10 Teams to Watch (Please note: This list is not at all final nor comprehensive and the teams are listed in alphabetical order.)
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
The coach: Bob Ladouceur
The record: 12-0 last season with 125 straight wins and two consecutive National Prep Poll titles
The resume: Someone will probably have to knock off the Spartans before it would be right to surrender their crown as the nation’s top-ranked team. This year’s DLS team could have team speed than any before it.
Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.)
The coach: John Booty
The record: 14-1 last season and its first state title since 1999 when it also won the National Prep Poll title
The resume: Junior QB John David Booty (6-3, 190) is the next in a long line of outstanding Evangel passers and led the Eagles past West Monroe in the Class 5A title game. WR Tristen Ross (6-0, 185) figures to be Booty’s top target and S Chad Johnson (5-11, 185) will be one of the top defensive back prospects in the nation.
Helix (La Mesa, Calif.)
The coach: Gordon Wood
The record: 25-1 over the last two seasons (Wood’s first two at the school) with back-to-back San Diego Section Division II titles
The resume: A great place to start is RB Reggie Bush (6-0, 185) who will return after a 2001 season with 2,200 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns. Standout WR Charles Smith (6-1, 180) is also back for the Scottie Dogs.
Independence (Charlotte, N.C.)
The coach: Tommy Knotts
The record: 16-0 last season with 31 straight wins and back-to-back Class 4A titles
The resume: Two words - Chris Leak. The nation’s top returning signal caller, Leak (6-2, 210), already owns all of North Carolina’s state passing records and should finish his career at least among the top 3 nationally in both yards and touchdowns. To prove their mettle, the Patriots will get a crack at possibly South Carolina’s finest, Spartanburg, during the early season.
Joliet Catholic (Joliet, Ill.)
The coach: Dan Sharp
The record: 41-1 with three state championships since 1999.
The resume: The Hilltoppers lose FB J.R. Zwierzynski to Penn State and OT Mike Kolodziej to Michigan but will welcome the return of 10 other starters. Look for junior DT/TE Jim Jadron (6-4, 240) to become a blue-chipper in two years.
Palm Bay (Melbourne, Fla.)
The coach: Dan Burke
The record: 24-3 the last two seasons with a state championship in 2001
The resume: The undefeated Pirates were rolling through the Class 4A playoffs last season before running into and losing to eventual champ and sickingly talented Tallahassee Lincoln, 24-21, in the state semifinals. Big-time RB/LB Joe Cohen (6-3, 235) is one of several talented returning players.
Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
The coach: Cecil Flowe
The record: 15-0 last season and 30-0 the last two seasons with two straight Class AAAAA state titles
The resume: The Panthers lose all-state DB Jeff Francoeur but return plenty of talent in QB Dustin Wade (6-2, 190) and all-staters RB Sean Dawkins (5-10, 205) and OL Zeb McKinzey (6-4, 285).
Ryan (Denton, Texas)
The coach: Joey Florence
The record: 15-0 last season and a Class 4A/I state championship
The resume: The Raiders were not nationally ranked last season but that might change in 2002 with the return of last year’s District 4A-9 MVP James Battle (6-2, 190) along with 6-7, 220-pound pass rush specialist Jarvis Moss.
St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
The coach: Chuck Kyle
The record: 2001 was one of Iggy’s worst seasons in recent history record-wise (11-4), but it still closed with state championship No. 9.
The resume: The Wildcats have always played great defense and rushed the ball effectively, but Ohio State verbal DB-WR Tony Gonzalez (6-0, 180) gives Ignatius a dynamic new dimension.
Spartanburg (Spartanburg, S.C.)
The coach: Doc Davis
The record: 13-2 last season as the Vikings won their fifth state championship since 1991.
The resume: If the Vikes can knock off Independence (N.C.) in September, a top-10 national ranking would not be out of the question by early October. The defending AAAA/Big 16 state titlists return most of its offensive firepower in QB Brandon Sims (6-2, 180), WR Antwan Surratt (5-9, 170) and RB Donovan Gist.
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