By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
When De La Salle (Calif.) finally saw its legendary 151-game winning streak come to an end in September of 2004, many high school football observers regarded the mark as untouchable.
Prior to the Spartans' 13-year run of perfection, no other school had even reached the 100-straight plateau, with Hudson High in Michigan owning the previous record of 72 from 1968 through 1975.
But "The Streak" is being challenged. Despite still being 43 wins away from the 151 mark, a Barry Bonds-type countdown is on for North Carolina juggernaut Independence High School of Charlotte, who will carry a 108-game string of success into the 2007 season.
Excluding an eight-week span last fall where they fought through four single-digit victories, the Patriots have thoroughly dominated just about everything in their path since 2000 (See below, "Indy's 108 By the Numbers").
Like De La Salle when its streak was beginning to garner national attention a decade ago, the questions of just how good Indy's schedule is on an annual basis have emerged. It appears that mystery will be answered Sept. 1.
For the fourth time since the run began seven years ago - and the first since 2003 - Independence will face an out-of-state opponent. Head coach Tom Knotts' squad will face Cincinnati perennial contender Elder in the Saturday nightcap of the Burger King Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge.
Elder was 6-4 a year ago, but those losses came to De La Salle (Calif.), St. Xavier, Archbishop Moeller, and Bishop Chatard (Ind.) - a foursome that combined for a record of 42-9 in 2006.
If past results out-of-state mean anything, Independence won't be phased by an unfamiliar foe. In 2001, the Patriots crushed Tennessee's Austin-East High, 77-13, and followed in 2002 and 2003 with blowouts of Spartanburg, S.C., 33-7 and 49-7, respectively.
Independence will look for consecutive win No. 109 in its season opener Aug. 24 at Charlotte Olympic.
Indy's 108 By the Numbers
4,970 - Points scored during the streak, an average of 46 per game
1,241 - Points allowed during the streak, an average of 11.4 per game
53 - Games allowing 10 points or less
40 - Games scoring 50 or more points
24 - Shutouts
18 - Games scoring 60 or more points
9 - Games decided by less than 10 points
7 - State titles won during the streak
2 - Head coaches, Tom Knotts (2000-2003, 2005-Present) and Bill Geiler (2004)
Nation's Longest Win Streaks Entering 2007108 - Independence, N.C.
Biggest Threat: Elder (Ohio), Sept. 1, Burger King Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge.Patriots going out-of-state for the first time since 2003.
60 - South Panola, Miss.
Biggest Threat: Clarksdale, Sept. 7.Program under new leadership faces 4A runner-up in an early-season showdown.
48 - Southlake Carroll, Texas
Biggest Threat: Miami Northwestern (Fla.), Sept. 15.Dragons manhandled Evangel Christian (La.) a year ago. Can they do the same to another out-of-state power this fall?
46 - Oaks Christian, Calif.
Biggest Threat: St. Bonaventure, Sept. 21.After last season's 59-13 blowout loss, the re-tooled Seraphs will be hungry for revenge.
45 - Lakeland, Fla.
Biggest Threat: Winter Haven, Sept. 15.Rival Kathleen looms at the end of the regular season, but super junior quarterback DC Jefferson makes the Blue Devils dangerous.
45 - Maryville, Tenn.
Biggest Threat: Alcoa, Aug. 31.An absolute grudge match on an annual basis, Alcoa came within three points of ending the Rebels' win streak a year ago.
41 - Smith Center, Kan.
Biggest Threat: Norton, Aug. 31.Smith Center mowed down its regular season opponents by an average of 53 points per game a year ago - excluding Norton, which dropped a 14-13 slugfest to the Redmen in the season opener.
37 - Thomasville, N.C.
Biggest Threat: Davie, Aug. 31.Thomasville - a small school powerhouse - will put its streak on the line against a 4AA playoff team from a year ago.
37 - Rose, N.C.
Biggest Threat: New Bern, Nov. 2.New Bern handed Rose its last loss in November of 2004 and is looking to improve upon a 9-3 record from a year ago.
30 - St. Joseph (Hammonton), N.J.
Biggest Threat: Schedule unavailable at press time.
30 - Steubenville, Ohio
Biggest Threat: Bishop Watterson, Sept. 28.The Eagles will be battle-tested for their trip to Steubenville with games against Willoughby South, Westerville South, and Glen Este - teams that combined for a 24-9 record a year ago - leading up to the late September contest.
The Next 11
29 - Bastrop, La.
28 - Nashville, Ark.
28 - Wayne Hills, N.J.
28 - Velva, N.D.
28 - Sacred Heart-Griffin, Ill.
27 - Harrisonville, Mo.
27 - Mayfield, N.M.
26 - Jesuit, Ore.
26 - Southern Columbia Area, Pa.
24 - John Curtis Christian, La.
24 - Longmeadow, Mass.
All-Time Win Streaks
151 - De La Salle, Calif. (1991-2004)
108 - Independence (2000-Present)
72 - Hudson, Mich. (1968-1975)
71 - Jefferson City, Mo. (1958-1966)
69 - Animas, N.M. (1984-1990)
* Win streaks compiled by Ned Freeman