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St. Thomas reigns supreme

ESPNRISE.com

Updated: December 23, 2008, 3:29 PM ET

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There is certainly no suspense at the top of the final 2008 ESPN RISE = FAB 50=20 national football rankings, especially the way No. 1 team St. Thomas = Aquinas of=20 Florida walloped previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Lakeland 56-7 = last=20 Friday night to win the Florida Class fa state championship.

[+] Enlarge

Scott Purks

St. Thomas Aquinas ran away with its second = consecutive state=20 title.

But with previous No. 2 Long Beach Poly of California going down in = the=20 California Interscholastic Federation Open Division championship on = Saturday=20 night, that did create the opportunity for movement throughout the rest = of the=20 top 10 for the final rankings.

Despite suffering one loss, Texas Class 5A Division I champion Allen = took the=20 final No. 2 spot in the FAB 50. The Eagles' one loss was to Trinity of = Euless,=20 Texas, which was the No. 1 team until Allen avenged its earlier loss = with a=20 34-21 win on Dec. 6. The Eagles won their state title last Saturday at = Reliant=20 Stadium in Houston with a 21-14 victory over previously unbeaten and = nationally=20 ranked Hightower.

Moving up to No. 3 was Texas Class 4A Division I champion Lake Travis = of=20 Austin. The Cavaliers were previously No. 5 but hopped Camden County of=20 Kingsland, Ga., in the final rankings as voters were impressed with = their 48-23=20 title-game win over Longview.

Lake Travis quarterback Garrett Gilbert passed for five scores and = ran for=20 two more to complete probably the greatest season any prep quarterback = in Texas=20 has ever had, but the difference in the Cavaliers getting bumped up to = No. 3 had=20 more to do with their margin of victory over Longview. That was a team = that lost=20 21-7 early in the season to No. 2 Allen.

Rounding out the top five is Centennial of Corona, Calif., which was = No. 8=20 last week but moved up after a 21-16 win over De La Salle of Concord in = the CIF=20 Division I state championship bowl game. The result also in effect = avenges a=20 loss from last year to the Spartans that has prevented the Huskies from=20 currently being on a 30-game winning streak.

The team making the biggest jump in the final rankings was the one = that=20 knocked off Long Beach Poly. Head coach Mike Alberghini's squad from = Grant High=20 in Sacramento was voted in the 10th position after its 25-20 win last = Saturday=20 completed a 14-0 season. The Pacers also had wins over state champions = from=20 Idaho and Utah.

Two years ago, Grant had arguably an even more talented team than = this year's=20 version, but the Pacers weren't able to prove how strong they were in a = CIF bowl=20 game. That team still ended at No. 25 in the FAB 50. This year's team = did get=20 the chance, won the biggest game in the history of Sacramento-area prep=20 football, and finishes in the top 10.

Two new teams also moved into the FAB 50 for the final rankings, both = for the=20 first time all season. One was a team that just ended its season, = Seminole of=20 Florida, which won the Florida Class 6A state title on Saturday night = over=20 three-time defending champ Miami Northwestern.

The other was a team that ended its season way back on Nov. 21, = Timpview of=20 Provo, Utah. The T-Birds have won three straight Class 4A state titles = and are=20 taking a 36-game winning streak into next season.

ESPN RISE FAB 50

The ESPN RISE FAB 50 rankings were compiled by a panel of ESPN RISE = and=20 ESPN.com high school editors, which includes Mark Tennis, Steve Brand, = Kynon=20 Codrington, Doug Huff, Brian Stumpf, Mike Loveday, Chris Lawlor, Jon = Mahoney,=20 Sheldon Shealer, Bob Masajo, Ronnie Flores and Paul Muyskens. =

Final results

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, = Fla.)=20
Record: 15-0
Points: 250 pts
Previous = rank:=20 1
Former Raiders star Michael Irvin flew in from Dallas with his two = sons to=20 witness the team's 56-7 demolition of Lakeland in the Class 5A state = final that=20 secured the final No. 1 national ranking. Highlights of the game also = were shown=20 on "NFL Countdown" last Sunday on ESPN with NFL analyst Cris Carter = still on top=20 of the world due to his son, Duron, being the top receiver for the team. = St.=20 Thomas Aquinas didn't get rolling until the second half of its game = against=20 Elder of Cincinnati at the Kirk Herbstreit Classic way back on Labor Day = weekend. Since then, it has been romp city as head coach George Smith's = team=20 proved it belongs among the best ever from the Sunshine State.

2. Allen (Allen, Texas)
Record: = 15-1
Points: 243=20 pts
Previous record: 3

The Eagles got three second-half touchdown passes from junior Tucker = Carter=20 to overcome another slow start and defeat Fort Bend Hightower 21-14 to = claim the=20 Texas Class 5A Division I state championship Saturday night at Reliant = Stadium.=20 Carter, who outdueled Hightower's Miami-bound senior A.J. Highsmith with = a=20 strong second half, found Marcus Thomas from 37 yards out early in the = fourth=20 quarter to give the Eagles their first lead at 14-7, and his 9-yard TD = toss to=20 Justin Robinson pushed the margin to 21-7 minutes later. Carter finished = 21-of-30 for 238 yards to earn offensive player of the game honors. The = state=20 title was the first in school history for Allen, which beat three = undefeated=20 teams and FAB 50-ranked teams -- Odessa Permian, Euless Trinity and = Hightower --=20 without injured starting quarterback Matt Brown during its playoff run. =

3. Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
Record:=20 16-0
Points: 238 pts
Previous record: 5

Elite 11 quarterback Garrett Gilbert capped a fairy-tale senior = season by=20 passing for five touchdowns and rushing for two more as Lake Travis = whipped=20 previous FAB 50 No. 48 Longview 48-23 in the Class 4A Division I title = game last=20 Saturday at Baylor's Floyd Casey Stadium. Gilbert completed 26 of 37 = passes for=20 356 yards, finishing the game with 12,534 career passing yards, breaking = Graham=20 Harrell's Texas state record of 12,532 yards. Gilbert also surpassed his = own=20 single-season state passing record of 4,826 yards set a year ago, = finishing the=20 2008 campaign with 4,852 yards. The Cavaliers might even have a = legitimate gripe=20 in finishing ranked behind Allen, as they topped Longview by 25 points = and Allen=20 managed only a 21-7 victory over the Lobos earlier in the year.

4. Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.)
Record:=20 15-0
Points: 234 pts
Previous record: 4

Head coach Jeff Herron's team won its second state title in six years = with a=20 21-14 victory over Peachtree Ridge in the Class AAAAA state final on = Dec. 13 at=20 the Georgia Dome. The big play of the game for the Wildcats was an = 85-yard=20 touchdown pass from Christian Milstead to DeAngelo Smith. Camden County, = which=20 also beat perennial power Hoover of Alabama 44-16 early in the season = and took=20 out unbeaten Newnan 27-7 in the state semifinals, was No. 21 in the = preseason=20 and finishes in the top five.

5. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Record:=20 15-0
Points: 230 pts
Previous record: 8

Taylor Martinez didn't throw for any touchdowns, but he completed 15 = of 21=20 passes for 243 yards and scored once as the Huskies defeated previous = No. 19 De=20 La Salle of Concord 21-14 in the CIF Division I state bowl game. = Martinez ended=20 the year with 2,994 passing yards for the season and also had 750 yards = rushing.=20 Centennial, which also had running back Arthur Burns and his 1,800 yards = rushing=20 on offense with All-American linebacker Vontaze Burfict on defense, = posted=20 additional quality wins over Mater Dei of Santa Ana, Clovis West of = Fresno and=20 two against Chaparral of Temecula, which was 12-0 against the other = teams it=20 played.

6. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.)
Record:=20 15-0
Points: 228 pts
Previous record: 6

Phillip Sims, who is still just a junior, passed for over 3,000 yards = for the=20 second straight year in leading the Tigers to the Division 6 state = title. His=20 favorite target was University of Virginia-bound Tim Smith, who hauled = in 73=20 passes for 1,681 yards. Oscar Smith was dominant in its state title win = of 54-24=20 over Osbourn, but did have a tougher time in the semis with a 10-7 = triumph over=20 FAB 50-ranked Oakton.

7. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)
Record:=20 14-1
Points: 218 pts
Previous record:7

The Wildcats, appearing in a state-record 21st consecutive playoff, = returned=20 to the championship level for the first time since 2001 by winning a = record 10th=20 state Division 1 crown since 1988. St. Ignatius won its final 14 games,=20 including a 28-20 finals victory over Cincinnati Elder. The Cats lost = the opener=20 20-17 on a last-play field goal by city rival Glenville, but avenged the = lone=20 setback in the playoffs 8-7. Coach Chuck Kyle, with a 26-year record of=20 252-56-1, led a team which featured all-state quarterback Andrew Holland = and=20 all-state junior linebacker Scott McVey.

8. Phoebus (Hampton, Va.)
Record: = 15-0
Points: 216=20 pts
Previous record:9

The Phantoms, led by highly regarded QB Tahj Boyd, were on fire from = the=20 first game and never let up. They outscored their foes 720-53 in winning = their=20 second state title in three years. One of those wins was a 38-8 victory = over=20 Stone Bridge, which was unbeaten and nationally ranked at the time.

9. Trinity (Euless, Texas)
Record: = 13-1
Points:=20 207 pts
Previous record:11

Trinity, the FAB 50 preseason No. 1 team, finishes ranked among the = top 10=20 after splitting two games with Class 5A Division I state titlist Allen. = Trinity=20 topped Allen 24-14 in the regular season, only to fall in the playoff = rematch=20 34-21. The Trojans also topped No. 16 John Curtis 28-12 in both teams' = season=20 opener.

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Dave Einsel

Justin Robinson and Allen surprised many with their = postseason run to the Texas Class 5A title.

10. Grant (Sacramento, Calif.)
Record:=20 14-0
Points: 203 pts
Previous record:37
All of = the Pacers=20 stepped up their games in order to beat previous No. 2 Long Beach Poly = 25-20 in=20 the CIF Open Division championship bowl game last Saturday, but perhaps = none=20 more than quarterback Kipeli Koniseti and receiver Darvin McCauley. = Koniseti, a=20 6-3, 225-pounder, completed 13 of 26 passes for 236 yards and two TDs = and rushed=20 16 times for 55 yards and another score. McCauley caught eight passes = for 135=20 yards and both of Koniseti's touchdowns. Grant, which also defeated Alta = of Utah=20 and Highland of Idaho (champions in their states) during the season, = impressed=20 enough in beating Poly that it was able to move up 27 spots for the = final=20 rankings.

11. Plant (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: = 14-1
Points: 201=20 pts
Previous record:13

The Panthers got 344 yards and three touchdown passes from Aaron = Murray in=20 his second game back from a broken leg to top Tallahassee Lincoln 34-14 = in the=20 Florida Class 4A state title game Saturday in Orlando. Murray, who = suffered a=20 broken leg in mid-October that was supposed to keep him out for three to = four=20 months, hit Orson Charles on a 72-yard strike in the second quarter to = push=20 Plant to a 14-0 lead and then found Nathan Marvel on a 72-yard = catch-and-run in=20 the waning seconds of the first half to give the Panthers an = insurmountable 28-0=20 halftime lead. The title caps an amazing year for Murray, a Georgia = recruit, who=20 was also named MVP of both the Elite 11 QB competition and the Nike 7ON = national=20 championship last summer.

12. Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
Record: = 14-1
Points: 196=20 pts
Previous record:12

Junior running back Marcus Lattimore rushed for 2,325 yards this = season as=20 the Rebels completed a 14-1 state championship season. Byrnes avenged a=20 regular-season loss to Dorman by defeating the Cavaliers 24-13 in the = state=20 semifinals. The Rebels have played for the Class 4A Division I = championship in=20 six of the past seven seasons. They should make it seven of eight with = Lattimore=20 plus QB Chas Dodd and many other starters coming back next year.

13. Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)
Record:=20 14-0
Points: 184 pts
Previous record:16

The Spartans became the first school in Washington state history to = win=20 back-to back football titles in different classifications. The 2007 = Class 3A=20 champs capped another unbeaten season with a 20-15 win over rival = Issaquah to=20 claim the 4A title and extend their win streak to 28 games. The Spartans = were=20 dominant, outscoring opponents 514-77 despite pulling the first team at = the half=20 in most games. With the return of highly touted QB Jake Heaps, = Washington Player=20 of the Year, the Spartans are likely to claim their third straight title = in=20 2009.

14. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
Record:=20 11-1
Points: 182 pts
Previous record:14

Don Bosco put Jersey on the high school football map this year with = its=20 nationally televised win on the road at FAB 50 De La Salle (Concord, = Calif.).=20 Aside from losing at St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio) in their season = opener, the=20 Ironmen were able to cruise in the majority of their games thanks to a = balanced=20 offensive attack and dominating defense. Leading the way was senior = running back=20 and Gatorade State Player of the Year Dillon Romain, who ran for 1,435 = yards and=20 scored 25 touchdowns, including three in Don Bosco's win over Bergen = Catholic in=20 the Non-Public, Group 4 finals. It was the Ironmen's third consecutive = title.=20

15. Hightower (Fort Bend, Texas)
Record:=20 13-1
Points: 177 pts
Previous record:15

The Hurricanes are pondering what could have been after falling to = Allen=20 21-14 in the 5A DI Texas state final on Saturday. Hightower dominated = the first=20 half but led only 7-0 at the break after being stopped on a = fourth-and-goal from=20 the 1-yard line and also having a field goal blocked. Darius Johnson was = mesmerizing in the loss for the Canes, catching five passes for 96 yards = and=20 also scoring on a 42-yard run.

16. John T. Curtis (River Ridge, La.)
Record:=20 14-1
Points: 174 pts
Previous record:17

Reverse a season-opening loss to Trinity of Texas, which was FAB 50 = No. 1 at=20 the time, and the Patriots might well have been in the top 10. Trinity = actually=20 moved to No. 1 before it was upset. Coach J.T. Curtis' club got stronger = as the=20 season progressed, finishing off with an impressive 35-14 win over = Shreveport=20 Evangel for the school's fifth straight state 2A title. For Curtis, the = coach,=20 it was win No. 467 and for the Patriots a record 23rd state title = overall.

17. Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: = 13-2
Points:=20 163 pts
Previous record:18

The Panthers, with several underclassmen in key roles, finished as = state=20 Division 1 runner-up and lost two competitive games to FAB 50 No. 1 St. = Thomas=20 Aquinas (35-24) and in the finals to No. 7 St. Ignatius (28-20). Elder, = the Ohio=20 Division 1 champion in 2002 and 2003, was led by junior quarterback Mark = Miller,=20 junior wide receiver Tim O'Connor and sophomore linebacker Jacob = Lindsey. Miller=20 passed for a finals record 399 yards and three touchdowns versus St. = Ignatius=20 while O'Conner landed 15 aerials for 184 passes and two scores. Look out = next=20 season.

18. Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
Record: = 14-1
Points:=20 159 pts
Previous record:2

After surviving a series of close calls during the CIF Southern = Section=20 Pac-Five Division playoffs, including a 21-17 victory over Tesoro of Las = Flores=20 in the final, the Jackrabbits didn't make enough big plays for them to = overcome=20 Grant of Sacramento in the CIF Open Division state bowl game. Poly = dropped 16=20 spots in the final FAB 50, but the Jackrabbits stayed in the top 20 due = to their=20 head-to-head win over No. 25 St. Bonaventure. Tesoro was another team = that lost=20 only to Poly, while another key win came against Florida Class 6A state = finalist=20 Miami Northwestern.

19. South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Record:=20 15-0
Points: 158 pts
Previous record:22

Led by University of South Carolina commit Stephen Gilmore, South = Pointe won=20 its first state championship in school history. Gilmore ran for 119 = yards and=20 three touchdowns in the Class 4A Division II state final against = Northwestern to=20 lead his team to a 35-14 victory.

20. Prattville (Prattville, Ala.)
Record:=20 13-1
Points: 155 pts
Previous record:20

What will first-year coach Jamey Dubose do for an encore? Well, maybe = the=20 Lions could go undefeated, as they were just five points away from doing = so,=20 losing to Cincinnati St. Xavier 15-10 in the season opener. Dubose and = his=20 defensive-oriented club (seven shutouts) ran Prattville's state 6A title = streak=20 to three with a 16-13 victory over powerful Hoover in the final.

21. Maine South (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)
Record:=20 14-0
Points: 153 pts
Previous record:21

The Hawks captured their third state title -- others came in 1995 and = 2000 --=20 with a 41-21 Class 8A final' win over Hinsdale Central. All-state = quarterback=20 and Chicago-area player of the year Charlie Goro led the way with 3,836 = total=20 offense yards and 50 touchdowns. The Vanderbilt University recruit = completed 74=20 percent of his passes for 3,171 yards and 38 touchdowns and also rushed = for 665=20 yards and 12 scores. Another all-state selection was defensive lineman = Zach=20 Timm.

22. Liberty (Bethlehem, Pa.)
Record: = 15-1
Points:=20 150 pts
Previous record:24

Junior quarterback Anthony Gonzalez is definitely a name to keep an = eye on=20 next season, especially after what he did for Liberty in this year's = PIAA Class=20 AAAA state playoffs. In the semifinals, Gonzalez completed all four of = his=20 passes for 53 yards and a touchdown and added 82 rushing yards and a = score on 20=20 carries in a 21-14 upset win over then-FAB 50 member North Penn, which = handed=20 Liberty its only loss in the season opener. Against FAB 50 Bethel Park = in the=20 state finals, Gonzalez tallied 302 yards of total offense and also had = the=20 game-clinching interception on defense as the Hurricanes won in overtime = 28-21.=20

23. Armwood (Seffner, Fla.)
Record: = 12-1
Points:=20 146 pts
Previous record:23

Armwood finishes in the top 25 after a 12-1 season that included a = split with=20 Florida Class 4A state champion Tampa Plant. The Hawks defeated Plant = 9-2 in=20 both teams' season opener, but lost in the playoff rematch 17-14. The = team's=20 offense struggled at times, but the defense, led by linebacker Petey = Smith and=20 defensive tackle Ryne Giddens, was one of the best in the nation.

24. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: = 14-1
Points:=20 139 pts
Previous record:25
The Shamrocks continued their = state=20 title runs in 2008. Trinity won its fourth straight state crown and = seventh in=20 the past eight years while recording a state-record 19th championship. = Trinity=20 routed Simon Kenton 48-0 in the Class 6A finals. The Shamrocks avenged = their=20 lone regular-season loss to city rival St. Xavier with a semifinal win = over the=20 Tigers. Linebacker Jordan Whitging, an Ohio State recruit, is one of 10=20 finalists for the state Mr. Football honor. Quarterback Cameron Smyth = passed for=20 2,936 yards and 34 touchdowns and tailback Tim Phillips rushed for 1,535 = yards=20 and 25 touchdowns.

25. St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.)
Record:=20 14-1
Points: 131 pts
Previous record:27

Of all the teams that played in the CIF state bowl games, the Seraphs = were=20 the ones with the most talented underclassmen. They will surely be among = the=20 highest-ranked teams nationally when the preseason polls are completed = this=20 summer. St. Bonaventure, which lost its only game 12-7 to No. 18 Long = Beach=20 Poly, won its five playoff games with ease, including a 28-6 win in the = CIF=20 Division III bowl game over previously unbeaten Cardinal Newman of Santa = Rosa.=20

26. Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)=20
Record:11-1*
Points: 126 pts
Previous=20 record:26

The Tarblooders have yet to capture a state football title but did = hand two=20 champions from neighboring states their only losses this season. = Glenville=20 opened the season with a last-play 20-17 win over city rival St. = Ignatius, which=20 went on to win the state Division 1 crown. Glenville's lone loss was 8-7 = to St.=20 Ignatius in the postseason. In the second regular-season game, Glenville = defeated Thomas Jefferson of Pittsburgh, Pa., which went on to a 14-1 = record and=20 a repeat state Class AAA title. Glenville had two first team all-staters = in=20 offensive lineman Marcus Hall and wide receiver Michael Edwards.

27. Union (Tulsa, = Okla.)
Record:13-1
Points: 123=20 pts
Previous record:28

After being upset by Broken Arrow to begin the season, Union closed = out the=20 year by winning 13 straight games capped by a 34-20 win over archrival = Jenks in=20 the Class 6A state finals. It was the Redskins' second win over Jenks on = the=20 season and their fourth state title since 2002. Senior running back = Jeremy Smith=20 ran for 1,664 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season, while senior = receiver Tracy=20 Moore caught 71 passes for 1,023 yards and 14 touchdowns.

28. Muskegon (Muskegon, = Mich.)
Record:14-0
Points:=20 121 pts
Previous record:29

The Big Reds won their third state title in the past five years with = a=20 dominating 34-14 Division 2 finals victory over previously unbeaten = Warren De La=20 Salle. In regular season, Muskegon handed Division 1 champion Rockford = its only=20 defeat. Linebacker-fullback Jason Hannett was captain of the overall = all-state=20 defensive unit. Other Division 2 all-staters were quarterback Elan Banks = and=20 defensive lineman Carlton Johnson.

29. Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.)=20
Record:14-0
Points: 110 pts
Previous=20 record:30

When the Coyotes open the season next year, they will do so with a = state=20 division record winning streak of 26 straight games and three straight = Arizona=20 5A-II titles. They'll do it without darting running back John Hughes, = who so far=20 has received scant big-time interest despite being the heart of the = team. At=20 5-7, he doesn't fit the major college prototype. No opponent could stop = him,=20 though, as the Coyotes wrapped up the perfect season with a 20-7 victory = over=20 Avondale Westview at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

30. Bethel Park (Pittsburgh,=20 Pa.)
Record:15-1
Points: 107 pts
Previous=20 record:31

The Black Hawks came close to winning their first state football = title when=20 they bowed out 28-21 in overtime to FAB 50-ranked Bethlehem Liberty in = the Class=20 AAAA title game. The Western Pennsylvania champion had upended preseason = No. 1=20 Gateway 10-6 en route to the finals. Bethel Park landed defensive = back-wide=20 receiver John Schademan on the first-team all-state squad and running = back Lyle=20 Marsha made the second unit.

31. Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)=20
Record:14-1
Points: 96 pts
Previous=20 record:32

The Trojans captured their first state football championship and = avenged=20 their only season setback in the same game -- the Class 5A finals. = Center Grove=20 outlasted rival Carmel, the defending champion, by 36-33 in the title = game. In=20 early September, Carmel rallied in the final minute to defeat the = Trojans 33-32.=20 The Trojans were led by quarterback Jordan Luallen, a Georgia Tech = recruit, plus=20 five first team all-staters in running back Luke Swift, offensive guard = Trey=20 Thompson, kicker Mike Wood, linebacker Anthony Elias and defensive back = Kevin=20 Jones.

32. Bellevue (Bellevue, = Wash.)
Record:14-0
Points:=20 95 pts
Previous record:33

Bellevue overcame all obstacles thrown its way this season, including = a=20 serious bus crash on Interstate 5 that forced the rescheduling of its = semifinal=20 game, to capture its sixth 3A state title in eight years and record = seventh=20 overall. The Wolverines completed a perfect 14-0 season in dominant = fashion,=20 thanks to a stout defense and an unstoppable Wing-T offense led by 2A = player of=20 the year Peter Nguyen. Bellevue outscored opponents 519-139 and only one = team=20 came within a touchdown of the Wolverines all season.

33. Dorman (Roebuck, = S.C.)
Record:13-1
Points: 87=20 pts
Previous record:34

Dorman's running game helped it to a 13-1 season, including Ash = Butler's=20 190-yard and three-touchdown performance in its regular-season victory = over=20 Byrnes. In their season finale, the Cavaliers rushed for 252 yards, but = the=20 Byrnes defense held them to only one touchdown as the Cavaliers' = undefeated=20 season ended with a 24-13 loss in the state semifinals.

34. Bolles (Jacksonville,=20 Fla.)
Record:14-0
Points:78 pts
Previous=20 record:36

The Bulldogs captured the Florida 2A state title this year with a = 49-20 win=20 over Miami Gulliver Prep, the school's state-record ninth title all = time. Coach=20 Corky Rogers, Florida's all-time winningest coach, has led the school to = eight=20 of the nine state crowns.

35. St. Xavier (Louisville,=20 Ky.)
Record:13-1
Points:76 pts
Previous=20 record:35

The Tigers were ranked No. 1 in Kentucky all season until city rival = Trinity=20 ended an unbeaten season with a 28-21 decision in the Class 6A = semifinals. St.=20 Xavier had handed Trinity its lone regular-season setback by 30-6. The = Tigers=20 have two Mr. Football finalists in running back Deuce Finch and = quarterback Matt=20 Brutscher.

36. Destrehan (Destrehan, La.)=20
Record:14-0
Points:70 pts
Previous=20 record:39

Leaping from unranked to 36th in two weeks tells you how impressive = the=20 Wildcats were down the stretch. Destrehan won its second state 5A title, = coming=20 from behind to beat former FAB 50 member West Monroe 14-3 in the = Superdome. Wide=20 receiver Kyron King, who caught the 35-yard pass that put the Wildcats = ahead,=20 will be a pivotal returnee next year for head coach Stephen Robicheaux. =

37. De La Salle (Concord,=20 Calif.)
Record:12-2
Points:68 pts
Previous = record:19

The Spartans were held to less than 200 yards in their 21-16 loss to = No. 5=20 Centennial in the CIF Division I state bowl game. Their defense, though, = hung=20 tough when it had to and a blocked field goal by Noah Perio in the = game's final=20 minutes gave the DLS offense one last chance to tie the score. Blake = Wayne=20 passed for more than 1,500 yards and 15 TDs and also rushed for another = 600=20 yards and 15 more scores to lead De La Salle. The team's other loss was = by just=20 two points to No. 14 Don Bosco Prep. De La Salle won its 17th straight = CIF North=20 Coast Section title with a 34-10 win on Dec. 12 over Pittsburg.

38. Permian (Odessa, = Texas)
Record:12-1
Points:67=20 pts
Previous record:40

Mojo of "Friday Night Lights" fame might be back to the big-time if = this year=20 is any indication. The Panthers steamrolled through their district = competition=20 and lost a highly competitive playoff game to eventual Texas 5A champ = and FAB 50=20 No. 2 Allen 28-22.

39. Gateway (Monroeville,=20 Pa.)
Record:12-1
Points:65 pts
Previous=20 record:41

All-American candidates Dorian Bell (LB) and Corey Brown (WR-DB) were = just=20 two reasons why the Gators were in the top 10 in the preseason. They = lived up to=20 their ranking in the regular season with easy victories until a 31-27 = win in=20 Week 9 against McKeesport. Gateway kept on winning, but in the WPIAL = final at=20 Heinz Field the Gators lost in a defensive slugfest 10-6 to FAB = 50-ranked Bethel=20 Park.

40. Wayzata (Plymouth,=20 Minn.)
Record:13-0
Points:54 pts
Previous=20 record:38

The Trojans capped a perfect season by winning the Class 5A Prep Bowl = championship with a 27-7 victory over Blaine. Wayzata had won its = regular-season=20 matchups by an average margin of 36 and its previous playoff games by an = average=20 of 31 points. Quarterback John Reis ran the offense, which included two=20 All-Metro players in wide receiver Cecil Doe and lineman Rob Bathe.

41. East St. Louis (East St. Louis,=20 Ill.)
Record:13-1
Points:41 pts
Previous=20 record:42

The Flyers grabbed the school's sixth state championship with a 33-14 = Class=20 7A finals win over previously unbeaten Geneva. East St. Louis won its = final 13=20 games after a debut loss to Huber Heights Wayne of Ohio in the Kirk = Herbstreit=20 Varsity Series. All-state honorees included Illinois recruit Terry = Hawthorne,=20 who played wide receiver-defensive back-kick returner-punter, and = defensive=20 lineman Ty Phillips. Junior quarterback Detchauz Wray ran the offense. =

42. Homestead (Mequon, Wis.)=20
Record:14-0
Points:39 pts
Previous=20 record:43

The Highlanders captured their second state Division 1 title in three = years=20 with a 13-11 finals win over previously unbeaten Hartland Arrowhead, = their title=20 game opponent all three years. Homestead landed two first-team defensive = all-staters in tackle Shelby Harris and end Ben Gardner. Punter Casey = Barnes was=20 a second-team honoree.

43. Hamilton (Chandler,=20 Ariz.)
Record:13-1
Points:36 pts
Previous=20 record:46

Impressive wins by the Huskies and Peoria Centennial in the state=20 championships allowed Hamilton to jump three more places in the final = FAB 50.=20 Coach Steve Belles improved his record to 38-3 and two state titles with = the=20 17-10 win over Phoenix's Brophy Prep. Centennial was the only team to = beat=20 Hamilton (35-16) and it went on to win the 6A crown. Safety Devon = Carrington=20 leads the returnees for next year.

44. Noxubee County (Macon,=20 Miss.)
Record:14-0
Points:35* pts
Previous = record:45

Veteran coach M.C. Miller has plenty of talent coming back to = maintain the=20 Tigers' turnaround since he took over the program in 1995. Star running = back=20 Vincent Jackson will try to help the Tigers defend their 4A title, = captured with=20 a 12-10 victory over D'Iberville in a battle of unbeatens. Noxubee will = now=20 carry a large target on its back -- which still beats being a so-so team = at=20 best.

45. Meridian (Meridian,=20 Miss.)
Record:14-1
Points:35* pts
Previous = record:44

It will be difficult for the Cats to have a much bigger win than the = one they=20 had over South Panola (26-20 in overtime) for the state 5A championship. = All=20 that did was snap Panola's nation-leading 89-game winning streak. = However,=20 Meridian returns super-soph defensive standout Jacoby Eason and plenty = of=20 offensive talent for another run.

46. Lakeland (Lakeland, Fla.)=20
Record:14-1
Points:31 pts
Previous=20 record:10

The Dreadnaughts will look forward to next year after taking a 56-7 = beating=20 at the hands of St. Thomas Aquinas in the 5A state title game. Lakeland = returns=20 many of its top players next fall, including QB Scooter Haggins and = super=20 sophomore Javares McCoy.

47. Tesoro (Las Flores, Calif.)=20
Record:13-1
Points:21 pts
Previous=20 record:47

After knocking off highly-regarded Mission Viejo in league play, the = Titans=20 continued to prove their legitimacy as a top team in the CIF Southern = Section=20 Pac-Five playoffs. They won their first playoff game over Los Alamitos = and then=20 downed Mater Dei of Santa Ana and Lutheran of Orange. This put them in = the title=20 game at Angels Stadium, where Long Beach Poly was waiting. Tesoro played = tough,=20 but Poly won 21-14.

48. Seminole (Sanford, Fla.)=20
Record:13-2
Points:19 pts
Previous=20 record:NR

The Fighting Seminoles earned a spot in the year's final FAB 50 after = rallying from a 21-0 deficit to tip defending national champion Miami=20 Northwestern 28-21 in the Florida Class 6A title game on Saturday night. = The=20 stars came through in the end for the Seminoles, as Ray Ray Armstrong, = an=20 UnderArmour All-American, found fellow UA All-American Andre Debose on a = 40-yard=20 leaping score with just 33 seconds left for the winning touchdown. = Seminole's=20 third Under Armour All-American, defensive end Dyron Dye, sealed the win = with a=20 sack of Northwestern quarterback Teddy Bridgewater on the game's final = play. The=20 Fighting Noles dropped two games early in the regular season before = rattling off=20 11 straight wins to capture the 6A title, a remarkable turnaround in = Michael=20 Cullison's first year as head coach following a 4-5 season in 2007 and a = 1-9=20 mark in '06.

49. Oakton (Vienna, = Va.)
Record:13-1
Points:15=20 pts
Previous record:50

By far, the closest game FAB 50-ranked Oscar Smith had to get through = in=20 order to complete its standout season was a game against the Cougars. = Oakton=20 lost by just 10-7 and played well enough in its other games to gain a = spot in=20 the final FAB 50 rankings.

50. Timpview (Provo, Utah) =
Record:14-0
Points:10=20 pts
Previous record:NR

Head coach Louis Wong's team didn't make it easy, but the T-Birds won = their=20 third straight state title (this time in Class 5A). After edging = Mountain Crest=20 of Hyrum 37-35 in the semifinals, the T-Birds flew past Cottonwood of = Salt Lake=20 City 34-28 in the state final. Timpview also will take a 36-game winning = streak=20 into next fall.

Also Receiving Votes: North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.) 14-1, River = Hill=20 (Clarksville, Md.) 14-0, South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) 14-1, Valley = (West Des=20 Moines, Iowa) 14-0, Tucker (Tucker, Ga.) 14-1.

Dropped Out: Previous No. 48 Longview (Longview, Texas); No. = 49 Pine=20 Forest (Pensacola, Fla.).

*Ties in points are broken according to which team was ranked higher = by a=20 majority of panelists.

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