PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 62 Booker T. Washington

62. Booker T. Washington (Miami)
Last season’s record: 14-0, Class 4A champion
Coach: Earl Tillman
Key players: QB Torrance Moise (5-8, 165, Sr.), RB Eduardo Clements (5-10, 185, Jr.), WR/DB Natturner Harris (6-0, 155, Sr.), OL Jose Jose (6-3, 322, Jr.), WR Lindon Trail (6-4, 185, Sr.), LB Gerald Taylor (6-1, 220, Sr.), WR Emmanuel Noel (5-9, 160, Sr.), LB Keenan Frazier (5-11, 200, Sr.)
Biggest strength: Offensive skill positions
Question mark: Inexperience on defense
Outlook: Only four starters are back for first-year head coach Tillman but it includes the field general, Moise, who took over the QB position due to an injury in Game 2 last season and led the Tornadoes to their first state championship. Moise will be surrounded by a highly talented offensive support cast. Clements is a big-time running back who first broke onto the scene with a 200-yard rushing performance in a playoff game his freshman year. The receiving corps are very stacked with the return of Harris, Noel and the angular Trail. The offensive line will be built around strongman Jose. From a personnel perspective, BTW’s defense will bare little resemblance to the ’07 unit that allowed only 66 points in 14 games. Taylor and Frazier will lead a young but talented group on that side of the ball.
Toughest games: Aug. 29 vs. No. 63 Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), Sept. 5 at No. 95 Northside (Warner Robins, Ga.), Sept. 12 at No. 88 Miami Central, Sept. 19 at Miami Northwestern

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 63 Hamilton

63. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)

Last season’s record: 12-1, lost in 5A/I semifinals

Coach: Steve Belles

Key players: LB Anthony Jones (6-1, 220, Sr.), WR Andrew Terrell (5-11, 180, Sr.), DT Michael Sylvestre (6-1, 245, Sr.), DB Ryan Milus (5-10, 160, Sr.), LB Rueben Robinson (6-1, 215, Sr.), LB Justin Rosales (5-8, 185, Sr.), DB Devon Carrington (6-2, 180, Jr.), QB Zak Hambach (6-2, 190, Sr.), RB Dante Alexander (5-10, 205, Sr.)

Biggest strength: Experience on defense

Question mark: Inexperience on offensive line

Outlook: The Huskies begin the season playing arguably their three most difficult games. After a trip to Miami to battle defending Florida 4A champion Booker T. Washington, the Huskies will face defending Arizona 5A/I champ Brophy followed by a trip to in-state 4A power Centennial. It will be a tough test for an inexperienced offense with only three starters, but should further galvanize a strong defense that has eight veterans returning. Jones is a tremendous athlete with a 42-inch vertical jump. He had 94 tackles and six sacks as a junior. Robinson, an Oregon State recruit, added 92 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions. The secondary is strong with the highly athletic Carrington patrolling at free safety. On offense, Terrell led the team in receiving last year with 786 yards and also 611 yards on kick returns. Hambach and Alexander will be first-year starters in the backfield.

Toughest games: Aug. 29 at Booker T. Washington (Miami), Sept. 5 vs. No. 74 Brophy Prep, Sept. 12 at Centennial, Sept. 26 at Red Mountain, Nov. 7 at Chandler

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 64 North Allegheny

64. North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.)
Last season’s record: 11-1, lost in WPIAL semifinals
Coach: Art Walker
Key players: QB Mike Locke (6-1, 199, Sr.), OT Ryan Schleiper (6-5, 280, Sr.), OT Mike Vuono (6-3, 275, Sr.), WR Brian Austin (5-9, 165, Sr.), DB Jackson Boyd (6-1, 195, Sr.)
Biggest strength: Experience on offense
Question mark: Inexperience on defense
Outlook: The Tigers return several key pieces from a team whose only loss was by 1 point to Gateway in the WPIAL playoffs. Five starters are back on offense including Locke, a good athlete with a strong arm who threw for over 1,000 yards as a junior. Both starting offensive tackles are also back in place. Schleiper has more than one scholarship offers at this point and Vuono is developing into a Division I prospect, as well. This could be a breakout year for Austin, who ran a 10.78 time to place third in the 100 meters this spring at the state track meet. Defensively, only two starters are back led by Boyd , who had 92 tackles and four interceptions.
Toughest games: Sept. 12 at Upper St. Clair, Sept. 19 vs. Penn Hills

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 65 Converse Judson

65. Judson (Converse, Texas)
Last season’s record: 11-5, Class 5A/I runner-up
Coach: Jim Rackley
Key players: LB Chris McAllister (6-2, 215, Sr.), LB William Thornton (6-0, 200, Sr.), DB Erik Brown (5-10, 180, Sr.), OT Ameer Townes (6-0, 300, Sr.), QB Chris Patton (5-11, 165, Sr.)
Biggest strength: Defense
Question mark: Inexperience on offense
Outlook: Eight defensive starters return for the Rockets, who have won six state championships and played for another five titles since 1980. It’s a talented group that helped push nationally ranked Euless Trinity to its limit before losing, 13-10, in last season’s 5A/I final. Judson will be particularly strong at linebacker. McAllister, a Texas recruit, led the defense with 83 tackles including 10 for losses as a junior. Thornton also made plenty of big stops and earned all-district plaudits. Brown is a Division I cornerback prospect who intercepted seven passes. All-district tackle Townes leads an offensive line with only one returning starter. Patton brings 4.5 speed to the QB position, but has no starting experience.
Toughest games: Aug. 28 vs. Warren, Sept. 5 at Smithson Valley, Sept. 12 vs. Pflugerville

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 66 John Curtis Christian

66. John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)

Last season’s record: 12-2, Class 2A champion

Coach: J.T. Curtis

Key players: RB/LB Kenny Cain (5-11, 210, Sr.), DT Walker Ashburn (6-2, 265, Jr.), DB/WR Jonathan McKnight (6-0, 170, Jr.), OG George Alonzo (6-0, 300, Sr.), OG Shane Conraddy (6-1, 250, Sr.), LB Jonathan Pippin (6-0, 210, Sr.), LB Matt Stansbury (5-11, 195, Sr.), DT Mike Henry (6-5, 270, Sr.), QB Evan Ingram (6-1, 220, Sr.)

Biggest strength: Defense

Question mark: Inexperience on offense

Outlook: Last season the Patriots added their fourth consecutive state championship and 10th in 12 years. There are nine starters back including McKnight, younger brother of Joe (now at USC) and a fellow two-way playmaker with excellent speed and quickness. Cain is a big, physical back who moved from LB to RB and ran for 1,200 yards. At QB is Ingram, a strong-armed transfer who sat out last season. A strong nucleus returns from a defense that allowed only 65 points in the Patriots’ final 10 games. Ashburn played great in the postseason and was named defensive MVP of the state championship game. Hard-hitting linebackers Pippin and Stansbury each totaled more than 100 tackles last season.

Toughest games: Sept. 1 vs. Euless Trinity (Texas), Sept. 11 vs. East St. John, Sept. 26 at Blount (Ala.), Oct. 31 at St. James

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 67 Los Alamitos

67. Los Alamitos (Calif.)
Last season’s record: 7-3, did not qualify for the playoffs
Coach: John Barnes
Key players: QB Clark Evans (6-4, 205, Sr.), WR Darryl Jenkins (6-0, 175, Sr.), RB Nathan Castaneda (5-9, 175, Sr.), WR Paul Richardson (6-0, 180, Sr.), DB Josh Barut (5-11, 175, Jr.), LB Anthony Napoles (6-0, 200, Sr.), WR Jon Cheri (5-9, 160, Sr.)
Biggest strength: QB, receivers
Question mark: Offensive line
Outlook: Despite missing the postseason last season, Barnes has led the Griffins to four CIF titles since 1991 and is the winningest football coach in Orange County history. A talented group of skilled players returns led by Evans. As a junior, the Colorado recruit completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,118 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also ran for 952 yards and 15 scores. Evans’ top three receivers also return with Richardson, Cheri and Jenkins, who led the team with 53 receptions for 816 yards. On defense, a pair of all-league selections are back in Barut and Napoles
Toughest games: Oct. 23 vs. Edison, Nov. 7 vs. Esperanza

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 68 Abilene

68. Abilene (Texas)

Last season’s record: 13-2, Class 5A/II semifinalist

Coach: Steve Warren

Key players: LB Chris Williams (6-1, 220, Sr.), QB Stephen Warren (6-2, 180, Sr.), DB Keith Carroll (6-0, 170, Sr.), RB Zach Bass (6-0, 165, Sr.), DB Karsten Goodman (6-1, 180, Jr.), OL Alec Egan (6-5, 230, Sr.), OL Drew Carroll (6-3, 260, Jr.)

Biggest strength: Experience on defense

Question mark: Receivers

Outlook: The Eagles were an overtime loss to Pflugerville in the semifinals away from playing for their first state championship since 1956. Nine starters are back including seven on defense. The unit is led by four-year starter Williams, a highly routed recruit who made 30 tackles for losses and had 11 sacks. He was named the 5A state defensive player of the year last season, a rare honor for an underclassman. A pair of all-district safeties also return to the defense with Keith Carroll and Goodman. An inexperienced offensive unit will be piloted by Warren, the coach’s son. He completed 64 percent of his passes for 700 yards and six touchdowns while sharing the quarterback duties as a junior.

Toughest games: Sept. 5 at Plano East, Sept. 19 vs. Tyler Lee

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 69 Evangel Christian

69. Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.)
Last season’s record: 11-3, lost in Class 2A semifinals
Coach: John Bachman
Key players: QB Dez Duron (5-10, 182, Sr.), RB/WR Cederrick Tyson (5-9, 193, Sr.), WR/DB Quinn Giles (5-11, 197, Sr.), DB Trey Wilson (6-0, 188, Sr.), DT Blake Cogswell (5-10, 276, Sr.), LB Ray Johnson (5-10, 222, Sr.), DT Kuinton Jackson (6-5, 300, Sr.)
Biggest strength: Defense, experience, special teams
Question mark: Offensive line
Outlook: There are 16 starters back for the Eagles, who seek their 12th state championship since 1993. Duron, a fine athlete who finished second at the state track meet in the 800 meters, had 3,083 passing yards and 28 touchdowns as junior. Tyson, a four-year starter, had more than 1,300 combined rushing and receiving yards and also completed six passes. Giles and Wilson are Division I prospects with excellent speed. The defensive front is like a brick wall with the return of Louisiana-Monroe recruit Cogswell and Jackson, a talented transfer from Northwood. Johnson had more than 100 tackles a year ago.
Toughest games: Sept. 5 vs. Shiloh Christian (Ark.), Sept. 19 at Lake Travis (Texas), Oct. 17 at Bastrop

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 70 St. Xavier

70. St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.)

Last season’s record: 14-1, Class 6A runner-up

Coach: Mike Glaser

Key players: RB Rolandan “Deuce” Finch (5-10, 201, Sr.), DB/WR D.J. Hall (5-11, 203, Sr.), DE Trevor Foy (6-7, 251, Sr.), OT Seth Harvey (6-4, 323, Sr.), DB Zach Kamber (5-9, 170, Sr.)

Biggest strength: RB

Question mark: Inexperience at QB and LB

Outlook: For the second time in three years, St. Xavier defeated its archrival Trinity during the regular season but were beaten by the Shamrocks in the state championship game. St. X and Trinity have combined to win 13 titles since 1990, with only five belonging to the Tigers and the most recent was in 2004. Finch’s return is a tremendous building block for an offensive unit that returns only three starters. As a junior, he ran for over 1,600 yards with 15 touchdowns. The lone veteran in the trenches is Harvey. On defense, there is a bit more experience beginning with two-way athlete Hall. Look for a big senior season from Foy, who also started as a junior and is solid Division I prospect.

Toughest games: Sept. 19 vs. Male, Sept. 26 vs. Manual, Oct. 3 vs. Trinity, Oct. 24 at Pleasure Ridge Park

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 71 Carmel

71. Carmel (Ind.)

Last season’s record: 13-2, Class 5A champion

Coach: Mo Moriarty

Key players: QB Morgan Newton (6-4, 215, Sr.), RB Kurt Freytag (6-2, 220, Sr.), OT Brooks Michel (6-7, 285, Sr.), DB Joe Rippe (6-2, 190, Sr.), LB Brian East (6-1, 185, Jr.)

Biggest strength: QB position

Question mark: Inexperience at LB

Outlook: Six starters return on each side of the ball for the Greyhounds including four Division I prospects. Opposing defenses again will have their hands full with Newton, who passed for 1,883 yards and ran for 750 yards with 32 total touchdowns last season. Freytag will become the primary ball carrier after running for 949 yards and 11 touchdowns as a fullback. Minnesota recruit Michel is one of two returning starters on the offensive line. Rippe was named all-state after leading the defense with six interceptions.

Toughest games: Aug. 22 vs. Cathedral, Sept. 5 at Center Grove, Oct. 3 at Warren Central, Oct. 17 vs. Ben Davis

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 72 Bear Creek

72. Bear Creek (Lakewood, Colo.)
Last season’s record: 10-3, lost in Class 5A semifinals
Coach: Tom Thenell
Key players: QB Zach Thenell (5-10, 175, Jr.), RB Tommy Flanagan (5-10, 190, Sr.), OT Jeremiah Sirles (6-8, 285, Sr.), WR Dajuan Mack (6-2, 205, Sr.), RB Lukas Lockett (6-1, 200, Jr.), OL Dylan Heitsmith (6-2, 290, Jr.)
Biggest strength: Returning offensive skill players
Question mark: Secondary
Outlook: Sixteen starters return for the Bears, who have appeared in three state championship games the last 17 seasons but are still searching for their first crown. Flanagan accounted for more than 2,300 combined rushing and receiving yards with 26 TDs as a junior. Thenell, the coach’s son, led the state in passing yards (3,168) and TDs (34). Mack, who caught 66 passes for 872 yards and 14 TDs, is a big-time playmaker. Sirles is a high-level recruit who anchors a big and experienced offensive line.
Toughest games: Aug. 29 at Orlando (Fla.) Timber Creek, Oct. 10 at Columbine

PrepNation 101 Preseason FB Countdown: No. 73 Permian

73. Permian (Odessa, Texas)

Last season’s record: 12-1, lost in Class 5A/I region semifinals

Coach: Darren Allman

Key players: OT Garrett Porter (6-6, 300, Sr.), LB Jerome Leija (6-0, 190, Sr.), RB Sherard Ray (5-10, 175, Sr.), WR Ryan Rumbaugh (5-10, 175, Sr.), QB Trevor Adams (6-1, 185, Sr.)

Biggest strength: Offensive line

Question mark: Inexperience

Outlook: The “MOJO” nearly returned to the top of Texas high school football in 2007. Permian dominated eventual 5A/I champion Euless Trinity, 30-3, in Week 2 and spent four weeks ranked in the National Prep Poll Top 25 before losing to Trinity, 38-14, in the playoffs. That left the six-time state champion Panthers empty handed at season’s end once again since their last title in 1991. Four starters on offense and three on defense are back for another run this fall. Porter is the most noteworthy of the group. He committed to the University of Texas after helping Permian average of 43 points per game as a junior. Four additional seniors are expected to win jobs on the offensive line, although all will be first year-starters. The return of all-district honorees Ray and Rumbaugh will be a benefit to rookie QB Adams. On defense, Leija is the leader after recording 101 tackles as a junior.

Toughest games: Aug. 28 vs. Duncanville, Sept. 12 at Lubbock Monterey, Nov. 7 at Midland