was another big night of offensive numbers Friday night.

In Texas, Wichita Falls quarterback Dylan Sheffield set a Lone Star State passing record, and came close to setting a new national record for yards in a single-game.  Sheffield threw for 683 yards to break the old Texas record of 634 yards.

Sheffield finished the game completing 35 of 50 passes with seven touchdown passes in his team's 53-49 win over Denton.  The senior QB missed breaking the national record of 764 by 81 yards.  David Koral of Pacific Palisades in California set the national mark in 2000.

Now time to turn our attention to Saturday's action.  Below you can find scores from around the country.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Illinois Scores
Louisiana Scores
New Jersey Scores
North Carolina Scores
Pennsylvania Scores
Washington Scores