Final 2012 Top 50 National Rankings

All 50 teams are written up with explanations for why they were placed in these positions. These are the official National Sports News Service Top 50 on HighSchoolGridiron.com, which date back to the 1910 season. COMING UP WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS: Mr. Football USA is announced plus the 2012 National Coach of the Year.

Compiled by Doug Huff & Mark Tennis

CLICK HERE for final Region-By-Region Top 20 Rankings
CLICK HERE for a look at how national prep football rankings have evolved since 1927.

1. Katy (Katy, Texas) 16-0
After winning the Class 5A Division II state title, the Tigers ended with 829 points and an average of nearly 52 points per game. The school also went 16-0 in 2007 when it ended No. 4 in the final Top 50 national rankings. That was Katy’s highest national finish until this season. College-committed players included running back Adam Taylor (Nebraska), defensive end Matt Dimon (Oklahoma), defensive back Kyle Fulks (Baylor) and defensive back Isaiah Brown (Tulsa).

Adam Taylor rushed for more than 2,700 yards for No. 1 Katy, often running when everyone in the building knew he was going to get the ball. Photo by Thomas Lott/Courtesy Katy Times.

2. John Curtis (River Ridge, La.) 14-0
The Patriots capped a dominating season by repeating as the Class 2A state titlist while winning their 25th crown since 1975. It was one of the most talent-laden rosters in the long career of head coach J.T. Curtis, the nation’s second winningest pilot with a 530-54-6 record since 1969. Curtis defeated Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.), the 1999 national champion, 35-13 in the title game. Linebacker Duke Riley led the defense with eight tackles and returned a fumble 80 yards for a score. The Patriots outscored 14 foes by a whopping 677-60 margin, including a 33-3 defeat of Florida power Plant (Tampa, Fla.), which was a state champion and top 20 team from 2011.

3. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) 15-0
Having to play an extra CIF regional bowl game did not prevent the Spartans from winning their fourth straight CIF Open Division state bowl title or from being No. 1 in California for the 16th time in the last 21 seasons. De La Salle dominated previously unbeaten Folsom (Calif.) 49-15 in the first Northern California bowl game, then topped Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 49-28 the next week. This also was the first 15-0 season in the 34-year tenure of head coach Bob Ladoucuer, who improved his career record to 399-24-3 and has since announced he is retiring from that post. Ladouceur will continue to serve on the coaching staff, which will now be led by former assistant Justin Alumbaugh.

4. Allen (Allen, Texas) 15-1
The first season in which the Eagles played in their new much-publicized $60 million stadium ended up being a state championship season. Allen did lose one regular season game to Coppell (Texas), but knocked off DeSoto (Texas) in the Class 5A Division I semifinals one week after DeSoto had soundly beaten Coppell. The 51-36 win over DeSoto also ruined any chances that DeSoto had of finishing No. 1 in the nation, although it should be noted that Katy had been higher than DeSoto in all of the state polls entering the playoffs. Allen then faced unbeaten Lamar (Houston, Texas) in the final before 48,379 at Cowboys Stadium and posted a 35-21 win. Sophomore quarterback Kyler Murray’s touchdown runs of 55 and 68 yards in the first half plus Marcus Ward’s 61-yard scamper with 6:06 left in the game keyed the victory. Allen won its last state title and finished in the top five of the nation previously in 2008.

5. Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.) 14-0
After all games were in the books in Washington, the big question is what might have happened if the Wolverines and unbeaten Class 4A champ Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.) had played. They did play last year and Bellevue won plus the Wolverines played a very good out-of-state team – Trinity (Euless, Texas) – and won compared to Skyline, which did not. Bellevue capped its season with a 35-3 win over Eastside Catholic of Sammamish in the state final. The team also won its fifth straight state title and extended its winning streak to 40 games.

6. Norcross (Norcross, Ga.) 15-0
It only took a couple of weeks early in the season for the Blue Devils to emerge as possible top 10 national team. They did it by beating Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.) before Parkview knocked off Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) but after Grayson had dominated Miami Central (Fla.) in a highly-publicized Labor Day weekend clash. Coach Keith Maloof’s squad then finished off its perfect season with a 21-14 win over Lovejoy (Ga.) in the AAAAAA state final. All-American running back Alvin Kamara shined all season for the Blue Devils with 2,226 yards rushing and 26 scores.

7. Hoover (Hoover, Ala.) 15-0
A 12th Class 6A state final appearance in the last 13 years resulted in the Bucs blanking Opelika (Ala.) 31-0. The win also gave the program nine state crowns during that time span as well. Recording only the second unbeaten season final win before a crowd estimated at 36,000 fans, Hoover was led by game MVP Calen Campbell, who rushed 30 times for 191 yards and three scores. In the regular season, the Bucs routed Mississippi Class 6A champion South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) 35-10.

8. DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas) 14-1
Junior quarterback Desmon White and senior running back Dontre Wilson led the Eagles to a sensational season. Although it ended in a loss to Top 50 No. 4 Allen (Texas) in the Class 5A Division I state semifinals, previous wins over Oklahoma state champ Jenks 52-21; Trinity (Euless, Texas) 42-21 (after Trinity went overtime on the road in a loss to Bellevue of Washington); Coppell (Texas) 42-14 and Southlake Carroll (Texas) 49-45 showed what the boys were capable of. White passed for 3,521 yards and 34 touchdowns with 1,335 yards and 12 TDs rushing. Wilson, who is headed to Oregon, rushed for 1,895 yards and scored 37 times.

9. North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.) 16-0
The Tigers capped a dominant season by winning their second Class AAAA state title in three years with a record-scoring 63-28 finals’ romp over Coatesville (Coatesville, Pa.). In three state playoff games, the Tigers outscored foes by 164-44. Senior quarterback Mack Leftwich passed for 199 yards in the final and had 3,331 season yards. Coach Art Walker also won his third state title, including a 2004 crown at Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

10. Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.) 14-0
They may have been ranked second in the state behind Bellevue (No. 4 above), but the Spartans clearly had one of the nation’s top teams as well, led by arguably the nation’s top quarterback. USC-bound QB Max Browne passed for 4,526 yards and 49 touchdowns, including 384 yards and four scores in a 49-24 triumph over Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.) in the Class 4A state championship. Skyline won its fifth state title in six years and had a 34-point per game winning margin.

11. Miami Central (Miami, Fla.) 12-2
The Rockets blasted off for their second Class 6A state title in their third straight finals’ appearance with a 37-14 romp of previously-unbeaten Gainesville (Gainesville, Fla.). Underclass-led Central was paced by junior running backs Joseph Yearby, a Florida State recruit, and Clemson commit Dalvin Cook. Yearby ran for 125 yards and two scores; Cook for 79 yards and two TDs. Central closed with nine straight wins after losing its first and third games to Grayson (Logansville, Ga.) and Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) while handing state Class 4A champion B.T. Washington (Miami, Fla.) its only loss.

12. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 13-1
Starting the season with a nationally televised 27-22 win over No. 14 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), the Gaels ended by cruising to their fourth straight state championship with a 62-10 romp past Liberty (Henderson, Nev.). Before rolling through in-state competition, four-year starting quarterback Anu Solomon led the team past past St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii) 52-40 and Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) 42-0 with a 42-35 loss to Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) sandwiched between those two wins.

13. Butler (Matthews, N.C.) 15-0
The Bulldogs captured their third Class 4AA state title in four years with a dominant perfect season and a 56-28 finals win over Jack Britt (Fayetteville, N.C.). Despite quarterback Riley Ferguson missing six regular season games with an injury, the Bulldogs were led by linebacker Peter Kalambayi, a Stanford recruit, and wide receiver Uriah LeMay, a Georgia commit, who scored 28 TDs — 12 receiving and 16 rushing.

14. Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) 11-1
The Falcons won their final 11 games and gained a fourth straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title with a repeat season victory over DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) 26-14. Wide receiver Kendall Fuller, the Offensive Player of the Year for the state who will follow three brothers to Virginia Tech, landed three TD passes in the finale. The season-opening loss was to Top 50 No. 12 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 27-22 before the team won over Top 50 No. 38 Gilman (Baltimore, Md.) 20-19.

15. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 13-2
It was an up and down start to the season for the Raiders, but at the end they were as strong as ever. Before defeating Lincoln (Tallahassee, Fla.) 41-25 in the Class 7A state final, they knocked off previously undefeated Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) 35-18 in the semifinals for their best win of the season. Manatee was No. 1 in most national weekly rankings at the time of that win. This state championship is the seventh in school history, but the first for second-year head coach Rocco Casullo.

16. Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.) 13-0
It takes a few connecting of the dots but it does make sense why the Tigers finish the season ranked so high. First, they were unbeaten and won the Division II-AA state title with a 31-14 win over University (Memphis, Tenn.). Second, University owns a win over Arkansas Class 7A champ Fayetteville. And third, perennial national power South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) has a loss to the team Fayetteville beat in its state final. Ensworth also was led by one of the top running backs in the nation, senior Cornelius Elder, who piled up 2,617 yards and scored 36 touchdowns.

17. Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) 13-1
Seemingly on their way to a potential spot as the No. 1 team in the nation at the end of the year, the Hurricanes’ season came to a surprising end in the Class 7A state semifinals with a 35-18 loss to No. 15 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Before league play began, the team’s closest win of the season came against eventual Class 6A state champion Miami Central 44-34. The other 11 wins were all by at least 22 points. Senior quarterback Cord Sandberg passed for 2,674 yards and 34 touchdowns with just one interception on the year while also rushing for 611 yards and 10 touchdowns.

18. Lamar (Houston, Texas) 15-1
Not many before the season had the Redskins going far in the Class 5A Division I state playoffs, but they made it all the way to the final to play Top 50 No. 4 Allen (Texas) before 48,379 at Cowboys Stadium. Allen won 35-21, but Lamar hung tough behind junior quarterback Darrell Colbert, who passed for 207 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another 126 yards and one score.

19. B.T. Washington (Miami, Fla.) 13-1
In a rematch of last year’s Class 4A state championship game, the Tornadoes took on Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.) and this time came out on top with a 35-7 victory. Junior quarterback Treon Harris passed for 245 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 74 yards and three scores. Their lone loss on the year was by 37-26 to eventual Class 6A state champion Miami Central before a season-ending 12-game winning streak began with a 40-21 win over Cedar Hill (Cedar Hill, Texas), the team that lost to No. 1 Katy in the Texas Class 5A Division II championship.

20. Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) 12-3
The Crusaders defeated teams from five states, including three state titlists, en route to their eighth Ohio Division I crown but first since 1985. Moeller, playing in its 12th title game, handed previously unbeaten Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio) a 20-12 setback. Quarterback Spencer Iacovone completed 15 of 19 passes for 161 yards. In the regular season, Moeller handed Kentucky champion Top 50 No. 21 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) and Michigan titlist Grand Rapids Christian (Grant Rapids, Mich.) their only losses and also bested Indiana champion Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) plus Top 50 No. 38 Gilman (Baltimore, Md.).

21. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) 13-1
The Shamrocks captured their third straight state title, 10th in the last 12 years, and 22nd overall with a dominating 61-7 rout of previously unbeaten Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville, Ky.) in the Class 6A finals. Trinity, which lost its only game to Ohio Division I champion Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio), was led by wide receiver James Quick, quarterback Travis Wright and running back Dalyn Hawkins. Quick landed 85 passes for 1,413 yards and 18 TDs on the season and ended with a state-record 280 career receptions.

22. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) 14-0
The Hilltoppers won their first state title since 1983 with a 10-8 victory over Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.) in a battle of unbeatens at the Class 7A finals. Junior defensive back Hayden Carlson, with 14 tackles, led a defensive unit that had five sacks, a recovered fumble, and stopped two Lincoln-Way East fourth quarter drives. On offense, quarterback Henry Haeffner completed 10 of 13 passes for 145 yards and a score.

23. Karr (New Orleans, La.) 14-0
This team won a state championship but lost its coach. After the Cougars avenged a 2011 Class 4A title game loss to previously-unbeaten Neville (Monroe, La.) with a 29-22 win in this year’s final, coach Jabbar Juluke opted to join the new staff at Louisiana Tech. It was Karr’s second crown after winning Class 3A in 1993. Junior defensive lineman Gerald Willis was Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year for the state after recording 110 stops, including 24 for losses with 13 sacks.

24. Steele (Cibolo, Texas) 14-1
For most of the regular season, Texas fans were hoping for a 14-0 vs. 14-0 showdown between the Knights and Katy (Texas) in the Class 5A Division II state playoffs. They got it in the semifinals and although Katy won the Knights had their highlights in a 45-33 loss. The running game, with junior Justin Stockton leading the way, was the strength of the offense. Texas-bound Erik Huhn in the secondary was one of the standouts on defense.

25. University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 12-0
Trailing 17-0 in the second quarter, the Suns scored the game’s final 24 points to defeat Madison County (Madison, Fla.) 24-17 for their first Class 3A state championship in school history. On the year, they had wins over Ohio Division II state finalist Trotwood-Madison, Cocoa (Fla.) and in the quarterfinals they beat previously undefeated American Heritage (Delray Beach, Fla.) 34-17. Sophomore running back Jordan Scarlett rushed for a team-best 1,357 yards and 22 touchdowns and already has received recruiting interest from schools like Alabama and Ohio State.

26. Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) 15-0
The Bears capped a perfect season with a dominant first Class 5A state championship game win over previously unbeaten Snider (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 39-14. Lawrence Central, which won the school’s first state crown, was led by running back Isaiah Townsend with 193 rushing yards and two scores. Quarterback Drake Christen passed for 228 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 92 yards and a score.

Marques Rodgers scored three touchdowns for No. 39 Serra (Gardena, Calif.) when it defeated Oakdale (Calif.) to win CIF Division II state championship. Photo by Mark Tennis.

27. Lake Taylor (Norfolk, Va.) 15-0
The Titans hoisted the school’s first state crown, and first for a Norfolk public school since 1967, with a 20-14 finals’ win over previously unbeaten Stone Bridge (Ashburn, Va.) in the Group AAA Division 5 finals. Versatile two-way back Brandon Moore, the Tidewater Area Player of the Year, ended the season with 2,322 all-purpose yards, including 1,829 by rushing.

28. Kahuku (Kahuku, Hawaii) 12-0
A 42-20 victory against Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii) gave the Red Raiders their second straight state title and a dominating unbeaten season in a state that is generally underrated by most national rankings analysts. Aofaga Wily capped an outstanding prep career for Kahuku with 188 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

29. Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio) 14-1
Quarterback Nick Holley completed 12 of 20 passes for 196 yards and rushed 23 times for 92 yards to lead the Panthers in their 20-12 loss to Top 50 No. 20 Moeller (Cincinnati) in the Division I state final. Twin brother Nate Holley landed eight passes for 135 yards. Whitmer outscored foes 627-173 on the season, including a 19-7 win over Michigan Division 1 runner-up Detroit Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.). The team’s 62-34 playoff win against Mentor (Ohio) also stood out.

30. Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 14-2
Although the Huskies lost in the CIF Open Division state bowl game 49-28 to No. 3 De La Salle and dropped their opener 40-35 to St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.), they earn a national ranking for beating 12-0, 13-0 and 14-0 opponents in consecutive weeks during the postseason. Centennial’s wins over Vista Murrieta (which was 13-0) and Narbonne of Harbor City (which was 14-0) also came against teams that were at least as high as No. 15 in the nation. Junior quarterback Robert Webber will be back next year after passing for 3,968 yards and 41 touchdowns and rushing for another 700 yards and eight scores.

31. Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.) 14-1
A 56-0 romp past perennial power Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), which would eventually win the CIF Southern Section Pac-Five Division title, catapulted the Gauchos up the national rankings early in the season. They stayed there until a last-second 41-35 upset loss to Centennial (Corona, Calif.) in the CIF Open Division Southern California regional bowl game. Washington-bound Troy Williams had a great season with 3,614 yards passing and 37 scores. Williams also rushed for 692 yards and 12 TDs.

32. Coppell (Coppell, Texas) 11-1
Although the Cowboys lost in the second round of the Class 5A Division I state playoffs 42-14, that loss was to No. 8 DeSoto (Texas). Coppell’s high final national ranking is mainly due to a 27-24 regular season triumph against No. 5 Allen (Texas), which was that team’s only loss. Head coach Joe McBride was honored after the season with the very first Tom Landry Coach of the Year award and in his four years at the school he has gone 41-8.

33. Mt. Carmel (Chicago, Ill.) 13-1
The Caravan pocketed their 11th state title, and first since 2002, with a 28-14 win over Glenbard North (Carol Stream, Ill.) in the Class 8A finals. Don Butkus, who left the semifinal victory over Neuqua Valley (Naperville, Ill.) with a sprained ankle and on crutches, rushed and passed for a score. Draco Smith carried seven times for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Caravan coach Frank Lenti also improved his 29-year record to 326-89 with his 10th crown.

34. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.) 13-1
After going 14-0 on-the-field last season with a CIF Southern Section Inland Division title, the Broncos were denied a repeat – as well as a possible run at De La Salle for the CIF Open Division state crown – due to a 30-28 loss to No. 30 Centennial (Corona, Calif.). USC-bound Su’a Cravens led the team in touchdown catches and interceptions and was second on the team in tackles. Quarterback Nick Stevens passed for 2,316 yards and 24 touchdowns.

35. Lovejoy (Lovejoy, Ga.) 13-2
Finishing as the No. 2 team in the state, the Wildcats gave No. 6 Norcross (Georgia) its closest game of the season with a 14-3 lead before losing to the Blue Devils 21-14 in the Class 6A state championship game. Prior to the final, Lovejoy advanced with wins over North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) and North Cobb (Kennesaw, Ga.). Both of those teams had 11 wins on the season.

36. Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.) 14-0
The Raiders celebrated their first state championship by defeating Barbe (Lake Charles, La.) 35-14 in the Class 5A finals played before 32,740 fans at the Superdome. Rummel was led by quarterback Damian Williams, who had 243 total offense yards and two scores, and junior tailback Keith Fulton, who rushed for 132 yards and three scores — all in the fourth quarter. The defense was anchored by linebacker Terrance Jones.

37. Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.) 12-2
For the second straight year, the Technicians bested Detroit Catholic Central in the Division 1 state final. This time the score was 36-21. Two sophomores led the offense — quarterback Jayru Campbell passed for 154 yards and rushed for a touchdown and running back Mike Weber ran for 186 yards on 20 carries. Tech also defeated Division 2 state champion Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) 25-18 in the season opener.

38. Gilman (Baltimore, Md.) 9-2
The Greyhounds won their final nine games after opening with losses to Ohio Division 1 champion and Top 50 No. 20 Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Top 50 No. 14 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.). One of those wins also was against defending national champion Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.). Gilman captured the MIAA Class A title with a 35-7 romp over Calvert Hall (Baltimore, Md.). Gilman was led on defense by lineman Henry Poggi, a Michigan commit, who had 87 tackles, including 31 for losses with 16.5 sacks.

39. Serra (Gardena, Calif.) 14-2
Forget the two losses because one was to No. 32 Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.) and the other one to Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) was later avenged. Serra won the CIF Division II state bowl game 42-15 over Oakdale (Calif.) and also notched a regular-season triumph over CIF Southern Section Pac-Five Division champ Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.). This also is a team loaded with big-time underclass talent, including junior receiver/defensive back Adore’e Jackson, junior quarterback Jalen Greene, junior linebacker Dwight Williams, sophomore running back Malik Roberson and sophomore linebacker John Houston.

40. Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) 12-2
Coach Hal Wasson’s Dragons didn’t start or end the season the way they would have liked but between those losses they were undefeated in 5A Region I District IV league play and win 12 games on the year before their season ended with a 49-45 loss to DeSoto in the Class 5A Division I quarterfinals. Carroll opened the season with a 24-0 road loss against Allen (Texas), which would go on to win the Class 5A Division I state championship. The Dragons’ best win of the season also was their last as they defeated No. 45 Trinity (Euless, Texas) 16-7 in the playoffs, which was followed by a 49-45 loss to No. 8 DeSoto. Senior quarterback Kenny Hill had an impressive season with 3,373 yards passing and 27 touchdowns plus 1,430 yards rushing and 33 touchdowns.

41. Greenwood (Greenwood, S.C.) 15-0
After two straight losses in the Class AAAA Division II state title game, the Eagles took the brass ring with a 31-24 overtime win over Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) to cap the school’s first perfect season since 1955. Quarterback Evin Sims and Octavious Morgan scored two touchdowns each with Morgan getting the game-winner in overtime.

42. Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.) 15-0
The Ramblers dethroned defending Class AAA state champion Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) in this year’s finals with a 24-14 triumph. Quarterback Damion Perry led the way with three touchdowns — two passing and one running. Prep outscored 15 foes from three states by 701-152. In the semifinals, the Ramblers routed perennial power Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.) 38-3.

43. Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.) 13-0
The dominant Warhawks captured their first Division 1 state title since 2007 with a 35-14 finals romp over Sun Prairie (Wis.). Arrowhead led 35-0 at halftime and played most of the second half with a running clock. Quarterback Brady Kelliher passed for 222 yards and three scores and ran for a touchdown.

44. South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) 13-2
Led by a pair of underclassmen on offense, the Tigers earned their 10th state championship in school history and their eighth since 2003 as they defeated Brandon (Miss.) 31-23 in the Class 6A state finals. Sophomore running back Darrell Henderson ran for 214 yards and two touchdowns while junior signal caller Rip Kirk passed for 202 yards and two scores. Both losses came to teams outside the state – Alabama Class 6A state champ Hoover and Arkansas Class 7A finalist Bentonville.

45. Trinity (Euless, Texas) 10-3
The Trojans’ had three losses but all were to higher-ranked teams and one was in overtime to Top 50 No. 5 Bellevue (Wash.) on the road. The other two were to No. 8 De Soto (Texas) and No. 40 Southlake Carroll (Texas). Significant wins came against defending Class 6A Oklahoma state champ Union (Tulsa) and Mansfield (Texas), which was good enough to have a win against Class 5A Division II state runner-up Cedar Hill (Texas).

46. Jenks (Jenks, Okla.) 12-2
Trey’Vonne Barrie buried Norman North (Okla.) with 22 carries for 290 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Trojans to a 55-20 win in the Class 6A state championship. Jenks beat arch-rival Union (Tulsa, Okla.) in the semifinals 41-10 to avenge an earlier loss. The team’s only other loss was to Top 50 No. 8 De Soto (Texas). Jenks and Union have combined to win the last 17 Class 6A state titles.

47. Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.) 13-1
The Griffins finished as Class 7A state runner-up while bowing to Top 50 No. 22 Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) 10-8 in a clash of unbeatens. East’s touchdown came on a 35-yard run by Justin Corbett, who ended with 82 yards on 15 carries. The Griffins’ defense was led by Kyle Langenderfer with 11 tackles, including two stops for losses.

48. Kirkwood (Kirkwood, Mo.) 13-0
It was a season that will go down in the history books as the Pioneers finally captured their first state championship in school history with a 31-7 win over Fort Osage (Independence, Mo.). The margin of victory in the Class 5 state game plus comparative scores also gives Kirkwood the edge over Class 6 state champ Blue Springs (13-1) for No. 1 in Missouri overall. Jordan Bishop finished with 1,972 yards and 29 touchdowns passing while rushing for 644 yards and eight scores.

49. Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.) 14-0
For the fourth time in school history, the Irish ended the season as state champions as they defeated Lake Oswego (Ore.) 13-6 in a Class 6A state final that matched two 13-0 opponents. The win also avenged a loss in the state final last season to the Lakers. Senior Dillon Miller passed for 3,360 yards and 36 touchdowns with junior Connor Strahm his leading target with 82 catches for 1,367 yards and 17 scores.

50. Mesquite (Mesquite, Texas) 11-1
With senior quarterback Alex Cooper passing for 3,055 yards and 26 touchdowns, the Skeeters dropped their only game of the season in the Class 5A Division I state playoffs to No. 4 Allen 42-28. They also rank high for getting a regular season win over Bowie (Arlington, Texas), which posted a regular-season win over preseason state favorite Skyline (Dallas, Texas).

Corrections or comments? Email markjtennis@gmail.com or ronnie@studentsports.com.