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Top 25

Preseason High School Top 25
by: Jamie DeMoney
PrepNation.com
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1. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
The coach: Bob Ladouceur (261-14-1, 23 years)
2001: CIF-NCS Class 4A champion, 12-0
For the record: Not only have the Spartans won a national record 125 games, they’ve also scored in a nation’s best 269 straight contests and were National Prep Poll titelists in 1994, ‘98, 2000 and ‘01.
2002 resume: De La Salle’s already impressive dossier was strengthened considerably by last season’s 29-14 over NFL launching pad Long Beach Poly. This year’s schedule includes a trip to traditional power St. Louis (Honolulu) and a rematch with Poly at Cal-Berkeley. RB/DB Maurice Drew (5-7, 190), OL/DL Erik Sandie (6-2, 265) and WR/CB Damon Jenkins (5-11, 175) are the Spartans’ top talents.

2. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
The coach: Cecil Flowe (103-18, 9 years)
2001: Class AAAAA state champion, 15-0
The record: Back-to-back undefeated seasons have given the Panthers a 30-game win streak and two straight Class AAAAA state titles.
The resume: A wealth of talent returns on the offensive side of the ball, led by sharp-shooter QB Dustin Wade (6-2, 190), perennial 1,000-yard rusher Sean Dawkins (5-10, 200) and standout two-way lineman Zeb McKinzey (6-4, 280). If Parkview can run its streak to 45 straight in Georgia’s largest class, a No. 2 national ranking will be well deserved.

3. Palm Bay (Melbourne, Fla.)
The coach: Dan Burke (63-14, 6 years)
2001: Class 4A state semifinalist, 12-1
The record: Burke’s Pirates are 24-3 over the past two years with a 6A state championship in 2000.
The resume: Palm Bay is probably the creme de la creme in the talent-rich Sunshine State this year with blue chip DE/RB Joe Cohen (6-3, 235) and superstar junior WR/S Xavier Carter (6-3, 185) leading the way. QB Andrew Hornung (5-11, 175) and transfer RB/OLB Ron Ellis (5-11, 180) will also be counted on heavily.

4. John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)
The coach: J.T. Curtis (379-42-6, 32 years)
2001: Class 4A state champion, 14-1
The record: The Patriots have won 17 state championships under Curtis, including in four of the past five seasons.
The resume: John Curtis is an absolutely loaded squad with a front seven filled comprised of nothing but Division I prospects including blue chip DT’s Ryan Watson (6-4, 285) and Jarrod Carter (6-3, 280). Kris Bush (6-1, 195) and Heath Roberts (5-10, 190) will share the load at RB.

5. Independence (Charlotte, N.C.)

The coach: Tommy Knotts (31-1, 2 years; 206-34 overall)
2001: Class 4A state champion, 16-0
The record: Indy rides a 31-game winning streak into the 2002 season with back-to-back 4A state crowns.
The resume: QB Chris Leak (6-1, 205) could break national records for passing this season if he continues the pace of 4,500-plus-yard seasons he began as a sophomore. He joins 13 other returning starters including the entire offensive line.

6. Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.)
The coach: Johnny Booty (14-1, 1 year)
2001: Class 5A state champion, 14-1
The record: The Eagles have produced seven state titles and one national championship since 1993, along with a slew of record-breaking passers.
The resume: Junior John David Booty (6-3, 180) passed for 4,330 yards and 50 TDs last year and is the latest in ECA’s line of great QBs. S Chad Johnson (5-11, 180) and LB Jon Michael Morgan (6-2, 220) are two of seven starters who return on defense.

7. Jenks (Okla.)
The coach: Allan Trimble (82-4, 6 years)
2001: Class 6A state champion, 13-0
The record: The Trojans have won the 6A state championship in each of Trimble’s six seasons at the helm.
The resume: Jenks’ familiar calling card, its defense, has a rebuilding job ahead of it. But, on offense, six starters are back from a unit that averaged 46 points per game including QB Keith Jones (6-1, 180) and WR Zach Edwards (5-10, 175).

8. St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
The coach: Chuck Kyle (203-35-1, 19 years)
2001: Division I state champion, 11-4
The record: Nine state championships in the last 14 seasons and National Prep Poll titles in 1993 and ‘95.
The resume: Last year’s team, which closed the season with six straight wins, was senior-dominated. This one will feature a talented group of juniors. The Wildcats will lean on speedy Ohio State recruit DB/WR Tony Gonzalez (6-1, 185) while the youngsters mature.

9. Westlake (Austin, Texas)
The coach: Ron Schroeder (177-25-3)
2001: Class 5A/II state finalist, 14-2
The record: In search of their first state title since 1996, the Chaparrals have made the state final in each of the last two seasons. They have won a record 60 straight district games.
The resume: Seven starters return from an offensive unit that averaged 44 points per game over the final 11 games of last season.

10. Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
The coach: Raul Lara (12-1, 1 year)
2001: CIF-SS Division I champion, 12-1
The record: Lara picked up where former coach Jerry Jaso left off by leading the Jackrabbits to their fourth section title in five seasons. Poly is 69-2-1 during the period.
The resume: Only seven starters return from one of the more talented high school teams in recent memory, but DE Junior Lemau’u (6-5, 245), LB Mark Washington (6-3, 240) and LB Brian Banks (6-3, 215) are back to help form another formidable defensive front.

11. Jefferson (Tampa, Fla.)
The coach: Mike Simmonds (33-15, 4 years)
2001: Class 4A state semifinalist, 11-2
The record: A team on the rise in the Sunshine State, the Dragons are 31-7 over the past three seasons under Simmonds.
The resume: Jefferson is loaded with perhaps more Division One prospects in its senior class than any school in the nation, let alone Florida. A total of 15 starters and 39 experienced lettermen are back in 2002. If an effective replacement is found for departed QB Matt Glavich (Northern Michigan) and the Dragons prove they can beat national powers like a Palm Bay, Tallahassee Lincoln or St. Thomas Aquinas come playoff time, Jefferson figures to have quite a year.

12. Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.)
The coach: Mike Mischler (45-9, 4 years)
2001: PIAA Class AAAA state quarterfinalist, 9-3
The record: The Ramblers are 45-9 since Mischler, AFM’s 2000 National Coach of the Year, took over the controls four years ago.
The resume: Eleven starters are back to help lead Prep’s drive for a second state championship in three seasons. The non-league schedule is among the toughest in the nation, with back-to-back trips to No. 8 St. Ignatius and highly regarded St. Edward of Cleveland on tap Sept. 7 and 14.

13. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
The coach: Bill McGregor (181-27-4, 20 years)
2001: WCAC champion, 11-0
The record: The Stags have won 22 consecutive games and back-to-back Washington Catholic Athletic Conference crowns. They have won 11 league titles in last two decades.
The resume: DeMatha’s tradition as a QB factory continues with Maryland recruit Ryan Mitch (6-3, 200) ready to lead the 2002 campaign. On defense, Omar Hashish (6-3, 225) and Corey Sobel (6-1, 205) form a strong linebacking corp.

14. Warren G. Harding (Warren, Ohio)
The coach: Thom McDaniels (18-5, 2 years; 152-47 overall)
2001: Division I regional finalist, 11-2
The record: It’s been since 1990 that the Raiders won their last state championship but only since 1997 for McDaniels, who led Canton McKinley to a USA Today national championship that season.
The resume: All-American RB Maurice Clarett has departed for Ohio State, but seven defensive starters are back as well as a great deal of speed. S Prescott Burgess (6-4, 218) might be the top player in the state this season.

15. Spartanburg (S.C.)
The coach: Doc Davis (139-27, 12 years; 177-47 overall)
2001: Class AAAA/I state champion, 13-2
For the record: Last season saw the end of a four-year state championship draught for the Vikings, who dominated the first half of the 90s in the Palmetto State with titles in ‘91, ‘94, ‘95 and ‘96.
2002 resume: Spartanburg will get a chance to prove its rankings-worthiness right out of the shoot with a Sept. 6 trip to fifth-ranked and two-time North Carolina Class 4A titlelist Independence (Charlotte). Multi-dimensional QB Brandon Sims is one of 10 returning starters.

16. Humble (Texas)
The coach: Neal Quillen
2001: Class 5A/II regional finalist, 9-3
For the record: The Wildcats are still in search of their first-ever trip to a state championship game, despite 29 total playoff appearances and several big-time players coming through the ranks in recent years (including Arizona Cardinals WR David Boston). Quillen, however, did coach Willowridge (Houston) to the 4A state championship with future NFL Hall-of-Famer Thurman Thomas playing a starring role.
2002 resume: Being tapped as the team to beat by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine and other Lone Star State pundits, primarily because 15 total starters return including blue chippers DE Jason Jack (6-6, 240) and FB Chris Alexander (6-1, 230).

17. Osceola (Kissimmee, Fla.)
The coach: Jim Scible (99-22, 13 years; 218-89-5 overall)
2001: Class 5A regional finalist, 12-1
For the record: The Kowboys won a state championship in 1998 and have been to the state playoffs in each of the past five seasons.
2002 resume: Despite being thumped, 41-19, by No. 3 Palm Bay in a spring practice scrimmage, Osceola has the size, talent and experience to be a team to beat in Florida’s Class 5A. FB/LB Chris Gorman (6-0, 250) is the team’s top college prospect.

18. Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.)
The coach: Tony Severino (177-45-1, 19 years: 220-66-1 overall)
2001: Class 5A state quarterfinalist, 9-2
For the record: The Hawklets will once again play a tough national schedule. Trips to No. 22 Joliet Catholic and Edina (Minn.) and home dates versus Gulf Shores Academy (Houston) and Dallas Jesuit are matched with tilts versus in-state powers Blue Springs and Jefferson City on this year’s slate. A date with nationally ranked DeMatha was cancelled last season following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
2002 resume: Will return an experienced and big offensive line, led by Dan Boyd (6-3, 280), to block for superstar junior RB Tony Temple (5-9, 185). LB Kevin Sears (6-3, 225) will anchor what should be an improved defense.

19. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
The coach: Fred Stengel (125-26, 14 years)
2001: Parochial Group 4 state champion, 10-2
For the record: The Crusaders have won eight state championships since 1991.
2002 resume: Eight starters that accounted for over 4,000 yards of total offense last season return as do seven starters from a defensive unit that allowed only nine points per game.

20. Boyle County (Danville, Ky.)
The coach: Chuck Smith (102-28, 10 years; 126-54 overall)
2001: Class AAA state champion, 15-0
For the record: The Rebels last lost a game in November 1998, and with their current winning streak at 45 games, are just five wins short of a new state record.
2002 resume: Fourteen starters return from last season, none of whom have lost a game at the varsity level. Two-way lineman Brodie Overstreet (6-6, 275) and WR/DB Jacob Tamme (6-4, 200) will lead the charge for a fourth straight state crown.

21. Los Alamitos (Calif.)
The coach: John Barnes (204-60-5, 23 years; 206-66-5 overall)
2001: CIF-SS Division I semifinalist, 9-3-1
For the record: The Griffins won three consecutive CIF-Southern Section Division I titles in the 1990s, but the last one came nine years ago (1991-92-93).
2002 resume: A big, strong and athletic offensive line that Barnes terms his “best in years” will be the foundation for a talented unit that was ousted by nationally ranked Long Beach Poly in last year’s playoffs. Jeff Kline (6-3, 185) could be the next great Los Al QB, and WR Brandon Tripp (6-2, 190) is blue-chip material.

22. Joliet Catholic (Joliet, Ill.)
The coach: Dan Sharp
2001: Class 5A state champion, 13-1
For the record: The Hilltoppers have won three consecutive state championships and 41 of their last 42 games.
2002 resume: All-Americans J.R. Zwierzynski (Notre Dame) and Mike Kolodziej (Michigan) have graduated, but JCA still returns a number of returning starters and a lot of young talent. Will host No. 18 Rockhurst in a match-up of regional powers on Sept. 27.

23. Ben Davis (Indianapolis)
The coach: Dick Dullaghan (190-36, 18 years; 289-53 overall)
2001: Class 5A state champion, 15-0
For the record: The only Indiana coach to win state titles at two different schools (Carmel), Dullaghan was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1997. The 1991 Ben Davis team is the only Indiana team to ever win a National Prep Poll title.
2002 resume: A remarkable talent, QB James Banks, has departed for the University of Tennessee, but 12 other starters with excellent size, speed and strength are back for the Giants. TE/DE Brian Faires (6-5, 221) and WR Bo Thompson (6-4, 190) are big-time talents.

24. Mullen Prep (Denver)
The coach: Jay Madden (9-4, 1 year; 51-28 overall)
2001: Class 5A state semifinalist, 9-4
For the record: The Mustangs have captured only one state championship (1998) since stringing three in a row together 1979-81.
2002 resume: With 10 starters back on offense and eight regulars returning on defense, expectations are high at Mullen. Madden considers WR Stephone Robinson (5-9, 170) and OT Brian Daniels (6-5, 275) to be blue chip recruits.

25. Robert E. Lee (Tyler, Texas)
The coach: Mike Owens
2001: Class 5A/I regional finalist, 8-4
For the record: The fact that both teams that collected 5A state crowns in Texas last season were first-time champions bodes well for the state-titleless Red Raiders
2002 resume: Four returning starters along the offensive and defensive line have graduated and will play at the Division One level, but the cupboard was not left bare. Justin Warren (6-4, 220) might be the best DE in the state and QB Matt Flynn (6-2, 205) is a talented and experienced signal caller.





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