Curtis coach John Curtis with several of his returning starters.
Photo by Roddy Johnson
One of the nation's winningest coaches, the longest active win streak in the country and possibly the nation's most competitive enrollment division highlight the 2012 MaxPreps Small Schools Football Rankings.
John Curtis leads his Curtis Patriots into the 2012 season as the No. 1 team among the schools determined by MaxPreps to be in the small schools classification. Curtis,
who ranks second on the national all-time wins list with 506 victories, led the Patriots to a 14-0 record last season and they start the year ranked
No. 6 in the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25.
Meanwhile, Clairton (Pa.)
leads the list of the nation's top current winning streaks at 47 games in a row. The team has put together back-to-back 16-win seasons.
Then there is the 3A classification in Florida, which features three teams among the top six in the small school rankings - American Heritage, University and Madison County.
Small schools are considered by MaxPreps to be any school that plays in a state classification where the majority of the schools in the division are less than 1,000 students.
Here's a look at this year's Xcellent 25 Preseason Small School National Rankings.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Preseason Small Schools Football Rankings
1. Curtis (River Ridge, La.), 14-0
The defending Class 2A state champions in Louisiana return 16 starters, including
Duke Riley (LB),
Sherman Badie (RB) and
Anthony Taylor (T). Not only the top-ranked small school in the country, Curtis is No. 6 in the overall MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rankings.
2. American Heritage (Delray Beach, Fla.), 12-1
With one of the nation's top running back recruits in
Greg Bryant, American Heritage is one of the top teams in Florida regardless of division. The defending Class 3A state champs return 11 starters with offensive lineman
Roderick Johnson joining Bryant in the mix.
Jordan Cunningham, University
Photo by Stuart Browning
Class 3A in Florida figures to be the toughest small school classification in the country with University joining American Heritage and Madison County (No. 6) as the teams to beat. A 31-20 loser to American Heritage last season, University returns 15 starters, including wide receiver
Jordan Cunningham and linebacker
Skai Moore.
4. Clairton (Pa.), 16-0
Holders of the nation's longest active win streak, Clairton has won three consecutive state titles and was barely challenged last season in outscoring opponents 705-78 with nine shutouts.
5. Bishop Luers (Fort Wayne, Ind.), 13-1
The Class 2A Knights rank fifth among all Indiana schools to start the season. Bishop Luers has 13 starters back, including eight on defense, led by Notre Dame-bound running back
Jaylon Smith.
6. Madison County (Madison, Fla.), 12-2
If American Heritage and University aren't the teams to beat in the Florida 3A playoffs, then it is Madison County. Florida State-bound guard
Ira Denson leads a total of 13 returning starters.
7. Refugio (Texas), 15-0
The Bobcats led the country in scoring last season with 891 points (59.4 per game). Quarterback
Travis Quintanilla, a
MaxPreps Small Schools All-American as a sophomore last year, returns after throwing for 3,944 yards and 53 touchdowns.
8. Coldwater (Ohio), 11-4
Regularly one of the top small school programs in the country, Coldwater returns 14 starters from a team that advanced to the Ohio Division V championship game. Among the starters is quarterback
Austin Bruns, who threw for 3,242 yards and 29 touchdowns last year.
9. Dillon (S.C.), 12-1
Few South Carolina teams, regardless of division, have as many Division 1 prospects as Dillon, which lists
D.J. Park (OL, South Carolina),
Bryce King (OL, South Carolina) and
Jabo Lee (RB, East Carolina) among those headed to D-1 schools next year.
10. Christian Academy of Knoxville (Tenn.), 13-2
The defending 3A champions in Tennessee are already off to a strong start with a 76-45 win over Anderson County. Quarterback
Charlie High is one of 15 returning starters.
He threw for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in the opener.
11. Blue Ridge (Lakeside, Ariz.), 14-0
The Division IV champions from last year finished undefeated and extended their winning streak to 15 straight with a 23-14 victory over Moapa Valley at the Sollenberger Classic on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets return 14 starters, including Arizona State recruit
Chans Cox (LB).
12. Handley (Roanoke, Ala.), 15-0
The Tigers are a Class 4A team this year in Alabama but they still rank No. 16 to start the year after winning the Class 3A state championship last year. Handley has one of the state's top offensive linemen in
Bradley Bozeman, who is headed to Alabama.
13. Aurora Christian (Ill.), 13-1
Led by former Buffalo Bills receiver Don Beebe, Aurora Christian won the Class 3A state championship last year. Beebe greets 14 returning starters this year, including his son
Chad Beebe at wide receiver.
14. Wagoner (Okla.), 13-1
The Class 4A state champion last year in Oklahoma, Wagoner is ranked No. 3 in the state by the MaxPreps Freeman Ratings to start the 2012 season.
15. Ansonia (Conn.), 14-0
Junior running back
Arkeel Newsome is the top returning rusher in the country with 3,763 yards and 58 touchdowns as a sophomore. Ansonia is aiming for its seventh-straight league title and its second-consecutive state championship.
16. Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), 13-1
With one of the state's top returning quarterbacks in
Jared Goff, Marin Catholic ranks as the top small school contender in the state.
17. West Bolivar (Rosedale, Miss.), 15-1
A Class 2A school, West Bolivar has won nine straight district championships and has two state titles during that span. The team has not won less than 10 games since 2004, and it opened the season with a narrow 7-6 triumph over Clarksdale.
18. Clinton (Okla.), 12-2
One of the 50 winningest programs in the history of high school football, Clinton lost to Wagoner in last year's Class 4A playoffs. The program has a pair of 14-0 seasons in the past 10 years, winning state titles in 2005 and 2007.
Taylor Lamb, Calhoun
Photo by Cecil Copeland
Calhoun pulled off a shocker last season, knocking off a highly regarded Buford team 27-24 for the Georgia Class AA state championship. Seven starters return this year, including quarterback
Taylor Lamb, the nephew of head coach Hal Lamb. The senior quarterback earned MaxPreps All-American honors last year after throwing for 3,640 yards and 40 touchdowns.
20. Aliquippa (Pa.), 14-1
The Quips came up just short last season, losing to Tyrone 20-19 in the Pennsylvania Class AA semifinals. The loss ended a 14-game win streak. Aliquippa has won at least 11 games in each of the past four seasons under coach Mike Zmijanac.
21. St. Mary's Springs (Fond du Lac, Wis.), 14-0
The Ledgers won the Division 6 state championship in Wisconsin and begin the year ranked No. 12 overall in the state, regardless of division. St. Mary's Springs is loaded again with returning league Defensive MVP
Matt Austin patrolling at linebacker.
22. Elkhorn (Neb.), 12-1
The Class B state champ in Nebraska, Elkhorn finished behind Gretna in district play, but it won its final five games to claim the state title.
23. Lynden (Wash.), 14-0
A state champion in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011, Lynden has excelled under coach Curt Kramme. The Lions held off Archbishop Murphy (Everett) 17-16 for the Class 2A championship last year.
24. Cascia Hall (Tulsa, Okla.), 14-1
A 35-18 loss to Anadarko prevented Cascia Hall from racking up its fourth undefeated season since 2007.
25. Archbishop Murphy (Everett, Wash.), 12-2
Bill Marsh takes over for coach Dave Ward, who led the Wildcats to a 46-6 record during his four seasons as coach.
