Top 10 high school football winning streaks entering 2011 season

Only one team in the nation has gone undefeated for three straight years, yet that team does not have the nation's longest active winning streak.

Phoebus (Hampton, Va.) has won 45 straight games and has posted three straight 15-0 seasons, however the Phantoms are one win behind West Rowan (Mt. Ulla, N.C.), which lost the second game of the 2008 season before embarking on a 46-game win streak.

A total of 1,256 teams have a win streak of at least two games entering the 2011 high school football season. Here's a look at the Top 10 longest streaks to begin the year with West Rowan and Phoebus sitting at the top. An overview of each team's recent history along with the biggest test to the win streak is included.

1. West Rowan (Mt. Ulla, N.C.) - 46
The Falcons have won three straight North Carolina 3A state championships. Last year West Rowan posted five shutouts, scored at least 20 points in every game and defeated Eastern Alamance (Mebane) 34-7 in the championship game. Five starters return on offense and defense, including the team's top rusher in Dinkin Miller, and that has the Falcons primed for another run.
Biggest Test: South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) - The Falcons face the top 3A team from South Carolina on Sept. 10, on the road. South Pointe featured last year's top recruit in the nation in Jadeveon Clowney (now at South Carolina) and went 13-2 last year.

2. Phoebus (Hampton, Va.) - 45
The Phantoms have won three straight Virginia 5A state titles, defeating Stone Bridge (Ashburn) 36-17 last season for the championship. Phoebus posted six shutouts and scored more than 35 points 13 times in going 15-0 last year. Phoebus begins the season ranked No. 2 overall in Virginia by the Freeman Ratings and No. 57 nationally.
Biggest Test: - Hampton (Va.). The Phantoms conclude their regular season at Hampton on Nov. 4. Last year Hampton nearly knocked off the Phantoms, falling 12-7 in the state quarterfinals. The 12 points is the second-lowest point total scored by Phoebus during the streak.

3. Alcoa (Tenn.) - 43
Alcoa has won two straight Tennessee 3A state championships and it won five 2A titles in a row before that for seven straight. The Tornadoes outscored opponents by an average of 37 points per game last year and played a tough schedule that included an opponents' win-loss record of 118-65.
Biggest Test: Maryville (Tenn.). The Tornadoes have a tough one right off the bat when they face neighboring rival Maryville on Aug. 26. Alcoa edged Maryville 35-31 last year, but Maryville begins the season ranked No. 1 overall in Tennessee by the Freeman Ratings. Maryville was the last team to defeat Alcoa, doing so in 2008.

4. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) - 40
The Huskies have won three straight Class 5A Division I titles in Arizona and six crowns in the past eight years. The Huskies averaged close to 40 points per game last year and defeated teams by an average of 27 points an outing. Hamilton topped Desert Ridge (Mesa) 21-13 for the title in 2010. Only two returning starters return on offense and defense for coach Steve Belles' team, but Hamilton still begins the season ranked No. 2 overall in the state by the Freeman Ratings.
Biggest Test: Desert Vista (Phoenix), Oct. 6. The Huskies have a number of potential landmines on the schedule, including Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) in the Aug. 26 season opener, the team Hamilton defeated in last year's semifinal. Desert Vista, however, begins the season rated No. 3 overall in the state, just one spot behind Hamilton.

5. Cocoa (Fla.) - 38
The Tigers squeaked by Jones (Orlando), 14-9; Bishop Moore (Orlando), 14-7; Madison County (Madison), 17-15; and Glades Central (Belle Glade), 14-13, to win the Florida 2A state championship last year. Cocoa has won three titles in a row (including a 3A crown in 2008) but will play at the 4A level this year in Florida's new playoff divisions. Plenty of talent returns for Cocoa, including seven starters on offense and six on defense. The Tigers begin the season rated No. 1 by the Freeman Ratings in Class 4A and No. 48 in the nation.
Biggest Test: Colerain (Cincinnati). The Tigers open the season with a rather impressive gauntlet of opponents that includes Colerain on Aug. 28, at Skyline (Dallas) on Sept. 5 and home against Central (Miami) on Sept. 17. The Tigers also play at West Monroe (La.) on Oct. 29. Colerain begins the season ranked No. 5 in the state of Ohio and No. 54 in the nation.

6. Auburn (Mass.) - 37
The Rockets play in one of the smaller divisions in Massachusetts and have won the C-2 state championship the past three seasons. This year Auburn is in division C-3 and it begins the year rated No. 1 in the division by the Freeman Ratings. Five starters return on offense and defense for a team that went 13-0 last season.
Biggest Test: Holliston (Mass.), Sept. 16. None of Auburn's regular-season opponents are ranked ahead of Auburn to start the season, but Holliston is close. Holliston was 12-1 last season while winning the E-IIIA state championship.

7. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) - 35
The Ironmen have won five straight Non-Public IV championships in New Jersey and are highly favored to make it six in a row. Don Bosco Prep begins the season ranked No. 1 in the nation in several polls already. Last year, the Ironmen went 12-0 and won their games by an average of 36 points.
Biggest Test: St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), Oct. 8. Besides playing Mission Viejo in its opener on Sept. 10 and then playing at Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) on Sept. 16, the Ironmen play the top-rated team in Ohio, and the No. 3 team in the nation overall.

8. Mullen (Denver) - 33
Mullen has won three straight Colorado 5A state titles and begins the season ranked No. 1 overall in Colorado, No. 14 in the nation. The Mustangs were very stingy on defense last year, posting seven shutouts and an average of just less than six points a game.
Biggest Test: Grandview (Aurora, Colo.), Sept. 9. Mullen doesn't play any out-of-state opponents so there aren't any teams rated higher than the Mustangs on their schedule. Grandview is rated third in the state to begin the season, however.

9. East Grand Rapids (Mich.) - 33
A medium-school powerhouse in Michigan, the Pioneers have won five straight Division 3 state titles and went 14-0 last season. East Grand Rapids is rated No. 7 in the state to begin the year and returns four starters on offense and five on defense.
Biggest Test: Lowell (Mich.), Sept. 30. The only team rated ahead of East Grand Rapids on the regular season schedule is Lowell, which went 11-3 last year and lost to East Grand Rapids in a shootout, 44-40.

10. Clairton (Pa.) - 31
Although not rated among the top teams in the country, Clairton is still a force to contend with at the small school level with two straight state titles. A Class A team in Pennsylvania, the Bears were 16-0 last year and outscored teams by an average of 43 points. Clairton begins the season rated No. 1 in Class A in the state.
Biggest Test: Fort Cherry (McDonald, Pa.), Oct. 21. Perhaps no team on this list has a better chance of going undefeated this year than Clairton. No team on the Bears' schedule comes close to being rated as highly as Clairton (ranked No. 20 in the state), with Fort Cherry the No. 199 team in Pennsylvania to start the season.

10. Butler (Matthews, N.C.) - 31
Two straight North Carolina 4AA state championships have Butler sitting at 31 straight wins. Nine starters return on offense from a team that averaged 46 points per game. The defense will be a concern, however, as only three starters are back for a Butler team ranked No. 4 in the state to begin the season.
Biggest Test: Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.), Aug. 19. The Bulldogs' toughest regular season game comes right out of the gate. Mallard Creek begins the season rated No. 1 in the state.

10. Douglas (Wyo.) - 31
It's been a great run for Douglas, which won state titles the past three seasons and went 11-0 last year while outscoring opponents by 30 points a game. However just one starter returns on offense and defense combined, which is why the Bearcats begin the season rated No. 10 in the state.
Biggest Test: Buffalo (Wyo.), Sept. 23. The Bison are rated No. 3 to start the season after going 9-2 last year.

Following are the top active winning streaks in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Alabama - Daphne - 15
Alaska - Soldotna - 11
Arizona - Hamilton (Chandler) - 40
Arkansas - Rivercrest (Wilson) - 15
California - De La Salle (Concord) - 26
Colorado - Mullen (Denver) - 33
Connecticut - Masuk (Monroe), Xavier (Middletown) - 13
Delaware - St. Mark's (Wilmington) - 12
District of Columbia - Woodson - 7
Florida - Cocoa - 38
Georgia - Sandy Creek (Tyrone) - 29
Hawaii - Kahuku - 10
Idaho - Bishop Kelly (Boise) - 12
Illinois - Wheaton-Warrenville South (Wheaton) - 26
Indiana - Lafayette Central Catholic - 29
Iowa - Regina (Iowa City) - 14
Kansas - Louisburg - 14
Kentucky - Boyle County (Danville) - 30
Louisiana - Franklinton - 14
Maine - Mountain Valley (Rumford) - 12
Maryland - Maryland School for the Deaf (Frederick) - 21
Massachusetts - Auburn - 37
Michigan - East Grand Rapids - 33
Minnesota - Lourdes (Rochester), Caledonia, New Ulm Cathedral - 13
Mississippi - South Panola (Batesville) - 27
Missouri - Penney (Hamilton) - 29
Montana - Bozeman - 13
Nebraska - St. Cecilia (Hastings) - 26
Nevada - Truckee (Calif.) - 24
New Hampshire - Kearsarge (North Sutton) - 13
New Jersey - Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) - 35
New Mexico - Santa Rosa - 7
New York - Hornell - 26
North Carolina - West Rowan (Mt. Ulla) - 46
North Dakota - Velva - 24
Ohio - Ursuline (Youngstown) - 21
Oklahoma - Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City) - 15
Oregon - Scio - 28
Pennsylvania - Clairton - 31
Rhode Island - Bishop Hendricken (Warwick) - 12
South Carolina - Hammond (Columbia) - 17
South Dakota - Washington (Sioux Falls) - 26
Tennessee - Alcoa - 43
Texas - Aledo - 29
Utah - Bingham (South Jordan) - 24
Vermont - Rice Memorial (South Burlington) - 6
Virginia - Phoebus (Hampton) - 45
Washington - Ferris (Spokane) - 14
West Virginia - Martinsburg, Magnolia (New Martinsville) - 14
Wisconsin - Edgar - 28
Wyoming - Douglas - 31
National 8-Man - Pahranagat Valley (Alamo, Nev.) - 34
National 6-Man - Garden City (Texas) - 29
National 9-Man - Canistota (S.D.) - 12