State Champions 2015 – The Best of the Best

Gary Rankin – Alcoa High School, TN
Spread Offense • 4-3 Defense

•      Tennessee’s all-time winningest high school coach.
•      Won 7 state championships in his 10 years at the school.
•      Averaged 32 points in playoff games last fall, surrendering only 4.5 ppg.
•      Defeated Christ Presbyterian Academy in 3A state title game, 20-0.

Chris Wolfe – Male High School, Louisville, KY
Shotgun, No Huddle • 4-2-5 Defense

•      Won first state title since 2000 with 15-0 record.
•      Beat 13 of 15 opponents by four touchdowns or more with 7 shutouts.
•      Totaled 678 points and gave up only 93.
•      Defeated Lexington Lafayette in 6A championship, 41-14.

Gary Joseph – Katy High School, Katy, TX
Pro I Offense • 3-4 Defense

•      12 year record at Katy High School: 168-14.
•      Under Joseph, Katy has four state titles and has had three undefeated         seasons.
•      Team scored 778 points and gave up only 62, a 716 point differential.
•      Selected as the MaxPreps National Coach of the Year.

Carl Abseck – Cedar Park High School, TX
Multiple Spread • 3-4 Defense

•      Named head coach in June, 2015 – won a state title in first season.
•      Finished 15-0 – beat Frisco Lone Star in state championship, 22-6.
•      Second state title for Cedar Park.
•      Served as OC for a decade at Cedar Park under Chris Ross and Joe Willis.

Steve Matthews – Knoxville Catholic High School, TN
Spread Offense • 3-4 Defense

•      Began the season 2-4 – then won 9 straight for a state championship.
•      Averaged 43 points per game for the five playoff games.
•      Defeated Pearl-Cohn in the championship game, 48-8.
•      A QB, Matthews was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and played in the         NFL for three seasons.

Greg Toal – Don Bosco Prep High School, Ramsey, NJ
Pro Set • Virginia Tech 4-4 Defense

•      Played a national prep schedule last fall with games against Bishop
    Gorman (Las Vegas), Archbishop Rummel (New Orleans), Archbishop         Moeller (Cincinnati) and St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia).
•      Lost opening game to St. Joseph’s (Montvale, NJ), 17-7 but then defeated         them, 21-10, for the Non-Public, Group IV New Jersey Championship.
•      Don Bosco was consensus high school National Champions in 2009
    and 2011.

Jonathan Oyler – Blue Springs South High School, MO
Spread Offense • 3-3 Slide Defense With Two High Safeties

•    Last fall’s head coach was Greg Oder, now retired, and the new coach is         former assistant, Jonathan Oyler – Blue Springs South finished 14-0.
•      Scored 56, 48, 46, 41, and 37 points in the five-game playoff run.
•      Defeated Christian Brothers (St. Louis) in State Championship, 37-28.

John Shillito – Zeeland West High School, MI
Power T Offense with 2 TEs and 3 Backs • 4-2-5 Defense.

•      Only coach in the history of the school (since 2005).
•      Finished 14-0, beating Powers Catholic for the state title, 40-14.
•      Scored 679 points in 14 games (48ppg) and gave up only 207.
•      Fourth state title for Zeeland West.

Cody White – Brentwood Academy, TN
Run-Oriented Spread Offense • 3-4 Defense

•      Division II AA State Champion with a 12-1 record.
•      Beat Montgomery Bell Academy, 56-55, in state championship game by
    converting a two-point conversion in the second overtime.
•      Only loss was to Louisville Trinity High School.
•      White coached for 17 years in Texas (Highland Park, Odessa Permian,         and Denison High School) before coming to Brentwood Academy in 2012.

Cooper Henderson – Artesia High School, NM
One-Back Spread Offense • 3-4 Defense

•      Coach Henderson recently retired after 27 years as head coach at Artesia.
•      Won 14 state titles since becoming head coach in 1989.
•      Beat Centennial High School in State Championship, 42-34.
•     Artesia’s new coach is Rex Henderson, Cooper’s nephew, who was an         assistant coach at Artesia for 15 years.

Mike Brodowicz – Charlotte Catholic High School
Wing-T with Multiple Formations • 4-3, Cover 2

•      Won first game 5-0 against Charlotte Christian last fall.
•      Finished undefeated in Coach Brodowicz’s second season as head coach         at 15-0 after a 14-2 season in 2014.
•      Beat Rose High School in State Championship, 27-20.
•      Coach Brodowicz joined the CCHS staff as an assistant in 2002.

Was there a moment in the season where you thought this team can win a state championship?

Rankin: We have, traditionally, a successful program and talk about getting to the state championship all the time. We were doing well early on last fall until we lost to our rival, Maryville, in the fourth game of the season. But we bounced back, were resilient and I felt we were a state championship caliber team.

Wolfe: There were two moments. One was during the summer when the National 7-on-7 Championships were held in Hoover, Alabama. It was the first 7-on-7 tournament that we won and I knew this team was special, especially mentally. The second one was when we played Louisville St. Xavier and had a 20-0 lead. We committed five turnovers then and really lost momentum as they scored on a 99 yard pick six as the gun sounded at halftime. But we won, 27-24, with a lot of moxie, stopping them in the fourth quarter.

Joseph: When the clock said 0:00 vs. Lake Travis in the State Championship game. We felt we could be there all along. We had eight players as seniors last fall start as sophomores and they played in three state championship games.

Abseck: We felt all along if we had the opportunity, our experience would be a big factor in making a run at a state title. When we won our first game against the number one ranked team in the state – Aledo – it reassured me with a number of new players as well as nine new coaches on our staff. We won the game, 31-13.
Matthews: We had started 9-0 last year but ran out of gas for the playoffs. This year, even after a 2-4 start, we felt we could make a strong playoff run.

Toal: Yes – later in the season we continued to get better and I knew we had a shot at a championship. After our opening loss to St. Joe’s we continued to get better and actually beat them in the championship game.

Oyler: We played really well in all phases of the game against a very good Jefferson City team as the playoffs began. It felt like our confidence level went up. We still knew the tough road we had ahead but thought we could have something special.

Shillito: We felt we would contend right from the beginning of fall camp. Most of the same players lost in the state semi-finals the year before so they were ready to compete.

White: We knew we would at least be contenders for a state championship even before the season began. They really believed in themselves and that made a big difference.

Henderson: I thought our players were always there to make a big play when it counted. When we beat our rival – Carlsbad High School – early in the year, I thought we could have a very special team.

Brodowicz: I thought we had an outstanding defense this fall and felt they could help take us there. It was similar to our teams of 2005 and 2006 which went 32-0. If the cliché is true – ‘Defense Wins Championships’ – I know we could be there. But, we didn’t overpower anyone offensively and played a lot of field position football last fall.

How did the team respond to adversity as the season went on?

Rankin: I feel teams go through adversity about three times a year. In the playoffs, we lost our starting QB the week before the first game and then, during the playoffs, we lost our second string QB to injury. We then brought up a freshman for the quarterfinal game and he came through. Our regular QB then came back for the semifinal game and helped lead us to a state championship.

Wolfe: We had some adversity late in the year when our QB and tailback went down. But their back-ups really stepped in and performed at a high level.

Joseph: They relied on their experience and each other. The leadership displayed by both the coaches and players was outstanding. We lost some kids to injuries but the other kids stepped up and gained confidence. It certainly helped us as a team.
Abseck: When we played against our rival Vandegrift High School, we were down 20 in the second quarter. Our team didn’t blink nor panic and we went ahead by two points at halftime. They certainly had the opportunity to crack and didn’t. We also struggled in our semi-final game against Ridge Point but the kids responded and showed great leadership.

Matthews: After the 2-4 start, I made a listing of teams that had mediocre regular season records but still won a championship, playing their best football at the end of the season. A good example is the 9-7 Giants of 2008 who went on to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The team bought in to this concept, helping their confidence.

Oyler: The biggest adversity we dealt with was getting down early versus Lee’s Summit and then in the state title game. Both times our players didn’t panic, stayed the course, and we won both games.

Shillito: We had some early injuries but it enabled us to develop a deeper team. When we got the injured athletes back in mid-season, it made us more of a complete team. We had some challenging moments in our first game against Oak Park but met the challenge and won, 42-34. We had beaten Unity Christian during the regular season but they played a much better game in the playoffs and we won, 28-21. The kids responded well and didn’t panic in both situations.

White: We had a discipline issue early in the year and it meant a few players stayed at home for a road game. But the team understood, responded, and handled it well. They rallied when down 8 points in the state championship game with 1:55 left to force the game into overtime. That was a true test of character.

Henderson: We had three major injuries during the course of the season including a running back and our quarterback but the players didn’t miss a beat. The back-up quarterback did not have any experience but the players responded and, although we lost a game in the middle of the year, the team continued to improve.

Brodowicz: We had five kids transfer out before the start of the season and lost two additional starters. One of them decided to practice and play baseball full time and he was a starter for us. But the players rallied around each other and really played as a team.

In your view, what are the characteristics that made this team different than others that you have coached?

Rankin: Every team and season is different. We are a small school of 600 kids but each year we have 5 to 6 outstanding seniors that really make a difference. They were resilient, having lived through good times and bad, and showed strong leadership skills.

Wolfe: Our team showed leadership by example with their desire to be successful. As freshman, this group of now seniors went 9-0 and got a football that every player signed. They then buried it with their goal to win a state championship as seniors. It was quite a celebration digging it up after our state championship.

Joseph: Five things: trust, perseverance, discipline, confidence, and unselfishness.

Abseck: I think the quality of leadership was the single biggest thing that differentiated this team. It was also an unselfish group that showed great focus and preparation each week. Our goal was to go 1-0 each week and this team didn’t care if we were playing an 8-2 team or a 2-8 team.

Matthews: I think watching the team grow week to week was one of their characteristics. They had great fortitude and perseverance. One thing that helped us was that there wasn’t any finger-pointing after the 2-4 start, either by the coaches or the players. You could see them believing more and more in themselves when we began that 9-game winning streak through the playoffs.

Toal: I think it was two things – senior leadership and staying focused throughout the entire season.

Oyler: Their intelligence, relentless commitment, family values, and just overall athleticism.

Shillito: We had a three year starter at quarterback last year and he and a number of other seniors really gave us the leadership we needed.

White: Our senior leadership made a big difference – they weren’t that vocal but kept it steady and helped us not get too high or get too low.

Henderson: We had good senior leadership. The players thoroughly enjoyed their relationships with each other and they believed in each other.

Brodowicz: We had great senior leadership that was inclusive. By that I mean the 26 seniors made the junior class better, including them in all of the various activities from  practices to weight room workouts. It really made a difference.

Did you use specific motivational techniques to get the team ready for the state championship game?

Rankin: In our situation, we didn’t have to. We lost in the state championship game in 2014 and that was motivation enough to have them ready for the championship. This was a dedicated group.

Wolfe: We focused this year on not using a scout team during daily practices. It was just good on good. By practicing at a high level, it increased our game to game focus.

Joseph: We had the opportunity to play a state championship game in Houston and represent the Houston area after three straight trips to Dallas. The travel for us can be draining so because we’re in the Houston area, this was very special for us.

Abseck: No – I’m a big believer in keeping the same routine week in and week out. We prepared the same way each week including the playoff run.

Matthews: For our playoff run we asked the local police if they could come by with their canine unit. They demonstrated an attack dog going after a police officer with the idea being that we had to be a fierce, attacking team to win a state championship. They had to have an attack dog mentality.

Toal: I think the team actually motivated themselves – in practice you either get better or worse and we improved as the season went on.

Oyler: We actually talked to them about not trying to do too much and just play the game we all love.

Shillito: We knew what to expect having been in the playoffs often. We tried not to change our routine for the playoff games and just take them as they come. A 14 game high school season is a marathon and you want your kids to keep their edge each and every week.

Henderson: Because for many seniors the state championship was their last game, we decided to change ‘last’ to ‘best’ and keep the sentiment out of the equation. Rather than thinking about their final game, why not make it their best game.

Brodowicz: We trended the opposite of most schools by limiting our practice time. We were done with practice in an hour and a half. I also gave them the month of July off, wanting them fresh and excited and ready to go on August lst. They were mentally and physically ready. We wanted them to be fresh for the playoffs – it’s a grueling five week stretch if you make it to the championship game.

Many schools came close to a state championship but lost during the playoffs. What advice would you give to those schools so they can get to the next level?

Rankin: As a coach, you have to find reasons why you can’t get over the hump. Each program is different and it might be related to beating yourselves. When you get to the playoffs, turnovers are especially critical and you have to do everything you can to limit them. You also have to be a disciplined team in the playoffs if you want to be successful.
    One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you have to develop two quarterbacks during the season, not just one. So many teams lose their quarterback to injury and don’t have a capable back-up. The position is so critical to the game – it’s like losing your point guard or the ace of your pitching staff and there’s no one to replace them.

Joseph: Patience is critical. A team is obviously doing things right or they wouldn’t be in the playoffs. Because there are a lot of outstanding teams and coaches in the playoffs, you must be focused on every game. I think you also have to believe in what you’re doing and don’t drop everything because you didn’t win a state championship. There is no magic system to be successful.

Abseck: I think you need to talk about it; that is, a state championship. Rather than not talk about it, I think you should talk about it each and every day. It shows that you have a detailed plan to get there and that you’re giving the players an opportunity to be there.

Matthews: Self-scouting – both your team and coaches – we feel is critical to improvement and may help answer the question why your season ended when it did. We learned from it and decided to practice less, especially during August camp where we didn’t have any two-a-days. It worked – our players were fresh later in November and ready for a playoff run.

Toal: I think you really have to know your team – when do you work them real hard and when to you back off? It’s critical to know your players very well and how they respond to criticism as well as a pat on the back.

Oyler: We were fortunate to have some really talented players. We didn’t coach these kids any differently than we did the year before when we went 5-6. So, I would tell coaches to keep doing what you’re doing and keep working hard.

Shillito: You have to have trust – among the players and coaches – in everything you do. Our overall playoff record is 29-5 so our kids have been through it and know what to expect. In the pre-season, we believe less is more – we want our athletes to be excited at the start of the season as well as during the playoff run. Our philosophy includes building the program for later in the year as the season evolves game by game and being as productive as possible.

White: I think it’s important to keep the kids fresh. We cut down on both practice time and hitting while getting ready for the playoffs and it made a difference. But we emphasized conditioning and it helped our playoff run.

Henderson: I think coaches have to keep the big picture in mind; that is, how did you finish? Are you consistent, practice-in and practice-out, and are you improving as the season moves along.

Brodowicz: We’ve played in 7 of the last 12 state championship games with a 3-4 record. I think the kids need breaks during the course of the year but I’d say the most important characteristic you must have to be successful is having a physically strong team. The weight room is critically important and we have our players in there four days a week. The other important element is doing everything you can to keep your athletes mentally fresh.