Compiled by Ned Freeman
Special to MaxPreps.com
The 2007 MaxPreps Preseason National Rankings Presented by the Army National Guard debut today with a familiar face topping the list.
Texas dynasty Southlake Carroll ended the 2006 season as MaxPreps' top-ranked team and will begin this fall in the same position. New head coach Hal Wasson should have plenty of firepower with quarterback Riley Dodge (5,303 total yards, 67 touchdowns) and running back Tre' Newton (2,300 all-purpose yards, 23 touchdowns) manning the backfield.
For the complete rankings, click here.
(Rank) School (2006 Record)
(1) Southlake Carroll, Texas (16-0)
The Dragons, under new leadership this fall, have won 48-straight games and own a record of 79-1 since 2002. Opener: Sept. 7 vs. Lake Highlands
(2) St. Xavier, Ohio (10-2)
The Cincinnati power will test its mettle against arguably the nation's toughest schedule, including DeMatha Catholic (Md.), Trinity (Ky.) and Bishop Chatard (Ind.). Opener: Aug. 25 at Winton Woods
(3) Miami Northwestern, Fla. (15-0)
The Bulls, who authored seven-consecutive shutouts during one stretch a year ago, face top-ranked Southlake Carroll in Dallas Sept. 15. Opener: Sept. 1 at Carol City
(4) Mater Dei, Calif. (8-3)
With American Fork (Utah), Edison, Corona Centennial, Santa Margarita, Orange Lutheran and Servite lining the schedule, the Monarchs will have to earn it. Opener: Sept. 7 vs. West Covina.
(5) Muskegon, Mich. (14-0)
Defending Division 2 state champion is 35-3 over the past three seasons with a pair of titles. Opener: Aug. 24 vs. Creston
(6) Maryville, Tenn. (15-0)
Head coach George Quarles is building quite a resume at Maryville, going 108-9 in nine years at the school with six state titles. Opener: Aug. 31 at Alcoa
(7) Prattville, Ala. (15-0)
The Lions unseated Hoover as the king of Alabama's 6A classification, but will be seeking to repeat without quarterback Larry Smith - Mr. Football in the state a year ago. Opener: Aug. 25 vs. North Gwinnett, Ga.
(8) DeMatha, Md. (12-0)
Bill McGregor is bidding to make DeMatha a football school, going 33-2 since 2004, including 22-straight victories. Opener: Sept. 2 vs. St. Xavier, Ohio
(9) Warner Robins Northside, Ga. (15-0)
The Peach State's defending AAAA champions return 6-foot-2, 240-pound quarterback Marques Ivory, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Player of the Year as a junior. Opener: Aug. 31 vs. Houston County
(10) De La Salle, Calif. (13-1)
Expect the Spartans - 32-6-2 since the end of "The Streak" in 2004 - to be motivated by a bitter loss to Canyon in the California Division I championship bowl game last December. Opener: Sept. 7 vs. San Mateo Serra
(11) Eden Prairie, Minn. (14-0)
Mike Grant's Eagles have won five state titles since 1996 and will be in the hunt for a sixth this fall. Opener: Aug. 30 vs. Jefferson
(12) Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Pa. (10-2)
The Vikings have suffered playoff heartbreak each of the past two years after a championship campaign in 2004. Opener: Sept. 2 vs. Clayton-Northmont, Ohio
(13) Blue Springs South, Mo. (13-0)
The Jaguars really got it going late in 2006, outscoring their final two playoff opponents 83-14. Opener: Aug. 31 at Truman
(14) Louisville Trinity, Ky. (14-1)
The Shamrocks reeled off 14-straight wins after losing their opener a year ago, averaging 42 points per game along the way. Opener: Aug. 31 vs. Bowling Green
(15) Homestead, Wis. (14-0)
In 14 games last season, the Highlander defense allowed just 82 points - an average of less than six per contest. Opener: Aug. 24 at Kingsford, Mich.
(16) Riverside North, Calif. (14-0)
Cedric Foster continued a tradition of talented running backs at North by running for 1,582 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. Opener: Sept. 7 vs. Redlands East Valley
(17) Bastrop, La. (15-0)
All-State quarterback Randall Mackey is back to direct an offense that averaged 41 points per game last year. Opener: Aug. 31 vs. Istrouma
(18) Colerain, Ohio (13-1)
The Cardinals might have the best defensive program in America, limiting opponents to 6.4 points per game in 2006, 9.5 in 2005, and 6.5 in 2004. Opener: Aug. 24 vs. Huber Heights Wayne
(19) Carmel, Ind. (12-3)
The Greyhounds are already 1-0 this fall after upending defending 4A state champion Indianapolis Cathedral, 28-21, last Friday.
(20) Acadiana, La. (13-2)
Louisiana's defending 5A champion is 25-4 over the past two seasons. Opener: Aug. 31 vs. Lafayette Northside
(21) Corona Centennial, Calif. (11-1)
Husky offense should be lethal with quarterback Matt Scott (1,703 passing yards, 10 touchdowns) and running back Ryan Bass (2,351 yards, 36 touchdowns) in the backfield. Opener: Aug. 31 vs. Compton Dominguez
(22) Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Calif. (11-1)
Long Beach Poly crushed the Knights' state title dreams a year ago, but quarterback Dayne Crist and linebacker Anthony McDonald - both committed to Charlie Weis and Notre Dame - should keep them in contention once again. Opener: Sept. 7 vs. Canyon
(23) Cardinal Mooney, Ohio (14-0)
Running back Brandon Beachum and linebacker Mike Zordich - both committed to Penn State - make the Cardinals the favorite to win their third Division IV state title in four years. Opener: Aug. 24 vs. Mentor
(24) Independence, N.C. (16-0)
Head coach Tom Knotts is hinting that this may be one of his better teams, which says a lot considering the Patriots have won 108 games in a row. Opener: Aug. 24 at Olympic
(25) Parkersburg, W.V. (14-0)
The Big Reds didn't allow an opponent to reach double digits until the 11th game of the season last fall, and feature one of the nation's top overall prospects in 6-5, 305-pound lineman Josh Jenkins. Opener: Aug. 24 Cabell Midland