Patriots' dream season culminates with national No. 1 finish.
Curtis has plenty of reason to celebrate: It finishes No. 1 the Xcellent 25.
Photo by Roddy Johnson
Lousiana power John Curtis finishes No. 1 in the 2012 MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army.
The Patriots dominated from start to finish and were remarkably
consistent, especially in the playoffs. Curtis jumped on opponents
early, scoring touchdowns on 36 of 41 first half possessions in the
postseason.
While Curtis did not play the nation's most difficult
schedule, it dismantled Florida's defending Class 8A champion Plant
33-3 in September and outscored opponents 677-60 on the season.
It was perhaps the finest team in J.T. Curtis' 43-year career, one that has seen the coaching giant
amass 520 career wins, second only to John McKissick's total of 601.
Katy,
which enjoyed a remarkable season punctuated by its seventh state
title, finishes a close second with talent-laden Norcross, Georgia's
undefeated AAAAAA state champion, checking in at No. 3.
Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
1. (1) Curtis (River Ridge, La.), 14-0Season complete. Class 2A champion.
2. (2) Katy (Texas), 16-0Katy capped off a perfect season, winning its seventh state title in a 35-24 victory over Cedar Hill.
Story3. (3) Norcross (Ga.), 15-0Season complete. Class AAAAA champion.
4. (4) De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 15-0Season complete. CIF Open Division Bowl champion.
5. (6) Allen (Texas), 14-1Lamar put up a valiant effort, but Allen prevailed with a 35-21 victory.
Story{PAGEBREAK}
North Allegheny raced to a AAAA title with a dominant playoff performance.
Photo by Ken Inness
Season complete. Class 3A champion.
7. (7) North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.), 16-0Season complete. Class AAAA champion.
8. (8) DeSoto (Texas), 14-1Season complete.
9. (9) Butler (Matthews, N.C.), 15-0Season complete. Class 4A champion.
10. (10) University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 13-0Season complete. Class 3A champion.{PAGEBREAK}
Bishop Gorman continued to fly high in 2012.
Photo by Jann Hendry
Season complete. Division II-AA champion.
12. (12) Hoover (Ala.), 16-0Season complete. Class 6A champion.
13. (13) Washington (Miami), 13-1Season complete. Class 4A champion.
14. (14) Goose Creek (S.C.), 13-0Season complete.
15. (15) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 13-1Season complete. Division I champion.{PAGEBREAK}
John O'Korn came up big down the stretch for St. Thomas Aquinas.
Photo by Gray Quetti
Season complete.
17. (17) Centennial (Corona, Calif.), 14-2Season complete. CIF Open Division finalist.
18. (18) Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), 13-1Season complete. Class 6A Champion.
19. (19) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 11-1Season complete. WCAC champion.
20. (20) St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 13-2Season complete. Class 7A champion.{PAGEBREAK}
Moeller survived a brutal schedule and emerged as Division 1 champion.
Photo by Scott Seighman
21. (21) Jordan (Sandy, Utah), 12-1-1Season complete. Class 5A champion.
22. (22) Whitehaven (Memphis, Tenn.), 15-0Season complete. Class 6A champion.
23. (23) Central (Miami), 12-2Season complete. Class 6A champion.
24. (24) Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.), 14-1Season complete.
25. (25) Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), 12-3Season complete. Division 1 champion.
