Best high school football team from all 50 states

By Zack Poff Jul 26, 2019, 10:45am

Find out who enters the season with a target on their back in your state.

Video: Preseason Top 25 rankings
Thirteen teams featured in the Top 25 make the list for top team in its respected state. 

Earlier this week we released our initial Top 25 followed by the Top 100 and up next is looking through each state and checking out the best team. The only thing we have left on the menu after this is the Preseason All-Americans getting released next week.

Graphic by Ryan Escobar
Alabama — Central (Phenix City)
Finished last season 14-0 and capped off its perfect year beating Thompson 52-7 in the 7A state championship. They've won 24 of the last 25 games and return E.J. Williams, Tucker Melton and Javion Cohen.

Alaska — East (Anchorage)
Only loss in 2018 came against an out-of-state opponent and went 10-0 against in-state foes while winning every game by at least 15 points.

Arizona  Saguaro (Scottsdale)
Loaded with FBS prospects that include 5-star cornerback Kelee Ringo, 4-star cornerback Jacobe Covington and 4-star linebacker Damian Sellers. The Sabercats have won six consecutive state titles and the seventh will be even harder with Arizona starting the Open Division for the playoffs.

Arkansas — North Little Rock
Had 25-game winning streak snapped in last year's 7A state championship but expect them to be in the mix in 2019.

California — Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
The Monarch's begin the year ranked at No. 1 in our initial Top 25 rankings.

Went 14-0 last year in Ed McCaffrey's first season as head coach and won its eighth state title since 2009.



Connecticut — Greenwich
Won the Class LL state championship and ran the table last season outscoring the opposition 574-54. They have to replace Gavin Muir under center but have one of the best players in the country coming back in A.J. Barber. The Class of 2021 standout is the son of former NFL running back Tiki Barber.

Return a lot key players that went 10-1 last year that include the team's leading passer, top four rushers and top three receivers.

District of Columbia — St. John's (Washington)
The DMV power begins the year ranked at No. 5 and enters the 2019 season with the toughest schedule in the country.

The Ascenders begin the year ranked in the Top 10 for the fifth consecutive season and expect them to compete for a national title with Elias Ricks, Lejond Cavazos, Jermaine Burton, Demonte Capehart and Michael Redding III all on board.

Georgia — Marietta
The hunt for the Peach State 7A title is wide open and expect a loaded Blue Devils team that includes Harrison Bailey, Arik Gilbert, BJ Ojulari, Rashad Torrance II, Dawson Ellington, Kimani Vidal and Jake Wray to be in the mix.

They've won three consecutive state titles in the Aloha State's largest classification and begin the year ranked at No. 11 in our Top 25.

The defending 5A state champs will be one of the favorites again in 2019, especially with Colby Jackson back under center.

Won the 7A state title last season and return a boatload of talent led by 2021 Michigan commit J.J. McCarthy at quarterback.

This year will be wide open in Indiana. Ben Davis was the clear front runner in 2017 and Warren Central was last season. The Warriors get the nod, barely, but expect Carmel, Center Grove, Avon and Brownsburg to be in the mix.

They've gone 37-1 over the last three years and won back-to-back 3A state titles. Will have a chance at a three-peat in 2019 with Josh Volk, Ethan Hurkett and Jakob Forslund returning.

Kansas — Derby
The Panthers have won at least 10 games in six of the last seven seasons and four state titles during that span.

They've won 29 of last 30 games and made the 5A state championship game in back-to-back years. Won it all in 2017 and lost by four to South Warren last season. Expect them to be back in the state title game for the third straight year — helps having the No. 1 tight end in the country, Michael Mayer.

Won the school's 26th state title last season and finished 13-0. Collin Guggenheim, Angelo Anderson, and Corey Wren lead a very talented squad heading into the 2019 campaign.

Maine — Wells
The Warriors have gone 35-1 since 2016 and won three consecutive state titles.

One of the most talented teams in high school football. The Baltimore power starts the year at No. 2 in our Top 25 rankings.
St. Frances Academy
St. Frances Academy
Photo by Catalina Fragoso
Massachusetts — Central (Springfield)
Return a lot of key players after winning the Division 3 state title last season.



Michigan — King (Detroit)
The defending Division 3 state champs and Muskegon will battle for the top spot in the state but the Detroit power takes the initial spot after beating the Big Reds 41-25 in the state title game. Rashawn Williams, Peny Boone, Deondre Buford and Jaylen Reed lead one of the most talented teams in Michigan.

They begin the season as the No. 1 team in the state after going undefeated in 2018 and beating Eden Prairie twice, the last coming in the 6A state championship.

Mississippi — Horn Lake
Won first state title in school history last season and finished the year 15-0. Have to replace 5-star linebacker Nakobe Dean, but return a lot of talent led by Josaih Hayes and Jakivuan Brown.

Have gone 65-5 over the last five years and won three state titles including two in a row. Three of those five losses have come against out-of-state opponents.

Montana — Hamilton
Went 11-1 last season and will be one of the favorites to win the Class A state title in 2019 with Carson Rostad and a handful of other key players returning.

Nebraska — Burke (Omaha)
Won the Class A state title and went 13-0 in 2018 and have one of the top players in the state coming back in 3-star athlete Xavier Watts.



The Las Vegas power has been the top team in Nevada for a very long time. Gaels try for 11th consecutive state title in 2019.

New Hampshire — Bedford
Coming off a 13-0 season and a Division 1 state title expect the Bulldogs to be among the states best once again.

The only team from New Jersey ranked in our Top 25 to start the year has the talent to defend its Non-Public Group 4 championship with Michael Alaimo, Luke Wypler, Audric Estime, Amin Vanover and Elijuwan Mack all returning.
Eric Stoeckel, St. Joseph Regional
Eric Stoeckel, St. Joseph Regional
File photo by Tom Horak
New Mexico — La Cueva (Albuquerque)
The defending 6A state champs have a good chance to repeat with Connor O'Toole, Nas Robertson and a handful of other key players coming back.

Went 12-0 against New York opponents last season and won the Class AA state championship. Return the leading passer, rusher and one of the best tight ends in the country in Steven Mahar.

North Carolina — Mallard Creek (Charlotte)
After a second-round upset lost in the playoffs last year expect the North Carolina power to be in contention to win its first state title since 2015.

North Dakota — Bismarck
Ran the table in 2018 and won the AAA state title. Outscored the opposition 598-160 last season.

There is a good chance they win its fifth consecutive state championship in 2019 with DeaMonte Trayanum, Caden Clark, Devin Hightower, Shane Hamm and Brayden Fox all back.

Oklahoma — Broken Arrow
Won its first state title last year and 2020 Oklahoma commit Andrew Raym along with 2020 Oregon commit Myles Slusher will be the leaders on one of the most talented teams in the state.

Oregon — Lake Oswego
After losing early in the season they won its final 11 games including a 34-27 win over Sheldon in the 6A state championship. They bring back a lot of talent that includes 2020 California commit Casey Filkins, Thomas Dukart, Tiger Shanks and Joe Hutson. The Lakers also added 2021 quarterback J.J. Woodin.



The defending 6A state champs begin the year ranked at No. 8 in the nation and expect Kyle McCord, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Kolbe Burrell to light up scoreboards each week.

Have won eight state championships in the last nine years including a 42-6 win over La Salle in 2018.

South Carolina — Dutch Fork (Irmo)
Winners of 41 of last 42 games, including three consecutive state titles, and begin the year ranked in the Top 25.

South Dakota — Brandon Valley (Brandon)
The defending Class 11AAA state champs will have a good chance to repeat with Thomas Scholten, Jesse Steffel and Jackson Hilton all returning.

Became the fourth team from Tennessee to win at least four consecutive state championships last year and don't be surprised if they make it five straight.

The Houston power finished last season at No. 1 after winning the 6A Division 1 state title and will be in contention again in 2019 with Zachary Evans, Dematrius Davis, Shadrach Banks, Corey Flagg Jr. and Damieon George all back.

Won its first state title last year and will be the favorites to make it two straight with Cole Hagen, Josh Wilson, Van Fillinger and Kennan Aiono returning.

The Bulldogs cruised to a Division II state title outscoring its three playoff opponents 153-26 in 2018.

Virginia — Highland Springs
Have won 31 straight games and four consecutive state titles entering the 2019 campaign.

The lone team from Washington ranked in the Top 25. Loaded with talent that features 2020 Ohio State commit Gee Scott Jr., 2020 Washington commit Sam Adams II and 5-star J.T. Tuimoloau.

West Virginia — Martinsburg
Have gone 14-0 the last three seasons and have won 39 of 42 games by double digits.



Wisconsin — Muskego
Snapped Kimberley's streak of five consecutive state titles last season and will be one of the favorites to repeat as Division 1 champs.

Wyoming — Star Valley (Afton)
The Braves have won at least 10 games four straight years and have won three state titles during that span.
Muskegon tops Wisconsin's crop of football teams this season.
Muskegon tops Wisconsin's crop of football teams this season.
File photo by Robert George