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FINAL STUDENT SPORTS
FAB 50 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL RANKINGS (2004)

Compiled by Doug Huff & Mark Tennis

Thanks to all from the StudentSports/Rivals.com National High
School Network who regularly contributed to the FAB 50 this season, including Tim O'Halloran (EdgyTim.com); Mike Warchol
(WashingtonPreps.com); Bill Gunn (MOSports.com); Arnold Solomon(NCPreps.com); Tensey Pricer(PelicanPreps.com); Brock Sawyer (OKPrepXtra.com) and Matt Diggs (TexasPrepXtra.com).
Thanks also to Student Sports East Region editor Sheldon Shealer.

(Listed with preseason ranking and win-loss record)
(Through all games of Saturday, Dec. 18)

1. Carroll (Southlake, Texas) 16-0 (1)
One All-American in QB Chase Daniel will be leaving the Dragons
after a spectacular career that makes him one of the leading
candidates to be the National Player of the Year. One who will be
back that might be an All-American himself next season will be
wideout Clint Renfro. Since the Student Sports FAB 50 debuted in the
preseason of 1999, every team that has started the season No. 1
has finished the season at No. 1. Who will that team be next
summer? Check out our Football Preseason Issue and find out.

2. Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, Calif.) 14-0 (3)
Quarterback Mark Sanchez and junior fullback Chane Moline are the
leading honors candidates off the Diablos' roster. The USC-bound
Sanchez didn't pile up the stats of some of his contemporaries, but
when he had to throw it, such as in the week five matchup against
De La Salle, he was on the money. Moline was one of the state's
scoring leaders and had his most productive outings in Mission
Viejo's biggest games. OT Kevin Bemoll, DE Ryan Williams and DE
Nick Reed are college-bound as well, but if you talk to the coaches
they might tell you the team MVP was the only two-way starter, 6-2,
245-pound lineman Chase Moline, who is the older brother of
Chane. (CalHiSports.com)

3. Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) 15-0 (4)
Lost in all the dazzling offensive stats for the Patriots is the fact that
they also finished third in the state allowing only 8.5 points per
game. Their average margin of victory was 45.5 points. The Patriots
are losing 36 seniors off this squad. Only three starters return on
each side of the ball and one of those is their kicker. However, their
JVs have not lost in the past three seasons. Perhaps it is an old,
overused cliché, but the Patriots do not rebuild – they reload.
(NCPreps.com)

4. Colerain (Cincinnati, Ohio) 15-0 (5)
Four Colerain players were first team Division I All-Ohio, including
defensive player of the year Terrill Byrd (6-0, 290), a lineman who
was runnerup for state Mr. Football behind record-setting running
back Tyrell Sutton of Akron Hoban. Colerain tailback Mister Simpson
is a Michigan recruit and the QB,
Dominick Goodman (who surprisingly was left off the all-state team),
combined for nearly 4,000 rushing yards. The Cardinals were also
one of those teams in which we won't ever really know how great
they were because they hardly ever had to show their passing game.

5. Hoover (Hoover, Ala.) 15-0 (8)
The Bucs became only the second state largest class team to win
three straight titles. Hoover extended its Class 6A domination with
its fourth crown while appearing in the last five finals. However, this
championship was even more special since it was the first
unbeaten season for the school and coach Russ Propst.

6. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 16-0 (36)
Central Catholic claimed the East region's No. 1 ranking after
opening the season with back-to-back wins over Gateway and St.
Joseph's Prep. Then, the Vikings proceeded to do something no
team in Pennsylvania has ever done … win 16 games. During
Central Catholic's record-setting season, it became the first
Pittsburgh-area Class AAAA school to win a state title since 1995,
and did so in dominating fashion, outscoring its last three
opponents 137-17. Central Catholic pinned the only losses on
East-ranked Upper St. Clair and Gateway. Running back Eugene
Jarvis was the runner-up for state player of the year honors, and four
other Central Catholic players (TE John Pelusi, OL Jon Herrman, LB
Nate Williams and DB Shane Murray) have been named first-team
All-State.

7. Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) 14-0* (nr)
The Hawks extended Florida's longest active on-field win streak to
29 games by repeating as state Class 4A champion. Armwood was
ranked No. 1 all season in the state all-class poll of prep writers,
which may be news to USA Today. The newspaper never mentioned
the Hawks in any of its national or regional rankings while listing
several other Florida schools.

8. Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.) 13-0 (38)
The key victories for the Wolverines were over De La Salle of
Concord (151-game winning streak ends), Timberline (led by
Jonathan Stewart, the No. 1 running back recruit in the nation) and
Ferndale (an epic battle for the Class 3A state championship).
Running back J.R. Hasty set a state record with 50 touchdowns and
threatened the state single season rushing mark as well. E.J.
Savannah also was one of the best linebackers in a state loaded at
that position this year. (WashingtonPreps.com)

9. Joliet Catholic (Joliet, Ill.) 14-0 (39)
Head coach Dan Sharp's squad won the 2004 Illinois Class 5A
state title, as the Hilltoppers defeated local rival Morris (13-1), 17-0,
to capture its 12th state title since the IHSA state playoff series
started in 1974. Sharp has now won five state titles in his eight years
at the helm. One of several keys for the 2004 Hilltoppers was the
"Benny and the Jets" backfield. The Hilltoppers boasted three 1,000
yard plus rushers in 2004 in junior FB Joe "Benny" Benson (1,313
yards/19 touchdowns) senior wingback Chris Clancy (1,109
yards/18 touchdowns) and junior wingback Billy McKeon (1,101
yards/17 touchdowns). The defense was led by consensus All State
candidate and 2004 EDGYTIM/Rivals.com Co-Defensive Player of
the Year ILB Chris Jeske, who had 100 solo tackles and added 48
assists with seven sacks. (EdgyTim.com)

10. Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.) 15-0 (nr)
The Vikings won their third state title, in Class AAAAA, with their first
unbeaten team. Lowndes ended the 28-game win streak of
defending champion Camden
County in the semifinals, 30-0, before winning the title with a 17-14
finals' victory over periennial contender Lilburn Parkview.

11. Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) 13-1 (17)
The Jackrabbits won their 16th CIF Southern Section title in the
school's illustris history and once again showed why it is arguably
America's finest school for producing gridiron talent. Senior
All-American Desean Jackson, the latest in a long line of standout
Jackrabbit receivers, made the big plays in the Jackrabbits' 21-6 win
over previous FAB 50 ranked Los Alamitos in the CIFSS Div. I
championship game two weeks ago. Head coach Raul Lara's
squad also beat Clovis East, a school that was at one point
nationally ranked, in a big overtime win on the road. Poly opened its
campaign with a 46-20 win over Centennial of Corona, a team that
went on to win 13 consecutive ballgames to close the season and is
also in the final FAB 50 rankings. Lara now sports a 38-7 record in
his four years as the head coach, as this year's only loss came at
the hands of No. 2 Mission Viejo. (CalHiSports.com)

12. Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) 15-0 (22)
The Warriors won their fourth state title, in Class 5A, with their third unbeaten team. Riverdale, with nine finals' berths the last 12 years, had eight season shutouts and didn't allow an offensive touchdown in a 43-quarter span.

13. Muskegon (Muskegon, Mich.) 14-0 (18)
Michigan's all-time winningest program (695-251-43) won its first
state title, in Division 2, in 15 years. The Big Reds ended a 20-game
win streak for defending
champion Rochester Adams, 35-0, in the semifinals before besting
Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 31-7, in the finals.

14. Union (Tulsa, Okla.) 13-1 (nr)
The Redskins ended on a high note, defeating Jenks (Fab 50 No.
21) in the Class 6A state finals in front of 20,000 at Skelly Stadium in
Tulsa. The player who took over the game for Union was fullback
Brad Glenn, who had 189 yards of total offense and scored three
touchdowns to help lead the Redskins past Jenks, 27-17. At the
start of the season, Glenn was nowhere to be found, except on the
baseball diamond. He was lured onto the football field and made
the most of it. Glenn has already signed a letter of intent to play
baseball at the University of Arizona. The Redskins' quarterback,
Mackenzi Adams (Vanderbilt commit), had the game of his life as
well. Adams was nearly flawless as he completed 7-of-12 passes
for 220 yards and two TDs. The Redskins won 12 in a row after a
17-13 loss to Jenks in Week Two. Union captured its second state
title in three years, but had lost all four of its playoff encounters
against Jenks since 1998. Three of those losses came in
consecutive state title games from 1998-2000. (OKPrepXtra.com)

15. LaGrange (LaGrange, Ga.) 15-0 (nr)
The Grangers extended Georgia's longest active win streak to 29
games by repeating as state Class AAA champion. Linebacker Tray
Blackmon, an Auburn recruit, was selected state Player of the Year
by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

16. John Curtis (River Ridge, La.) 13-0 (nr)
The winning beat goes on for the Patriots and head coach J.T.
Curtis. The Patriots won their 19th state title with the Class 4A crown
before being reassigned into Class 2A next season. The coach is
the second winningest mentor (417-47-6) of all-time to current
Summerville, S.C., mentor John McKissick, and has won more state
titles (19) than any other coach.

17. South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) 15-0 (nr)
The Tigers set a state Class 5A record with a 30-game win streak
and repeated as state champion while appearing in their third
straight title game. Quarterback Derek Pegues had a total offense
mark of 2,896 yards and 32 TDs including 1,659 rushing yards and
26 scores.

18. Lufkin (Lufkin, Texas) 14-1 (nr)
The Panthers pushed FAB 50 No. 1 Southlake Carroll to the limit in
the state Class 4A-Division II semifinals before bowing, 37-30. After
playing a rugged season and playoff schedule, including handing
ranked Longview its lone setback, Lufkin has earned the No. 2
ranking among Texas schools. The team was led by one of the
nation's top runningbacks, Jovorskie Lane.

19. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) 14-0 (nr)
The Knights will go into the 2005 season on a 22-game winning
streak, the longest in the 500- school CIF Southern Section. Notre
Dame enjoyed arguably its finest campign ever, going undefeated
with offensive balance and stout defense that only No. 2 Mission
Viejo was able to match in the Golden State. The one thing
keeping coach Kevin Rooney's squad behind Long Beach Poly in
the state and national rankings is its schedule, which many didn't
feel was good enough to warrant a high national ranking. The
Knights earned their final ranking by dominating all its opponents
and never playing down to the level of competetion.
(CalHiSports.com)

20. Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.) 14-0 (nr)
The Bulldogs won a state record seventh title in their third straight
finals' appearance by winning the Class 3A crown and setting a
state finals' record of 573 total yards vs. Tampa Jefferson. It was the
sixth crown for coach Corky Rogers, the state's all-time winningest
pilot. Like Class 4A champion Armwood,
Bolles was ignored all season in the USA Today rankings.

21. Jenks (Jenks, Okla.) 12-1 (6)
The Trojans were stopped short of their goal this year, losing to FAB
50 No. 14, Union, 27-17, in the state finals. Jenks, which had its
22-game winning streak snapped, was looking for its eighth state
title in nine years. Jenks coach Allen Trimble is still 32-2 in the
playoffs. The Trojans limited Union's Tony Moore, who rushed for
over 1,900 yards this year, to 92 yards on 34 carries. But Jenks QB
Andrew Brewer struggled through the game to go 7-of-22 for 188
yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. (OKPrepXtra.com)

22. Brookhaven (Columbus, Ohio) 15-0 (nr)
The Bearcats became the first Columbus City school to win a state
title by ending Ohio's longest active win streak of 29 games for
defending Division 2 champion Avon Lake.

23. Kilgore (Kilgore, Texas) 16-0 (nr)
The Bulldogs won their first state title, in Class 4A-Division II, with a
33-27 double overtime finals' victory over Dallas Lincoln (13-2). The
game was decided when Nick Sanchez blocked a field goal attempt
and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown.

24. Rock Hill (Rock Hill, S.C.) 13-1 (nr)
The Bearcats won their second state Class 4A-Big 16 title in three
years after avenging their only season loss to city rival Northwestern
(12-1) in the semifinals.

25. Lakeland (Lakeland, Fla.) 15-0 (nr)
The Dreadnaughts recorded their third 15-0 record season and
captured their fourth state title in Class 5A with a dominating 31-7
title win over St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale.

26. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) 13-1 (19)
The Huskies repeated as state Class 5A champion after avenging
their lone season setback in the semifinals with a 34-10 win over
Gilbert Highland.

27. Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) 14-1 (nr)
The Warriors repeated as state Class 5A titlist with a finals' victory
over previously-unbeaten Fort Wayne Snider. Sophomore running
back Darren Evans surpassed the 2,000-yard rushing mark.

28. Landstown (Virginia Beach, Va.) 14-0 (nr)
Landstown reached the state final last year with an undefeated
record, and was turned away by Westfield. There was no such
repeat this year. Led by Tidewater Player of the Year Percy Harvin,
Landstown, in the school's fourth year of existence, went undefeated
and captured the Group AAA Division 6 state title. In the final, Harvin,
a junior who said he will commit to Florida State, racked up 476 total
yards, scored four touchdowns, set up two others with big runs, and
intercepted three passes in the team's 47-20 win over regionally
ranked Robinson. Landstown's state title marked the first Division 6
crown for the Chesapeake District.

29. Killian (Miami, Fla.) 13-1 (nr)
The Cougars captured their first state title, in Class 6A, by handing
Orlando Edgewater its third straight state runnerup finish..

30. Lowell (Lowell, Mich.) 14-0 (nr)
The Arrows captured their second straight Division 3 crown and
pushed FAB 50 ranked Muskegon for the state No. 1 team honors.

31. Central (Little Rock, Ark.) 13-1 (14)
The Tigers repeated as state Class AAAA champion, their 18th
official crown and 32nd overall in the history of the state's winningest
program. Central handed Springdale its lone loss in the semifinals
after Springdale claimed 10 'mercy' rule, second half running clock
wins plus an impressive early-season romp of Louisiana Class 5A
champion Evangel Christian of Shreveport.

32. Bettendorf (Bettendorf, Iowa) 12-0 (nr)
The Bulldogs ended the 30-game win streak of two-time state Clss
4A titlist West Des Moines Valley with a 34-22 finals' victory.

33. Raymore-Peculiar (Peculiar, Mo.) 13-0 (nr)
The Panthers won their first state title, in Class 5, with a perfect
season and state No. 1 all-class ranking.

34. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) 10-1 (37)
The Stags started and finished the year ranked No. 1 in Maryland,
and overcame a little bump along the way. The Stags, with five
Division I-A college commitments so far, were dislodged from the
state's top ranking with a league loss to Good Counsel, but avenged
it with a 30-29 victory in the league title contest. DeMatha had 13
first- or second-team all-league selections, highlighted by Virginia
Tech-bound linebacker Kenny Jefferson and Maryland-bound
running
back/defensive back Jeff Allen. DeMatha posted victories over
regionally ranked Good Counsel and Gilman. The Stags scored 28
or more points in all but two games, and finished No. 1 in the state
rankings for the third time in four years. (MDVarsity.com)

35. Christian Brothers (Syracuse, N.Y.) 13-0 (nr)
Hard to imagine that one of the East's all-time great high school
quarterbacks might never play a collegiate down. That's because
Greg Paulus remains committed to Duke on a basketball
scholarship. But another record-setting year
capped with a dramatic Class AA state title victory over New
Rochelle might make him reconsider. Paulus completed 206 of 320
passes for a record 3,301 yards, pushing his career prep total to
11,384 yards and 149 touchdowns. CBA was a regionally ranked
team for most of the year, but vaulted into the FAB 50 following its
title win over favored New Rochelle, a game CBA trailed until New
Rochelle's star player left the contest due to injury. Paulus threw a
pair of fourth-quarter TDs to rally the team to a 41-35 victory.

36. Hickman (Columbia, Mo.) 11-1 (nr)
The Kewpies captured their second state crown, in Class 6, after
avenging their lone season loss to Rockjurst of Kansas City earlier
in the playoffs.

37. Mukwonago (Mukwonago, Wis.) 14-0 (nr)
The Indians won their first state Division 1 championship.

38. Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb.) 12-1 (24)
The Junior Jays won their ninth state Class A title for the state's
all-time winningest coach, Tom Jaworski.

39. Minnetonka (Minnetonka, Minn.) 13-1 (nr)
The Skippers captured their first state championship with a Class
5A crown.

40. Mullen Prep (Denver, Colo.) 13-1 (23)
Maurice Greer capped a tremendous prep career with 28 carries for
230 yards and two touchdowns as Mullen won the top class title in
Colorado by downing Cherry Creek, 30-9. It was the second loss of
the year by Cherry Creek to Mullen. The Bruins didn't lose to another
team. Mullen's success also was fueled by a rugged defense led by
linebacker Jake Duren and defensive back Grant Crunkleton.
Crunkleton picked off two passes in the title game. Mullen won its
fifth state title, but first under current head coach Dave Logan. The
former NFL tight end and Denver Broncos' announcer previously
won state titles as a head coach at Arvada West and Chatfield.

41. Evergreen (Vancouver, Wash.) 14-0 (nr)
After edging Gonzaga Prep by one point on the road in the
semifinals, the Plainsmen capped a memorable season with their
win over Skyline of Sammamish in the Class 4A state title game.
Skyline entered that game after upsetting FAB 50-ranked Pasco in
the other semifinal. The key players this year for Evergreen included
RB Taylor Rank, whose last carry of the season was his third
touchdown in the title game pushing him over 2,000 yards on the
season. He also had 33 rushing touchdowns. The defensive line of
seniors Greg Peach, Chad Nutter, and Kyle Rable was the best in
the state. Lonnie Hosley also was an all-state kick returner after
running back six kicks for touchdowns. (WashingtonPreps.com)

42. LaCueva (Albuquerque, N.M.) 13-0 (nr)
The Bears outscored 13 foes, 611-21, and recorded 10 shutouts in
one of the most dominating seasons in state history. LaCueva
extended its win streak to 26 games with its second straight state
Class 5A title.

43. Smithson Valley (Spring Branch, Texas) 13-3 (nr)
The Rangers pushed FAB 50 No. 1 Southlake Carroll to the limit in
the state Class 5A-Division II final before bowing, 27-24, on a
41-yard field goal as time
expired. The Rangers also lost the 2002 final to Carroll.

44. North (Downer's Grove, Ill.) 12-2 (nr)
The Trojans started the season with a 2-2 record in 2004, and any
thoughts of winning their first ever football state title was a long way
off. So what did head coach John Wander do? Wander held a
meeting before his Week 5 game and literally burned his game plan
in front of his entire team and declared that the Trojans' season was
starting all over again. The results? Downers Grove North went on a
10-game winning streak that concluded with its first ever Class 8A
state title with a win over Maine South 33-13 in the Class 8A title
game. The offense in 2004 was led by All State junior QB Garrett
Edwards, who rushed for over 1,700 yards and scored 24 rushing
touchdowns. Edwards also passed for nearly 900 yards and 12
touchdowns in the Trojans veer option attack. (EdgyTim.com)

45. Morgantown (Morgantown, W.Va.) 14-0 (nr)
The Mohigans capped a dominating season by winning their third
state Class 3A title in the last five years. The closest playoff win was
38-14 and the closest regular season victory was 63-33. Running
back Spencer Falrye scored a state record 54 touchdowns.

46. Warner Robins (Warner Robins, Ga.) 14-0-1 (nr)
The Demons moved down to Class AAAA this season and won a
state title for first-year coach Bryan Way. Running back Alton Spencer
was the state 4A Offensive Player of the Year.

47. Timpview (Provo, Utah) 12-1 (nr)
Coach Chad Van Orden's club gave up just 17 points in four playoff
games in a dominant run to the Class 4A state title. Timpview rolled
over Lone Peak, 42-0, in the final and stamped itself as Utah's top
overall team. QB Stephen Covey's running and passing created the
most headlines during the season, but in the last game running
back Harvey Unga was the star with 150 yards rushing and three
touchdowns.

48. Acton-Boxboro (Acton, Mass.) 12-0 (nr)
The senior class at Acton-Boxboro will leave the program never
knowing the feeling of a varsity defeat. This perennial Eastern
Massachusetts power rose into the national rankings this year as it
posted a fourth straight perfect season, running its win streak to an
East Region-best and state record 50 games. Acton-Boxboro has
won 12 straight league titles. Brothers Bobby and Larry Abare were
named Division 1A co-players of the year. Bobby had more than
4,000 career rushing yards and Larry topped 1,000 career yards in
rushing and receiving. Acton-Boxboro recorded wins over
Chelmsford (twice) and Bridgewater-Raynham, two of the
top-ranked teams in the Boston area.

49. Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 13-1 (nr)
The Huskies won their third CIF Southern Section championship in
five years with a 49-35 win over league rival Norco in the Div. V
championship game. In its opening loss to FAB 50 ranked Long
Beach Poly, head coach Matt Logan's team was without star WR
Dashan Miller and he still hadn't settled his quarterback
situation. What helped Centennial tremendously in the national and
state rankings was its intersectional win over Clovis West of Fresno,
a team that went on to win its own section title. This week, Logan, in
his eighth season, was named 2004 State Coach of the Year.
(CalHiSports.com)

50. Middletown South (Middletown, N.J.) 12-0 (nr)
While the state's private school powers took turns defeating each
other, Middletown South methodically went about its business,
collecting a second straight Central Jersey, Group 3 title and running
its state-best win streak to 24 games. The combination allowed
Middletown South to claim the state's No. 1 ranking by all major
state polls. The team was led by junior RB Knowshon Moreno, who
rushed for 2,030 yards and 37 touchdowns. He was named the
state's Offensive Player of the Year, and is close to shattering
records for career
touchdowns and points. He has 96 TDs and 584 points. The
records are 101 and 656, respectively. Middletown South outscored
its three playoff opponents, 70-0, which included a second victory
over Wall in the group final.

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