The Top 25 Public and Private High Schools of 2005

by: Jamie DeMoney
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PRIVATE SCHOOLS TOP 25

1. St. Xavier (Cincinnati) Record: 15-0 Coach: Steve Specht The Bombers became the fourth consecutive Cincinnati school to win Ohio’s big-school title. St. X’s defense allowed only one opponent to score more than 17 points, and the offense was sparked by super talented sophomore RB Darius Ashley (5-9, 170).

2. St. Bonaventure (Ventura, CA) Record: 14-0 Coach: Jon Mack The Seraphs finished as the highest ranked team in California this season, a rare occurrence for a smaller school, and won their sixth CIF title in seven seasons. Mack’s club has won 95 of its last 98 games.

3. St. Peter’s (Jersey City, NJ) Record: 12-0 Coach: Rich Hansen The Marauders surprised then-No. 12 nationally ranked Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) for the Non-Public Group IV state championship to cap a season filled with defensive dominance. Opponents averaged only 6 points per game on St. Peter’s, which recorded seven straight shutouts during the regular season.

4. Gilman (Baltimore) Record: 9-0 Coach: Biff Poggi The Greyhounds allowed a total of 7 points in their final six games. With only nine spots allotted on its schedule, Gilman sought out and defeated two teams that spent multiple weeks in the national rankings (Hyattsville DeMatha and Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep) as well as five others ranked in Maryland’s Top 25.

5. DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD) Record: 11-1 Coach: Bill McGregor The Stags finished as the elite private school power in the Washington D.C. area for the 14th time in 25 seasons under McGregor. At least five DeMatha seniors figure to sign Division IA scholarships after 17 players signed with scholarship programs a year ago.

6. Brophy Prep (Phoenix) Record: 13-1 Coach: Scooter Molander The Broncos upset nationally ranked and two-time defending champs Hamilton (Chandler), 15-14, for the 5A/I state title in one of the biggest upsets in Arizona prep football history.

7. Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, PA) Record: 13-1 Coach: Jeff Weachter The Crusaders battled to their best finish as a 4A school despite losing standout RB LeSean McCoy early in the season. As many as nine seniors could sign with Division I-A colleges.

8. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) Record: 11-1 Coach: Greg Toal The Ironmen rose as high as No. 12 in the nation before losing to St. Peter’s Prep in the Group IV Non-Public championship. Don Bosco has 33 consecutive wins over public school teams.

9. De La Salle (Concord, CA) Record: 11-2 Coach: Bob Ladouceur The Spartans recovered from a pair of losses in the preseason to nationally ranked teams to capture their 14th consecutive CIF North Coast title. De La Salle was junior and sophomore-dominated and will be expected to re-enter the national polls they once dominated next season.

10. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA) Record: 13-0 Coach: Bill Redell Led by two of the nation’s top juniors in QB Jimmy Clausen and RB/LB Marc Tyler, the Lions flat out dominated everyone in their path with a 54-7 average margin of victory. Oaks is petitioning to move up from Division XI to compete against Southern Cal’s best next year.

11. Loyola (Los Angeles) Record: 10-4 Coach: Jeff Kearin The Cubs recovered from a 6-4 and third-place league finish in the regular season to run to their sixth CIF Division I title under first-year coach Kearin.

12. Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, MI) Record: 12-2 Coach: Al Fracassa The Warriors gave veteran coach Fracassa his seventh state championship and 354th career win.

13. DeSmet (Creve Coeur, MO) Record: 11-2 Coach: Pat Mahoney The Spartans won their first championship and set nine state finals offensive records in the process. Standouts (RB/DB) Munir Prince and (OL/DL) Paddy Mullen will play at Notre Dame.

14. St. Joseph’s Regional (Montvale, NJ) Record: 11-1 Coach: Tony Karcich The Green Knights captured their seventh consecutive Non-Public Group III title and their 15th overall in 30 years under Karcich.

15. John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, LA) Record: 10-1 Coach: J.T. Curtis After Hurricane Katrina threw the early part of their season into chaos, the Patriots rallied to grab their 20th state championship in 36 years.

16. Trinity (Louisville, KY) Record: 13-2 Coach: Bob Beatty The Shamrock’s upset nationally ranked archrival St. Xavier, 14-6, for the 4A championship and 16th title in school history. Trinity was led by junior signal caller Nick Petrino, son of Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino.

17. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Record: 13-1 Coach: George Smith The Raiders’ only loss came to national No. 2 Lakeland in the Class 5A final. Three starting OL were expected to sign with major Division I-A programs.

18. St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) Record: 12-1 Coach: John Gibbons The Eagles knocked off nationally ranked Glenville (Cleveland) and served notice for next year with the outstanding play of a talented group of juniors.

19. Catholic (Charlotte, NC) Record: 16-0 Coach: Jim Oddo The Cougars extended their winning streak to 32 as they repeated as Class 3AA state champion.

20. Jesuit (Portland, OR) Record: 13-1 Coach: Ken Potter The Crusaders earned their fourth state championship and second in the past five years.

21. Valley Christian (San Jose, CA) Record: 12-1 Coach: Mike Machado The Warriors ended the year with their fourth straight CIF Central Coast section title.

22. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA) Record: 13-1 Coach: Kevin Rooney The Knights’ hopes for winning a fourth consecutive CIF-SS Division III title were dashed by Dominguez (Compton) in the finals. It was Notre Dame’s first loss since early in 2003.

23. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) Record: 11-2 Coach: Gil Brooks The Hawks’ schedule, which included three teams that spent time in the national rankings, was capped by winning their fourth Philadelphia Catholic Red title this decade.

24. Bishop Kelly (Boise, ID) Record: 12-0 Coach: Tim Brennan The Knights completed back-to-back 12-0 seasons and 4A state titles under the guidance of senior QB Cody Hawkins, son of newly hired Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins.

25. O’Gorman (Sioux Falls, SD) Record: 13-0 Coach: Steve Kueter The Knights closed back-to-back 13-0 records and Class 11AA titles with a dominating 42-7 rout of Yankton in the state final.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOP 25

1. Carroll (Southlake, TX) Record: 16-0 Coach: Todd Dodge (Pictured above) The Dragons steamrolled six playoff teams with a cumulative record of 71-8 en route to their third 5A/II state title in four years and second straight National Prep Poll title. Senior Greg McElroy became the third straight Carroll QB to earn state player of the year accolades.

2. Lakeland (FL) Record: 15-0 Coach: Bill Castle The Dreadnaughts allowed opponents to score an average of just 6 points per game as they romped to their second consecutive 5A state title and 15-0 record. All-state RB Chris Rainey is part of a talented junior class that will attempt to make it three in a row next season.

3. Springdale (AR) Record: 14-0 Coach: Gus Malzahn The Bulldogs had arguably the greatest season in the history of Arkansas prep football behind the play of blue chip QB Mitch Mustain and four more major college-bound seniors. It was Springdale’s second title in four years under Malzahn, who was hired as offensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas shortly after the season ended.

4. Byrnes (Duncan, SC) Record: 15-0 Coach: Bobby Bentley The Rebels became just the third Palmetto State team to four-peat as state champions. Byrnes averaged 52 points per game, and junior QB Willy Korn set state records for touchdowns (53), completions (281) and passing yards (4,164).

5. Independence (Charlotte, NC) Record: 15-0 Coach: Tom Knotts After a one-year stint as an assistant at his alma mater Duke, Knotts returned to lead the Patriots to their sixth consecutive state title and 92nd straight win.

6. South Panola (Batesville, MS) Record: 15-0 Coach: Ricky Woods The Tigers seemed to barely break a sweat in winning their third consecutive 5A state title and 45th straight game. South Panola’s closest win in the regular season was by 13 and it outscored five playoff foes by a combined 181-35.

7. Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, IL) Record: 14-0 Coach: Rob Zvonar The Griffins went undefeated and won the Class 8A state title in just the fifth year since the school opened. They are the first team to go unbeaten and win a title in Illinois’ largest classification since 1999.

8. Lowndes (Valdosta, GA) Record: 14-1 Coach: Randy McPherson The Vikings won their second consecutive state title and fourth overall, an accomplishment accented by their impressive 49-7 rout of nationally ranked Brookwood (Snellville) in the 5A final.

9. Hoover (AL) Record: 14-1 Coach: Rush Propst It’s four consecutive 6A state titles and five in six seasons for the Bucs, who avenged their only loss of the year to Tuscaloosa County (Northport) in the playoffs. Propst is 91-8 in seven seasons at Hoover.

10. Canyon (Canyon Country, CA) Record: 13-1 Coach: Harry Welch The Cowboys won their first CIF title since 1985, when Welch led the program to three straight section crowns and a 46-game winning streak. This is the second stint for Welch at Canyon, who took a five-year coaching hiatus following the ’96 season.

11. Union (Tulsa, OK) Record: 13-1 Coach: Bill Blankenship It was the third 6A state championship in four years for the Redskins and Blankenship, who has since announced he’s leaving Union to make himself available for opportunities in college coaching. Senior QB Casey Whorton had a state-record 42 TD passes.

12. Ferndale (WA) Record: 14-0 Coach: Jamie Plenkovich The Golden Eagles rode the golden arm and legs of blue chip QB Jake Locker to their first state championship. Locker passed for 1,603 yards and rushed for 1,338 yards with 51 total touchdowns.

13. Morris (IL) Record: 14-0 Coach: George Dergo The Redskins tasted state championship glory for the first time since 1984 with a 14-9 nail-biting win over Normal. Dergo’s son John, a RB/LB/K, set state records for points (374) and touchdowns (52) in a season.

14. Warren Central (Indianapolis) Record: 14-1 Coach: Kevin Wright The Warriors captured a third consecutive 5A state title and avenged their only loss of the season in the playoffs. Senior QB Dexter Taylor rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 29 touchdowns.

15. Dominguez (Compton, CA) Record: 13-1 Coach: Willie Donnerson The Dons whipped nationally ranked Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) – and ended the Knights’ 35-game winning streak – for the CIF-SS Division III crown.

16. McKeesport (PA) Record: 14-2 Coach: George Smith The Tigers mauled Liberty (Bethlehem), 49-10, to win their first Class 4A PIAA championship since 1994.

17. Highland Park (Dallas) Record: 15-0 Coach: Randy Allen The Scots capped their perfect season and first state title since 1957 by drilling Marshall by a UIL finals record 59 points. Senior QB Matthew Stafford (a Georgia recruit) was 4A state offensive player of the year.

18. West Monroe (LA) Record: 13-1 Coach: Don Shows The Rebels hoisted the 5A state championship trophy for the sixth time in 13 seasons.

19. Colerain (Cincinnati) Record: 10-2 Coach: Kerry Coombs The Cardinals were favored to repeat as Division I state champs, but lost two games by a combined 10 points to national No. 4-ranked St. Xavier.

20. Millard North (Omaha, NE) Record: 12-1 Coach: Fred Petito The Mustangs averaged 460 rushing yards per game (third most in prep history), avenged their only loss of the season, and captured a second Class A state title in three seasons.

21. Trinity (Euless, TX) Record: 14-1 Coach: Steve Lineweaver The Trojans beat Converse Judson, 28-14, for the 5A/I state title. It was part of a Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex sweep of the four Texas 5A and 4A division state titles.

22. Skyline (Sammamish, WA) Record: 14-0 Coach: Steve Gervais The Spartans defeated Woodinville, 35-21, for the school’s second state championship since opening in 1997.

23. Wayzata (Plymouth, MN) Record: 13-1 Coach: Brad Anderson The Trojans won their first 5A state championship, defeating perennial power Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul), 28-24, in the final.

24. Raymore-Peculiar (Peculiar, MO) Record: 13-0 Coach: Tom Kruse The Panthers completed back-to-back Class 5 state titles and 13-0 seasons. Junior RB Derrick Washington scored 32 total touchdowns.

25. Brockton (MA) Record: 13-0 Coach: Peter Colombo The Boxers notched their first 13-win record in a season when the program won its 700th game.

Jamie DeMoney is the editor and publisher for PrepNation.com and a contributing writer for American Football Monthly

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