High School Football National Championship
The High School Football National Championship is a national championship honor awarded to the best high school football team(s) in the United States of America based on rankings from USA Today[1] and the National Prep Poll. There have been some efforts over the years at organizing a single-game playoff for the national championship. Sometimes a dominant team in one state would defeat a dominant team in a neighboring state after the regular season and then would self-claim the national championship. However, sometimes such a game could not be scheduled, like in 1936 after Washington High School of Massillon, Ohio, refused to withhold its black players in a proposed game with segregated Central High School of Knoxville, Tennessee. Central High subsequently proclaimed itself national champion that year. On December 31, 1938, duPont Manual of Louisville, Kentucky, and New Britain of Connecticut played in an actual national championship game in Baton Rouge with the Louisiana Sports Association as the formal sponsor – and, by extension, the Sugar Bowl Committee, which held a series of sporting events leading up to the Sugar Bowl game itself. Manual won, 28–20.[2] The following year, on December 30, the game featured Pine Bluff, Arkansas, which defeated Baton Rouge High School by a score of 26–0.[2] This series of games proved difficult to organize, due to some states' prohibition of postseason play. Pine Bluff, for example, had to receive a special waiver from its state to participate in the game. In 1939, the National Sports Council, chaired by columnist Grantland Rice, staged a national championship game Christmas Night in the Orange Bowl, won by Garfield High School, Garfield, New Jersey, 16-13, over Miami High School, Miami, Florida. Unlike the LSA Game, it featured two undefeated and untied teams from different sections of the country.[3] In 1962, Florida state champion Miami Senior High beat Baltimore Polytechnic in the Orange Bowl and was recognized by Imperial Sports Syndicate of California as a national champion.
Selectors
Selector | Years |
---|---|
National Sports News Service (NSNS) | 1910–1916, 1918–1943, 1946–1999 |
Louisiana Sports Association (LSA) | 1938–39 |
USA Today (USA) | 1982–present |
National Prep Poll (NPP) | 1987–present |
MaxPreps Freeman Computer Rankings (Freeman) | 2004–present |
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Rankings (Xcellent25) | 2008–present |
High School Football America Top 25 (Algorithm) | 2012–present |
GEICO | 2019-present |
National Champions by year
Year | Champion(s) | Record | Coach | Selector(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1910 | Oak Park, IL | 10–2 | Robert Zuppke | NSNS |
1911 | Oak Park, IL | 10–0 | Robert Zuppke | NSNS |
1912 | Oak Park, IL | 10–0 | Robert Zuppke | NSNS |
1913 | Oak Park, IL | 10–1 | Glenn Thistlewaite | NSNS |
1914 | Everett, MA | 13–0 | Cleo O'Donnell | NSNS |
1915 | Detroit, MI, Central | 11–0–1 | Edbert C. Buss | NSNS |
Everett, MA | 11–0–1 | Cleo O'Donnell | NSNS | |
1916 | San Diego High School San Diego, CA
Scott, Toledo, Ohio |
12–0–0
10–0–0 |
Nibs Price
Tom Merrell |
NSNS
NSNS |
1917 | No Known Champion | |||
1918 | Harrisburg, PA, Tech | 9–0 | Paul Smith | NSNS |
1919 | Harrisburg, PA, Tech | 12–0 | Paul Smith | NSNS |
1920 | Everett, WA | 9–0–1 | Enoch Bagshaw | NSNS |
Oak Park, IL | 9–0–1 | Glenn Thistlewaite | NSNS | |
1921 | Jacksonville, FL, Duval | 8–0 | Unknown | NSNS |
1922 | Toledo, OH, Scott | 9–0 | Dr. William A. Neill | NSNS |
1923 | East Cleveland, OH, Shaw | 9–1 | John Snavely | NSNS |
Toledo, OH, Scott | 10–0 | Dr. William A. Neill | NSNS | |
1924 | Toledo, OH, Waite | 10–0 | Joe C. Collins | NSNS |
1925 | Pine Bluff, AR | 16–0 | Foy Hammons | NSNS |
1926 | Tuscaloosa, AL | 9–0 | Paul Burnum | NSNS |
1927 | Waco, TX | 14–0 | Paul Tyson | NSNS |
1928 | Medford, OR | 9–0 | Prink Callison | NSNS |
1929 | Tuscaloosa, AL | 9–0 | Paul Burnum | NSNS |
1930 | Phoenix, AZ, Union | 13–0 | R.R. Robinson | NSNS |
1931 | Ashland, KY | 10–0 | Paul Jenkins | NSNS |
1932 | Toledo, OH, Waite | 12–0 | Donald McCallister | NSNS |
1933 | Oklahoma City, OK, Capitol Hill | 12–0 | Jim Lookabaugh | NSNS |
1934 | Canton, OH, McKinley | 11–0 | Jimmy Aiken | NSNS |
1935 | Massillon, OH, Washington | 10–0 | Paul Brown | NSNS |
1936 | Massillon, OH, Washington | 10–0 | Paul Brown | NSNS |
1937 | Chicago, IL, Austin | 10–0 | William Heiland | NSNS |
1938 | Louisville, KY, Manual | 10–0 | Ray Baer | LSA,[2] NSNS |
1939 | Massillon, OH, Washington | 10–0 | Paul Brown | NSNS |
Pine Bluff, AR | 11–0–1 | Allen Dunaway | LSA[2] | |
Garfield, NJ | 10–0 | Art Argauer | NSC[3] | |
1940 | Massillon, OH, Washington | 10–0 | Paul Brown | NSNS |
1941 | Chicago, IL, Leo | 11–0 | Whitey Cronin | NSNS |
1942 | Miami, FL | 9–0 | Lyles Alley | NSNS |
1943 | Miami, FL | 9–0 | Tom Moore | NSNS |
1944 | No Award Made | |||
1945 | No Award Made | |||
1946 | Little Rock, AR, Senior | 14–0 | Raymond Burnett | NSNS |
1947 | East Chicago, IN, Roosevelt | 9–0 | Pete Rucinski | NSNS |
Lynn, MA, Classical | 11–1 | Bill Joyce | NSNS | |
1948 | Waco, TX | 14–0 | Carl Price | NSNS |
1949 | Wichita Falls, TX | 14–0 | Joe Golding | NSNS |
1950 | Massillon, OH, Washington | 10–0 | Chuck Mather | NSNS |
1951 | Weymouth, MA | 9–0 | Harry Arlanson | NSNS |
1952 | Massillon, OH, Washington | 10–0 | Chuck Mather | NSNS |
1953 | Massillon, OH, Washington | 10–0 | Chuck Mather | NSNS |
1954 | Vallejo, CA | 9–0 | Bob Patterson | NSNS |
1955 | San Diego, CA | 12–0 | Duane Maley | NSNS |
1956 | Abilene, TX | 14–0 | Charles Moser | NSNS |
1957 | Little Rock, AR, Central | 12–0 | Wilson Matthews | NSNS |
Downey HS, Downey, California | 11–0 | NSNS | ||
1958 | Oak Ridge, TN, Oak Ridge | 10–0 | Jack Armstrong | NSNS |
1959 | Massillon, OH, Washington | 10–0 | Leo Strang | NSNS |
1960 | Miami, Fla. | 8–0–2 | Ottis Mooney | NSNS |
1961 | Massillon, OH, Washington | 11–0 | Leo Strang | NSNS |
1962 | Valdosta, GA | 12–0 | Wright Bazemore | NSNS |
1963 | Chicago, IL, St. Rita | 9–0 | Edward Buckley | NSNS |
1964 | Coral Gables, FL | 12–0 | Nick Kotys | NSNS |
1965 | Miami, FL | 12–0 | Robert Carlton | NSNS |
1966 | Pico Rivera, CA, El Rancho | 13–0 | Ernest Johnson | NSNS |
1967 | Austin, TX, Reagan | 14–0 | Travis Raven | NSNS |
Coral Gables, FL | 13–0 | Nick Kotys | NSNS | |
1968 | Austin, TX, Reagan | 15–0 | Travis Raven | NSNS |
Coral Gables, FL | 12–1 | Nick Kotys | NSNS | |
1969 | Coral Gables, FL | 11–0 | Nick Kotys | NSNS |
Valdosta, GA | 12–0–1 | Wright Bazemore | NSNS | |
1970 | Reagan, Austin, Texas | 14–1 | Travis Raven | NSNS |
1971 | Valdosta, GA | 13–0 | Wright Bazemore | NSNS |
1972 | Bristol, TN | 13–0 | John Cropp | NSNS |
1973 | Chattanooga, TN, Baylor | 13–0 | E. B. "Red" Etter | NSNS |
1974 | Thomasville, GA | 12–1 | Jim Hughes | NSNS |
1975 | Los Angeles, CA, Loyola | 13–0 | Marty Shaughnessy | NSNS |
1976 | Cincinnati, OH, Moeller | 12–0 | Gerry Faust | NSNS |
Warner Robins, Warner Robins, Ga. | 13–0 | Robert Davis | NSNS | |
1977 | Cincinnati, OH, Moeller | 12–0 | Gerry Faust | NSNS |
1978 | Annandale, VA | 14–0 | Bob Hardage | NSNS |
1979 | Cincinnati, OH, Moeller | 12–0 | Gerry Faust | NSNS |
1980 | Cincinnati, OH, Moeller | 13–0 | Gerry Faust | NSNS |
1981 | Warner Robins, GA | 15–0 | Robert Davis | NSNS |
1982 | Cincinnati, OH, Moeller | 13–0 | Steve Klonne[4] | NSNS, USA |
1983 | Berwick Area, PA | 13–0 | George Curry | NSNS, USA |
1984 | Valdosta, GA | 15–0 | Nick Hyder | NSNS, USA |
1985 | East St. Louis Flyers | 14–0 | Bob Shannon | NSNS, USA |
1986 | Valdosta, GA | 15–0 | Nick Hyder | NSNS, USA |
1987 | Fontana, CA | 14–0 | Dick Bruich | NPP |
Pittsburgh, PA, North Hills | 13–0 | Jack McCurry | USA | |
Plano, TX | 16–0 | Gerald Brence | NSNS | |
1988 | Pensacola, FL, Pine Forest | 14–0 | Carl Madison | NSNS, USA |
Prichard, AL, Vigor | 13–0 | Harold Clark | NPP | |
1989 | Cleveland, OH, St. Ignatius | 13–0 | Chuck Kyle | USA |
Odessa, TX, Permian | 16–0 | Gary Gaines | NPP, NSNS | |
1990 | Houston, Texas Aldine High School | 15–0 | Bill Smith | NPP |
Lawton, OK, Eisenhower | 14–0 | Tim Reynolds | USA | |
Ruston, LA | 14–0 | Jimmy "Chick" Childress | NSNS | |
1991 | Indianapolis, IN, Ben Davis | 14–0 | Dick Dullaghan | NPP, NSNS |
LaGrange, GA | 15–0 | Gary Guthrie | USA | |
1992 | Berwick Area, PA | 15–0 | George Curry | USA |
Valdosta, GA | 14–0 | Nick Hyder | NPP, NSNS | |
1993 | Cleveland, OH, St. Ignatius | 14–0 | Chuck Kyle | NPP, NSNS, USA |
1994 | Concord, CA, De La Salle | 13–0 | Bob Ladouceur | NPP, NSNS |
Santa Ana, CA, Mater Dei | 14–0 | Bruce Rollinson | USA | |
1995 | Berwick Area, PA | 15–0 | George Curry | USA |
Cleveland, OH, St. Ignatius | 14–0 | Chuck Kyle | NPP, NSNS | |
1996 | Hampton, VA | 14–0 | Mike Smith | NPP, NSNS |
Santa Ana, CA, Mater Dei | 14–0 | Bruce Rollinson | USA | |
1997 | Canton, OH, McKinley | 14–0 | Thom McDaniels | USA |
Hampton, VA | 13–0 | Mike Smith | NPP, NSNS | |
1998 | Concord, CA, De La Salle | 12–0 | Bob Ladouceur | NPP, NSNS, USA |
1999 | Concord, CA, De La Salle | 12–0 | Bob Ladouceur | NSNS |
Midland, TX, Lee | 15–0 | John Parchman | USA | |
Shreveport, LA, Evangel Christian | 15–0 | Dennis Dunn | NPP | |
2000 | Concord, CA, De La Salle | 13–0 | Bob Ladouceur | NPP, USA |
2001 | Concord, CA, De La Salle | 12–0 | Bob Ladouceur | NPP, USA |
2002 | Concord, CA, De La Salle | 13–0 | Bob Ladouceur | NPP, USA |
2003 | Concord, CA, De La Salle | 13–0 | Bob Ladouceur | NPP, USA |
2004 | Southlake, TX, Carroll | 16–0 | Todd Dodge | NPP, USA |
2005 | Lakeland, FL | 15–0 | Bill Castle | USA |
Southlake, TX, Carroll | 16–0 | Todd Dodge | NPP, Freeman | |
2006 | Lakeland, FL | 15–0 | Bill Castle | NPP |
Southlake, TX, Carroll | 16–0 | Todd Dodge | USA, Freeman | |
2007 | Cincinnati, OH, St. Xavier | 15–0 | Steve Specht | NPP, Freeman |
Miami, FL, Northwestern | 15–0 | Billy Rolle | USA | |
2008 | Fort Lauderdale, FL, St. Thomas Aquinas | 15–0 | George Smith | NPP, USA, Freeman, Xcellent 25 |
2009 | Ramsey, NJ, Don Bosco Prep | 12–0 | Greg Toal | NPP, USA, Freeman, Xcellent 25 |
2010 | Fort Lauderdale, FL, St. Thomas Aquinas | 15–0 | George Smith | NPP |
South Panola, MS | 15–0 | Lance Pogue | USA, Freeman | |
2011 | Ramsey, NJ, Don Bosco Prep | 11–0 | Greg Toal | NPP, USA, Freeman, Xcellent 25 |
2012 | River Ridge, LA, John Curtis Christian | 14–0 | J.T. Curtis | NPP, USA, Xcellent 25 |
2013 | St. John Bosco High School | 15–0 | Jason Negro | NPP |
Booker T. Washington High School | 14–0 | Tim "Ice" Harris | USA Today, MaxPreps | |
2014 | Las Vegas, NV, Bishop Gorman | 15–0 | Tony Sanchez | NPP, USA |
2015 | Katy, TX | 16–0 | Gary Joseph | NPP, Xcellent 25 |
Moultrie, GA, Colquitt County | 15–0 | Rush Propst | High School Football America, Prep Force | |
Las Vegas, NV, Bishop Gorman | 15–0 | Kenny Sanchez | USA | |
2016 | Las Vegas, NV, Bishop Gorman | 15–0 | Kenny Sanchez | NPP, USA, Freeman, High School Football America, Xcellent 25 |
2017 | Santa Ana, CA, Mater Dei | 15–0 | Bruce Rollinson | NPP, USA, High School Football America, Freeman, Xcellent 25 |
2018 | Santa Ana, CA, Mater Dei | 13–2 | Bruce Rollinson | USA, High School Football America, Freeman |
Houston, TX, North Shore | 16–0 | Jon Kay | Xcellent 25, NPP | |
2019 | Fort Lauderdale, FL, St. Thomas Aquinas | 15-0 | Roger Harriott | GEICO |
Bellflower, CA, St. John Bosco | 13-1 | Jason Negro | NPP, USA, High School Football America, Freeman, Xcellent 25 |
National Championships by school (multiple winners only)
School | Championships | Years |
---|---|---|
Massillon, OH, Washington | 9 | 1935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1959, 1961 |
Concord, CA, De La Salle | 7 | 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Valdosta, GA | 6 | 1962, 1969, 1971, 1984, 1986, 1992 |
Miami, FL | 5 | 1942, 1943, 1960, 1962, 1965 |
Cincinnati, OH, Moeller | 5 | 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982 |
Oak Park, IL | 5 | 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1920 |
Coral Gables, FL | 4 | 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969 |
Santa Ana, CA, Mater Dei | 4 | 1994, 1996, 2017, 2018 |
Austin, TX, Reagan | 3 | 1967, 1968, 1970 |
Berwick, PA | 3 | 1983, 1992, 1995 |
Cleveland, OH, St. Ignatius | 3 | 1989, 1993, 1995 |
Southlake, TX, Carroll | 3 | 2004, 2005, 2006 |
Las Vegas, NV, Bishop Gorman | 3 | 2014, 2015, 2016 |
Fort Lauderdale, FL, St. Thomas Aquinas | 3 | 2008, 2010, 2019 |
Canton, OH, McKinley | 2 | 1934, 1997 |
Everett, MA | 2 | 1914, 1915 |
Harrisburg, PA, Tech | 2 | 1918, 1919 |
Lakeland, FL | 2 | 2005, 2006 |
Little Rock, AR, Central | 2 | 1946, 1957 |
Odessa, TX, Permian | 2 | 1972, 1989 |
Pine Bluff, AR | 2 | 1925, 1939 |
Ramsey, NJ, Don Bosco Prep | 2 | 2009, 2011 |
San Diego High School, San Diego, CA | 2 | 1916, 1955 |
Toledo, OH, Scott | 2 | 1922, 1923 |
Toledo, OH, Waite | 2 | 1924, 1932 |
Tuscaloosa, AL | 2 | 1926, 1929 |
Waco, TX, | 2 | 1927, 1948 |
Warner Robins, GA | 2 | 1976, 1981 |
Bellflower, CA, St. John Bosco | 2 | 2013, 2019 |
See also
- USA Today All-USA high school football team (including Super 25 teams in U.S. and Top 10 teams in East, South, Midwest, and West regions)
- USA Today High School Football Coach of the Year
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110115040934/http://www.highschoolsports.net/super25/Football/Varsity/Boys/
- Huff, Doug & Tennis, Mark. (2001) National High School Football Record Book, Student Sports. ISBN 0-9708676-0-3
- https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/highschool/football/broward/fl-sp-hs-sta-national-champions-20200108-kg27azzcojgm5brni4fu5qmakq-story.html
References
- See USA Today All-USA high school football team#2010 team, for "USA Today Super 25" teams and "USA Today Super 25 regional rankings" (top 10 in each region: East, South, Midwest, West).
- George Abraham (December 31, 1939). "Hutson Twins Lead Zebras to 26–0 Win: Devastating Offensive Too Much for B.R.H.S." Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (p. 1).
- Gola, Hank (2018). City of Champions Tatra Press, New York. ISBN 1732222703.
- Groeschen, Tom (2001-08-24). "Moeller coach Bob Crable draws spotlight". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
Klonne was asked to resign despite a 19-season record of 169–48, including two state titles (1982, '85) and a USA Today national championship in 1982.
http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/ft/boys/PastResults/results98.PDF