Best high school football team from each decade

National championships have been determined every year since 1897, whether it was via a national championship game or newspaper polls or a team simply declaring that it is the best team in the nation. But which teams were truly the greatest?

MaxPreps takes a look at some of the nation's greatest teams of all-time by selecting the best team from each decade starting all the way back in the 19th century. The only criteria for selection is that the selected team had to be named a national champion.



Pre-1900s
Madison (Wis.), 1897
Coach: Joseph Jackson
Record: 7-0
Points For/Against: 192-0
Games: Oregon, 34-0; Evansville, 50-0; Waukesha, 30-0; Minneapolis South, 14-0; Delafield St. John's, 22-0; Elgin (Ill.), 28-0; North Tonawanda (N.Y.), 14-0
Also considered: Bloomington, 1899, 7-0-1. Defeated three college teams and a Champaign team that had been deemed national champion in 1898 and 1897.
Notes: Madison played in the very first national high school championship game, defeating North Tonawanda 14-0 when the New York squad reportedly did not come out for the second half. Also played three college teams (going 0-2-1) with an 8-0 loss to the University of Wisconsin.

1900s
Hyde Park (Chicago), 1902
Record: 5-0
Points For/Against: 336-0
Games: Chicago South, 72-0; Chicago North, 28-0; Chicago West, 74-0; Chicago Englewood, 57-0; Brooklyn Poly Prep, 105-0.
Notable Names: Walter Eckersall, RB, Three-time College All-American at University of Chicago, College Football Hall of Fame; Thomas Hammond, RB, University of Michigan All-American
Also considered: Chicago North Division, 1903, 7-0-1, defeated Brooklyn Boys in national championship game 76-0; Seattle Broadway, 1906, 9-0, defeated Chicago North Division 11-5 in national championship game; Chicago Englewood, 1909, 11-0, went undefeated and allowed only six points on the season, but did not play in a national championship game.
Notes: Illinois football, particularly around Chicago, dominated the national high school football scene in the early 1900s, and nowhere was that more evident than at Hyde Park in 1902. Behind the play of Eckersall, who went on to become a three-time College All-American at University of Chicago under Amos Alonzo Stagg, Hyde Park averaged 66 points a game while holding opponents scoreless. Not included on Hyde Park's record were two practice games with local universities, including a 6-5 loss to Stagg's squad. Invited to participate in a national championship game against Brooklyn Poly Prep, Hyde Park was up to the challenge, winning 105-0.

1910s
Everett (Mass.), 1914
Coach: Cleo O'Donnell
Record: 13-0
Points For/Against: 600-0
Games: Marlboro, 60-0; Revere, 74-0; Chelsea, 54-0; Cambridge Rindge Tech, 21-0; Wellesley, 23-0; Melrose, 48-0; Manchester (N.H.), 22-0; Malden, 48-0; Medford, 42-0; Somerville, 41-0; Cambridge Latin, 25-0; Oak Park (Ill.), 80-0; Stamford (Conn.), 62-0
Notable Names: Jack Cannell, RB (38 touchdowns, 16 touchdown passes), Rufus Bond, RB (22 touchdowns).
Also considered: Oak Park (Ill.), 1912, 11-0; probably best of four national championship teams at Oak Park, they beat Everett 32-14 in a national championship game and scored 101 against Evanston Academy. Fostoria (Ohio), 1912, 8-0, scored over 100 points twice and beat Buffalo Central in a national championship game 74-0. Harrisburg Tech (Pa.), 1919, 12-0, outscored opponents 701-0 and beat Portland (Maine) 56-0 in national championship game; was also national champion in 1918.
Notes: Sports Illustrated wrote in 1984 that the 1914 Everett team might be the greatest high school team ever. The best evidence might be its 80-0 win over Oak Park (Illinois) in the national championship game. Oak Park had gone 40-3 between 1910 and 1913 and had been named national champions four straight years before the lopsided loss to Everett. Between 1913 and 1915, Everett shutout 27 straight opponents, according to the SI article. Everett has also won more state championships (28) and more games (799) than any other Massachusetts school.

1920s
Pine Bluff (Ark.), 1925
Coach: Foy Hammons
Record: 16-0
Points For/Against: 684-15
Games: Jonesville A&M Reserves, 36-0; Searcy, 78-6; Jonesville, 39-0; North Little Rock, 62-0; Jackson (Tenn.), 89-0; Benton, 33-0; Fordyce, 35-0; El Dorado, 27-0; Central (Little Rock), 23-0; Houston Central, 25-3; Prescott, 20-0; Texarkana, 27-6; Monticello, 39-0; Fort Smith, 58-0; Atlanta Tech (Ga.), 32-0; Dayton Stivers (Ohio), 61-0.
Notable Names: Billy Hicks, RB, 42 touchdowns.
Also considered: Waco (Texas), 1927, 14-0. Really the only other contender during the decade, it defeated Cleveland Cathedral Latin (Ohio) 44-12 in a national championship game. Twice scored over 100 points (including a 124-0 win over Jefferson Davis) and finished with 784 points to just 33 for the opponent.
Notes: Also in consideration for greatest team ever, Pine Bluff racked up 8,588 yards of total offense on the season, a national record that lasted until 1998 and still ranks third all-time. Perhaps more impressively, Pine Bluff rushed for 8,081 yards, which still ranks No. 1 all-time, according to the National Federation of High Schools record book, and is nearly 700 yards ahead of the next team on the list. Pine Bluff, which has won 21 state championships, defeated Dayton Stivers (Ohio) in the national championship game. Billy Hicks scored 42 touchdowns during the season, a state record that lasted for 70 years.

1930s
Austin (Chicago), 1937
Coach: Bill Heiland
Record: 10-0
Points For/Against: 364-19
Games: Kelvyn Park, 26-0; McKinley, 93-0; Farragut, 47-0; Marshall, 61-6; Steinmetz, 32-0; Crane, 31-0; Fenger, 21-7; Senn, 14-6; Leo, 26-0; Jackson (Tenn.), 13-0
Notable Names: Bill DeCorrevont, RB
Also considered: Ashland Blazer (Ky.), 1931, 10-0. Defeated teams from four different states and topped Decatur (Ga.) 85-6 in a national championship game. Massillon Washington (Ohio), 1935, 10-0. Outscored opponents 483-13. Louisville duPont Manual (Ky.), 1938, 10-0, defeated teams from six different states, including New Britain (Conn.) 26-20 in a national championship game in Louisiana.
Notes: Although it no longer exists, Austin (Chicago) used to be the "biggest thing in town," quite literally. Even when the Chicago Bears were once drawing only a few thousand patrons, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune in 1987, Austin played rival Leo in the "Mayor's Charity Game" in front of an estimated 120,000 fans at Soldier Field. The game is still the most attended high school game in history. DeCorrevont, who once had nine touchdowns on 10 carries in a 93-0 win over McKinley, finished the 1937 season with 36 touchdowns.

1940s
Washington (Massillon, Ohio), 1940
Coach: Paul Brown
Record: 10-0
Points For/Against: 477-6
Games: Cathedral Latin, 64-0; Weirton (W.Va.), 48-0; Warren Harding, 59-0; Erie East (Pa.), 74-0; Alliance, 40-0; Steubenville, 66-0; Mansfield, 38-0; Toledo Waite, 28-0; Youngstown East, 26-0; Canton McKinley, 34-6.
Notable Names: Ray Getz, RB, All-State; Richard Kingham, QB, All-State; Thomas James, RB, NFL; Horace Gillom, OL, NFL.
Also considered: Donora (Pa.), 1945, 10-0. Led by future Los Angeles Ram Deacon Dan Towler.
Notes: Of Washington's nine national championship teams, the 1940 squad is generally considered the greatest. The last of Paul Brown's teams before heading to Ohio State, Brown even indicated that his 1940 squad could likely beat his first Buckeye team. Four of Washington's opponents lost just one game on the season. The Tigers also scrimmaged four college teams and beat all four, including a 50-0 win over Kent State. Both James and Gillom followed Brown to Ohio State and later played for him with the Cleveland Browns. All 11 offensive starters for Washington were named to the All-Ohio all-state team by UPI.

1950s
Jefferson (Portland, Ore.), 1958
Coach: Tom DeSylvia
Record: 12-0
Points For/Against: 514-100
Games: Lincoln, 34-0; Roosevelt, 47-7; Wilson, 47-19; Washington, 48-7; Grant, 67-6; Madison, 41-2; Franklin, 48-7; Benson Tech, 54-14; Cleveland, 34-19; Hood River WY'East, 41-6; West Linn, 41-6; Medford, 12-7.
Notable Names: Terry Baker, QB; Mel Renfro, RB
Also considered: Central (Little Rock, Ark.), 1957, 11-0. Defeated teams from Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky and Arkansas.Oak Ridge (Tenn.), 1958, 10-0. Co-national champions with Jefferson. Abilene (Texas), 1956, 14-0. Considered one of the best teams to ever come out of Texas.
Notes: There might not be a more accomplished high school backfield than the one sported by Jefferson (Portland) in the late 1950s. Terry Baker, a future Heisman Trophy winner, was the quarterback. Mel Renfro, a future NFL Hall of Famer, was one of the running backs. And they might not have been the two most dangerous players on the team that year. Raye Renfro, Mel's older brother, set a state record that year with 24 touchdowns and he was also a state-record holder in track and field. Meanwhile, running back Mickey Hergert went on to become the second all-time career rushing leader in NAIA history at Lewis & Clark. Terry Baker and Mel Renfro were both elected to the Oregon Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the High School Hall of Fame. Jefferson won two straight state championships and had a 23-0 win streak. Jefferson made the state finals in 1959, Mel Renfro's senior season, but lost. Jefferson is listed as a national co-champion in both 1957 and 1958 by several ranking services.



1960s
Coral Gables (Fla.), 1967
Coach: Nick Kotys
Record: 13-0
Points For/Against: 410-26
Games: Columbus, 39-0; Edison, 23-0; Key West, 26-6; Killian, 13-6; Coral Park, 39-7; Palmetto, 34-0; Miami Springs, 27-0; Pompano Beach, 41-0; Miami Senior, 16-0; Southwest, 40-0; Hollywood McArthur, 36-0; Robinson, 55-0; Wolfson, 21-7
Notable Names: Craig Curry, QB; Gerald Tinker, RB, NFL/Olympics; Paul Johnstone, C, All-American
Also considered: Reagan (Austin, Texas), 1968, 15-0. Probably the best of Reagan's three national championship teams in the late '60s and early '70s. Pasadena Blair (Calif.), 1969, 13-0. Knocked off Bishop Amat, led by Pat Haden, in the Southern Section finals. Valdosta (Ga.), 1962, 12-0. Probably the better of Valdosta's two national championship teams (1969 was the other) during the 1960s.
Notes: In 2007, the Florida High School Activities Association recognized the 1967 Coral Gables team as the greatest team in Florida history. The first of three consecutive national championship teams (1967-69) for coach Nick Kotys, who also had a fourth national champion in 1964. Kotys, according to the Miami Herald, said the '67 team was also his best squad. The Cavaliers were led by quarterback Craig Curry, who was one of the first black players in the history of Coral Gables High School, which integrated in the mid-1960s. The team also featured All-American center Paul Johnstone and future Olympic gold medal sprinter Gerald Tinker.

1970s
Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), 1976
Coach: Gerry Faust
Record: 12-0
Points For/Against: 490-40
Games: Dayton Northmont, 49-0; Princeton, 21-9; Middletown, 30-13, Withrow, 56-0; Elder, 34-6; Chaminade, 45-0; Roger Bacon, 20-0; La Salle, 48-7; Purcell, 61-0; St. Xavier, 35-0; Youngstown Mooney, 48-0; Gahanna Lincoln, 43-5.
Notable Names: Bob Crable, LB; Tim Koegel, QB; Jim Brown, T
Also considered: Valdosta (Ga.), 1971, 13-0. Considered, perhaps, Valdosta's best team out of its six national champions. Warner Robins (Ga.), 1976, 13-0. Earned co-national champion honors with Moeller. John Tyler (Texas), 1973, 15-0. Led by NFL Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell. 
Notes: The first of Archbishop Moeller's five national championship teams between 1976 and 1982 and the first for Gerry Faust, who would springboard from his job at Moeller to coaching at Notre Dame in 1980. Routed Gahanna Lincoln in the Class AAA state championship game. Tim Koegel was the UPI state offensive Player of the Year while Jim Brown was named the state Lineman of the Year. Bob Crable earned second team All-State honors, but he went on to play at Notre Dame and in the NFL before returning to Moeller to become head coach from 2000-07. Moeller went 36-0 over three seasons between 1975-77 with three state titles and two national championships.

1980s
East St. Louis (Ill.), 1985
Coach: Bob Shannon
Record: 14-0
Points For/Against: 679-53
Games: Marshall (Mo.), 53-3; Sumner (Mo.), 42-7; Granite City, 60-0; Belleville West, 37-0; Barrington, 40-6; Belleville East, 58-8; Alton, 58-3; Lincoln (East St. Louis) 61-7; Collinsville, 76-0; Danville, 44-0; Lockport Township, 58-12; Sandburg, 13-0; Buffalo Grove, 33-7; Brother Rice, 46-0.
Notable Names: Bryan Cox, LB, NFL; Ronnie Cameron, QB, Parade All-American
Also considered: Vigor (Pritchard, Ala.), 13-0. Considered the top team in Alabama history; Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio), 1982. Defeated Washington (Massillon) in state finals; Berwick (Pa.), 1983, 13-0. Posted 11 shutouts; Valdosta (Ga.), 1986. Fifth of Valdosta's six national championship teams. 
Notes: Shannon won six state titles and two national championships with the Flyers with the 1985 team being his best squad. Led by Parade All-American Ronnie Cameron and future NFL linebacker Bryan Cox, East St. Louis averaged 45 points a game and posted six shutouts. That included a 46-0 win over Brother Rice in the Illinois state championship game.

1990s
Hampton (Va.), 1996
Coach: Mike Smith
Record: 14-0
Points For/Against: 811-97
Games: Heritage, 67-0; Kecoughtan, 20-17; Warwick, 49-0; Denbigh, 74-7; Woodside, 83-0; Bethel, 41-0; Gloucester, 62-0; Phoebus, 61-12; Lafayette, 64-0; Menchville, 71-0; Deep Creek, 48-27; Norcom, 44-6; Madison, 76-14; Patrick Henry, 51-14.
Notable Names: Ronald Curry, QB
Also considered: St. Ignatius (Cleveland), 1995, 14-0. Best of coach Chuck Kyle's three national championship teams.
Notes: Possibly the greatest team in Virginia history and winner of back-to -back national championships (1996, 1997). Ronald Curry had one of the greatest careers of any Virginia high school quarterback, as he had 11,519 yards of total offense with 186 touchdowns accounted for. He was the national Player of the Year in both football and basketball. Hampton won four straight state titles between 1995 and 1998 and defeated and undefeated Patrick Henry team 51-14 in the state finals.

2000s
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 2001
Coach: Bob Ladouceur
Record: 12-0
Points For/Against: 567-96
Games: Buchanan, 56-14; Mater Dei, 34-6; St. Francis, 42-0; Long Beach Poly, 29-15; Pittsburg, 42-14; Antioch, 64-0; Liberty, 65-0; Ygnacio Valley, 31-13; Deer Valley, 57-6; Washington (Fremont), 54-15; James Logan, 45-0; San Leandro, 48-13.
Notable Names: Derek Landri, OL; Matt Gutierrez, QB; Maurice Jones-Drew, RB; Demetrius Williams, WR.
Also considered: Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 2006, 16-0. Northwestern (Miami), 2007, 15-0; St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 2008, 15-0
Notes: The Spartan team near the end of the 151-game win streak that pulled off one of the biggest wins in U.S. history when it defeated national No. 1 Long Beach Poly 29-15 in a battle between the top two teams in the country. De La Salle also defeated Mater Dei 34-6 during the year. Led by future NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew and Cal-Hi Sports state Player of the Year Derek Landri. The second of four straight national championship teams (2000-03) for the Spartans.

2010s
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 2016
Coach: Ken Sanchez
Record: 15-0
Points For/Against: 794-130
Games: Cedar Hill (Texas), 44-14; Cocoa (Fla.), 46-10; St. John Bosco (Calif.), 35-20; Kahuku (Hawaii), 35-7; Bonanza, 42-0; St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), 25-24 (3OT), Spring Valley, 69-13; Clark, 58-0; Desert Oasis, 71-0; Durango, 56-0; Sierra Vista, 56-7; Palo Verde, 59-0; Faith Lutheran, 58-10; Arbor View, 56-17; Liberty (Henderson), 84-8.
Notable Names: Tate Martell, QB, MaxPreps All-American; Haskell Garrett, DE, MaxPreps All-American; Bubba Bolden, DB, MaxPreps All-American.
Also considered: Booker T. Washington (Miami), 2013, 14-0; Allen (Texas), 2014, 16-0; Katy (Texas), 2015, 16-0; Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 2017, 15-0
Notes: Bishop Gorman may have played one of the most difficult schedules in high school football history in finishing undefeated an with a No. 1 national ranking. Cedar Hill finished the season 11-3 and was two seasons removed from back-to-back state titles in Texas. Cocoa went 12-1 and won the Class 4A state championship in Florida. St. John Bosco went 13-2 and won the Southern Section Division 1 championship over Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and the California Open Division championship over De La Salle (Concord). Kahuku finished 11-2 and reached the Hawaii Open Division finals before falling to Saint Louis. St. Thomas Aquinas went 13-2 and won the Florida Class 7A state championship. Against Nevada competition, Bishop Gorman outscored opponents 609-55 (an average of 61-6). Tate Martell earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors. Bishop Gorman also had a 55-game win streak during the decade and was deemed national champions in 2015 and 2014 by several ranking services.