Compiled by Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
1. No doubt. Northwestern (Miami) left no doubt that it is one of the greatest Florida teams ever after taking its second straight 6A championship with a 41-0 win over Boone-Orlando before almost 23,000 fans at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Marcus Forston (three sacks) and quarterback Jacory Harris (281 yards passing, two touchdowns) completed stellar careers before heading to the University of Miami. Considering Northwestern almost didn't have a season and that its coaching staff wasn't hired until July, the Bulls' 15-0 season was pretty remarkable. They finished in style with the largest shutout win in state finals history.
2. Well, maybe some doubt. Some believe that Pahokee (14-0) is as good or better than Northwestern (this year) after winning the Florida Class 2B title game, 53-14 over Newberry. Pahokee had 572 yards in the victory and seven players scored touchdowns. It was Pahokee's second straight crown and 14-0 season, giving them 28 straight overall. Northwestern has 30 consecutive wins.
3. The Golden Game. They just started a form of a state football championship in California last year but they might be calling this the greatest California Bowl Championship game for years to come as De La Salle-Concord pulled out a topsy-turvey 37-31 win over Centennial-Corona in a battle of nationally-ranked top-10 squads. Centennial, ranked third by MaxPreps coming in, fought back from a 31-7 deficit to tie it before sixth-ranked De La Salle got a late touchdown pass from Mike MacGillivray to win it. See stories by yours truly, the Los Angeles Times, the Contra Costa Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
4. T for Terrific. Yet another Florida squad, this one also from Miami, Booker T. Washington (14-0) won the state 4A crown and finished undefeated as well with a 23-15 win over Ponte Vedra Beach Nease as super sophomore Eduardo Clements ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
5. Kicking it. Trinity (Euless) moved into the Texas 5A Division I title game with a 30-27 double-overtime win over Plano on a couple overtime field goals by Pery Negreiros, the second a 23-yarder to win it. Trinity faces six-time state champion Converse Judson in Saturday's state finals. In the 5A Division II title game, Katy (15-0) takes on Pflugerville. Katy combined for 49 points in the second and third quarters in a 66-21 win over Madison-San Antonio.
National High 5 is a twice weekly MaxPreps feature, highlighting top national high school news, gamers and human interest pieces from around the web. If we miss something, please e-mail mstephens@maxpreps.com or jhickman@maxpreps.com. If you want a complete rundown of last week's headlines and headliners, click here to Dave Krider's national notebook.