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AFM Magazine


High School Notes

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Top 5 Rankings

Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.) continues to march toward a fourth straight state title - and possibly a national title - behind the record-setting arm of quarterback Brock Berlin.

Berlin, an early verbal commitment to Coach Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators, had passed for nearly 14,000 yards and 150 touchdowns for his career through Evangel's 34-14 playoff win over John Ehret (New Orleans) Nov. 26. With up to two games remaining, the total left Berlin only about 500 yards short of the mark set by prep career passing yardage king J.R. House (Nitro, W. Va.) in 1998.

Meanwhile, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) is closing in fast on consecutive win No. 100. The Spartans improved their 1999 record to 10-0 following a Nov. 26 playoff victory over Castro Valley. The win was No. 99 in-a-row for Coach Bob Ladouceur's crew, which have not lost a game since 1991.

Here are the AFM High School Power Rankings through Dec. 1:

1. Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.) Record: 13-0

Head Coach: Dennis Dunn

Looking back: Evangel has savaged its 1999 opponents by an average score of 47-16. . . and ahead: If the Eagles hold on to win Louisiana's 5A state title, it will be the fourth-straight for the school in two different classifications.

2. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) Record: 11-0

Head Coach: Bob Ladouceur

Looking back: De La Salle has not lost a game since 1991. . . and ahead: The Spartans look to extend their national-record winning streak to an even 100 games and bid for an unheard of ninth-straight CIF section title.

3. Robert E. Lee (Midland, Texas) Record: 13-0

Head Coach: John Parchman

Looking back: The Generals have had few scares despite wearing the bulls-eye of being ranked No. 1 in the state all season. . . and ahead: Shooting for second-straight 5A state title.

4. Central Bucks West (Doylestown, Pa.) Record: 13-0

Head Coach: Mike Pettine

Looking back: Coach Mike Pettine Sr. handed son Mike Pettine Jr. of North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.) his only two losses of the season. . . and ahead: The Bucks look to make it three straight state AAAA titles and 44 consecutive wins.

5. Desert Vista (Tempe, Ariz.) Record: 12-0

Head Coach: Jim Rattay

Looking back: Tennessee recruit QB John Rattay passed for a school-record six touchdowns in early playoff win. . . and ahead: The Thunder looks for the five-year-old school's second 5A state title.

Supreme Court to rule on team prayer

The Supreme Court will decide if public school districts can allow students to participate in student-led group prayers at football games.

The court will review decisions that struck down a Texas school board's policy as a violation of the constitutionally required separation of church and state.

The decision is expected by late June.

The review stems from a Galveston area school district's policy of allowing students to deliver any "message" or "invocation" over the public address system at home football games and to lead prayers at graduation ceremonies. This policy was challenged in 1995 by four students and their parents.

A federal judge ruled that the two policies — for football games and commencement ceremonies — were permissible only if students were told to keep their messages and prayers "nonsectarian and non-proselytizing."

But school officials and students challenged that ruling, and a circuit court restricted the school district's policies even more stringently.

Michigan prep becomes first girl to score a touchdown

Write the name Breann Smith of Pioneer (Ann Arbor, Mich.) High School down next to Sally Ride (first woman in space) and Lynette Woodard (first female Harlem Globetrotter) in the annals of female history.

Smith became the first female known to have scored a touchdown in a varsity football game when she scored from three yards out in Pioneer's 54-22 win over Central (Traverse City).

The National High School Sports Record Book has kept no record of girls feats in football. But according to Student Sports magazine, a California female football player caught a touchdown pass in a 1995 game.

More coaches hit 300-win plateau

Last month, AFM told you that legendary Coach Mike Smith of Hampton (Va.) and Marijon Anchich of St. Paul (Sante Fe Springs, Calif.) each notched their 300th coaching victories this season. We have learned that three more high school coaches have also joined the club this year.

Herb Meyer of El Camino (Oceanside, Calif.) became the first coach to win 300 football games exclusively within the Golden State. Long-time Emmetsburg (Iowa) Coach Duane Twait became only the second Iowa head man in history to notch No. 300. Warren Wolf, 71, of Brick Township (Brick, N.J.) won his 300th game during this, his 41st season at the school. And Wynnewood's (Okla.) Bruce Hendrickson celebrated his 30th season at the helm with win No. 300 in October.

Keep us informed! Send your high school news tips, coaching updates and comments to bterranova@lcclark.com.






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