Best teams in high school football since 2003

Video: Best high school football teams since 2003
Cleveland Browns rookie Jabrill Peppers was a key contributor for the No. 1 team on the list.

Thanks in part to an ESPN documentary set to air this week (What Carter Lost, Thursday 9:30 p.m. EST), the greatness of the 1988 Dallas Carter football team is being relived.

Under head coach Freddie James, who compiled a 123-22-3 record in 14 seasons at Carter, the Cowboys went 14-0-1 and won a state title in 1988. The defense limited 11 opponents to single digits on the scoreboard with six shutouts.

Though Carter's state title was later stripped, the talent on the field was undeniable. Scholarship offers went out to 21 players, including future Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Armstead.



It got us to ponder: Which is the top-rated team we've ever covered?

Thanks to the Freeman Ratings, we have a comprehensive answer to that question. The computer has crunched the numbers for every team in the country over the past 14 seasons and we highlight the 20 best below.

Look for 2011 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) and 2006 Carroll (Southlake, Texas) at the top of the list. 

Bosco was led by the all-around talents of a very gifted sophomore named Jabrill Peppers, along with the dominating defensive line play of Darius Hamilton. In 11 games, the Ironmen gave up just 92 points while scoring 452.

Carroll was led by one of the nation's most dynamic quarterbacks in Riley Dodge — son of head coach Todd Dodge. The Dragons averaged 44 points per game on their way to a 16-0 Texas 6A championship.

Don Bosco Prep celebrates a 42-14 win over rival Bergen Catholic in the 2011 New Jersey Group 4 state final.

Photo by Daniel Coppola

Top Single Seasons Since 2003

1. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
Year: 2011
Record: 11-0
Rating: 90.7
Strength of Schedule: 49.8
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 86-40
Toughest Games: No. 16 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.), No. 17 Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.), No. 21 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), No. 21 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), No. 66 Mission Viejo (Calif.)
Losses: None



2. Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
Year: 2006
Record: 16-0
Rating: 90.7
Strength of Schedule: 52.7
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 122-70
Toughest Games: No. 3 Trinity (Euless, Texas), No. 7 Allen (Texas), No. 9 Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas), No. 9 Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas), No. 26 Westlake (Austin, Texas)
Losses: None

3. Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
Year: 2005
Record: 16-0
Rating: 88.6
Strength of Schedule: 52.6
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 120-65
Toughest Games: No. 5 Plano (Texas), No. 8 Katy (Texas), No. 11 Lufkin (Texas), Abilene (Texas), No. 34 MacArthur (Irving, Texas)
Losses: None

4. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Year: 2013
Record: 16-0
Rating: 87
Strength of Schedule: 56.2
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 140-60
Toughest Games: No. 7 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), No. 11 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), No. 11 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Centennial (Corona, Calif.), Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.)
Losses: None 5. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Year: 2016
Record: 15-0
Rating: 86.8
Strength of Schedule: 37.2
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 115-58
Toughest Games: No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), No. 36 Cedar Hill (Texas), No. 55 Kahuku (Hawaii), No. 73 Cocoa (Fla.)
Losses: None

6. Colerain (Cincinnati)
Year: 2004
Record: 15-0
Rating: 86
Strength of Schedule: 43.7
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 98-68
Toughest Games: No. 20 Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), No. 58 Elder (Cincinnati), No. 58 Elder (Cincinnati), No. 61 Centerville (Ohio), No. 138 Worthington Kilbourne (Columbus, Ohio)
Losses: None

7. Allen (Texas)
Year: 2013
Record: 16-0
Rating: 85.9
Strength of Schedule: 51.7
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 138-59
Toughest Games: No. 3 DeSoto (Texas), No. 9 Cedar Hill (Texas), No. 25 Coppell (Texas), No. 35 Carroll (Southlake, Texas), No. 74 Westfield (Houston)
Losses: None

8. Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
Year: 2004
Record: 16-0
Rating: 85.8
Strength of Schedule: 51.6
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 121-66
Toughest Games: No. 5 Lufkin (Texas), No. 9 Ryan (Denton, Texas), No. 9 Abilene (Texas), No. 9 Ryan (Denton, Texas), No. 15 Smithson Valley (Spring Branch, Texas)
Losses: None



9. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Year: 2016
Record: 13-2
Rating: 84.8
Strength of Schedule: 65.8
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 134-58
Toughest Games: No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), No. 8 Centennial (Corona, Calif.), No. 16 St. Xavier (Cincinnati), No. 17 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), No. 24 St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.)
Losses: No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

10. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Year: 2015
Record: 13-1
Rating: 83.8
Strength of Schedule: 53.5
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 107-61
Toughest Games: No. 2 Centennial (Corona, Calif.), No. 88 Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.), No. 94 Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), No. 128 Long Beach Poly (Calif.), No. 142 Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.)
Losses: No. 31 Trinity (Euless, Texas)

11. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Year: 2016
Record: 13-1
Rating: 83.7
Strength of Schedule: 57.3
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 116-57
Toughest Games: No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), No. 30 Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.), No. 92 Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.), No. 101 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), No. 162 La Mirada (Calif.)
Losses: No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

12. St. Xavier (Cincinnati)
Year: 2007
Record: 15-0
Rating: 83.5
Strength of Schedule: 52.3
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 136-46
Toughest Games: No. 22 Colerain (Cincinnati), No. 25 Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio), No. 39 Mentor (Ohio), No. 72 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), No. 94 Glenville (Cleveland)
Losses: None

13. Mission Viejo (Calif.)
Year: 2004
Record: 14-0
Rating: 83.4
Strength of Schedule: 38.6
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 104-61-2
Toughest Games: No. 13 Long Beach Poly (Calif.), No. 55 Los Alamitos (Calif.), No. 71 Valencia (Calif.), No. 124 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), No. 241 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Losses: None

14. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
Year: 2011
Record: 14-0
Rating: 83.1
Strength of Schedule: 42.4
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 113-65
Toughest Games: No. 24 St. Xavier (Cincinnati), No. 53 Cathedral (Indianapolis), No. 58 Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), No. 175 St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.), No. 175 St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.)
Loses: None



15. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
Year: 2010
Record: 15-0
Rating: 83.1
Strength of Schedule: 52.9
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 103-67
Toughest Games: No. 9 Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio), No. 16 St. Xavier (Cincinnati), No. 44 Solon (Ohio), No. 51 Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio), No. 55 Glenville (Cleveland)
Losses: None

16. Cedar Hill (Texas)
Year: 2006
Record: 16-0
Rating: 83.1
Strength of Schedule: 48.4
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 114-78
Toughest Games: No. 9 Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas), No. 21 Garland (Texas), No. 38 DeSoto (Texas), No. 38 DeSoto (Texas), No. 52 Hebron (Carrollton, Texas)
Losses: None

17. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Year: 2016
Record: 11-0
Rating: 83
Strength of Schedule: 55.1
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 100-33
Toughest Games: No. 6 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), No. 8 Centennial (Corona, Calif.), No. 39 St. John's (Washington, D.C.), No. 87 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), No. 157 Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Losses: None

18. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Year: 2015
Record: 14-1
Rating: 82.9
Strength of Schedule: 58.1
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 110-65
Toughest Games: No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), No. 15 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), No. 72 East (Salt Lake City), No. 80 Serra (Gardena, Calif.), No. 94 Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Losses: No. 1 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)

19. St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
Year: 2008
Record: 14-1
Rating: 82.9
Strength of Schedule: 52.3
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 118-55
Toughest Games: No. 6 Elder (Cincinnati), No. 47 Glenville (Cleveland), No. 62 St. Xavier (Cincinnati), No. 85 Northmont (Clayton, Ohio), No. 92 Strongsville (Ohio)
Losses: No. 47 Glenville (Cleveland)

20. Katy (Texas)
Year: 2015
Record: 16-0
Rating: 82.4
Strength of Schedule: 41.6
Opponents' Win/Loss Record: 117-73
Toughest Games: No. 13 Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), No. 56 Steele (Cibolo, Texas), No. 72 Manvel (Texas), No. 115 The Woodlands (Texas), No. 353 Friendswood (Texas)
Losses: None