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High School Notes© More from this issueColumbine football team brings home state title Seven months after the school lived through the worst high school massacre in U.S. history, Columbine (Colo.) High School had something to cheer about again. The Rebels capped an improbable state-title run with a 21-14 victory over traditional power Cherry Creek for the 5A state championship. Chants of "We are Columbine" echoed during the game from an estimated 8,000 Columbine students and fans filling the stands. The chant had become the school's unofficial motto since two students opened fire in the school, killing 12 classmates, a teacher and then themselves. "What we carried in our hearts, there aren't words for," said Coach Andy Lowry. "This is a game, and if we could bring those . . . kids back, I would trade everything in the world for that." New Mexico team gets new life, then falls in championship game It could be said that Albuquerque Menaul's football team won the battle but ultimately lost the war. In November, the New Mexico State Activities Association said the school would have to forfeit its place in the state Class 2A championship game for using an ineligible player. But a judge later ruled that Menaul could play in the game after all, citing what the court considered confusing association rules and an unwillingness to punish innocent people. The snafu stems from Menaul's mishandling of paperwork regarding a transfer. The association ruled that the school would not only lose its place in the state final but also its 10 wins during the season. The school took the association to court and received an injunction to play in the game two weeks later. Eunice High School eventually ended the saga, defeating Menaul, 18-0, for the state championship the following week. Michigan prep star stabbed Charles Rogers, an all-state wide receiver at Saginaw (Mich.) High School and All-American within recruiting circles, suffered a punctured lung after he was stabbed in the back with a fork during an argument in December. Rogers, 17, suffered the wound on the same day he was named Gatorade Michigan High School Player of the Year. Rogers checked himself into the hospital at about 6 p.m. Police say he was stabbed during an argument with someone he knew, who claimed it was a case of self defense. Rogers declined to press charges. Rogers, a 6-4, 185-pound wide receiver and defensive back helped lead Saginaw High to the Division II state championship last season. He is considered by most recruiting experts to be one of the top five receiver prospects in the nation and has made official visits to Florida State and Tennessee. The injury will not likely impact Rogers' athletic career, according to Marshall Thomas, Saginaw High School Athletic Director and basketball coach. Rogers has committed to play football at Michigan State. AFM's Final 1999 High School Power Rankings 1. Evangel Christian Head Coach: Dennis Dunn Captured its fourth consecutive state title, in two classifications, with a 20-14 win over defending 5A state champ West Monroe. Florida quarterback recruit Brock Berlin finished the season with 4,219 yards passing and 36 touchdowns. 2. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) Head Coach: Bob Ladouceur Extended its national-record winning streak to 100 games and notched an eighth straight 4A North Coast Section title, defeating San Leandro, 38-14. Football PLAYER magazine 1999 High School Player of the Year D.J. Williams finished with 1,974 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns on offense and 133 tackles and 37 tackles for loss on defense. 3. Robert E. Lee (Midland, Texas) The defending Texas 5A-Division II titlists came back in 1999 with a perfect season, capped off with another state title - this time in 5A-Division I. Running back Cedric Benson established himself as the undisputed preseason national player of the year for 2000, rushing for 3,526 yards and 44 touchdowns as a junior and garnering state player of the year honors. 4. Central Bucks West Head Coach: Mike Pettine Won its third straight AAAA state championship in come-from-behind fashion, 14-13 vs. state No. 2 Cathedral Prep (Erie). The win was No. 45 in-a-row for CB West. All-American fullback Dustin Picciotti finished the season with 1,748 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns, giving him 78 TDs in the last two seasons. 5. Central (Naperville, Ill.) Head Coach: Joe Bunge A traditional Illinois power, but without a state title up until this season, the Redhawks won a school-record 14 games and its first 6A state crown. Ryan Clifford led the way with 2,670 yards rushing and a state-record 51 touchdowns.
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