Washington (Miami) catapulted to the top spot in the national and medium schools rankings after a big win over Norcross to open the season.
Photo by Kyle Hess
It isn't hard to find the best medium school football teams in the country this year because seven of them reside in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Rankings, including the newly crowned No. 1-ranked Washington Tornadoes.
MaxPreps announces its preseason Medium School National Rankings this week with Washington (Miami) holding down the top spot. Washington is fresh off a
stunning 55-0 win over Norcross in which the Tornadoes dominated on both sides of the ball.
However Washington is not the only Xcellent 25 team in the medium school rankings. No. 2 Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.) comes in at No. 5 in the Xcellent 25 while No. 3 Karr (New Orleans) is No. 7, No. 4 Curtis (River Ridge, La.) is No. 8, No. 5 Serra (Gardena, Calif.) is No. 10, No. 6 Bellevue is No. 16 and No. 7 University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is No. 22.
Medium school teams are those teams that play in state enrollment divisions generally between 1,000 and 2,000 students. The rankings are based on a combination of the Xcellent 25 rankings and the
MaxPreps Computer Rankings.
MaxPreps Medium Schools National Football Rankings1. Washington (Miami)
With 14 starters back from last year's 13-1 team that won the Class 4A state title, the Tornadoes are off to a tremendous start with a 55-0 win over Norcross.
2. Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.)
Demarre Kitt, Sandy Creek
Photo by Dennis Carter
The Patriots have 13 starters back from a 15-0 team that won the Class 4A state championship.
3. Karr (New Orleans)
The defending Class 4A champions went 14-0 last year and return nine Division I prospects.
4. Curtis (River Ridge, La.)
National champions last year with a 14-0 record, the Patriots have six Division I prospects among their 11 returning starters.
5. Serra (Gardena, Calif.)
Sixteen starters return for a Serra team that won the California Division III Bowl Game last year.
6. Bellevue (Wash.)
Winners of five straight state championships, Bellevue takes a 40-game win streak into the 2013 season.
7. University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
University won the Class 3A state title last year with a 12-0 record. Half a dozen Division I prospects dot the roster.
8. Christian (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Wide receiver
Drake Harris is a potential state MVP for the defending Division 3 state champions who went 13-1 last year.
9. Stephenville (Texas)
Winners of the Class 3A-I state championship in 2012, Stephenville returns 12 starters from a 12-2 squad.
10. Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.)
Brad Kaaya, Chaminade
File photo by Ian Tennant
The Eagles will make a run at a Western Division championship in the Southern Section with 13 returning starters from a 12-2 team.
11. Gilmer (Texas)
Gilmer returns 13 starters from a 14-2 squad that fell to Navasota in the state championship game.
12. Navasota (Texas)
The Rattlers went 16-0 last year in winning a Class 3A-II state championship last year. Eight starters return with a 9-1 JV team moving up.
13. Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio)
After winning a Division II state title in Ohio last year, the Fighting Irish (14-1) move down to Division III this year. They feature Notre Dame commit
DeShone Kizer at quarterback.
14. St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio)
The Fighting Irish have one of the nation's top prospects in linebacker
Dante Booker (6-3, 215). They were 13-2 last year with a state title.
15. Argyle (Texas)
Argyle has won four straight district championships and returns 14 starters from an 11-2 squad.
16. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
The Lancers have 14 starters back, including nine on defense, from a team that went 12-2 and won the Lancers' sixth straight league championship.
17. Highlands (Fort Thomas, Ky.)
The Bluebirds have won six straight state championship in Kentucky, finishing 14-1 last year.
18. Timpview (Provo, Utah)
The Thunderbirds were 9-5 with four forfeits, but they still managed to capture the Class 4A state title in Utah.
19. Fulton (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Fourteen starters return for the Falcons, who finished 13-2 last year and won a Class 4A state championship.
20. Lake Taylor (Norfolk, Va.)
Lake Taylor went 15-0 last year with a state championship win over Stone Bridge. The Titans will play at the 4A level this year.
21. Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Jesse Sosebee, Edison
File photo by Terry Jack
The Chargers went 13-2 last year and won the Southern Section Southwest championship.
Jesse Sosebee (6-6, 300) and
Teancum (Tico) Fuga (6-1, 280) lead a standout line.
22. Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.)
Went 12-3 last year after a Class AAA state title in 2011. Returns 15 starters and has an 8-0 JV team moving up.
23. East (Salt Lake City, Utah)
The Leopards were 5-8 last season, due mainly to six forfeit losses. However they return three Division I prospects in
Korey Rush (6-3, 235, DE),
Ula Tolutau (6-1, 220, Ath), and
Joe Tukuafu (6-3, 190, TE).
24. Hartsville (S.C.)
The Red Foxes posted a 15-0 mark in 2012 and captured the Class AAA title in South Carolina.
25. Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.)
Ramblers return 11 starters from a team that went 15-0 and won the Class AAA state championship in Pennsylvania.
