High School Football America Top 25 (Week 10)

By Jeff Fisher

Follow @HSFBamerica

This is the last week of the regular season for the 2013 high school football season, so it’s a good time to look back and see how we did since August 5^th when we released our Preseason Top 25.

All-in-all, not too bad with 12 of the original Top 25 still being in the latest rankings.  Allen (Texas), our preseason #1 is still at the top of it all.  Booker T. Washington (Florida), which began the season #6, is just a hair behind the Eagles.  If you take a look at the preseason Top 10, six of the teams are still there – Allen (Pre-Season #1), De La Salle (PS #2), Booker T. Washington (PS #6), Katy (PS #7), Miami Central (PS #8) and St. John Bosco (PS #9).

 

Here’s a look at how the 13 teams that fell out of the Preseason Top 25 have made out so far:

 

#3 John Curtis (Louisiana) 6-2

#4 Norcross (Georgia) 7-2

#5 Corona Centennial (California) 7-2

#11 DeMatha (Maryland) 9-1

#12 Paramus Catholic (New Jersey) 6-2

#13 Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 8-2

#14 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) 8-1

#15 Long Beach Poly (California) 8-1

#16 Good Counsel (Maryland) 6-4

#17 Ensworth (Tennessee) 8-1

#21 North Allegheny (Pennsylvania) 7-3

#23 Highlands (Kentucky) 9-1

#25 Sandy Creek (Georgia) 8-0-1

 

As far as the latest poll, only a small change as #16 Ensworth (Tennessee) saw its 29-game win streak come to a close at the hands of Brentwood Academy (Tennessee).  Entering the poll at #25 is Southlake Carroll (Texas), which is a perfect 8-0 after a season opening loss to top-ranked Allen.

 

High School Football America Top 25

1. (1) Allen (Texas)

Overall Record: 9-0

Rewind: defeated McKinney (Texas) 56-7

Fast Forward: Friday, Plano (Texas)

 

2. (2) Booker T. Washington (Florida)

Overall: 10-0

Rewind: defeated Edison (Florida) 62-0

Fast Forward: November 15th, Glades Central (Florida) – 4A playoffs

 

3. (3) Katy (Texas)

Overall Record: 9-0

Rewind: defeated Cinco Ranch (Texas) 40-7

Fast Forward: Friday, Memorial (Houston, Texas)

 

4. (4) Colerain (Ohio)

Overall Record: 10-0

Rewind: defeated Oak Hills (Ohio) 29-17

Fast Forward: Saturday, Springboro (Ohio) – Division I playoffs

 

5. (5) DeSoto (Texas)

Overall: 9-0

Rewind: defeated Grand Prairie (Texas) 67-7

Fast Forward: Thursday, Mansfield (Texas)

 

6. (6) De La Salle (California)

Overall Record: 9-0

Rewind: defeated Monte Vista (California) 35-7

Fast Forward: Saturday, California (San Ramon, California)

 

7. (7) Miami Central (Florida)

Overall Record: 7-1

Rewind: Idle

Fast Forward: Saturday, #24 University (Florida)

 

8. (8) St. John Bosco (California)

Overall Record: 9-0

Rewind: defeated Mater Dei (California) 24-2

Fast Forward: Friday, Servite (California)

 

9. (9) St. Joseph Regional (New Jersey)

Overall Record: 7-0

Rewind: defeated DePaul (New Jersey) 38-14

Fast Forward: Saturday, Ramapo (New Jersey)

 

10. (10) Hoover (Alabama)

Overall: 9-0

Rewind: defeated Opelika (Alabama) 29-7

Fast Forward: Friday, Huntsville (Alabama) – 6A playoffs

 

11. (11) Northwestern (South Carolina)

Overall Record: 10-0

Rewind: defeated Nation Ford (South Carolina) 63-18

Fast Forward: Friday, Rock Hill (South Carolina)

 

12. (13) Bellevue (Washington)

Overall Record: 9-0

Rewind: defeated Mercer Island (Washington) 49-7

Fast Forward: Friday, Ferndale (Washington)

 

13. (13) Manatee (Florida)

Overall Record: 10-0

Rewind: defeated Palm Harbor (Florida) 48-14

Fast Forward: November 15, Vero Beach (Florida) – 8A playoffs

 

14. (14) Serra (California)

Overall: 9-0

Rewind: defeated St. Francis (California) 35-21

Fast Forward: Friday, St. Paul (California)

 

15. (15) Miramar (Florida)

Overall: 10-0

Rewind: defeated Cooper City (Florida) 60-0

Fast Forward: November 15, South Plantation (Florida) – 8A playoffs

 

16. (17) Byrnes (South Carolina)

Overall: 9-1

Rewind: defeated Dorman (South Carolina) 54-14

Fast Forward: Friday, Wade Hampton (South Carolina)

 

17. (18) Mallard Creek (North Carolina)

Overall Record: 10-0

Rewind: defeated Robinson (North Carolina) 62-0

Fast Forward: Friday, North Mecklenburg (North Carolina)

 

18. (20) Mountain Pointe (Arizona)

Overall: 10-0

Rewind: defeated Dobson (Arizona) 57-3

Fast Forward: Friday, Boulder Creek (Arizona) – Division I playoffs

 

19. (20) Jenks (Oklahoma)

Overall: 9-0

Rewind: defeated Bixby (Oklahoma) 45-7

Fast forward: Friday, Putnam City (Oklahoma)

 

20. (21) Brother Rice (Michigan)

Overall: 10-0

Rewind: defeated Groves (Michigan) 42-0

Fast forward: Friday, Seaholm (Michigan) – Division 2 playoffs

 

21. (22) Folsom (California)

Overall: 9-0

Rewind: defeated Ponderosa (California) 52-0

Fast forward: Friday, Pleasant Grove (California)

 

22. (23) Coppell (Texas)

Overall: 7-1

Rewind: defeated Denton Ryan (Texas) 28-3

Fast forward: Friday, Lewisville (Texas)

 

23. (24) St. Edward (Ohio)

Overall: 8-1

Rewind: defeated Eastern Christian Academy (Maryland) 41-40

Fast forward: Saturday, Shaker Heights (Ohio) – Division I playoffs

 

24. (25) University (Florida)

Overall: 9-1

Rewind: defeated Island Coast (Florida) 49-7

Fast Forward: Saturday, #7 Miami Central (Florida)

 

25. (NR) Southlake Carroll (Texas)

Overall: 8-1

Rewind: defeated Fossil Ridge (Texas) 31-27

Fast forward: Friday, Haltom (Texas)

Final 2012 High School Football America Top 25

By Jeff Fisher
Editor-in-Chief
High School Football America
Follow @HSFBamerica

So the 2012 high school football season is officially over - other than for some national and local all-star games for seniors.

What a season it was!

If you've been following our rankings throughout the year, you know that we didn't release our first Top 25 until a month into the season, in order to get an accurate picture of who was good on the field, not just on paper.  We also didn't post rankings from mid-November on, so that the playoffs could unfold.

Now it’s time for High School Football America to name its first national champ.

Let’s also start using the word “mythical” in-front of national champs, because ultimately, there’s really no way to do this scientifically.

There are some years when a team rises head-and-shoulders above the pack, but for the most part, each year there could be anywhere from 5-8 teams that could lay claim to the “mythical” title. That’s the case this year with several teams having outstanding seasons.

We salute all of them! However, we need to name a national champ.

The choice could have gone many ways, but in the end, it came down to the Allen Eagles (Texas) and John Curtis (Louisiana) with Bellevue (Washington), De La Salle (California) and Katy (Texas) getting first-place votes.

My personal vote came-down to strength of schedule for the Eagles, who captured Texas’ Class 5A Division I championship Saturday night defeating previously unbeaten Lamar. The Eagles (15-1) finish the season with one loss, a 27-24 loss to Coppell (11-1) in overtime. Seven of Allen’s 16 opponents won 11 or more games this season.

There is no doubt that a case could be made for John Curtis. However, when you consider that Curtis (14-0) played seven opponents with sub-.500 records, compared with only three for Allen.  On the other side of the equation, Curtis faced and passed everyone of its tests. 

You can't do more than play your schedule and play it well.  The Patriots' outscored opponents 667-60 with seven shutouts. 

When the votes were tallied, we have co-national champs.
How would an Allen vs. John Curtis match-up turn-out next week?  We'll never know...but we do know they are both great teams.

For those of you that would like to check out our first national rankings back in mid-September, click here.

Again, congats the everyone and I can't wait until 2013.

Happy Holidays!

High School Football America Final 2012 Top 25

1 (tie). Allen (Texas) 15-1
Original Ranking: #11

1 (tie). John Curtis (River Ridge, LA) 14-0
Original Ranking: #5
3. Bellevue (Washington) 14-0
Original Ranking: #7

4. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 15-0
Original Ranking: #8

5. Katy (Texas) 16-0
Original Ranking: #21

6. Hoover (Alabama) 16-0
Original Ranking: #13

7. North Allegheny (Wexford, PA) 16-0
Original Ranking: NR

8. Norcross (Georgia) 15-0
Original Ranking: NR

9. DeSoto (Texas) 14-1
Original Ranking: #4

10. Butler (Matthews, NC) 15-0
Original Ranking: #20

11. University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 12-0
Original Ranking: #25

12. Ensworth (Nashville, TN) 13-0
Original Ranking: #18

13. Trinity (Louisville, KY) 13-1
Original Ranking: #9

14. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada) 13-1
Original Ranking: #23

15. Good Counsel (Maryland) 11-1
Original Ranking: #24

16. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 13-2
Original Ranking: NR

17. Centennial (Corona, CA) 14-2
Original Ranking: NR

18. Manatee (Bradenton, FL) 13-1
Original Ranking: #2

19. Steele (Cibolo, TX) 14-1
Original Ranking: NR

20. Whitehaven (Memphis, TN) 15-0
Original Ranking: NR

21. Miami Central (Florida) 12-2
Original Ranking: NR

22. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, OH) 12-3
Original Ranking: #17

23. Narbonne (Harbor City, CA) 14-1
Original Ranking: #19

24. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, NJ) 10-2
Original Ranking: NR

25. Booker T. Washington (Miami) 13-1
Original Ranking: NR

Where the High School Football America Top 25 Plays

by Jeff Fisher
Editor-in-Chief
High School Football America
Follow @HFSBamerica
Four teams in the High School Football America Top 25 picked-up victories Thursday night.

#8 Hoover closed-out a perfect regular season with a 30-7 win over Opelika. Next stop for the Bucs is the Alabama 6A playoffs with a first round match-up with Shades Valley.

#14 University (Florida) beat Eagle's View 56-0 to improve to 8-0. It was the second straight shutout victory for the Suns.

In Georgia, defending AAAAA champ #20 Grayson shutout Archer 48-0. The AJC reports that the Rams returned two interceptions for touchdowns to improve to 8-1.

#23 Coppell (Texas) clinched the District 5-5A title Thursday night with a 21-3 win over Denton Ryan.  The Dallas News reports that Cowboy QB Colby Mahon passed for 197 yards and two touchdowns, plus he ran for a score.

Here's where the rest of the Top 25 plays this weekend:
*all games Friday unless noted
1. Manatee (FL) vs. Sarasota
2. DeSot (TX) vs. Grand Prairie
3. John Curtis (LA) vs. South Plaquemines
4. Bellevue (WA) vs. Lincoln
5. Camden County (GA) vs. Lownes
6. De La Salle (CA) vs. California
7. Vista Murrieta (CA) vs. Chaparral
9. Enworth (TN) - Idle
10. Katy (TX) vs. Cinco Ranch (Saturday)
11. Narbonne (CA) vs. Gardena
12. Butler (NC) vs. West Forsyth
13. St. Edward (OH) vs. Mayfield (Saturday)
15. Colerain (OH) vs. St. Xavier (Saturday)
16. Bishop Gorman (NV) vs. Shadow Ridge
17. North Allegheny (PA) vs. Altoona
18. Good Counsel (MD) vs. Archbishop Carroll (Saturday)
19. Steele (TX) vs. Carroll
21. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) vs. Hackensack
22. St. Joseph's Prep (PA) vs. Archbishop Ryan
24. St. Ignatius (OH) vs. Austintown-Fitch (Saturday)
25. Trintiy (KY) vs. Clark

New National Top 25

By Jeff Fisher
HSFA Editor-in-Chief

There are two newcomers to this week’s High School Football America Top 25.

Overall, it was a fairly easy weekend for the Top 25 teams with only #11 Allen (Texas) and #21 Bolingbrook (Illinois) losing. #16 Narbonne (California) was challenged by Mater Dei, one of the top teams in Southern California.

With Allen and Bolingbrook falling out of the poll, two teams with one loss make their debut.

Grayson (Georgia), which opened the season with hopes of claiming a national championship, enters our poll at #24, while defending national champ Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey) takes over the #25 slot.

This week, the nation’s #1 team, Santa Margarita, will receive its first test since losing quarterback Johnny Stanton to season-ending knee surgery. The Eagles, who had a bye week, will face Servite in their Trinity League opener.

Two other ranked teams will be challenged by strong opponets this week when #21 Good Counsel hosts DeMatha in a Maryland showdown and #23 North Allegheny squares-off with fellow western Pennsylvania-power Gateway.

High School Football America Top 25

1. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) 5-0

Santa Margarita opens Trinity League play this week, one of the toughest leagues in the country. It will be the Eagles first game without quarterback Johnny Stanton (Nebraska verbal), who had successful knee surgery Friday. Next up: Servite Last Week: #1

2. Manatee (Bradenton, FL) 4-0
QB Cord Sanberg (Mississippi St. verbal) accounted for 4 TDs in 52-13 win over Southeast. Win was 270^th of head coach Joe Kinnan’s career. Next up: Braden River on Friday. Last Week: #2

3. DeSoto (Texas) 5-0
Eagles defense stuffed South Grand Prairie in 40-7 win Friday. DeSoto has a bye this week. Last week #3

4. John Curtis (River Ridge, LA) 5-0
The Patriots top the 50 point mark for the second straight game in 59-0 win over Riverside. It was also JC’s second straight shutout. Next up: Carver on Saturday. Last Week: #4

5. Byrnes (Duncan, SC) 6-0
Another big game for Rebels QB Shuler Bentley with 375 yards and 5 TDs in 49-7 win over Spartanburg. Next up: Riverside on Friday. Last Week: #5

6. Bellevue (Washington) 5-0
The Wolverines roll with their third straight shutout. Bellevue beat Juniata 49-0. Next up: Interlake on Friday. Next Week: #6

7. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 5-0
The Spartans defense limited Livermore, who was averaging 313 yards per game on the ground, to just 53 yards rushing in 57-0 victory. Next up: Foothill on Friday. Last Week: #7

8. Trinity (Louisville, KY) 6-0
Over 30,000 watched Trinity beat its arch-rival St. Xavier 34-7. The Shamrocks win streak reaches 31 straight. Next up: DuPont Manual on Friday. Last week: #8

9. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH) 6-0
Wildcat head coach Charles Kyle wins #296 in 35-7 victory over Glenville. Next up: John Adams on Saturday Last Week: #9

10. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) 3-1
The Crusaders rebound from one-point loss to St. Joseph with a 62-20 win over previously undefeated Passiac Tech. 5 TDs passes for BC QB Jon Germano. Next up: DePaul on Saturday Last Week: #10

11. Camden County (Kingsland, GA) 4-0
The Wildcats Wing-T offense picked-up 278 yards on the ground to beat Valdosta 43-6. Next up: Coffee on Friday Last Week: #12

12. Hoover (Alabama) 6-0
Hoover wins the battle of unbeatens topping Vestavia Hills 35-15. Next up: Bessemer City on Friday Last Week: #12

13. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, CA) 5-0
The Broncos scored on its first six possessions to beat Palisades 42-6. Next up: Temecula Valley on Friday Last Week: #14

14. Ensworth (Nashville, TN) 7-0
The Tigers raced-out to a 42 point halftime lead on the way to a 49-0 win over Pope John Paul II. Next up: Montgomery Bell Academy. Last Week: #15

15. Narbonne (Harbor City, CA) 5-0
For the second straight week the Gauchos knocked-off an unbeaten SoCal power. This time it was Mater Dei 18-17. Next up Carson on Friday. Last Week: #16

16. Butler (Matthews, NC) 6-0
Bulldog back-up QB Zach Gross continues to play well while Riley Ferguson heals from a broken hand. Gross had 2 TD passes in 60-0 win over East Mecklenberg. Next up: Ardrey Kell on Friday. Last Week: #17

17. Katy (Texas) 4-0
The Tigers handed Morton Ranch its first loss of the season 62-24. Next up: Mayde Creek on Saturday Last Week: #18

18. University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 3-0
University’s has now gone three weeks with playing a football game. This week they will be tested against unbeaten Chaminade-Madonna in a 3A District 8 showdown. Last Week: #19

19. Colerain (Cincinnati, OH) 6-0
Cardinals’ junior running back Detuan Smith rushed for 200 yards and three 3 TDs in 35-0 shutout of Mason. Next up: Middletown on Friday. Last Week: #20

20. Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 4-1
The Gaels played their first Nevada opponent and had to problems in a 70-0 shutout of Legacy. Next up: Cimarron-Memorial on Friday. Last Week: #22

21. Good Counsel (Maryland) 4-1
The Falcons were idle last week. Two weeks to focus on arch-rival DeMatha on Friday. Last Week: #23

22. Steele (Cibolo, TX) 5-0The offense, averaging 43 points a game this year, continued to click in 42-14 win over San Marcos. This week is a bye week for Steele. Last Week: #24

23. North Allegheny (Wexford, PA) 5-0
Mack Leftwich tossed 4 TD passes as the Tigers beat Butler 49-0. Next up: unbeaten Gateway on Friday. Last Week: #25

24. Grayson (Loganville, GA) 4-1
The Rams have won two straight since its 22-7 loss to Parkview. The defending AAAAA champs beat Shiloh on Friday 45-27. Next up: Central Gwinnett on Friday. Last Week: NR

25. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NY) 3-1
The defending national champs enter the poll after another solid road interstate win. The Ironmen beat Utah-power Alta 53-24. DBP also beat Florida’s St. Thomas Aquinas on the road on September 14. Next up: Fair Lawn. Last Week: NR

Dropping out: #11 Allen (Texas) lost to Coppell 27-24 in OT and #21 Bolingbrook (Illinois) lost to Lincoln-Way East 42-19

Others receiving consideration in alphabetical order:

Allen (Texas), American Heritage (Florida), Bentonville (Arkansas), Carmel (Indiana), Coppell (Texas), Lassiter (Georgia)

*Through games of September 30, 2012

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

No Change at Top of MaxPreps' Xcellent 25; Two New Teams Enter Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Last week, MaxPreps.com's senior national high school writer Steve Spiewak joined me on High School Football America's radio show to discuss which teams have the best shot at winning the 2011 national championships.

Steve mentioned that all of the Top 10 team's in his Xcellent 25 have a great shot, but he felt that St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) would be in great position, if it beat #10 De La Salle (California) last Friday.  The Raiders, who have won two national titles, rolled past the Spartans 30-6 before a national television audience on ESPN2, but stay at #5 in the latest rankings released today.

The top eight remain the same from last week's ratings, with Archbishop Moeller (Ohio) and Servite (California) entering the Xcellent 25.  Falling out after losses were De La Salle and #14 Prattville.

Click here listen to Steve's national rankings chat with me on High School Football America from September 22nd.

MaxPreps Xcellent 25

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

MaxPreps.com's Releases Small Schools Top 25 Preseason Poll

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

When Steve Spiewak, MaxPreps' senior national high school football writer, joined me on last Thursday's High School Football America radio show, he talked about his Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders Poll, but he also talked about releasing a Small Schools Top 25.

I applauded him for his foresight, because I did a similar thing back in the mid-90s when working at the sports director at WFMZ-TV.

The reason I liked the idea then, and like it just as much now, is it gives all the schools a fair shake at getting attention...no matter what their size.  Plus, in Pennsylvania it took care of the argument of whether a top flight Class 4A or 3A team with one loss should be ranked behind an unbeaten Class 2A or 1A school.

But, the fact remains, there are a lot of top-notch small schools out there!

Take Buford High School in Georgia, which grabs Spiewak's #1 preseason ranking in the Small School Top 25.

The Wolves have won four straight state titles playing in Class AA, which is the state's second smallest of five classifications.  Buford also has won seven titles in the last 10-years.  One for the thumb may be possible for the Wolves with 10 starters back from last year's 13-1 squad.

Then there's #2 John Curtis and #5 Evangel Christian Academy from Louisiana.  These two will battle for the state's 2A crown this year, but prior to a change in the way Louisiana classified its private schools, these two were playing for 5A and 4A championships in 2004...and winning them!

So without further adieu, here's Steve's Small School Preseason:

1. Buford (GA)
2. John Curtis (LA)
3. University (FL)
4. Heritage Hall (OK)
5. Evangel Christian Academy (LA)
6. Escalon (CA)
7. New Boston (TX)
8. Sierra Canyon (CA)
9. Dillon (SC)
10. Ursuline (OH)
11. Trinity Catholic (FL)
12. Daingerfield (TX)
13. Tatum (TX)
14. West Catholic (PA)
15. Madison County (FL)
16. Dunbar (MD)
17. Pewitt (TX)
18. North Florida Christian (FL)
19. Aberdeen (MS)
20. Leroy (AL)
21. American Heritage (FL)
22. Calhoun (GA)
23. Gretna (VA)
24. Coldwater (OH)
25. St. Joseph (Hammonton, NJ)

Click here to read more on the entire poll.

MaxPreps.com's High School Football Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

You know that the high school football season isn't far away when national rankings start coming-out!

Several weeks ago, MaxPreps.com beat everyone to the punch when Senior Football Editor Steve Spiewak released his Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders.

Spiewak will join me on Sunday's NHSCA Sports Hour to talk about the poll, and why Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey), looks like its going to take another run at a "mythical" national championship. The Ironmen finished #1 in MaxPreps' Xcellent 25 Rankings in 2009.

Here's the MaxPreps.com 2011 Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders....

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

Click here read more from Spiewak about each team

Click here to listen to Sunday's show LIVE

New SportsPower.com National High School Football Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

High School Football America has teamed-up with SportsPower.com to provide my readers with it's national and state-by-state high school football rankings.

SportsPower.com releases its new rankings every Tuesday. The ranking are broken into five catagories...Mega, Large, Mid, Small and Other.

Here are the latest rankings through October 18th

PrepNation.com - Week 2 High School Football Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Only two teams in the PrepNation.com National Prep Poll played last weekend, and with both South Panola (Batesville, MS) and Hamilton (Chandler, AZ) winning, there are no changes in the latest poll.

PrepNation.com National Prep Poll
Week 2


1. Euless Trinity (TX) 
2. Plant (Tampa, FL) 
3. Abilene (TX) 
4. Lake Travis (Austin, TX) 
5. South Panola (Batesville, MS) 1-0
6. Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) 
7. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 
8. Glenville (Cleveland, OH) 
9. Grant (Sacramento, CA) 
10. Hoover (AL) 
11. Hamilton (Chandler, AZ) 1-0
12. Good Counsel (Olney, MD) 
13. St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH) 
14. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 
15. Servite (Anaheim, CA) 
16. West Monroe (LA) 
17. Phoebus (Hampton, VA) 
18. Camden County (Kingsland, GA) 
19. Stony Point (Round Rock, TX) 
20. Dorman (Roebuck, SC) 
21. Manatee (Bradenton, FL) 
22. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) 
23. LaSalle College (Wyndmoor, PA) 
24. Mission Viejo (CA) 
25. Wheaton-Warrenville South (Wheaton, IL)