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 prep experts and analysts in the media, such as USA Today, and algorithmic rankings. There have also been some efforts over the years at organizing a single-game playoff for the national championship.

Background

The oldest of the rating systems, the National Sports News Service, was begun by Arthur H. "Art" Johlfs—who originally started naming champions informally in 1927 as a 21 year old high school coach and official, but did so more formally starting in 1959 after enlarging his network of supporting hobbyists to receive reports from six separate areas of the country. One of those hobbyists was Barrett Conley "Barry" Sollenberger, representing the NSNS' Southwest Sports News Service regional office. Sollenberger was the facilitator of a similar poll for Joe Namath's National Prep Sports magazine in 1976 and 1977, before that publication was discontinued (its Hertz Trophy was awarded each year to Moeller of Cincinnati, which also happened to be both of the top picks of the NSNS). Despite Sollenberger publicly disagreeing with Johlfs' choice for champion in 1978 (siding with St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs, California over Annandale of Virginia), Johlfs apparently still respected the way that Sollenberger actively ran his southwest office—enough so that he turned the NSNS rankings over to him, starting in 1979. The NSNS poll then remained under Sollenberger's management through 1999 (along the way he also retroactively picked back as far as 1910, although at least one source has the NSNS even making a 1904 selection as well: xv ). It was then merged away into R. Douglas "Doug" Huff's year-old, competing FAB 50 poll starting in 2000—which in turn continued on through 2014 with Mark J. Tennis apparently retaining the rights to it. An early compilation listing of NSNS champions does not necessarily match a more recent listing.: 44–45  It is not immediately clear if these discrepancies are due to poor record-keeping, or if Sollenberger or Huff adjusted the list of champions over the years as new information came to light—or if they simply just disagreed with Johlfs' picks. Johlfs, for his part, described how he arrived at choosing a champion: he accepted input from Minnesota college and professional coaches, reviewed game statistics, films, and press clippings, and considered the school's enrollment size. Johlfs said that his picks initially tended to be midwestern schools but shifted southward, because southern schools tended to play more games and were also allowed to compete in postseason playoffs. He was also known to keep a champion as the top-ranked team indefinitely in subsequent seasons' rankings as long as another team had not beaten them yet; this ended up allowing multiple teams to repeat as champions, drawing some criticism to Johlfs. Sollenberger, on the other hand, primarily determined champions by attending prominent games in person, while also consulting college football coaching staffs. He further acknowledged factoring in teams' past histories and their success in the larger population centers of the day when considering teams for his poll—usually including three teams from California and two teams each from Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas in his rankings. Notably, Florida had a relatively sizable number of repeat champions in Johlfs' rating system but saw a significant drop in its number of champions under Sollenberger. As for Huff, he too had his own unique way of determining champions: "I try to put credibility in the listings by making them consistent with local and state rankings. I try to look for dominant teams in an area who have a good track record."

Informal intersectional games deemed as "national championship games" by the two participating schools were also, on occasion, sometimes played. 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 of Massillon, Ohio, refused to withhold its black players in a proposed game with segregated Central of Knoxville, Tennessee. Central 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 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a formal, third-party sponsor, the Louisiana Sports Association–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. The following year, on December 30, the game featured Pine Bluff of Arkansas, which defeated Baton Rouge by a score of 26–0. 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's high school sports association to participate in the game (even some schools that were eligible for postseason games like Massillon Washington were unable to play in the contest, since their association only allowed postseason games through the month of November). Also in 1939, the National Sports Council, chaired by columnist Grantland Rice, staged a national championship game Christmas night in the Miami Orange Bowl, won by Garfield of New Jersey, 16-13, over Miami of Florida; unlike the LSA Game, it featured two undefeated and untied teams from different sections of the country. After World War II the National Federation of State High School Associations also began discouraging intersectional postseason games.

Team and coaching superlatives

Concord, California De La Salle won 12 total national championships from 1994 to 2015, including 6 in a row from 1998 to 2003.

The first 10 of De La Salle's titles were coached by Bob Ladouceur, including all of those acquired during the 6-year streak. Todd Dodge (Southlake, Texas Carroll from 2004 to 2006 and Austin, Texas Westlake in 2020) is the only head coach to lead 2 different schools to national championships. Tony Sanchez (Las Vegas, Nevada Bishop Gorman in 2014) and Kenny Sanchez (Bishop Gorman in 2015 and 2016) are the only brothers to lead a school to a national championship.

At 63 years, McKinley (Canton, Ohio) holds the record for longest span between first title (1934) and most recent (1997). Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California) holds the largest span for a coach with 27 years between first title (1994) and most recent (2021) with 4 additional outright or shared titles during that span (1996, 2017, 2018, 2020).

Selectors

Current Selectors

Selector Type Selector Since
USA Today Expert 1982
MaxPreps/CBS Sports Expert 2006
CalPreps (MaxPreps Computer) Algorithm 2003
High School Football America/NFL Play Football Algorithm/ Expert 2012
Massey Ratings Algorithm 2010
BlueStar Media Expert 2012
SBLive/Sports Illustrated Expert 2020

Historical Selectors

Selector Year(s)
National championship game (NCG)* 1897, 1902–1904, 1906, 1908, 1910–1916, 1919–1920, 1922–1927, 1929, 1932–1933, 1937
Simon Lyons (SL) 1900, 1902–1903, 1906, 1908–1909, 1916, 1924, 1937, 1975–1976, 1978
Tim Hudak (TH) 1902–1904, 1906, 1908–1909, 1916, 1919, 1937
National Sports News Service (NSNS)** 1904, 1910–1916, 1918–1943, 1946–1999, 2014
Boston Evening Transcript (BET) 1912
High School Sports History (HSSH) 1917, 1944–1945, 1956–1958
National High School Football Coaches (NHSFC) 1932
Louisiana Sports Association National High School Championship (LSANHSC) 1938–1939
National Sports Council Health Bowl (NSCHB) 1939
Imperial Sports Syndicate (ISS) 1962
Art Judge's SWEET 33 (AJS33) 1976
National Prep Sports Network (NPSN)
Southwest Sports News Service (SSNS)
1976–1977
1978
USA Today Super 25 (USATS25) 1982–present
World Features Syndicate National Prep Poll (WFSNPP)
PrepNation National Prep Poll (PNNPP)
1987–2014
2015–2019
USA High School Football (USAHSF)
USA High School Football Private Schools (USAHSFPrS)†
USA High School Football Public Schools (USAHSFPuS)†
1995–2012
2013
2013
Dick Butkus Football Network (DBFN) 1998–2001
Tony Bianco National High School Football Poll (TBNHSFP) 1998–2006
American Football Monthly (AFM)
American Football Monthly Private Schools (AFMPrS)‡
American Football Monthly Public Schools (AFMPuS)‡
1999–2004
2005
2005
Fox FAB 50 (FF50)**
StudentSports FAB 50 (SSF50)

ESPN HIGH Elite 25 (ESPNHE25)
ESPN RISE FAB 50 (ESPNRF50)
ESPN HS FAB 50 (ESPNHSF50)
Powerade FAB 50 (PF50)
FAB 50 (F50)

1999–2000
2001–2005

2007
2007–2010
2011
2012
2013–2014

CalPreps (CP)
CalPreps Freeman Computer Rankings (CPFCR)
2003–present
2004–2010
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 (MPX25)
MaxPreps Small Schools (MPSS)
MaxPreps Medium Schools (MPMS)
2006–present
2010–2016, 2018–present
2012–2013
BlueStar Media Go-To 25 (BSMGT25)
BlueStar Media Elite 25 (BSME25)
2012–2013
2014–present
Rivals FAB 50 (RF50)

Rivals High 100 (RH100)

2006

2008–2012

Massey Ratings (MR) 2010–present
Sports Illustrated (SI)

SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 (SBLP25)

2011–2012
2020–present
Prep Force (PF) 2012–2019
High School Football America Top 25 (HSFAT25)
High School Football America National Top 50 (HSFANT50)

High School Football America Medium Schools Top 25 (HSFAMST25)

High School Football America Small Schools Top 25 (HSFASST25)

High School Football America National Top 100 (HSFANT100)

2012–2014
2015–2016

2015, 2018–2019

2015, 2018–2019
2017–present

Bold type indicates current selectors
Notes: *—it is not immediately clear if these games were only scheduled between the two competing teams and base their authority on general acclamation, or if any or all of these games had an independent third party formally sponsor it to increase legitimacy; **—National Sports News Service rankings were merged into the Fox FAB 50 rankings, beginning in 2000; †—USA High School Football rankings were split into public and private school divisions, beginning in 2013; ‡—American Football Monthly rankings were split into public and private school divisions, beginning in 2005

National champions by year

Composite

Year Champion(s) Record(s) Coach(es) Selector(s) Note(s)
1897 Madison (WI) 8–0 NCG
1898 (no champion)
1899 (no champion)
1900 Moline (IL) SL: 369 
1901 (no champion)
1902 Chicago (IL) Hyde Park 5–0 Walter Eckersall NCG, SL, TH: 369  Eckersall served as player-coach
1903 Chicago (IL) North Division 7–0–1 Charlie Daly NCG, SL, TH: 369  Now called Lincoln Park High
Al Johnson
1904 Detroit (MI) Central NCG, NSNS, TH: 369  not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
1905 (no champion)
1906 Seattle (WA) Broadway NCG, SL, TH: 369 
1907 (no champion)
1908 Longmont (CO) Longmont High School Los Angeles Herald, Volume 36, Number 86, 26 December 1908, c
1909 Chicago (IL) Englewood SL, TH: 369 
1910 Oak Park (IL) 10–2 Robert Zuppke NCG,: 369  NSNS
1911 Oak Park (IL) 10–0 Robert Zuppke NCG,: 369  NSNS
1912 Oak Park (IL) 10–0 Robert Zuppke NCG, NSNS
Fostoria (OH) 8–0 Lawrence Boles BET, NCG
1913 Oak Park (IL) 10–1 Glenn Thistlewaite NCG,: 369  NSNS
1914 Everett (MA) 13–0 Cleo O'Donnell NCG, NSNS
1915 Detroit (MI) Central 11–0–1 Edbert C. Buss NCG, NSNS
Everett (MA) 11–0–1 Cleo O'Donnell NCG, NSNS
1916 San Diego (CA) 12–0 Nibs Price NSNS
Toledo (OH) Scott NCG, SL, TH: 369 
1917 Everett (WA) 12–0 Enoch Bagshaw HSSH
1918 Harrisburg Tech (PA) 9–0 Paul Smith NSNS
1919 Harrisburg Tech (PA) 12–0 Paul Smith NCG, NSNS
Everett (WA) Enoch Bagshaw NCG, TH: 369 
Toledo (OH) Scott NCG, TH: 369 
1920 Everett (WA) 9–0–1 Enoch Bagshaw NCG, NSNS
Oak Park (IL) 9–0–1 Glenn Thistlewaite NCG,: 369  NSNS
1921 Jacksonville (FL) Duval 8–0 Wiley Wright NSNS
1922 Toledo (OH) Scott 9–0 William Neill NCG, NSNS
1923 Toledo (OH) Scott 10–0 William Neill NCG, NSNS
East Cleveland (OH) Shaw 9–1 John Snavely NCG, NSNS
1924 Toledo (OH) Waite 10–0 Joe Collins NCG,: 369  NSNS
Cedar Rapids (IA) Washington SL: 369 
1925 Pine Bluff (AR) 16–0 Foy Hammons NCG, NSNS
Louisville (KY) duPont Manual NCG
1926 Tuscaloosa (AL) 9–0 Paul Burnum NCG,: 369  NSNS
1927 Waco (TX) 14–0 Paul Tyson NCG, NSNS
1928 Medford (OR) 9–0 Prink Callison NSNS
1929 Tuscaloosa (AL) 9–0 Paul Burnum NCG,: 369  NSNS
1930 Phoenix Union (AZ) 13–0 Robby Robinson NSNS
1931 Ashland (KY) 10–0 Paul Jenkins NSNS
1932 Toledo (OH) Waite 12–0 Don McCallister NCG,: 370  NSNS
New Rochelle (NY) 9–0 Bill McKenna NHSFC
1933 Oklahoma City (OK) Capitol Hill 12–0 Jim Lookabaugh NCG,: 370  NSNS
1934 Canton (OH) McKinley 11–0 Jim 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
Evansville (IN) Memorial NCG, SL, TH: 370 
1938 Louisville (KY) duPont Manual 10–0 Ray Baer LSANHSC, NSNS
1939 Garfield (NJ) 10–0 Art Argauer NSCHB
Massillon (OH) Washington 10–0 Paul Brown NSNS
Pine Bluff (AR) 11–0–1 Allen Dunaway LSANHSC
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 Chattanooga (TN) Baylor 10–0 HSSH
1945 Donora (PA) 10–0 HSSH
1946 Little Rock Central (AR) 14–0 Raymond Burnett NSNS
1947 East Chicago (IN) Roosevelt 9–0 Pete Rucinski NSNS
Lynn Classical (MA) 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 Chuck Moser HSSH, NSNS
1957 Little Rock Central (AR) 12–0 Wilson Matthews HSSH, NSNS not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
Portland (OR) Jefferson 11–0 Thomas DeSylvia NSNS not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
Downey (CA) NSNS not listed in recent sources as NSNS champion*
1958 Portland (OR) Jefferson 12–0 Thomas DeSylvia NSNS not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
Oak Ridge (TN) 10–0 Jack Armstrong HSSH, NSNS not listed in recent sources as NSNS champion*
Wichita Falls (TX) NSNS not listed in recent sources as NSNS champion*
1959 Massillon (OH) Washington 10–0 Leo Strang NSNS
1960 Lawrence (KS) 9–0 Al Woolard NSNS not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
Miami (FL) 8–0–1 Ottis Mooney NSNS not listed in recent sources as NSNS champion*
1961 Massillon (OH) Washington 11–0 Leo Strang NSNS
1962 Valdosta (GA) 12–0 Wright Bazemore NSNS
Miami (FL) 9–0 Ottis Mooney ISS
San Francisco (CA) St. Ignatius Prep ISS
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 not listed in recent sources as NSNS champion*
1969 Bogalusa (LA) 14–0 Lewis Murray NSNS not listed in recent sources as NSNS champion*
Pasadena (CA) Blair 13–0 Pete Yoder NSNS not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
Coral Gables (FL) 10–0 Nick Kotys NSNS not listed in recent sources as NSNS champion*
Valdosta (GA) 12–0–1 Wright Bazemore NSNS not listed in recent sources as NSNS champion*
1970 Austin (TX) Reagan 14–1 Travis Raven NSNS
1971 Valdosta (GA) 13–0 Wright Bazemore NSNS
1972 Odessa (TX) Permian 14–0 Gil Bartosh NSNS not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
Bristol Tennessee 13–0 John Cropp NSNS
1973 Tyler (TX) John Tyler 15–0 Corky Nelson NSNS not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
Chattanooga (TN) Baylor 13–0 Red Etter NSNS
1974 Thomasville (GA) 12–1 Jim Hughes NSNS
1975 Los Angeles (CA) Loyola 13–0 Marty Shaughnessy NSNS, SL: 371 
Rancho Cordova (CA) Cordova 12–0 Dewey Guerra NSNS not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
1976 Warner Robins (GA) 13–0 Robert Davis NSNS, SL: 371  not listed in older sources as NSNS champion*
Cincinnati (OH) Moeller 12–0 Gerry Faust AJS33, NPSN, NSNS
1977 Cincinnati (OH) Moeller 12–0 Gerry Faust NPSN, NSNS
1978 Annandale (VA) 14–0 Bob Hardage NSNS
NSNS 1978 HS Football Ranking
Annandale High School 1978 National High School Football Champion
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 NSNS, USATS25
1983 Berwick Area (PA) 13–0 George Curry NSNS, USATS25
1984 Valdosta (GA) 15–0 Nick Hyder NSNS, USATS25
1985 East St. Louis (IL) 14–0 Bob Shannon NSNS, USATS25
1986 Valdosta (GA) 15–0 Nick Hyder NSNS, USATS25
1987 Plano (TX) 16–0 Gerald Brence NSNS
Fontana (CA) 14–0 Dick Bruich WFSNPP
Pittsburgh (PA) North Hills 13–0 Jack McCurry USATS25
1988 Pensacola (FL) Pine Forest 14–0 Carl Madison NSNS, USATS25
Prichard (AL) Vigor 13–0 Harold Clark WFSNPP
1989 Odessa (TX) Permian 16–0 Gary Gaines NSNS, WFSNPP
Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius 13–0 Chuck Kyle USATS25
1990 Houston (TX) Aldine 15–0 Bill Smith WFSNPP
Lawton (OK) Eisenhower 14–0 Tim Reynolds USATS25
Ruston (LA) 14–0 Jimmy Childress NSNS
1991 LaGrange (GA) 15–0 Gary Guthrie USATS25
Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis 14–0 Dick Dullaghan NSNS, WFSNPP
1992 Berwick Area (PA) 15–0 George Curry USATS25
Valdosta (GA) 14–0 Nick Hyder NSNS, WFSNPP
1993 Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius 14–0 Chuck Kyle NSNS, USATS25, WFSNPP
1994 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei 14–0 Bruce Rollinson USATS25
Concord (CA) De La Salle 13–0 Bob Ladouceur NSNS, WFSNPP
1995 Berwick Area (PA) 15–0 George Curry USAHSF, USATS25
Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius 14–0 Chuck Kyle NSNS, WFSNPP
1996 Hampton (VA) 14–0 Mike Smith NSNS, USAHSF, WFSNPP
Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei 14–0 Bruce Rollinson USATS25
1997 Doylestown (PA) Central Bucks West 15–0 USAHSF
Canton (OH) McKinley 14–0 Thom McDaniels USATS25
Hampton (VA) 13–0 Mike Smith NSNS, WFSNPP
1998 West Monroe (LA) 15–0 DBFN, TBNHSFP
Concord (CA) De La Salle 12–0 Bob Ladouceur NSNS, USAHSF, USATS25, WFSNPP
1999 Midland (TX) Lee 15–0 John Parchman DBFN, USATS25
Shreveport (LA) Evangel Christian 15–0 Dennis Dunn AFM, FF50, TBNHSFP, USAHSF, WFSNPP
Concord (CA) De La Salle 12–0 Bob Ladouceur NSNS
2000 West Monroe (LA) 15–0 TBNHSFP
Erie (PA) Cathedral Prep 14–0 USAHSF
Long Beach Poly (CA) 14–0 DBFN
Concord (CA) De La Salle 13–0 Bob Ladouceur AFM, FF50, NSNS, USATS25, WFSNPP
2001 Jenks (OK) Jenks 13–0 USAHSF
Concord (CA) De La Salle 12–0 Bob Ladouceur AFM, DBFN, SSF50, TBNHSFP, USATS25, WFSNPP
2002 Lilburn (GA) Parkview 15–0 USAHSF
Concord (CA) De La Salle 13–0 Bob Ladouceur AFM,[citation needed] SSF50, TBNHSFP, USATS25, WFSNPP
2003 Concord (CA) De La Salle 13–0 Bob Ladouceur AFM, SSF50, TBNHSFP, USAHSF, USATS25, WFSNPP
Thousand Oaks (CA) Westlake CP
2004 Southlake (TX) Carroll 16–0 Todd Dodge AFM, SSF50, TBNHSFP, USATS25, WFSNPP
Charlotte (NC) Independence 15–0 USAHSF
Cincinnati (OH) Colerain 15–0 Kerry Coombs CP, CPFCR
2005 Southlake (TX) Carroll 16–0 Todd Dodge AFMPuS, CP, CPFCR, TBNHSFP, WFSNPP Both overall and public school champion
Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier 15–0 AFMPrS, USAHSF Both overall and private school champion
Lakeland (FL) 15–0 Bill Castle SSF50, USATS25
2006 Southlake (TX) Carroll 16–0 Todd Dodge CP, CPFCR, MPX25, TBNHSFP, USAHSF, USATS25
Lakeland (FL) 15–0 Bill Castle RF50, WFSNPP
2007 Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier 15–0 Steve Specht CP, CPFCR, ESPNRF50, WFSNPP
Miami Northwestern (FL) 15–0 Billy Rolle ESPNHE25, USATS25
Concord (CA) De La Salle 13–0 Bob Ladouceur MPX25, USAHSF
2008 Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas 15–0 George Smith CPFCR, ESPNRF50, MPX25, RH100, USAHSF, USATS25, WFSNPP
Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius CP
2009 Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep 12–0 Greg Toal CPFCR, ESPNRF50, MPX25, RH100, USAHSF, USATS25, WFSNPP
Abilene (TX) CP
2010 Batesville (MS) South Panola 15–0 Lance Pogue MPX25, RH100, USATS25
Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas 15–0 George Smith ESPNRF50, WFSNPP
Lakewood (OH) St. Edward 15–0 CP, USAHSF
Concord (CA) De La Salle 14–0 Bob Ladouceur CPFCR
Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep 12–0 MR
2011 Calhoun (GA) 15–0 MPSS Small school champion only
Louisville (KY) Trinity 14–0 RH100, SI
Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep 11–0 Greg Toal CP, ESPNHSF50, MR, MPX25, USAHSF, USATS25, WFSNPP
2012 Katy (TX) 16–0 Gary Joseph F50
Concord (CA) De La Salle 15–0 Bob Ladouceur BSMGT25, PF50
Bellevue (WA) 14–0 MPMS, SI Both overall and medium school champion
River Ridge (LA) John Curtis Christian 14–0 John T. Curtis Jr. HSFAT25, MPX25, PF, RH100, USAHSF, USATS25, WFSNPP
Allen (TX) 15–1 CP, HSFAT25, MR
Davie (FL) University Roger Harriott MPSS Small school champion only
2013 Allen (TX) 16–0 Tom Westerberg BSMGT25, HSFAT25
Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco 15–0 Jason Negro CP, MR, USAHSFPrS Both overall and private school champion
Maria Stein (OH) Marion Local 15–0 MPSS Small school champion only
Miami (FL) Booker T. Washington 14–0 Ice Harris F50, MPMS, MPX25, PF, USATS25, WFSNPP Both overall and medium school champion
Hoover (AL) Josh Niblet USAHSFPuS Public school champion only
2014 Allen (TX) 16–0 Tom Westerberg BSME25, HSFAT25, MPX25, NSNS
Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman 15–0 Tony Sanchez USATS25, WFSNPP
Concord (CA) De La Salle 14–0 Justin Alumbaugh CP, MR
Jacksonville (FL) Trinity Christian MPSS Small school champion only
2015 Katy (TX) 16–0 Gary Joseph MR, MPX25, PNNPP
Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman 15–0 Kenny Sanchez BSME25, USATS25
Moultrie (GA) Colquitt County 15–0 Rush Propst HSFANT50, PF
Jacksonville (FL) Trinity Christian 14–0 HSFASST25, MPSS Small school champion only
Sammamish (WA) Eastside Catholic 13–0 HSFAMST25 Medium school champion only
Concord (CA) De La Salle CP
2016 Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman 15–0 Kenny Sanchez BSME25, CP, HSFANT50, MR, MPX25, PF, PNNPP, USATS25
Munhall (PA) Steel Valley 15–0 MPSS Small school champion only
2017 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei 15–0 Bruce Rollinson BSME25, CP, HSFANT100, MR, MPX25, PNNPP, USATS25
2018 Catawissa (PA) Southern Columbia Area 16–0 HSFASST25 Small school champion only
Houston (TX) North Shore 16–0 Jon Kay MPX25, MR, PF, PNNPP
Alcoa (TN) 15–0 Gary Rankin HSFAMST25 Medium school champion only
Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei 13–2 Bruce Rollinson BSME25, CP, HSFANT100, PF, USATS25
Hollywood (FL) Chaminade–Madonna Prep 12–2 MPSS Small school champion only
2019 Catawissa (PA) Southern Columbia Area 16–0 HSFASST25 Small school champion only
Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco 13–1 Jason Negro BSME25, CP, HSFANT100, MPX25, MR, PF, PNNPP, USATS25
Cedar Hill (TX) Trinity Christian 13–1 MPSS Small school champion only
Miami Northwestern (FL) 13–2 HSFAMST25 Medium school champion only
2020 Austin (TX) Westlake 14–0 Todd Dodge BSME25
Catawissa (PA) Southern Columbia Area 12–0 Jim Roth MPSS Small school champion only
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy 8–0 Bobby Acosta HSFANT100, MPX25, SBLP25, USATS25
Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei 5–0 Bruce Rollinson CP, MR
2021 China Spring (TX) 16–0 Brain Bell MPSS Small school champion only
Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei 12–0 Bruce Rollinson BSME25, CP, HSFANT100, MPX25, MR, SBLP25, USATS25
2022 Carthage (TX) 16–0 Scott Surratt MPSS Small school champion only
Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco 13–1 Jason Negro BSME25, CP, HSFANT100, MPX25, MR, SBLP25, USATS25

Note: all information between 1904 and 2000 is derived from the National High School Football Record Book (2001), unless otherwise specified; *—listings from an earlier source do not necessarily match listings from a more recent source—it is not immediately clear if this was due to poor record-keeping or if past champions were later reevaluated by the National Sports News Service and revised accordingly.

Most Selectors

No definitive ranking service exists to declare a universal national champion for high school football. Since 2000, five teams have received a consensus 100% of selectors: Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman (2016), Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei (2017, 2021) and Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco (2019, 2022).

Since 1982, four schools have received the most selectors in consecutive seasons: Concord (CA) De La Salle (2000–2003), Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei (2017–2018), Southlake (TX) Carroll (2004–2006) and Hampton (VA) (1996–1997).

Schools Receiving the Most Selectors
(excluding selectors from Small, Medium, Public/Private and other specialty polls)
Year School Selectors Received Selectors Total % of Selectors Received
1982 Cincinnati (OH) Moeller 2 2 100%
1983 Berwick Area (PA) 2 2 100%
1984 Valdosta (GA) 2 2 100%
1985 East St. Louis (IL) 2 2 100%
1986 Valdosta (GA) 2 2 100%
1987 (no plurality received)
1988 Pensacola (FL) Pine Forest 2 3 67%
1989 Odessa (TX) Permian 2 3 67%
1990 (no plurality received)
1991 Indianapolis (IN) Ben Davis 2 3 67%
1992 Valdosta (GA) 2 3 67%
1993 Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius 3 3 100%
1994 Concord (CA) De La Salle 2 3 67%
1995 (no plurality received)
1996 Hampton (VA) 3 4 75%
1997 Hampton (VA) 2 4 50%
1998 Concord (CA) De La Salle 4 6 67%
1999 Shreveport (LA) Evangel Christian 5 8 63%
2000 Concord (CA) De La Salle 5 8 63%
2001 Concord (CA) De La Salle 6 7 86%
2002 Concord (CA) De La Salle 5 6 83%
2003 Concord (CA) De La Salle 6 7 86%
2004 Southlake (TX) Carroll 5 8 63%
2005 Southlake (TX) Carroll 4 7 57%
2006 Southlake (TX) Carroll 6 8 75%
2007 Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier 4 8 50%
2008 Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas 7 8 88%
2009 Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep 7 8 88%
2010 Batesville (MS) South Panola 3 9 33%
2011 Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep 7 9 78%
2012 River Ridge (LA) John Curtis Christian 7 14 50%
2013 Miami (FL) Booker T. Washington 5 9 56%
2014 Allen (TX) 4 8 50%
2015 Katy (TX) 3 8 38%
2016 Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman 8 8 100%
2017 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei 7 7 100%
2018 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei 5 9 56%
2019 Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco 8 8 100%
2020 Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy 4 7 57%
2021 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei 7 7 100%
2022 Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco 7 7 100%

By Current Selector

Year USA Today CalPreps MaxPreps Massey Ratings High School Football America BlueStar Media SBLive
1982 Cincinnati (OH) Moeller
1983 Berwick (PA) Area
1984 Valdosta (GA)
1985 East St. Louis (IL)
1986 Valdosta (GA)
1987 Pittsburgh (PA) North Hills
1988 Pensacola (FL) Pine Forest
1989 Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius
1990 Lawton (OK) Eisenhower
1991 LaGrange (GA)
1992 Berwick (PA) Area
1993 Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius
1994 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei
1995 Berwick (PA) Area
1996 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei
1997 Canton (OH) McKinley
1998 Concord (CA) De La Salle
1999 Midland (TX) Lee
2000 Concord (CA) De La Salle
2001 Concord (CA) De La Salle
2002 Concord (CA) De La Salle
2003 Concord (CA) De La Salle Thousand Oaks (CA) Westlake
2004 Southlake (TX) Carroll Cincinnati (OH) Colerain
2005 Lakeland (FL) Southlake (TX) Carroll
2006 Southlake (TX) Carroll Southlake (TX) Carroll Southlake (TX) Carroll
2007 Miami (FL) Northwestern Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier Concord (CA) De La Salle
2008 Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas Cleveland (OH) St. Ignatius Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas
2009 Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep Abilene (TX) Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep
2010 Batesville (MS) South Panola Lakewood (OH) St. Edward Batesville (MS) South Panola Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep
2011 Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep
2012 River Ridge (LA) John Curtis Christian Allen (TX) River Ridge (LA) John Curtis Christian Allen (TX) River Ridge (LA) John Curtis Christian Concord (CA) De La Salle
2013 Miami (FL) Booker T. Washington Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Miami (FL) Booker T. Washington Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Allen (TX) Allen (TX)
2014 Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman Concord (CA) De La Salle Allen (TX) Concord (CA) De La Salle Allen (TX) Allen (TX)
2015 Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman Concord (CA) De La Salle Katy (TX) Katy (TX) Moultrie (GA) Colquitt County Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman
2016 Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman
2017 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei
2018 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Houston (TX) North Shore Houston (TX) North Shore Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei
2019 Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco
2020 Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy Austin (TX) Westlake Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
2021 Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei
2022 Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco

National championships by school

Composite

Years selected for overall national championships are denoted by boldfaced type below; years selected for specialty national championships that were reserved for specific kinds of schools (such as for private, public, medium or small-sized schools only) are in regular type. It is theoretically possible that some early national championship games held when segregation was legal may have restricted qualifying schools to all-white rosters, but in the absence of incriminating documentation, all championship games are currently assumed to have been open to all teams and are therefore listed below in boldface.

City State School Championship(s) Year(s)
Concord CA De La Salle 12 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015
Massillon OH Washington 9 1935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1959, 1961
Santa Ana CA Mater Dei 6 1994, 1996, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021
Valdosta GA Valdosta 6 1962, 1969, 1971, 1984, 1986, 1992
Miami FL Miami 5 1942, 1943, 1960, 1962, 1965
Cincinnati OH Moeller 5 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982
Oak Park IL Oak Park 5 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1920
Cleveland OH St. Ignatius 4 1989, 1993, 1995, 2008
Coral Gables FL Coral Gables 4 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969
Toledo OH Scott 4 1916, 1919, 1922, 1923
Allen TX Allen 3 2012, 2013, 2014
Austin TX Reagan 3 1967, 1968, 1970
Bellflower CA St. John Bosco 3 2013, 2019, 2022
Berwick PA Berwick Area 3 1983, 1992, 1995
Catawissa PA Southern Columbia Area 3 2018, 2019, 2020
Everett WA Everett 3 1917, 1919, 1920
Las Vegas NV Bishop Gorman 3 2014, 2015, 2016
Ramsey NJ Don Bosco Prep 3 2009, 2010, 2011
Southlake TX Carroll 3 2004, 2005, 2006
Abilene TX Abilene 2 1956, 2009
Canton OH McKinley 2 1934, 1997
Chattanooga TN Baylor 2 1944, 1973
Chicago IL Englewood 2 1908, 1909
Cincinnati OH St. Xavier 2 2005, 2007
Detroit MI Central 2 1904, 1915
Everett MA Everett 2 1914, 1915
Fort Lauderdale FL St. Thomas Aquinas 2 2008, 2010
Hampton VA Hampton 2 1996, 1997
Harrisburg PA Harrisburg Tech 2 1918, 1919
Jacksonville FL Trinity Christian 2 2014, 2015
Katy TX Katy 2 2012, 2015
Lakeland FL Lakeland 2 2005, 2006
Little Rock AR Little Rock Central 2 1946, 1957
Louisville KY duPont Manual 2 1925, 1938
Miami FL Miami Northwestern 2 2007, 2019
Odessa TX Permian 2 1972, 1989
Pine Bluff AR Pine Bluff 2 1925, 1939
Portland OR Jefferson 2 1957, 1958
San Diego CA San Diego 2 1916, 1955
Toledo OH Waite 2 1924, 1932
Tuscaloosa AL Tuscaloosa 2 1926, 1929
Waco TX Waco 2 1927, 1948
Warner Robins GA Warner Robins 2 1976, 1981
West Monroe LA West Monroe 2 1998, 2000
Wichita Falls TX Wichita Falls 2 1949, 1958
Alcoa TN Alcoa 1 2018
Annandale VA Annandale 1 1978
Ashland KY Ashland 1 1931
Austin TX Westlake 1 2020
Batesville MS South Panola 1 2010
Bellevue WA Bellevue 1 2012
Bogalusa LA Bogalusa 1 1969
Bradenton FL IMG Academy 1 2020
Bristol TN Tennessee 1 1972
Calhoun GA Calhoun 1 2011
Carthage TX Carthage 1 2022
Cedar Hill TX Trinity Christian 1 2019
Cedar Rapids IA Washington 1 1924
Charlotte NC Independence 1 2004
Chicago IL Austin 1 1937
Chicago IL Hyde Park 1 1902
Chicago IL Leo 1 1941
Chicago IL North Division
(now called Lincoln Park High)
1 1903
Chicago IL St. Rita 1 1963
China Spring TX China Spring 1 2021
Cincinnati OH Colerain 1 2004
Davie FL University 1 2012
Donora PA Donora 1 1945
Downey CA Downey 1 1957
Doylestown PA Central Bucks West 1 1997
East Chicago IN Roosevelt 1 1947
East Cleveland OH Shaw 1 1923
East St. Louis IL East St. Louis 1 1985
Erie PA Cathedral Prep 1 2000
Evansville IN Memorial 1 1937
Fontana CA Fontana 1 1987
Fostoria OH Fostoria 1 1912
Hollywood FL Chaminade–Madonna Prep 1 2018
Hoover AL Hoover 1 2013
Houston TX Aldine 1 1990
Houston TX North Shore 1 2018
Houston TX Stratford 1 1978
Indianapolis IN Ben Davis 1 1991
Jacksonville FL Duval 1 1921
Jenks OK Jenks 1 2001
LaGrange GA LaGrange 1 1991
Lakewood OH St. Edward 1 2010
Lawrence KS Lawrence 1 1960
Lawton OK Eisenhower 1 1990
Lilburn GA Parkview 1 2002
Long Beach CA Long Beach Poly 1 2000
Los Angeles CA Loyola 1 1975
Louisville KY Trinity 1 2011
Lynn MA Lynn Classical 1 1947
Madison WI Madison 1 1897
Maria Stein OH Marion Local 1 2013
Medford OR Medford 1 1928
Miami FL Booker T. Washington 1 2013
Midland TX Lee 1 1999
Moline IL Moline 1 1900
Moultrie GA Colquitt County 1 2015
Munhall PA Steel Valley 1 2016
New Rochelle NY New Rochelle 1 1932
Oak Ridge TN Oak Ridge 1 1958
Oklahoma City OK Capitol Hill 1 1933
Pasadena CA Blair 1 1969
Pensacola FL Pine Forest 1 1988
Phoenix AZ Union 1 1930
Pico Rivera CA El Rancho 1 1966
Pittsburgh PA North Hills 1 1987
Plano TX Plano 1 1987
Prichard AL Vigor 1 1988
Rancho Cordova CA Cordova 1 1975
River Ridge LA John Curtis Christian 1 2012
Ruston LA Ruston 1 1990
Sammamish WA Eastside Catholic 1 2015
San Francisco CA St. Ignatius Prep 1 1962
Santa Fe Springs CA St. Paul 1 1978
Seattle WA Broadway 1 1906
Shreveport LA Evangel Christian 1 1999
Thomasville GA Thomasville 1 1974
Thousand Oaks CA Westlake 1 2003
Tyler TX John Tyler 1 1973
Vallejo CA Vallejo 1 1954
Weymouth MA Weymouth 1 1951

Most Selectors

Schools Receiving the Most Selectors, Since 1982
(excluding selectors from Small, Medium, Public/Private and other specialty polls)
City State School Championships Year (% of Selectors Received)
Concord CA De La Salle 6 1994 (67%), 1998 (67%), 2000 (63%), 2001 (86%), 2002 (83%), 2003 (86%)
Santa Ana CA Mater Dei 3 2017 (100%), 2018 (56%), 2021 (100%)
Southlake TX Carroll 3 2004 (63%), 2005 (57%), 2006 (75%)
Valdosta GA Valdosta 3 1984 (100%), 1986 (100%), 1992 (67%)
Bellflower CA St. John Bosco 2 2019 (100%), 2022 (100%)
Hampton VA Hampton 2 1996 (75%), 1997 (50%)
Ramsey NJ Don Bosco Prep 2 2009 (88%), 2011 (78%)
Allen TX Allen 1 2014 (50%)
Batesville MS South Panola 1 2010 (33%)
Berwick PA Berwick Area 1 1983 (100%)
Bradenton FL IMG Academy 1 2020 (57%)
Cincinnati OH Moeller 1 1982 (100%)
Cincinnati OH St. Xavier 1 2007 (50%)
Cleveland OH St. Ignatius 1 1993 (100%)
East St. Louis IL East St. Louis 1 1985 (100%)
Fort Lauderdale FL St. Thomas Aquinas 1 2008 (88%)
Indianapolis IN Ben Davis 1 1991 (67%)
Katy TX Katy 1 2015 (38%)
Las Vegas NV Bishop Gorman 1 2016 (100%)
Miami FL Booker T. Washington 1 2013 (56%)
Odessa TX Permian 1 1989 (67%)
Pensacola FL Pine Forest 1 1988 (67%)
River Ridge LA John Curtis Christian 1 2012 (50%)
Shreveport LA Evangel Christian 1 1999 (63%)

See also


This page was last updated at 2023-06-17 18:26 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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