St. Thomas Aquinas Tapped by USA Today as #1 Team in the Nation

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

No matter how things change in high school football football, some things just remain the same...like the teams in the USA Today Super 25 rankings.

2008 mythical national champ St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) is the pre-season pick at #1 according to the paper that's been ranking high school football teams since 1982. Eleven teams that finished in the final Super 25 Poll in 2008 are ranked in this season's first poll.

The only other Florida team in the Super 25 is Miami Northwestern.

If you want to check out a complete list of every national champ since 1982, the Alabama High School Football Historical Society has done a great job of compiling the list.

Here's a look at the rankings:

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) 15-0
2. Byrnes (SC) 14-1
3. Katy (TX) 13-3
4. Elder (OH) 13-2
5. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 11-1
6. Northwestern (FL) 13-2
7. Oaks Christian (CA) 14-0
8. Oscar Smith (VA) 15-0
9. Centennial (AZ) 14-0
10. East St. Louis (IL) 13-1
11. Camden County (GA) 15-0
12. Allen (TX) 15-1
13. Colerain (OH) 11-2
14. De La Salle (CA) 12-2
15. Stony Point (TX) 13-2
16. Lowndes (GA) 12-1
17. Cedar Hill (TX) 12-2
18. Union (OK) 13-1
19. Maine South (IL) 14-0
20. Liberty (PA) 15-1
21. Prattville (AL) 13-1
22. Madison Central (WI) 12-2
23. St. Bonaventure (CA) 14-1
24. Skyline (WA) 14-0
25. DeMatha (MD) 10-2

For news from around America, go to The High School Football Huddle.

St. Thomas Aquinas Leads Pack of Florida Teams in National Prep Polls

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

When I first began my television career back in the early 90s, I remember the excitement that ran through the Allentown Central Catholic football program when the Vikings were ranked by USA Today. Yes, back in 1993, the Super 25 meant something...even if it didn't truly mean anything, because...well you know why!

Now, every major media outlet is in on the act. However, I still like USA Today the best, because they've been doing it since 1982.

Tradition means something at The High School Football Huddle!

So with all that being said, let's look at the first couple of polls to be released...ESPN Rise's Fab 50 and Prep Nation. USA Today will release it's Super 25 later.

At least for the pre-season polls, ESPN and Prep Nation are in agreement on #1 and #2. Both polls have the "defending" national champs, St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) at the top spot to start the season. The Raiders are followed by Byrnes (Duncan, SC). If all goes according to plan, the Raiders and Rebels will collide on October 2nd in Florida in a nationally-televised game.

There's no surprise when it comes to which states standout in both polls. Texas leads the Prep Nation Poll with four teams in the Top 25, Florida and California landed three teams in the National Prep Football Poll. The State of Washington is smiling with Bellevue and Skyline cracking the Top 10 in the National Prep Football Poll.

In the ESPN Rise Fab 50...California, Florida and Texas each landed seven teams in the Top 50.

Let's start with the National Prep Football Poll, which is America's second oldest weekly poll produced by Jamie DeMoney, who does a great job of keeping fans up-to-date. Below you can learn more about PrepNation.com.

Prep Nation's National Football Poll

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 15-0
2. Byrnes (Duncan, SC) 14-1
3. Northwestern (Miami, FL) 13-2
4. Katy (TX) 13-3
5. Glenville (Cleveland, OH) 11-1
6. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) 15-0
7. Lakewood (CA) 10-3
8. Bellevue (WA) 14-0
9. Skyline (Sammamish, WA) 14-0
10. Cedar Hill (TX) 12-2
11. Lowndes (Valdosta, GA) 12-1
12. Jenks (OK) 12-2
13. Elder (Cincinnati, OH) 13-2
14. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) 11-1
15. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA) 14-0
16. Allen (TX) 15-1
17. Lakeland (FL) 14-1
18. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 12-2
19. Prattville (AL) 13-1
20. Liberty (Bethlehem, PA) 15-1
21. Centennial (Peoria, AZ) 14-0
22. Skyline (Dallas, TX) 12-2
23. Independence (Charlotte, NC) 13-1
24. DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD) 10-2
25. John Curtis (River Ridge, LA) 14-1

About the National Prep Poll: Compiled weekly weekly since 1987 and distributed by World Features Syndicate and the Associated Press, the National Prep Poll is the nation's second oldest weekly high school sports rankings. Doug Huff of ESPN RISE compiled the rankings from 1987 until 1999. Jamie DeMoney has compiled the poll since the start of the 1999 basketball season. The National Prep Poll is the only high school poll distributed to newspapers and Web sites around the United States by the Associated Press national wire service. The National Prep Poll is the first high school football and boys basketball poll to released in the preseason and during each week of the regular season. Criteria considered for the National Prep Poll rankings are strength of schedule, the ability to accomplish the ultimate goal on a team's schedule (i.e. winning a championship), impact players and performers, a team's coaching and recent tradition.

Jamie DeMoney begins his 10th year compiling the World Features Syndicate/Associated Press National Prep Poll. He has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years and compiled the National Prep Poll since 1999. DeMoney has also compiled high school football and basketball rankings for Sporting News, School Sports, and RISE. DeMoney was managing editor of American Football Monthly and assistant national editor of All-Stater Sports/Highwired Sports. DeMoney is a graduate of the University of Iowa School of Journalism, and a member of the Football Writers Association of America and the United States Basketball Writers Association.

ESPN's Fab 50 looks like this...

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)
2. Byrnes (SC)
3. Elder (OH)
4. Katy (TX)
5. Northwestern (FL)
6. Oaks Christian (CA)
7. Allen (TX)
8. Oscar Smith (VA)
9. Skyline (WA)
10. Prattville (AL)
11. Lowndes (GA)
12. Cedar Hill (TX)
13. Union (OK)
14. Centennial (AZ)
15. Lakeland (FL)
16. St. Bonaventure (CA)
17. Longview (TX)
18. Don Bosco Prep (NJ)
19. Glenville (OH)
20. Bellevue (WA)
21. DeMatha (MD)
22. North Shore (TX)
23. East St. Louis (IL)
24. De La Salle (CA)
25. Dwyer (FL)
26. Hinsdale Central (IL)
27. West Monroe (LA)
28. Miami Central (FL)
29. Orange Lutheran (CA)
30. Colerain (OH)
31. Notre Dame Prep (CA)
32. John Curtis (LA)
33. Camden County (GA)
34. Highlands (KY)
35. Bishop McDevitt (PA)
36. De La Salle Collegiate (MI)
37. St. Ignatius (OH)
38. Hamilton (AZ)
39. Stony Point (TX)
40. Bolles School (FL)
41. Grant (CA)
42. Long Beach Poly (CA)
43. Trinity (KY)
44. Jenks (OK)
45. Southlake Carroll (TX)
46. Mullen (CO)
47. Liberty (PA)
48. Pahokee (FL)
49. Skyline (TX)
50. Shiloh Christian (AR)

St. Thomas Aquinas One Win From State Title and Mythical National Championship

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

This Friday and Saturday marks the end of the 2008 high school football season, and with California, Florida and Texas staging its state championships, a lot will be decided.

When it comes to USA Today's mythical national championship, it will come down to four big games. #1 St. Thomas Aquinas controls its destiny. The Raiders will play #6 Lakeland Friday for the state's 5A title. Waiting in the wings are #2 Centennial, which will play #16 De La Salle in the California Division I title, # 3 Long Beach Poly, which plays Sacramento Grant for the California Open Division title, and #4 Allen, which plays Hightower for the Class 5A Division I in Texas.

Last weekend #13 Trinity (KY) and #17 Camden County (GA) claimed state titles. Liberty, which beat former #17 Bethel Park for the Pennsylvania AAAA title, is the only new team in the Super 25.

Here are the rankings...

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 14-0, LW: #1
2. Centennial (Corona, CA) 14-0, LW: #2
3. Long Beach Poly (CA) 14-0, LW: #3
4. Allen (TX) 14-1, LW: #4
5. Skyline (Issaquah, WA) 14-0, LW: #5
6. Lakeland (FL) 14-0, LW: #6
7. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) 15-0, LW: #7
8. Lake Travis (Austin, TX) 15-0, LW: #8
9. Byrnes (Duncan, SC) 14-1, LW: #9
10. Trinity (Euless, TX) 13-1, LW: #10
11. Plant (Tampa, FL) 13-1, LW: #11
12. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH) 14-1, LW: #12
13. Trinity (Louisville, KY) 14-1, LW: #13
14. Center Grove (Greenwood, IN) 14-1, LW: #14
15. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) 11-1, LW: #15
16. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 12-1, LW: #16
17. Camden County (Kingsland, GA) 15-0, LW: #21
18. Armwood (Seffner, FL) 12-1, LW: #18
19. River Hill (Clarksville, MD) 14-0, LW: #19
20. Oceanside (CA) 12-0-1, LW: #20
21. Liberty (Bethlehem, PA) 15-1, LW: NR
22. Maine South (Park Ridge, IL) 14-0, LW: #22
23. Timpview (Provo, UT) 13-0, LW: #23
24. Muskegon (MI) 14-0, LW: #24
25. Union (Tulsa, OK) 13-1, LW: #13

All Florida Teams Move-Up in USA Today Super 25

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

Defending Texas Class 5A champ Trinity (Euless, TX) waited patiently all year for USA Today Super 25 pre-season #1 Byrnes (Duncan, SC) to slip-up. When Byrnes lost to Dorman on Saturday, Trinity was more than happy to climb one spot and put the bullseye on its chest. Byrnes tumbles out of the Top 25, while Dorman enters the poll at #14.

Here's the new rankings...

1. Trinity (Euless, TX) 8-0, LW: #2
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 7-0, LW: #3
3. Gateway (Monroeville, PA) 9-0, LW: #4
4. Armwood (Seffner, FL) 8-0, LW: #5
5. Long Beach Poly (CA) 7-0, LW: #6
6. Lowndes (Valdosta, GA) 8-0, LW: #7
7. Skyline (Issaquah, WA) 8-0, LW: #8
8. Centennial (Corona, CA) 7-0, LW: #10
9. Madison County (Madison, FL) 6-0, LW: #11
10. South Panola (Batesville, MS) 9-0, LW: #12
11. Lakeland (FL) 7-0, LW: #13
12. River Hill (Clarksville, MD) 8-0, LW: #9
13. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) 9-0, LW: #14
14. Dorman (Roebuck, SC) 9-0, LW: NR
15. Lake Travis (Austin, TX) 8-0, LW: #15
16. Allen (TX) 7-1, LW: #16
17. Stone Bridge (Ashburn, VA) 9-0, LW: #17
18. Glenville (Cleveland, OH) 10-0, LW: #18
19. Elder (Cincinnati, OH) 9-1, LW: #19
20. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) 5-1, LW: #20
21. Tuscaloosa County (Northport, AL) 9-0, LW: #21
22. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 6-1, LW: #22
23. St. Xavier (Louisville, KY) 7-0, LW: #23
24. Northside (Warner Robins, GA) 7-1, LW: #24
25. Oceanside (CA) 7-0, LW: #25

Florida High School Football Scoreboard - Week 7

Florida High School Football Scores
Thursday, October 16, 2008

USA Today Super 25
#5 Armwood 35 Plant City 0

Around Florida
Alonso 34, Gaither 24
Armwood 35, Plant City 0
Blake 14, Brandon 0
Bloomingdale 20, Leto 13
Chamberlain 42, Jefferson 21
Coral Springs 30, McArthur 14
Coral Springs Charter 28, Pompano Beach 14
Durant 24, Tampa Freedom 21
Eastside 37, Palatka 6
Evans 20, Ocoee 14
Fleming Island 28, Bishop Kenny 24
Hallandale 47, Archbishop McCarthy 0
Hudson 14, River Ridge 0
King 14, Robinson 7
Miami Central 41, Hialeah 6
Miami Krop 37, Miami Beach 6
Miami Palmetto 24, Varela 0
Mitchell 16, Ridgewood 13
Newsome 30, Riverview 0
Plant 38, Hillsborough 28
Plantation 13, Oakland Park Northeast 12
Southwest Miami 32, South Miami 3
Spoto 34, Sickles 14
Springstead 21, Hernando 0
St. Francis 42, Florida School for the Deaf 22
Tampa Bay Tech 56, Lennard 0
Timber Creek 35, Cypress Creek 0
Trinity Prep 28, Berkeley Prep 22
Wesley Chapel 35, Sunlake 13
Western 14, Charles Flanagan 0
Wharton 42, Middleton 35

South Panola (MS) 78 And Counting

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

The nation's longest active win streak will be put to the test Friday night when South Panola (Batesville, MS) takes on the #1 6A team in Florida...the Apopka Blue Darters. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 8 PM EST.

South Panola has won 78-straight which is barely halfway to the national record of 151 straight by De La Salle (Concord, CA).

Aside from a national TV audience, there's plenty of pub for this game. Below are several links to get Huddle fans ready for the game.

Click here to read a game preview from Rivals.com.
Click here to read a game preview from Varsity Gridiron from the Orlando Sentinel.
Click here to read a game preview from USA Today.

Blanche Ely's Johnson and Booker T. Washington's Harris Honored by USA Today

USA Today has named Jeannette (PA) quarterback Terrelle Pryor as its Offensive Player of the Year.

Pryor, who is still undecided about where he'll play his college ball, was Pennsylvania's first quarterback to throw and run for 4,000 yards in his career. Pryor, who is also a basketball standout, is reportedly considering Ohio State, Florida, Michigan, Penn State and Oregon.

Pryor led Jeannette to Pennsylvania Class AA title.

The newspaper's Defensive Player of the Year is defensive back Patrick Johnson of Blanche Ely of Pompano Beach, Florida.

Coach of the Year honors went to Booker T. Washington's Tim Harris, who led his team to Florida's 4A championship and a #8 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25.

#20 Lakeland Needs Overtime To Set New Florida High School Football Win Streak

Lakeland needed two overtimes Friday night to beat Ridge Community 22-19, but the extra quarters didn't diminish the accomplishment of the Dreadnaughts, who can now claim Florida's longest win streak at 53 straight wins.

Actually for three quarters it looked like Ridge, which is playing only its third year of varsity football, controlled everything Lakeland (8-0) tried to do. Ridge owned a 10-0 third quarter lead and held the Dreadnaughts to only 51-yards of total offense.

In the fourth quarter, Lakeland stormed back with 74-yards for a field goal, an on-side kick and then a 40-yard touchdown run by T.K. Lamb to send the game into overtime.

Ridge also had chances to win it in the first overtime. Lakeland scored first to take a 16-10 lead, but a missed extra point let the door open for Ridge. Ridge scored in OT, but also missed the extra point so the game went to a second overtime.

After Ridge grabbed the lead back on a second OT field goal, Lakeland quarterback Jarred Haggins tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to James Campbell for the win.

To read more on the game, please click here.

#1 Northwestern Wins Battle of Miami

Over 22,000 fans turned out to watch Northwestern extend its win streak to 23-game with a 24-12 win over crosstown rival Central. Both teams entered the game undefeated, and both will enter the post-season, with a possible second match-up possible.

Once again Northwestern, the #1 team in the USA Today Super 25, was led by quarterback Jacory Harris, who completed 14 of 23 passes of 198 yards and two touchdowns.

To read a complete game recap, click here.

Top Ranked Northwestern Pushes Win Streak to 22 Games

Northwestern will get a second big test of the season next week when it takes-on undefeated Central. However, before that 7-0 vs. 7-0 game could be played, the Bulls had to disposed of a district foe American Friday night...and they did just that with a 36-12 win.

Northwestern used a solid ground game to push its win streak to 22-games. The Bulls gained 212-yards on the ground, while the defense came-up with five sacks and forced fumbles. Quarterback Jacory Harris was very efficient completing 11 of 17 passes for 176 yards and two scores.

Northwestern will play Central next Saturday in the Orange Bowl.