Final National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- The Northeast's most dominant team of the decade now has a National Prep Poll title to show for it. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) is No. 1 in the final National Prep Football Poll of the season, becoming the first team from the region to finish as the country's top-ranked high school football team in the 23-year history of the poll.

The Ironmen won their fourth consecutive Non-Public Group IV state title and sixth in eight years. They defeated six teams that were nationally or regionally ranked this season, including a 30-6 blowout in week one of eventual California Open Division champion De La Salle (Concord).

Texas 5A/II champion Abilene, which went 15-0 and won its first state crown since 1956, finished the season ranked No. 2. North Carolina 4AA titlist Butler (Matthews) is ranked No. 3 and two-time defending Tennessee Division II-AA champion Memphis University closed the year at No. 4. Rounding out the top five is Lake Travis (Austin), which ended the season with its third straight Texas 4A title and a 46-game winning streak.

Week 18 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- For the first time during the 23-year history of World Features Syndicate's National Prep Football Poll, a team from the Northeast region is poised to finish the season ranked No. 1 in the country.

Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.), which has won four straight Non-Public IV state titles and 23 consecutive games, moved into the top spot in the Week 18 poll. The Ironmen have been the beneficiary of seven upsets to Top 10 teams during the last two weeks.

Right behind Don Bosco at No. 2 in the rankings is North Carolina 4AA champion Butler (Matthews), which will probably receive heavy consideration for the preseason No. 1 national ranking next year. The Bulldogs feature a talented junior class, led by blue chip quarterback Christian LeMay.

No. 3 Abilene (Texas) is probably the only team that could still unseat Don Bosco from the top ranking in the final poll. The Eagles remain undefeated heading into Saturday's Texas 5A/II title game against two-time defending champion No. 7 Katy.

Week 17 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- Following a playoff weekend that saw the upset of eight Top 25 teams, there are plenty of changes in the Week 17 National Prep Football Poll.

South Carolina 4A/I champion Dorman (Roebuck) leads the parade of teams entering the national poll this week. The No. 7 Cavaliers shocked then-No. 2 Byrnes (Duncan), 28-17, avenging their only loss of the season.

Tulsa Union also avenged its only loss of the year and is back in the national poll at No. 14. The Redskins hammered rival Jenks, 52-19, for the Oklahoma 6A crown.

No. 19 Northside (Warner Robins) and No. 20 Servite (Anaheim), both of which were nationally ranked earlier this season, return to the national Top 25 in advance of playing in championship games this weekend. Northside is gunning for the Georgia 5A title while Servite will meet No. 3 Edison for the CIF-SS Pac-5 crown.

No. 21 West Monroe (La.) and No. 23 Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), each no stranger to the national rankings, can add to their already impressive collection of state championship hardware this weekend.

No. 24 La Salle (Wyndmoor) has advanced to the Pennsylvania 4A semifinals in its first season competing in the state playoffs.

Week 16 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- A weekend filled with playoff upsets ushered six teams into this week's National Prep Poll's Top 25 rankings.

Miami Central tops the list of squads new to the rankings. The Rockets re-entered the national poll at No. 6 after they defeated then-No. 11 Miami Northwestern, 29-16, and avenged their only loss of the year.

Abilene (Texas) makes its debut appearance of the season in the poll at No. 17. The Eagles stunned then-No. 3 Cedar Hill, 41-17, in the third round of the 5A/II playoffs over the weekend.

Newnan (Ga.) is No. 19 after edging then-No. 15 Grayson (Loganville), 9-7, in the 5A quarterfinals.

No. 20 South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) is back in the national rankings for the first time since its 89-game winning streak ended in last year's 5A championship game. The Tigers upset then-No. 12 Madison Central, 36-21, in this year's 6A semifinals.

Cardinal Mooney (Youngstown, Ohio) is ranked No. 21 this week after throttling Steubenville, 45-7, in the Division III semifinals.

Finally, two-time defending Texas 5A/II champion Katy is back in the poll at No. 24 after breezing to three playoff wins by an average margin of 36 points. The Tigers were ranked No. 4 in the nation to start the season.

Week 15 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- The Week 15 National Prep Poll includes Washington-area power Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), a team that's no stranger to the rankings but one that had been unable to get over the hump during the postseason. All that changed Saturday when the Falcons defeated nemesis DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) -- then ranked No. 14 -- 14-7 for their first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title.

Good Counsel is No. 18 in this week's poll. It is the second time the Falcons have been nationally ranked this season.

There is another Maryland squad in the Top 25 this week as Linganore (Ijamsville) entered the national rankings for the first time. The No. 21 Lancers moved into the Class 3A state semifinals with a 19-0 shutout at then-regionally ranked Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg).

Week 14 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- Cleveland public schools power Glenville is back in the Top 10 rankings of the weekly National Prep Poll. The Tarblooders, who started the season ranked No. 5, are No. 8 this week after eliminating then-No. 4 St. Ignatius from the postseason and avenging their only loss of the season.

Glenville beat the Wildcats, 30-13, in a Division I second-round playoff game Saturday. It was the fifth win in the last seven meetings over St. Ignatius for the Tarblooders, who are three wins away from capturing their first state championship.

No. 24 Memphis (Tenn.) University also entered the national poll this week. The defending Division II-AA state champion Owls have won 24 consecutive games.

Week 13 National Prep Football Poll released

On the strength of its third-ever win over rival Independence (Charlotte, N.C.), Butler (Matthews) has earned its first-ever spot in the National Prep Poll's Top 25.

The Bulldogs capitalized on five turnovers to get the 31-24 win over the Patriots, who were ranked No. 18 last week. It was only the third time this season Butler did not beat an opponent by at least 21 points.

The remainder of the week 13 rankings went largely unchanged. The national Top 10 remained completely intact after every one of those teams won its last game by at least 17 points.

Week 12 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- The first Prep Poll of November brought with it five new faces to the national Top 25. At No. 17, Northwestern (Miami) is highest ranking for a team that was not in the national poll a week ago. The Bulls, who began the year No. 3, have lost only to No. 16 Washington (Miami).

Leading a pack of four teams who are in the Top 25 for the first time this season is No. 20 Madison Central (Madison, Miss.). The Jaguars are outscoring opponents by an average score of 42-9 this season.

The Woodlands (Texas) is No. 21. The Highlanders defeated perennial power Lufkin, 31-21, on Friday and beat regionally ranked Katy earlier this season.

Mission Viejo (Calif.), which has beaten every opponent by at least 19 points, is now No. 22.

Rounding out the Top 25 is North Penn (Lansdale), the Eastern Pennsylvania power which is allowing only 7 points per game and owns a victory against regionally ranked St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) this season.

Week 11 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- Two-time defending Florida 5A champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) remains No. 1 in the National Prep Poll for the 24th consecutive week.

It's the longest any team has held the top spot in the national rankings since six-time Prep Poll champion De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) held the top spot from the beginning of the 2000 season through the first game of 2004.

The Raiders have won 31 consecutive games dating back to the middle of the 2007 season by average score of 44-9. They have already beaten a Top-10 team this season (No. 2 Byrnes) and may get the opportunity to play another, No. 7 Lakeland, during the state playoffs.

Week 10 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- For the first time this season, no new teams entered the weekly National Prep Poll Top 25.

Last week's nationally ranked squads went 25-0, winning by an average score of 43-11. When you throw in the 43 regionally ranked teams that played last week, the overall won/loss record for last week's ranked teams was 67-1.

A few squads moved up slightly in this week's rankings. The most significant movement was by Texas' No. 1-ranked squad, Cedar Hill, which moved up one spot to No. 3. The Longhorns have scored 47 or more points in four consecutive games and are averaging 43 per contest this season.

Week 9 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- For the first time in over a decade, Cincinnati Moeller is back in the National Prep Poll Top 25 rankings.

The Crusaders are No. 25 this week after defeating crosstown rival Elder, 35-13. It was the first home loss in 16 games for the Panthers, who were ranked No. 5 in the nation earlier this season.

Moeller has won nine of its last 10 games under second-year coach John Rodenberg. The Crusaders are seeking their first state championship since 1985. That was the final year of an 11-year run that saw Moeller win seven state titles and one USA Today national championship.

Week 8 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- Booker T. Washington (Miami) is back in the National Prep Poll Top 25 for the first time since the end of the 2007 season. The Tornadoes are ranked No. 16 after their 35-28 upset of then-No. 3 Miami Northwestern on Saturday.

It's a similar story for No. 21 Northside (Warner Robins, Ga.), which also returns to the national poll for the first since '07. The Eagles knocked off previous No. 4-ranked Lowndes (Valdosta), 10-7.

Highlands (Fort Thomas, Ky.) is in at No. 24 one week after defeating Ohio power St. Xavier (Cincinnati). The Bluebirds' rankings resume was upgraded significantly when St. Xavier knocked off then-No. 12 Elder (Cincinnati) over the weekend.

The final spot in this week's Top 25 goes to two-time defending Washington 4A champion Skyline (Sammamish). The Spartans' only loss this season was September 18 to California's top-ranked team, No. 8 Oaks Christian, 28-25.

Week 7 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- California's ultra competitive Pac-5 Division has a new 'team to beat' with the emergence of Edison (Huntington Beach). The Chargers are ranked No. 15 this week after upsetting then-No. 6 Servite (Anaheim), 23-9.

Through four weeks of play, Edison is already the third different Pac-5 contender to be ranked in the National Prep Poll's Top 25.

Defending Illinois 8A titlist Maine South (Park Ridge) also enters the national rankings this week at No. 24. The Hawks' high-flying offense has picked up where it left off last season, scoring 50 or more points in four out of five games this season. Last year, Maine South scored over 50 in six out of 14 contests.

Week 6 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- After recording the 11th shutout in its current 18-game winning streak, defending Virginia Division 5 champion Phoebus (Hampton) entered the National Prep Poll Top 25.

The No. 24 Phantoms, who lost four Division I recruits and its head coach to the college ranks from last year's team that finished ranked No. 8 in the nation, shut out Warwick, 37-0. Warwick is where new Phoebus coach Stan Sexton coached last season.

Defending Colorado 5A titlist Mullen (Denver) moved into the national poll at No. 25 after defeating perennial Missouri power Rockhurst (Kansas City), 17-7, on the Hawklets' home field. The win avenged a loss from last season for the Mustangs.

Week 5 National Prep Football Poll

URBANDALE, Iowa -- Fresh off an impressive 27-7 defeat of perennial national power Long Beach (Calif.) Poly, St. Bonaventure (Ventura) enters this week's National Prep Poll Top 25 rankings.

Senior running back Devon Blackledge ran for 291 yards and three touchdowns to lead the No. 12 Seraphs, whose only loss since September 2007 is a 12-7 setback to Poly last season.

Jenks (Okla.) rejoins the national poll at No. 21 after defeating rival Tulsa Union, 27-25. The Trojans began the year ranked No. 12 before Oklahoma-bound receiver Jarrett Lake was ruled ineligible for the season.

No. 22 Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas) makes its first-ever appearance in the national rankings this week. The Tigers have several key players back from the team that reached the Class 5A/II state semifinals last season.

Rounding out the Top 25 this week is Washington D.C.-area power Good Counsel (Olney, Md.). The Falcons got a win at Valhalla (El Cajon, Calif.) to open the season then blanked city-ranked Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), 42-0, in week two.

Week 4 National Prep Football Poll released

URBANDALE, Iowa -- It looks like another banner year for South Florida high school football.

The talent-rich region that produced last year's Prep Poll champion (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) and the final No. 2 team in the previous season (Miami Northwestern), has three teams in this week's Top 25.

Miami Central joined Aquinas (No. 1) and Miami Northwestern (No. 3) on the national list after winning on the road, 34-3, at state-ranked Mainland. The Rockets outgained the Bucs by more than a two-to-one margin and forced four turnovers in the unexpected blowout.

There are three more teams that entered the national poll for the first time this season. Defending Oklahoma 6A champ Tulsa Union is in at No. 20 after opening the season with a 17-6 win against state-ranked Broken Arrow.

St. Xavier (Cincinnati) -- Prep Poll champion in 2007 -- is No. 21 after defeating regionally ranked teams in back-to-back weeks.

Garland (Texas) is No. 25 despite coming off a bye week. The Owls destroyed Kimball, 60-7, in their season opener.

Across the PrepNation: Weekend Rewind 8-31-09

Just a few thoughts before moving on to the next week of the prep football season ...

Week 2 National Prep Poll Top 25 Reax

1.	Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas	52	Upper Arlington (Ohio)	7	Raiders utterly dominant
2.	Duncan, S.C., Byrnes	43	Central Gwinnett (Ga.)	7	Rebels invoke ‘mercy rule’
3.	Miami, Fla., Northwestern		Idle. Opens Sept. 4 at Carol City		Bulls look sharp in kickoff classic win
4.	Katy, Texas	9	North Shore	7	Tigers force five fumbles
5.	Cleveland, Ohio, Glenville	13	MW No. 3 St. Ignatius	14	Last three games between two decided by 5 points total
6.	Chesapeake, Va., Oscar Smith	27	Venice (Fla.)	13	Tigers get rain-soaked win on ESPNU
7.	Lakewood, Calif.		Idle. Opens Sept. 4 at Crenshaw		Lancers drop out of Top 25 after star RB’s arrest
8.	Bellevue, Wash.		Idle. Opens Sept. 4 vs. Earl Marriot (B.C.)		One tune-up before trip to Texas
9.	Sammamish, Wash., Skyline		Idle. Opens Sept. 5 vs. Jesuit (Ore.)		Opener vs. Oregon power will be tough
10.	Cedar Hill, Texas	44	DeSoto	41	‘Horns rally from 21 down to win
11.	Valdosta, Ga., Lowndes	75	Woodland	14	Vikes put a hurtin’ on outmanned foe
12.	Cincinnati, Ohio, Elder	49	MW No. 5 East St. Louis (Ill.)	28	Panthers’ ‘O’ sharp in opener
13.	Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco Prep		Idle. Opens Sept. 12 vs. No. 17 De La Salle (Calif.)		Sept. 12 cannot come soon enough
14.	Westlake Village, Calif., Oaks Christian		Idle. Opens Sept. 4 at Alemany - FSPT		Lions play No. 9 Skyline Sept. 18
15.	Allen, Texas	25	SW No. 10 Longview	28	Eagles’ ‘D” couldn’t protect 17-point lead
16.	Lakeland, Fla.		Idle. Opens Sept. 11 at Winter Haven		Dreadnaughts impressive in kickoff classic win
17.	Concord, Calif., De La Salle		Idle. Opens Sept. 4 vs. Serra (San Mateo)		Spartans’ run game should be dominant again
18.	Prattville, Ala.	11	North Gwinnett (Ga.)	14	Lions still team to beat in Alabama 6A?
19.	Bethlehem, Pa., Liberty		Idle. Opens Sept. 4 at North Penn		State semifinals rematch … and preview?
20.	Peoria, Ariz., Centennial		Idle. Next Sept. 4 at Chandler		Bulls-eye on Coyotes’ back growing
21.	Dallas, Texas, Skyline		Idle. Opens Sept. 4 vs. Kimball		Opener vs. Kimball could get ugly
22.	Jenks, Okla.		Idle. Opens Sept. 4 at Bixby		Trojans ahead of Union in poll for now
23.	Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha		Idle. Opens Sept. 5 vs. Riverdale Baptist		Stags’ talent should overwhelm most foes
24.	River Ridge, La., John Curtis		Idle. Opens Sept. 4 at Mandeville		March toward state title No. 24 begins
25.	Charlotte, N.C., Independence	56	Hopewell	12	Patriots’ ‘O’ clicking on all eight entering South Pointe showdown

PREPNATION NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK (AUG. 27-29)

Dylan Favre (QB) St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis, Miss.). Brett Favre's nephew continues to re-write the Missisissippi high school record books. The 5-10 senior threw for a state-record 549 yards in a 50-7 blowout of Mendenhall. As a junior, Favre set the state record for touchdown passes in a season with 45.

REGIONAL REPORTS

NORTHEAST

Pittsburgh Central Catholic was the surprise No. 1 team in the preseason WPIAL rankings compiled by veteran prep sports writer Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Vikings got the nod over McKeesport, Penn Hills, Woodland Hills, and North Allegheny in the rankings released last Friday. In contrast, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has Central Catholic No. 5 to start the season, with Penn Hills, McKeesport, Gateway and Woodland Hills ranked Nos. 1-4.

EAST COAST

Bayside (Virginia Beach, Va.) stunned state-ranked Green Run (Virginia Beach), 21-17, in both team's season-opener. According to the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, the star of the game was not Green Run's all-state senior running back Dejor Simmons. Rather, it was Bayside freshman quarterback Deion Stitt, who completed 9-of-11 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns in his varsity debut ... A pair of Upstate South Carolina players had big nights last Friday. According to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Dorman junior running back A.J. Booker had four rushing touchdowns in an impressive 42-17 blowout of state-ranked Gaffney. Meanwhile, senior quarterback Jake Lambert threw a school-record seven touchdown passes to lead Woodruff in a 59-34 shootout win against Greer.

SOUTHEAST

For the second consecutive year, defending Alabama 6A champion Prattville lost a road game to an out-of-state opponent. Last season, the Lions lost their opener, 15-10, in Cincinnati to St. Xavier. On Saturday, Prattville was defeated, 14-11, in Georgia by North Gwinnett, which is ranked No. 4 in Class 5A by Georgia High School Football Daily . . . According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, senior running back Charles Perkins of Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.) ran for 302 yards on 33 carries in his team's 10-7 defeat of Parkview (Lilburn). Perkins, who stands 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, is committed to Georgia Tech.

MIDWEST

You can call defending Indiana 4A champ Indianapolis Cathedral the 'giant killer.' In back-to-back weeks, the Irish has defeated teams that were ranked No. 1 in the state 5A poll. Two weeks ago, Cathedral won a grind-it-out 7-6 battle with Carmel. On Friday, Cathedral beat Warren Central in a shootout, 35-32 . . . In case you were wondering, Cincinnati St. Xavier's injury and inexperience-riddled 4-6 record last season was probably an aberration. The Bombers made a giant statement for the start of 2009 with Friday's 16-0 shutout of regionally ranked Colerain in front of more than 10,000 fans at Nippert Stadium.

MIDLANDS

A week two matchup featuring the two top-ranked teams in Utah's Class 5A rankings did not disappoint in the excitement department. Regionally ranked Bingham (South Jordan) erased a 14-point halftime deficit and beat defending state champion Alta (Sandy), 38-34. Things don't get any easier next week for Bingham, which travels to Dallas to play Texas powerhouse Euless Trinity Monday at Dallas Cowboys Stadium . . . Junior running back Caleb Sims made his debut at William Chrisman (Independence,. Mo.) a memorable one. Sims, who played last season at national power Rockhurst (Kansas City), ran and ran and ran for a school-record 337 yards on 43 carries in a 37-30 defeat of Ruskin (Kansas City).

SOUTHWEST

ESPN and ESPNU televised seven high school football games over the weekend, but none was more entertaining than No. 10 Cedar Hill's come-from-behind 44-41 defeat of rival DeSoto. Playing without star running back Ben Malena, who sprained his ankle in the first quarter, the Longhorns got the win despite falling behind 28-7 in the first half . . . According to the Arizona Republic, senior running back J.C. Baker of Yuma (Ariz.) scored seven touchdowns and totaled 345 total yards on only 13 touches in a 50-45 win against Lake Havasu.

WEST COAST

Two of Hawaii's top teams, led by two of the state's top quarterbacks, met with St. Louis (Honolulu) holding on to defeat Leilehua, 28-21. According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Jeremy Higgins helped the Crusaders get the better of the matchup, throwing for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Leilehua's Andrew Manley, the state's co-offensive player of the year last season, had 187 passing yards with two touchdown throws and another on the ground . . . Orange Lutheran (Calif.), ranked No. 4 in the state to start the season by Cal-Hi Sports, was beaten handily, 28-14, by Pickerington Central (Ohio) in the wrap-up game of the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. California teams had won in their three previous trips to Ohio to play in the event.

Is there a team, player, or other story in the world of prep football or basketball that we should know about? Email your tips and information to PrepNation Editor and Founder Jamie DeMoney at PrepNation@aol.com.