Prep Report

by: Jamie DeMoney
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Monthly Roundup

Valdosta (GA), the nation’s all-time winningest program, hired its 14th head coach. Rick Tomberlin, who compiled a 157-31 record with three state championships in 14 seasons at Washington County (Sandersville, GA). He was hired following a national search that reportedly drew more than 80 applicants. Tomberlin replaced Rick Darlington, who resigned after leading the Wildcats to records of 11-4, 8-5 and 7-5 with one state championship game appearance. (Darlington was then re-hired by Apopka, FL, the school he led to a 6A state championship in 2001). Valdosta has won 81 percent of its games with 23 state and six mythical national championships since 1913 but hasn’t claimed a state crown since 1998. Crosstown rival Lowndes has won back-to-back state titles. . . . Kevin Wright was named to replace Bill Blankenship at Tulsa (OK) Union. Wright led Warren Central (Indianapolis) to three consecutive 5A titles and a 71-12 record over six seasons. Blankenship resigned to pursue college coaching after the Redskins’ won their third 6A state title in four years . . . Dennis Dunn, who coached Evangel Christian (Shreveport, LA) to nine state championships and one National Prep Poll title, accepted the head coaching job at NCAA Division III Louisiana College. Dunn compiled a 200-42 high school record at Evangel and Woodlawn (Shreveport). . . . Teams from nine states will participate in the 2006 Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge in September. Seven squads that were nationally ranked last season, including No. 2 Lakeland (FL) and six-time National Prep Poll champ De La Salle, will battle top teams from Ohio in games taking place at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati and Dix Stadium in Kent.

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Reader feedback

Each issue, the Prep Report profiles the top coaches and success stories in high school football from across the nation. With your help, we will continue to make this a strong feature in every issue of AFM. Please email us your comments and story ideas related to high school football at PrepReport@AmericanFootballMonthly.com. We might use some or all of your comments in future issues of AFM’s Prep Report.

Jamie DeMoney is the editor of PrepNation.com

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AFM begins its nationwide journey spotlighting the top coaches, programs and rivalries that make up the state of prep football in the U.S. today. We begin with the home of “Friday Night Lights” – Texas, where high school football rules the roost.

The Winners: The 5 winningest programs since 2000 -

1. Celina (82-4): Coaches G.A. Moore and Butch Ford
2. Southlake Carroll (82-11): Coach Todd Dodge
3. Ennis (79-9): Coach Sam Harrell
4. Stratford (77-10): Coaches Brad Thiessen and Eddie Metcalf
5. Katy (76-12): Coaches Mike Johnston and Gary Joseph
(Source: TexasHSFootball.com)

The Champions: Most UIL state titles since 1980-
1. (tie) Converse-Judson (5A) and Celina (2A): 6
2. Southlake Carroll (3A-5A): 5
3. 7 are tied with 4

The 300 Club: Texas coaches with at least 300 career wins -

1. G.A. Moore Jr. (Bryson, Sherman, Celina & Pilot Point): 412-89-9
2. Gordon Wood (Rule, Haskell, Roscoe, Seminole, Winters, Stamford, Victoria and Brownwood): 396-91-15
3. Elbert Wright (Lower Rio Grande, Edcauch-Else, Mission, Warren Central (MS) and Hunt Academy (MS): 361-126-17
4. Charlie Johnston (Childress): 315-93-8
5. Phil Danaher* (Calallen, Dilley, Hamshire-Fannett): 312-82-4

*Active
(Source: TexasHSFootball.com and the National High School Sports Record Book)

Historymaker -
Daingerfield recorded a national record 14 shutouts in 16 games en route to the 3A state title in 1983. The Tigers defense did not allow a single point. Opponents managed only a safety and an interception return for a touchdown (9 total points).

Young Guns - Six elite Texas coaches under age 45 -

1. Steve Cerney – Shiner
2. Todd Dodge – Southlake Carroll
3. Bryan Erwin – La Marque
4. Joey Florence – Denton Ryan
5. Corby Meekins – Spring Westfield
6. Jeff Traylor – Gilmer

The Rivals - Ten of the state’s top rivalries -

1. Odessa Permian vs. Midland Lee
2. Stephenville vs. Brownwood
3. Decatur vs. Bridgeport
4. Longview vs. Marshall
5. Texas High vs. Arkansas High
6. Kilgore vs. Henderson
7. Spring Hill vs. White Oak
8. Gladewater vs. Gilmer
9. La Marque vs. Texas City
10. Plano vs. Plano East

NEW BOOK!

Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach