Week 17 PrepNation National Prep Football Poll

Eyes on the Prize

Top-ranked Katy records 10th shutout; pushes closer to first Prep Poll title

The National Prep Football Poll is compiled by Jamie DeMoney of XOS Digital with input from sportswriters, experts, and coaches. The Week 17 national Top 25 and regional Top 15's follow with current won-loss records:

NATIONAL TOP 25

1. Katy HS (Texas), 15-0 (Last week: 1)

2. Centennial HS (Corona, Calif.), 14-0 (2)

3. Colquitt County HS (Moultrie, Ga.), 15-0 (3)

4. Bishop Gorman HS (Las Vegas), 15-0 (4)

5. St. John Bosco HS (Bellflower, Calif.), 13-1 (6)                           

6. Lake Travis HS (Austin, Texas), 14-0 (8)

7. De La Salle HS (Concord, Calif.), 12-1 (7)

8. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 8-0 (9)

9. Westlake HS (Austin, Texas), 14-1 (NR)

10. Allen HS (Texas), 14-1 (5)

11. St. Edward HS (Lakewood, Ohio), 14-1 (10)

12. Male HS (Louisville, Ky.), 15-0 (11)

13. Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.), 14-0 (13)

14. Center Grove HS (Greenwood, Ind.), 14-0 (14)

15. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), 14-0 (16)

16. DeMatha HS (Hyattsville, Md.), 11-1 (17)

17. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 9-3 (18)

18. St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 13-1 (19)

19. Central HS (Miami), 12-2 (20)

20. Eastside Catholic HS (Sammamish, Wash.), 13-0 (21)

21. Spanish Fort HS (Ala.), 15-0 (22)

22. Blue Springs South HS (Mo.), 14-0 (23)

23. Gilman School (Baltimore), 10-1 (24)

24. Kahuku (Hawaii), 13-0 (25)

25. Roswell HS (Ga.), 14-1 (12)

Dropped out: Steele (Texas) 15

NORTHEAST REGION

1. Don Bosco Prep HS (Ramsey, N.J.), 9-3 (Last week: 1)

2. Central Catholic HS (Pittsburgh), 14-1 (2)

3. St. Joseph Regional HS (Montvale, N.J.), 8-4 (3)

4. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), 14-0 (5)

5. Xaverian Brothers HS (Westwood, Mass.), 12-0 (6)

6. Parkland HS (Allentown, Pa.), 14-1 (12)

7. Darien HS (Conn.), 12-0 (14)

8. Aquinas Institute (Rochester, N.Y.), 13-0 (7)

9. Archbishop Stepinac HS (White Plains, N.Y.), 12-0 (8)

10. Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.), 14-1 (NR)

11. Bergen Catholic HS (Oradell, N.J.), 7-4 (10)

12. Middletown South HS (N.J.), 12-0 (11)

13. Northern Valley HS (Old Tappan, N.J.), 12-0 (13)

14. Aliquippa HS (Pa.), 15-0 (NR)

15. New Canaan HS (Conn.), 11-1 (NR)

EAST COAST REGION

1. DeMatha HS (Hyattsville, Md.), 11-1 (1)

2. Gilman School (Baltimore), 10-1 (2)

3. Northwestern HS (Rock Hill, S.C.), 14-1 (3)

4. Mallard Creek HS (Charlotte, N.C.), 14-2 (5)

5. Charlotte Catholic HS (N.C.), 15-0 (6)

6. Fort Dorchester HS (North Charleston, S.C.), 15-0 (NR)

7. Highland Springs HS (Va.), 14-1 (7)

8. Damascus HS (Md.), 14-0 (8)

9. Wise HS (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 14-0 (9)

10. Westfield HS (Chantilly, Va.), 14-1 (12)

11. Salem HS (Va.), 14-0 (NR)

12. Byrnes HS (Duncan. S.C.), 12-2 (13)

13. Gonzaga College HS (Washington), 11-2 (NR)

14. Hermitage HS (Richmond, Va.), 12-1 (NR)

15. East Forsyth HS (Kernersville, N.C.), 14-1 (NR)

SOUTHEAST REGION

1. Colquitt County HS (Moultrie, Ga.), 15-0 (1)

2. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 8-0 (2)

3. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), 14-0 (4)

4. St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 13-1 (5)

5. Central HS (Miami), 12-2 (6)

6. Spanish Fort HS (Ala.), 15-0 (7)

7. Roswell HS (Ga.), 14-1 (3)

8. Flanagan HS (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), 12-2 (8)

9. Starkville HS (Miss.), 14-1 (9)

10. McGill-Toolen HS (Mobile, Ala.), 13-1 (10)

11. Bishop Moore HS (Orlando, Fla.), 14-1 (NR)

12. Clay-Chalkville HS (Pinson, Ala.), 14-1 (13)

13. Neville HS (La.), 14-0 (NR)

14. Zachary HS (La.), 14-1 (NR)

15. Independence HS (Thompson’s Station, Tenn.), 15-0 (15)

MIDWEST REGION

1. St. Edward HS (Lakewood, Ohio), 14-1 (1)

2. Male HS (Louisville, Ky.), 15-0 (2)

3. Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.), 14-0 (3)

4. Center Grove HS (Greenwood, Ind.), 14-0 (4)

5. King HS (Detroit), 14-0 (5)

6. Wayne HS (Huber Heights, Ohio), 14-1 (6)

7. Kimberly HS (Wis.), 14-0 (7)

8. Glenbard West HS (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) 14-0 (8)

9. Colerain HS (Cincinnati), 12-2 (9)

10. La Salle HS (Cincinnati), 13-2 (10)

11. Trinity HS (Louisville, Ky.), 11-2 (11)

12. St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), 12-1 (12)

13. Romeo HS (Mich.), 13-1 (13)

14. Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park, Ill.), 12-2 (14)

15. Montini HS (Lombard, Ill.), 14-0 (15)

MIDLANDS REGION

1. Blue Springs South HS (Mo.), 14-0 (1)

2. Valor Christian HS (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), 12-2 (2)

3. Fort Osage HS (Independence, Mo.), 13-1 (3)

4. Dowling Catholic HS (West Des Moines, Iowa), 13-0 (4)

5. Herriman HS (West Herriman, Utah), 11-3 (5)

6. Mill Valley HS (Shawnee, Kan.), 12-1 (6)

7. Christian Brothers HS (St. Louis), 13-1 (7)

8. Lone Peak HS (Highland, Utah), 13-1 (8)

9. Kearney HS (Mo.), 14-1 (9)

10. Derby HS (Kan.), 12-1 (10)

11. Bingham HS (South Jordan, Utah), 10-2 (11)

12. Webb City HS (Mo.), 14-1 (12)

13. Osseo HS (Minn.), 10-3 (13)

14. Millard North HS (Omaha, Neb.), 11-2 (14)

15. Rocky Mountain HS (Meridian, Idaho), 11-1 (15)

SOUTHWEST REGION

1. Katy HS (Texas), 15-0 (1)

2. Bishop Gorman HS (Las Vegas), 15-0 (2)

3. Lake Travis HS (Austin, Texas), 14-0 (4)

4. Westlake HS (Austin, Texas), 14-1 (7)

5. Allen HS (Texas), 14-1 (3)

6. Jenks HS (Okla.), 11-1 (7)

7. Trinity HS (Euless, Texas), 10-1 (12)

8. Centennial HS (Peoria, Ariz.), 12-2 (9)

9. Fayetteville HS (Ark.), 12-2 (10)

10. Cedar Park HS (Texas), 15-0 (NR)

11. Lake Ridge HS (Mansfield, Texas), 15-0 (13)

12. Mansfield HS (Texas), 12-3 (8)

13. Chandler HS (Ariz.), 11-2 (15)

14. George Ranch HS (Richmond, Texas), 15-0 (NR)

15. Westfield HS (Houston), 9-2-1 (NR)

WEST COAST REGION

1. Centennial HS (Corona, Calif.), 14-0 (1)

2. St. John Bosco HS (Bellflower, Calif.), 13-1 (2)

3. De La Salle HS (Concord, Calif.), 12-1 (3)

4. Eastside Catholic HS (Bellevue, Wash.), 13-0 (4)

5. Kahuku HS (Hawaii), 13-0 (5)

6. Mission Viejo HS (Calif.), 15-0 (6)

7. Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.), 14-0 (8)

8. Jesuit HS (Portland, Ore.), 14-0 (9)

9. Mater Dei HS (Santa Ana, Calif.), 10-3 (10)

10. Bishop Amat HS (La Puente, Calif.), 10-3 (11)

11. Serra HS (Gardena, Calif.), 9-3 (11)

12. Bellarmine Prep (San Jose, Calif.), 13-1 (NR)

13. Folsom HS (Calif.), 14-1 (7)

14. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord, Calif.), 13-1 (14)

15. Camarillo HS (Calif.), 15-0 (NR)

RECAPPING THE RANKINGS

Top Five Storylines

·         The longest active winning streak in Texas – and second longest in state history – was ended when No. 9 Westlake (Austin) knocked off No. 10 Allen, 23-17, in the 6A/Division I semifinals. Allen had won its previous 57 in a row.

·         Top-ranked Katy’s path to its first ever National Prep Poll title came into clearer focus after a 38-0 rout of then-No. 15 Steele (Cibolo) in the Texas 6A/Division II semi’s. It’s the Tigers’ 10^th shutout in 15 games. A win Saturday against No. 6 Lake Travis would likely lock up the final No. 1 ranking for Katy.

·         Third-ranked Colquitt County (Moultrie) made its final argument for the final No. 1 ranking with a 30-13 win over No. 25 Roswell for the Georgia 6A title. If No. 1 Katy and No. 2 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) both lose next week, the Packers would be in great position to earn Georgia its first Prep Poll title since 1992.

·         No. 18 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) and No. 19 Miami Central – both of whom were preseason Top 10 teams -- ended the season with strong performances in Florida state championship games. Aquinas hammered Viera, 45-10, in the 7A final for its sixth championship in nine seasons. It was a state record-tying sixth straight championship game for the Raiders. Central drilled previously unbeaten Armwood, 48-13, for its record-tying fourth consecutive 6A crown.

·         The biggest mover in the regional rankings was East Coast No. 6 Fort Dorchester, which capped a 15-0 season with its first state championship. The Patriots ran away from two-time champion Dorman, 59-31, for the South Carolina 4A/Division I title.

Top Five Risers

1. Fort Dorchester (S.C.)

2. Darien (Conn.)

3. Parkland (Pa.)

4. Cedar Park (Texas)

5. Cathedral Prep (Pa.)

Top Five Feats … plus one

Regionally ranked NewCanaan’s Connecticut Class L state championship win over North Haven was full of milestones. The 42-35 triumph was the Rams’ third consecutive state crown and seventh in the last 10 years. It was also the 300^th win for coach Lou Marinelli at the school. And senior quarterback Michael Collins (a Penn recruit) threw one touchdown pass in the game, further extending the single-season record he set earlier in the week to 54.

Cecil Langston of Rivercrest (Wilson) broke Arkansas’ single-season rushing record during a 33-18 loss to Harding Academy (Searcy) in the 3A state championship game. Langston ran for 162 yards in the game to finish the season with 3,202 yards.

No. 19 Miami Central tied a Florida record when beat Armwood in the 6A title game for its fourth consecutive state championship. The Rockets’ chief rival, Booker T. Washington (Miami), tied the same mark when it beat Raines (Jacksonville) for the 4A crown last week.

Regionally ranked Imhotep (Philadelphia) likely broke a Pennsylvania state semifinal scoring record when it whipped Saucon Valley (Hellertown), 72-27. What’s known for sure is senior Mike Waters tied city record with his 42^nd touchdown of the season.

Regionally ranked Mallard Creek (Charlotte) earned its third straight North Carolina 4AA state title with a 49-6 drubbing of Page (Greensboro). The Mavericks were up 42-0 at halftime thanks in large part to five turnovers committed by Page in the second quarter.

Layne Hatcher of Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) broke Arkansas’ single-season passing yards record for a sophomore last week. Hatcher threw for 251 yards in a 50-30 win over McClellan for the 5A championship, increasing his season total to 4,663. The previous record was held by Shiloh Christian’s Rhett Lashlee, who is now the offensive coordinator at Auburn.

All content Copyright 2015 Jamie DeMoney/PrepNation.com

About the PrepNation National Prep Poll

The PrepNation National Prep Poll is a continuation of World Feature Syndicate’s National Prep Poll, which was published and distributed to the Associated Press and other news organizations from 1987 to 2015.

The National Prep Poll is second only to the USA Today Super 25 as the longest continually published weekly high school rankings. While a product of World Features Syndicate (1987-2015), the National Prep Poll was the only high school poll distributed to newspapers and websites around the United States by the Associated Press.

Before authoring rankings for Student Sports and ESPN, National High School Sports Hall of Fame journalist Doug Huff compiled the National Prep Poll rankings from 1987 until 1999. Current author Jamie DeMoney has compiled the poll since the start of the 1999 basketball season to the present.

Among the criteria used in the weekly compilation of the National Prep Poll rankings are strength of schedule, the ability to accomplish the ultimate goal on a team's schedule (i.e. winning a championship), impact players and performers, a team's coaching and recent tradition.

About PrepNation.com

PrepNation.com was originally launched August 1, 2001 by Jamie DeMoney for the purpose of creating a permanent online home for the National Prep Poll football and boys basketball rankings.