Washington holds off Allen, St. John Bosco to claim No. 1 spot.
Booker T. Washington celebrated a state title, and now, gets the chance to revel in a national one.
Photo by Gary McCullough
If there ever was a perfect year for a four-team national playoff in high school football, 2013 would have been the perfect one.
The country's top three teams all finished as undefeated state champions, and the No. 4-ranked team, Miami Central, lost only to rival Booker T. Washington.
Ultimately, it was Washington that rose above the rest to claim the No. 1 ranking and the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national title. Washington narrowly held off strong bids from both Allen and St. John Bosco to hold on to the top spot it first claimed in September.
It knocked off Norcross, Miami Central and Bishop Gorman this season, three state champions that finished ranked in the Xcellent 25.
Allen stated its case with an impressive 63-28 thumping of Pearland for the Class 5A-I title, while St. John Bosco notched a statement win, 20-14, over De La Salle.
Final MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
1. (1) Washington (Miami), 14-0Season complete. Class 4A state champion. MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national champion.
2. (2) Allen (Texas), 16-0Allen went the distance and capped off an unbeaten season with a 63-28 victory over Pearland.
Story3. (3) St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 16-0In a game for the ages, St. John Bosco knocked off powerhouse De La Salle, 20-14.
Story
4. (5) Central (Miami), 14-1Season complete. Class 6A state champion.
5. (6) Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.), 15-0Season complete. Class 4A-II state champion.
{PAGEBREAK}
Northwestern enjoyed one of its finest seasons in program history in 2013.
Photo by Troy Cherry
Season complete, Division 1 state champion.
7. (9) DeSoto (Texas), 14-1Season complete.
8. (4) De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 14-1The Spartans came up short in the CIF Open Division Bowl Game, falling 20-14 to St. John Bosco.
9. (10) Bellevue (Wash.), 14-0Season complete. Class 3A state champion.
10. (11) Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), 14-1Season complete. Division 1 state champion.
{PAGEBREAK}
Damarkus Lodge helped Cedar Hill capture a Texas Class 5A-II state title.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
Season complete. Class 6A state champion.
12. (13) St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.), 10-1Season complete. Non-Public Group IV state champion.
13. (14) Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.), 16-0Season complete. Class 4AA state champion.
14. (15) Jenks (Okla.), 14-0Season complete. Class 6A state champion.
15. (NR) Cedar Hill (Texas), 14-2Cedar Hill came from behind to knock off Katy 34-24 in the Class 5A-II final.
Story{PAGEBREAK}
Bishop Gorman lost only to Washington and Mountain Pointe, two teams ranked above it in the Xcellent 25.
Photo by Jann Hendry
Season complete. Class 7A state champion.
17. (17) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 13-2Season complete. Division I state champion.
18. (18) Blue Springs (Mo.), 14-0Season complete. Division 6 state champion.
19. (19) Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 14-0Season complete. Division 2 state champion.
20. (20) Bingham (South Jordan, Utah), 14-0Season complete. Class 5A state champion.
{PAGEBREAK}
Norcross hoisted the Georgia Class AAAAAA trophy this season.
Photo by Cecil Copeland
Season complete. Class 5A state champion.
22. (23) Aledo (Texas), 15-0Aledo topped the 1,000-point mark in a 4A-II title game victory over Brenham.
Story23. (24) East Jefferson (Metairie, La.), 15-0Season complete. Class 4A state champion.
24. (25) Norcross (Ga.), 13-2Season complete. Class 6A state champion.
25. (8) Katy (Texas), 15-1Katy fell short in the Class 5A-II final, losing to Cedar Hill 34-24.
Story
