When it comes to determining the greatest team of all-time from each state, the recent offerings from Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower) certainly come into consideration for California. Any discussion about the greatest teams in the Golden State, however, has to begin with De La Salle (Concord). The only question: Which Spartan team do you pick?
De La Salle was named national champion seven times, including four in a row between 2000 and 2003. However, MaxPreps chose the 2001 team because it best exemplified the four pillars that we determined mark greatness — dominance, consistency, efficiency and leadership. We used national rankings to determine dominance, win streaks and state-title streaks to measure consistency, offensive/defensive point totals to mark efficiency and head coaching prowess to measure leadership.
The 2001 De La Salle team is just one of example of 50 all-time great squads chosen from each state. Some teams were no-brainers, like the 1970 Brewer (Maine) team that finished No. 5 in the national rankings — the highest ever ranking for a team from that state. Or the 1940 Washington (Massillon, Ohio) team where every starter earned a spot on the All-State first team. Other states were not so easy.
Sources for the list include state association websites, along with school yearbooks, MaxPreps' story from 2018 on the Top 50 greatest teams of all-time. We also tried to honor any in-state newspaper's choice as the greatest team from that state when such a determination was made.
Greatest High School Teams of All-Time
Alabama
Tuscaloosa, 1926
Record: 9-0
Coach: Paul Burnum
Points For/Against: 532-16
Breakdown: Ranked No. 1 in the nation by the National Sports News Service, Tuscaloosa played Senn High from Illinois in a national championship game. The 1926 team was part of one the best winning streaks during the 1920s as Tuscaloosa won 49 in a row and was unbeaten for 64 straight games. Burnum did not coach long at Tuscaloosa, but he had a tremendous five-year run. After taking over a winless team in 1925, Burnum's squad was 42-0-1 in five seasons. He left Tuscaloosa for a job at Alabama in 1930. Burnum's 1929 team was also undefeated and ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation by the NSNS.
Alaska
North Pole, 2004
Record: 10-1
Coach: Buck Nystrom
Points For/Against: 570-183
Breakdown: North Pole is easily the highest-ranked Alaska team of all-time. Finishing No. 196 in the nation in 2004 is several places higher than any Alaska state champion in the past 20 seasons. Led by Nystrom, who finished his career as the winningest coach in state history, North Pole defeated West Anchorage in the state finals 44-13.
Arizona
Phoenix Union, 1930
Record: 11-0
Coach: R.R. Robinson
Points For/Against: 374-47
Breakdown: The Coyotes won 26 state championships before closing in 1982. The best of those teams was the 1930 squad that earned national champion honors from the National Sports News Service. Besides posting seven shutouts, Phoenix defeated teams from five states, including Albuquerque (41-0), San Diego (22-20) and El Paso (21-0). In the season finale against Fort Collins (Colo.), Phoenix defeated the Colorado state champions 38-7.
Arkansas
Pine Bluff, 1925
Record: 16-0
Coach: Foy Hammons
Points For/Against: 684-21
Breakdown: Pine Bluff had one of the greatest offensive teams in Arkansas history, beating teams from five states while going 16-0 with 12 shutouts. The Zebras gained over 8,100 yards on offense and won the national championship with a convincing 61-0 win over Dayton Stivers (Ohio). Pine Bluff also defeated Jackson (Tenn.) 89-0, Atlanta Tech (Ga.) 32-0, Houston Central (Texas) 25-3. A total of eight players made the All-State team, including five on the first team. Billy Hicks led the offense with 42 touchdowns and 34 PATs for a national best 286 points.
California
De La Salle (Concord), 2001
Record: 12-0
Coach: Bob Ladouceur
Points For/Against: 567-96
Breakdown: Selected in 2018 by MaxPreps as the greatest high school football team of all-time, the 2001 De La Salle squad was the second of four straight undefeated national championship teams for Ladouceur. The team was also part of a 151-game win streak and also defeated Long Beach Poly in the first-ever 1 vs. 2 battle in the nation. DLS also had a win over Mater Dei and featured future NFL players Maurice Jones Drew and Derek Landri.
Colorado
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village), 1996
Record: 14-0
Coach: Mike Woolford
Points For/Against: 548-167
Breakdown: The "Creek mystique" won three straight state championships from 1994 to 1996, going undefeated in 1996 and finishing ranked No. 8 in the nation by the National Prep Poll. Led by running back Darnell McDonald, who finished his career with 6,121 yards rushing, Cherry Creek defeated Arvada West 48-33 in the Class 5A finals with McDonald scoring five touchdowns and rushing for 363 yards. Ironically, Arvada West was coached by Dave Logan, who is the current Cherry Creek coach. The season included a miracle win over Mullen in the semifinals, in which Cherry Creek came back from a two-touchdown deficit in the final two minutes for a 37-35 win. Woolford coached 10 seasons at Cherry Creek and posted a 107-26 record with five state championships.
Connecticut
Xavier (Middletown), 1974
Record: 10-0
Coach: Larry McHugh
Points For/Against: 350-50
Breakdown: Xavier was the team to beat in Connecticut in the early 1970s ... except nobody did. From 1970 to 1974, Xavier won 34 straight games and three state championships with the 1974 team considered the best of the bunch. Anthony Brown was the state MVP, scoring 150 points on the season including a state record 44 in one game.
Delaware
Salesianum (Wilmington), 1964
Record: 9-0
Coach: Dim Montero
Points For/Against: 224-31
Breakdown: Ranked No. 7 in the nation in the final national rankings by the National Sports News Service, Salesianum's 1964 crew is the highest-ranking team in Delaware history. A powerhouse under coach Dim Montero, the Sallies went 70-10-3 during his 10-year tenure with win streaks of 29 and 26 games. The biggest win of the season was a 14-6 win over Baltimore Poly, a team that entered the game unbeaten and unscored upon. Montero was named the national Catholic Coach of the Year.
Florida
Lakeland, 2005
Record: 15-0
Coach: Bill Castle
Points For/Against: 581-93
Breakdown: Led by one of the all-time great offensive lines that featured future NFL standouts Michael and Maurkice Pouncey, Lakeland was ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today. Guided by one of the nation's all-time winningest coaches in Castle, Lakeland's 2005 team was part of a 53-game win streak. The team sent 19 plays to play college football.
Georgia
Valdosta, 1962
Record: 12-0
Coach: Wright Bazemore
Points For/Against: 386-33
Breakdown: No team has won more high school football games than Valdosta, which starts the year with 932. The best team of the Wildcats' 24 state championship winners could be the 1962 squad under Bazemore. Ranked No. 1 in the nation by the National Sports News Service, Valdosta posted eight shutouts and had a 37-game win streak during a three-year run of state championships. Valdosta defeated five teams that were ranked among the best in Georgia during the season.
Hawaii
St. Louis (Honolulu), 2018
Record: 11-0
Coach: Cal Lee
Points For/Against: 512-157
Breakdown: Finishing No. 7 in the MaxPreps national rankings, the 2018 St. Louis team has the highest national ranking of any Hawaii team. Led by Lee, who has more wins than any coach in Hawaii history, the Crusaders defeated traditional powers Punahou and Kahuku twice each during the season and also topped Narbonne, a team that won the Los Angeles City Section championship.
Idaho
Lake City (Coeur d'Alene), 2006
Record: 12-0
Coach: Van Troxel
Points For/Against: 494-175
Breakdown: One of the highest-ranking teams in state history, Lake City finished ranked No. 10 in the nation by MaxPreps. The Timberwolves defeated one of the top teams in Washington in Moses Lake and Highland (Pocatello) 35-7 in the state finals.
Illinois
East St. Louis, 1985
Record: 14-0
Coach: Bob Shannon
Points For/Against: 679-53
Breakdown: Ranked No. 1 in the nation by the NSNS and USA Today, East St. Louis defeated Brother Rice (Chicago) 46-0 in the state finals. The Flyers featured All-American Kerwin Price at quarterback and future NFL All-Pro Bryan Cox on defense. The team was part of a 44-game winning streak and was led by Shannon, who won 74 percent of his games and collected six state championships.
Indiana
Warren Central (Indianapolis), 2006
Record: 15-0
Coach: Steve Tutsie
Points For/Against: 722-124
Breakdown: In 2015, The Indy Star determined the 2006 Warriors were the Hoosier State's best. Under first-year coach Tutsie, Warren Central outscored its playoff opponents 236-13. Running back Darren Evans scored 61 touchdowns to lead the nation and he was named a Parade All-American. Warren Central finished No. 4 overall in the USA Today rankings.
Iowa
Washington (Cedar Rapids), 1924
Record: 8-0
Coach: Leo Novak
Points For/Against: 197-26
Breakdown: While the National Sports News Service recognizes Toledo Waite as the national champion for 1924, Washington also laid claim to the title after defeating 1918 and 1919 national champion Harrisburg Tech (Pa.) 19-0 in a "national championship" game. While it should be noted that not all "national championship" games are created equal (Toledo Waite also played a reported national championship game that same year), Cedar Rapids certainly played an interesting schedule. It knocked off teams from Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kentucky and Pennsylvania in going 8-0. The Cedar Rapids team is the only Iowa school ever considered as a possible national champion.
Kansas
Lawrence, 1960
Record: 9-0
Coach: Al Woolard
Points For/Against: 233-38
Breakdown: The National High School Football Record Book by Doug Huff lists Lawrence as the national champion in 1960, although the National Sports News Service lists Lawrence at No. 12 overall. Regardless, the 1960 squad is one of 31 unbeaten teams at the school and is the only one that has been considered a national champion. It's also the only Kansas school to ever be regarded a national champion. Woolard coached the team and he won 10 state titles with a record of 153-12-5.
Kentucky
Trinity (Louisville), 2011
Record: 14-0
Coach: Bob Beatty
Points For/Against: 697-116
Breakdown: In winning the Class 6A state championship, Trinity dominated against a very strong schedule. The average winning margin against Ohio schools Archbishop Moeller, St. Xavier and Elder was 31 points. Trinity also defeated Cathedral (Indianapolis), one of the top programs in Indiana, and Brentwood Academy and Montgomery Bell Academy from Tennessee. Trinity finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Don Bosco Prep (see New Jersey's greatest team).
Louisiana
John Curtis Christian (River Ridge), 2012
Record: 14-0
Coach: J.T. Curtis
Points For/Against: 677-60
Breakdown: The Patriots have won 26 state championships and been ranked among the top teams in the nation many times, but the 2012 team is the only one that has been recognized as a national champion. MaxPreps ranked the Patriots as the top team after it defeated Evangel Christian Academy in the Class 2A state championship game. Coach Curtis ranks as the No. 2 all-time winningest coach in high school history and he could go over 600 wins this year.
Maine
Brewer, 1970
Record: 11-0
Coach: Ken Perrone
Points For/Against: 488-40
Breakdown: Ranked No. 1 in New England and No. 5 in the entire nation, the Witches are the highest-ranking team in Maine history. The team dominated in such a way that 12 players earned first- or second-team All-State honors. Running back Ralph Payne was rated as one of the top 10 running backs in the nation by Letterman magazine and earned All-American honors by Scholastic Coach. The Witches went 30-2 over three seasons, winning state titles in 1968 and 1970.
Maryland
St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 2019
Record: 11-1
Coach: Henry Russell
Points For/Against: 489-74
Breakdown: No Maryland team has ever won a national title, but St. Frances Academy came closest when it finished No. 3. The only loss came against the No. 2 team, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.). The Panthers defeated teams from six states and one from Canada. Included in the wins was a 35-7 win over IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), which finished the season No. 8 in the country, and Central (Miami), which finished No. 21 in the country by MaxPreps.
Massachusetts
Everett, 1914
Record: 13-0
Coach: Cleo O'Donnell
Points For/Against: 600-0
Breakdown: Sports Illustrated dubbed Everett the "greatest high school team of all-time" in the 1980s. The team didn't allow a point on defense and led the nation in scoring with 600 points. Jack Cannell was the national scoring leader with 38 touchdowns. Everett's greatest win was an 80-0 win over Oak Park (Ill.), which had won four straight national championships from 1910 to 1913. O'Donnell posted a record of 68-8-6 between 1901 and 1915.
Michigan
Central (Detroit), 1915
Record: 10-0-1
Coach: Edbert C. Buss
Points For/Against: 523-14
Breakdown: The only Michigan school to ever be named as the mythical national champion, Detroit Central shared the honor with Everett (Mass.) after tying the Massachusetts school 0-0 in a national championship game in Detroit. Detroit Central also defeated powerhouse teams from Toledo Waite (Ohio), 89-0; Toledo Scott (Ohio), 23-0; Muskegon, 28-0; and Oak Park (Ill.), 39-0. The team posted 10 shutouts and running back George "Dutch" Hendrian led the nation in scoring with 175 points.
Minnesota
Eden Prairie, 2007
Record: 14-0
Coach: Mike Grant
Points For/Against: 585-111
Breakdown: Coached by Grant, the son of former Minnesota Vikings coach Bud Grant, Eden Prairie has been the premiere program in the state for most of the current century. Grant and Eden Prairie have won 11 state titles, the most in state playoff history, and the 2007 team is considered the best of that group. The team finished ranked No. 14 in the nation by MaxPreps and was the second of back-to-back undefeated teams.
Mississippi
South Panola (Batesville), 2010
Record: 15-0
Coach: Lance Pogue
Points For/Against: 687-117
Breakdown: The Tigers posted one of the nation's all-time longest win streaks at 89 games in a row, but ironically the 2010 team was not part of that streak. That squad was part of a smaller 28-game win streak and a 119-2 run over nine seasons. The 2010 team was also the only team during that time to be ranked No. 1 in the nation, as chosen by USA Today, and is the only Mississippi team to receiving mythical champion recognition.
Missouri
Jefferson City, 1994
Record: 13-0
Coach: Pete Adkins
Points For/Against: 391-98
Breakdown: In winning their fifth state championship in seven seasons and the second in a row, the Jays gave Adkins his 405th career win, tying him with Gordon Wood for second place on the all-time coaching wins list. Adkins retired following the 1994 season with nine state championships under his belt. The team finished No. 9 in the nation by the National Prep Poll.
Montana
Russell (Great Falls), 1990
Record: 12-0
Coach: Jack Johnson
Points For/Against: 516-192
Breakdown: The second of back-to-back state champions for Johnson, who finished his career in 2014 as the state's all-time winningest coach with 340 wins. Future CFL MVP Dave Dickenson quarterbacked the team to a 23-0 record over two seasons. The team finished No. 20 in the nation by USA Today and linebacker Jon Knutson was a Parade All-American.
Nebraska
Creighton Prep (Omaha), 1985
Record: 12-0
Coach: Tom Jaworski
Points For/Against: 374-59
Breakdown: We'll go with Nebraska historian Stu Pospisil's choice as the state best as he chose the 1985 Jays in a 2014 feature in the Omaha World Herald. Creighton Prep finished No. 20 in the nation and had eight players make the all-state team, including two future NFL players. No team came within 15 points of beating the Jays. The title was the first of five straight state championships for Jaworski.
Nevada
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 2016
Record: 15-0
Coach: Kenny Sanchez
Points For/Against: 794-130
Breakdown: The Gaels played a tough national schedule that included wins over Texas state champion Cedar Hill, Florida state champions Cocoa and St. Thomas Aquinas, California state champion St. John Bosco and Hawaii runner-up Kahuku. Bishop Gorman averaged 61 points and allowed six per game against Nevada opponents and defeated Liberty (Henderson) 84-8 in the state championship game. Quarterback Tate Martell was the MaxPreps National Player of the Year.
New Hampshire
Nashua, 1946
Record: 12-0
Coach: Buzz Harvey
Points For/Against: 354-34.
Breakdown: At the time, the Nashua squad was considered one of the greatest in state history because of how it finished the season. Traveling to Florida, Nashua defeated Andrew Jackson 20-7 to cap an undefeated season. Nashua won its first eight games by shutout and allowed 34 points on the season. Eddie Dobrowolski scored 22 touchdowns on the season and was named state MVP. The school is now known as Nashua South.
New Jersey
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 2011
Record: 11-0
Coach: Greg Toal
Points For/Against: 452-92
Breakdown: Ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps, the 2011 Ironmen were part of a 46-game win streak and a three-year stretch where Don Bosco Prep finished 1, 3, 1 in the national rankings. They outscored three playoff opponents 125-17 and also posted wins over California powerhouse Mission Viejo in the season opener and eventual Florida state champion Manatee.
New Mexico
La Cueva (Albuquerque), 2004
Record: 13-0
Coach: Fred Romero
Points For/Against: 611-21
Breakdown: The Bears were particularly strong on defense in 2004, racking up 10 shutouts. The team went 26-0 over two seasons and was ranked by New Mexico Preps as the greatest team in state history. Romero's team had eight Division 1 prospects, including running back Frankie Baca, who rushed for over 1,700 yards on the season. The defense allowed just under 50 yards per game and at one time had more sacks than pass completions allowed.
New York
New Rochelle, 1932
Record: 9-0
Coach: Bill McKenna
Points For/Against: 201-0
Breakdown: The Huguenots reportedly held a co-national championship with Toledo Waite in 1932 and are the only New York school to ever be considered a national champion. New Rochelle did not allow a point during their 9-0 campaign and won 21 straight games without giving up a point. Between 1932 and 1935, the team went 31-1-1.
North Carolina
Independence (Charlotte), 2004
Record: 15-0
Coach: Bill Geiller
Points For/Against: 810-127
Breakdown: Tom Knotts built a dynasty at Independence at the turn of the century, but ironically it was a team he didn't coach that gets the nod as North Carolina's best. Knotts stepped down to become an assistant at Duke and Geiller took over. Independence continued what eventually became a 109-game win streak behind the play of All-American's Joe Cox and Mohamed Massaquoi. Cox threw for 4,509 yards and 66 touchdowns in helping the team average 54 points per game. Knotts returned in 2005 and stayed until 2009 before departing for Dutch Fork. Independence was ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today.
North Dakota
Shanley (Fargo), 1977
Record: 10-0
Coach: Sid Cichy
Points For/Against: 393-59
Breakdown: Under Cichy, Shanley was a powerhouse, at one point winning 58 straight games and 15 state championships. The 1977 squad provided Cichy with his final state crown. He finished his career with a 226-37-4 record. Steve Cichy, the coach's son, earned Parade All-American honors. Sid Cichy, who received a letter of commendation from President Jimmy Carter upon his resignation, listed the 1977 team as his best.
Ohio
Washington (Massillon), 1940
Record: 10-0
Coach: Paul Brown
Points For/Against: 477-6
Breakdown: Led by future NFL Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown, Washington had the best of many great teams in 1940. Ranked No. 1 in the nation by the National Sports News Service, Washington outgained opponents 4,538 yards to 647 and had 11 players, every starter, make the All-State team. The Tigers allowed six points on the season and provided the only loss for four teams. The state championship was the sixth, and final, state title for Brown, who went to Ohio State the following season. The 10 wins were part of a 51-game unbeaten streak for Washington.
Oklahoma
Eisenhower (Lawton), 1990
Record: 14-0
Coach: Tim Reynolds
Points For/Against: 488-110
Breakdown: One of two Oklahoma teams to be named a national champion, Eisenhower shared the honor with Aldine (Texas) and was No. 1 by USA Today. The championship is the only state title in school history and it came in Reynolds' third year as head coach. When he took the job at Eisenhower, the team had gone 10-30 in its previous four season. He led them to the state finals twice, culminating with the state championship in 1990. He left the school following the 1991 season and had an Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame career at Chickasa. Phil Kinney was named the state Lineman of the Year by the Oklahoman. Eisenhower was ranked No. 2 to start the season and rose to No. 1 after week 2 and stayed there for 13 weeks.
Oregon
Jefferson (Portland),1958
Record: 12-0
Coach: Tom DeSylvia
Points For/Against: 514-100
Breakdown: There is some confusion of which team was named national champion in 1958 by the National Sports News Service as Oak Ridge (Tenn.), Wichita Falls (Texas) and Jefferson have all been recognized at some point as the national champion. It's hard to deny Jefferson, which may have sported the greatest backfield in high school history with future Heisman Trophy winner Terry Baker at quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Mel Renfro at running back.
Pennsylvania
Harrisburg Tech, 1919
Record: 12-0
Coach: Paul Smith
Points For/Against: 701-0
Breakdown: No team has scored more points in a season in which it did not give up a point than Harrisburg Tech. Outscoring opponents 701-0, Harrisburg Tech earned recognition as the top team in the nation and was even listed as the greatest high school football team of all time by a football publication in the early 1980s. Harrisburg knocked off Portland (Maine) 56-0 in a national championship game. Running back Carl Beck led the nation in 1918 and 1919 with 204 points in the latter season. The school closed in the mid-1920s.
Rhode Island
Bishop Hendricken (Warwick), 2015
Record: 11-0
Coach: Keith Croft
Points For/Against: 378-133
Breakdown: The Hawks have been a perennial state champion over the past three decades, collecting 17 state championships, including the 2015 team. Cal-Preps, in its rankings of the top single seasons over the past 20 seasons, has the 2015 Bishop Hendricken team as the best in the state during that time frame. The squad featured junior defensive lineman Kwity Paye, who is one of the nation's top college linemen at the University of Michigan.
South Carolina
Summerville, 1984
Record: 14-0
Coach: John McKissick
Points For/Against: 526-154
Breakdown: There was a time when McKissick wasn't the winningest coach in high school football. After winning a third straight state championship in 1984, McKissick moved up to 323 career wins, putting him in a tie for fifth all-time and at 58 years old making him the youngest coach to reach the total. The eighth state champion in McKissick's career, he told the Greenville News, "they're one of the best, if not the best," following a 16-12 win over Spartanburg in the state finals. The Green Wave finished the season ranked No. 8 in the nation.
South Dakota
Washington (Sioux Falls), 1956
Record: 9-0
Coach: Grant Heckenlively
Points For/Against: 238-52
Breakdown: Much like Bill Walsh handing over a Super Bowl champion team to new head coach George Seiffert, so too did Bob Burns hand over a powerhouse team to new Heckenlively. Burns built a powerhouse in Sioux Falls that went on to win 14 straight state championships. According to the Argus Leaders' Gridiron Greatness series from August 2019, Burns took the job at Augustana College in the summer of 1956 and Heckenlively took over what would become regarded as the greatest team in South Dakota history. Among the wins included victories over Boys Town of Lincoln (Neb.), Brainerd (Minn.), Lincoln (Neb.), and De La Salle (Minn.).
Tennessee
Knoxville, 1937
Record: 11-0
Coach: Wilson Collins
Points For/Against: 275-38
Breakdown: While several Tennessee teams have been named national champions, none can boast the type of national schedule Knoxville played in 1937. Playing teams from six states, Knoxville beat perennial national champion Toledo Waite (Ohio), 13-7, and also beat North Carolina power Asheville, 32-6. Two Georgia teams fell, including powerhouse Atlanta Boys, 40-13. Knoxville concluded the season over Florida state champion Miami Senior, 25-0.
Texas
Katy, 2015
Record: 16-0
Coach: Gary Joseph
Points For/Against: 778-62
Breakdown: There have been many great teams in Lone Star State history, but the Katy team simply dominated on defense with 10 shutouts and beat Lake Travis (Austin) 34-7 in the finals. Katy outscored its playoff opponents 309-44 in six games. The team was ranked No. 1 in the nation by the National Prep Poll and by MaxPreps. Joseph has a record of 213-21 in 16 seasons at Katy with four state titles and three 16-0 seasons.
Utah
Corner Canyon (Draper), 2019
Record: 14-0
Coach: Eric Kjar
Points For/Against: 641-207
Breakdown: Only in its eighth season of existence, Corner Canyon has become a state and national power, finishing No. 8 in last year's MaxPreps national rankings. Corner Canyon has won back-to-back state championships and has won 28 straight games. The team featured quarterback Cole Hagen, who threw for 3,676 yards and rushed for 1,108 yards.
Vermont
Brattleboro, 1965
Record: 8-0
Coach: Andy Natowich
Points For/Against: 445-32
Breakdown: At the time, the Colonels were the highest-scoring team in Vermont history, averaging nearly 56 points per game. According to the Brattleboro Daily Reformer, the team never went more than eight plays without scoring. The average distance of each touchdown was 27 yards with only 22 of 68 scores coming from inside the 10-yard line.
Virginia
Hampton, 1996
Record: 14-0
Coach: Mike Smith
Points For/Against: 811-97
Breakdown: The best of three straight state championship teams at Hampton in the mid-1990s, the Crabbers were ranked No. 1 in the nation and finished No. 1 in 1997 as well. Coach Mike Smith ranks as the No. 3 overall winningest coach in national history with 494 wins and his 1996 team averaged almost 58 points per game. Quarterback Ronald Curry, a Parade All-American, led the team to all three state championships and finished his career with 11,519 yards of total offense.
Washington
Bellevue, 2012
Record: 14-0
Coach: Butch Goncharoff
Points For/Against: 672-102
Breakdown: Part of the Bellevue dynasty under coach Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue wasn't a national champion (like Everett in 1920), but Bellevue dominated in 2012. Part of a 67-game win streak, the 2012 squad knocked off Trinity (Euless, Texas) 31-24 and defeated Washington powers Mount Si (twice), Eastside Catholic and Bothell.
West Virginia
Capital (Charleston), 2014
Record: 13-0
Coach: John Carpenter
Points For/Against: 676-196
Breakdown: Capital has been around since 1989 when it began its inaugural season with a 12-0 record and has a .641 winning percentage in its 30-year history. However, the 2014 is the best team in school history, and the history of West Virginia, as it finished No. 78 in the country and scored a school record 676 points. Running back Kashuan Haley was the state MVP with 1,726 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns.
Wisconsin
Kimberly, 2014
Record: 14-0
Coach: Steve Jones
Points For/Against: 587-116
Breakdown: Wisconsin sports historian Kevin Patrowsky, who has written a book on the history of high school football in the Badger State, points to the 2014 Kimberly team as the state's best, especially for the modern era. Under Jones, Kimberly won 70 straight games over a five-year period. A Division 2 team in 2013, Kimberly moved up to Division 1 in 2014 and had little trouble winning the second of five straight state championships.
Wyoming
Sheridan, 1991
Record: 10-0
Coach: Bruce Keith
Points For/Against: 427-92
Breakdown: Sheridan has one of the winningest programs in state history, capturing 27 state championships. The 1991 squad had the best mixture of offense and defense of any of those title teams, averaging 42.7 points per game while allowing under 10 points. The closest game was a 27-8 win over Gillette in the state finals. Seven players made all-state, including Back of the Year Blaine Phillips and Lineman of the Year Derek Rupp. The state title was the second of four straight from 1990-93.
