Mississippi powerhouse wins mythical national championship.
South Panola (Batesville, Miss.), one of the country's most dominant programs over the last decade, can add one more notch to its belt: national champion.
The Tigers, who finished 15-0 and captured Mississippi's 6A state title, posted eye-popping statistics on both sides of the ball en route to finishing No. 1 in the Xcellent 25 Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
Loaded with star power and groomed by excellent coaching, South Panola allowed more than one touchdown in only four games this year. They averaged more than 45 points per game on offense.
In the state final against previously-unbeaten Meridian, the Tigers turned in an outstanding effort, winning easily 28-7.
Running back
Qyendairs Griffin gave the Tigers a powerful threat running the ball, while
Marcus Henry and
Nickolas Brassell helped stretch defenses at wide receiver.
Antonio Connor and
Kendrick Market were dynamic defensive backs for South Panola, and up front,
Temario Strong and
Issac Gross were nearly impossible to block.
The Tigers rose to No. 1 following the Pearland (Texas) upset of Trinity (Euless, Tex.), which was the top-ranked team heading into the final weekend of the season.
Finishing a close second to South Panola is Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas. Like South Panola, Aquinas excelled on both sides of the ball and had an equally dominant season, culminating in a 5A state title.
Final Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard1. (2) South Panola (Batesville, Miss.), 15-0Season complete. 6A state champions. National champions.
Qyen Griffin was unstoppable for South Panola.
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2. (3) St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 15-0The Raiders capped off a dominant season by throttling defending 5A champion Plant 29-7. No team came within two scores of Aquinas, which was as strong defensively as it was offensively.
Aquinas celebrates being tops in the Sunshine State.
Photo by Stuart Browning
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3. (10) De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 14-0De Le Salle notched one of the most impressive wins of the season by any team, pounding previously ranked Servite 48-8. The Spartans put forth one of their most impressive halves ever as they led the Friars 35-0 entering the locker room and did not give up a first down until the third quarter.
Unheralded to begin the season, De La Salle came together for yet another magical year.
Photo by Louis Lopez
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4. (4) St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), 15-0Season complete. Division I state champions.
St. Edward defeated Wayne in the snow to capture Ohio's Division 1 crown.
Photo by Scott Seighman
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5. (24) Pearland (Texas), 16-0The Oilers capped off an improbable title run by upsetting No. 1 Trinity 28-24. Pearland also downed nationally ranked Katy en route to Texas' 5A-I crown.
Pearland junior Cole Stoudt celebrates the team's improbable state title, which featured wins over state powers Katy and Trinity.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
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6. (7) Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 12-0Season complete. Non-Public Group IV section champion.
Don Bosco Prep players celebrate with fans at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Photo by Daniel Coppola
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7. (20) Folsom (Calif.), 14-1Dano Graves and the explosive Folsom offense dominated Serra, as the Bulldogs won 48-20. Graves played a role in six touchdowns, finishing the season with a whopping 85 scores.
Neither a wet field nor Serra's team speed could slow down Dano Graves and Folsom in the Division II Bowl Game.
Photo by Louis Lopez
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8. (9) Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.), 15-0Season complete. 4A-II state champions.
The Trojans are led onto the field before their season-opener against South Pointe.
Photo by Ron McCann
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9. (NR) Central (Miami), 14-1With its victory over Dr. Phillips, Central claimed Florida's 6A crown. The Rockets' only loss came by one point in its season opener against Georgia's Camden County.
Rockets players celebrate in the fog after downing Dr. Phillips in Florida's 6A final.
Photo by Stuart Browning
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10. (11) Phoebus (Hampton, Va.), 15-0Season complete. Division 5 state champions.
Phoebus soared over the competition in 2010.
Photo by Clarence Thomas
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11. (1) Trinity (Euless, Texas), 15-1A second-half comeback attempt by Trinity fell short as the Trojans fell to Pearland 28-24 in the 5A-I title game.
Trinity enjoyed a fine season despite falling short of its ultimate goal.
Photo by Matt Gomez
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12. (12) Wheaton-Warrenville South (Wheaton, Ill.), 14-0Season complete. 7A state champions.
The Tigers and head coach Ron Muhitch take the field before the 7A semifinal against Belleville East.
Photo by Mark Peters
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13. (13) Bingham (South Jordan, Utah), 13-0Season complete. 5A state champions.
Bingham was untouchable in Utah's 5A bracket this season.
Photo by Dan Argyle
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14. (14) Daphne (Ala.), 15-0Season complete. 6A state champions.
Daphne came out on top in Alabama's class 6A.
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15. (16) Acadiana (Lafayette, La.), 10-5Season complete. 5A state champions.
Acadiana overcame a tumultuous season to win Louisiana's 5A crown.
Courtesy of Andre David
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16. (17) Mullen (Denver), 14-0Season complete. 5A state champions.
Mullen continued its dominance over the Centennial State in 2010.
Photo by Paul DiSalvo
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17. (19) Butler (Matthews, N.C.), 15-0Season complete. 4AA state champions.
Butler hoisted the 4AA trophy for the second year in a row.
Photo by Charles Ward
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18. (NR) Jefferson (Tampa, Fla.), 15-0Quentin Williams tossed for three scores to help Jefferson down Norland 44-34 in Florida's 3A state final. Jefferson established itself as the top team in the Tampa area, and one of the best in the state.
Jefferson was a cut above the rest of Tampa and brought home a 3A state title.
Photo by Stuart Browning
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19. (NR) Palo Alto (Calif.), 14-0In one of the more surprising outcomes of the weekend, Palo Alto shocked Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 15-13. The Vikings also beat top NorCal teams Valley Christian, Bellarmine, and Archbishop Mitty.
Palo Alto had plenty to celebrate after shocking Centennial on Friday night.
Photo by David Hood
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20. (21) Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas), 14-1Season complete. 5A-I semifinalist.
Although it fell to Trinity, Stony Point still had an outstanding season.
Photo by Jamie Harms
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21. (23) Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 15-0Season complete. 5A-I state champions.
Hamilton rushes onto the field after closing out another 5A-I state title.
Photo by James Conrad
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22. (NR) Aledo (Texas), 16-0Johnathan Gray exploded for 325 yards and eight scores to lead Aledo to its second-straight 4A-II state title in a 69-34 thrashing of La Marque. Gray was arguably the best offensive player in the country this season.
Behind Gray's record-setting campaign, Aledo rolled to an undefeated season.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
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23. (25) Union (Tulsa, Okla.), 13-1Season complete. 6A state champions.
Union avenged an earlier loss to Jenks to capture Oklahoma's 6A championship.
Photo by Keith Owens
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24. (5) Centennial (Corona, Calif.), 14-1Centennial's offense failed to get going in the Division I Bowl Game against Palo Alto. Playing in wet conditions, the Huskies could muster only two touchdowns and failed to convert on a critical 2-point conversion, losing 15-13.
Michael Eubank addresses Centennial after a 15-13 loss to Palo Alto, the only blemish on the Huskies' record-setting season.
Photo by David Hood
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25. (NR) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 13-2Season complete. 4A state champions.
Bishop Gorman gave both De La Salle and Hamilton the toughest games of their respective seasons.
Photo by Jann Hendry
Armwood (Seffner, Fla.)
Servite (Anaheim, Calif.)
Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Serra (Gardena, Calif.)
Mission Viejo (Calif.)
