Top 10 high school football teams of the MaxPreps era

MaxPreps is celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer. In recognition of a decade as America's source for high school sports, we will look back at the top teams, athletes, games and moments of the MaxPreps era over the next month.

There have been many memorable teams and seasons during MaxPreps' 10-year run. While it's nearly impossible to definitively claim which team had the best season over the last 10 years, here's an attempt to identify the 10 best squads from 2002-2011.

Top 10 football teams of the MaxPreps era

10. 2009 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
The 2009 national champions relied on a dynamic offense and a punishing defense to overwhelm a schedule that featured two prominent out-of-state games.

The Ironmen kicked off their season with a bang, demolishing California powerhouse De La Salle, 30-6. The next week, Don Bosco Prep traveled to Alabama and notched an 11-point victory over defending Class 6A champion Prattville.



Quarterback Gary Nova drove the offense, while senior running back Tony Jones had a huge year on the ground, rushing for 34 touchdowns.

As is typical of Greg Toal-coached squads, the defense was the backbone of the team. James Kittredge, Steele Divito, Bryan Murphy and a young Darius Hamilton made the front seven extremely difficult to run on. The secondary finished with 16 interceptions.



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9. 2005 Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)

The 2005 season was something of a golden age for high school football, as several states had some of their greatest all-time teams. South Carolina, home to powerhouse Byrnes, was one of them.

In a 15-game season, Byrnes outscored opponents 777-140. Its closest game was a 25-point blowout against Laurens.

Quarterback Willy Korn had one of the most prolific seasons in South Carolina history. He threw for 4,164 yards and 53 touchdowns while rushing for 763 yards and 10 scores. Prince Miller starred at running back and cornerback for the Rebels and earned State Player of the Year honors.



The overall offensive prowess of this team would have made the Marcus Lattimore-led teams blush.

And the defense allowed only 9.8 points per game, pitching three shutouts, so it was a complete team.



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8. 2006 Northwestern (Miami)

While the 2007 Bulls got more recognition, the 2006 squad really laid the groundwork for all of the national attention that Northwestern received. And with Antwain Easterling at running back, the ‘06 Bulls were likely even better than their famed ‘07 version.

Jacory Harris lined up behind center and threw to favorite targets Aldarius Johnson and Tommy Streeter.

The defense featured linebackers Sean Spence and Lavonte David, both of whom (along with Streeter and offensive lineman Brandon Washington) were selected in the 2012 NFL Draft. The team's defensive leader, however, was tackle Marcus Fortson, a consensus All-American. During one seven-game stretch, Northwestern outscored opponents 317-0.



While the 2007 squad was nearly stunned in the playoffs at the hands of a Denard Robinson-led Deerfield Beach squad, the 2006 Bulls won each playoff game dominantly, by 20 points or more.



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7. 2003 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
De La Salle's 2003 team may not be the best in school history, as that distinction probably belongs to the 1999 or 2001 squad. However, it is the best Spartans team in the MaxPreps era.

The Spartans' defense was punishing, holding opponents to one touchdown or fewer in 10 of 13 games.

Offensively, T.J. Ward, Cameron Colvin and Terrance Kelly provided more firepower than legendary head coach Bob Ladouceur is accustomed to.

Kelly, who also starred at linebacker and was committed to Oregon, was tragically gunned down in August before ever setting foot on campus at Eugene.

The next season, De La Salle's 151-game winning streak was snapped in its season-opener to Bellevue.





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6. 2005 Carroll (Southlake, Texas)

Probably the top team in the Dragons' dynasty, the 2005 squad blasted all competition en route to a 16-0 season, a 5A-I state title and a No. 1 ranking in most national polls.

Carroll's 2005 version featured future Alabama and New York Jets quarterback Greg McElroy, who led a talented offense that featured sophomore running back Tre Newton and Clint Renfro and McKay Jacobsen, comprising the top receivers unit in program history. McElroy compiled 4,636 yards and 56 touchdowns on the season.

With Justin Padron and Kyle Russo manning the front seven, this Dragons defense was stellar, allowing it to win each playoff game by double digits.

The 2005 squad gets a slight nod over the 2006 Carroll team, which was a botched fake punt away from losing in the playoffs to Euless Trinity.





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5. 2003 Don Bosco Prep

Over the last 10 years, perhaps no program has been more successful than Don Bosco Prep, with its 2003 team being the best Ironmen squad during that span.

For 11 games, the Ironmen were simply invincible, outscoring opponents 548-76. This team might be ranked higher if not for a narrow 14-13 victory in the Non-Public Group IV state title game over a Brian Cushing-led Bergen Catholic squad.

The Ironmen offense was led by senior quarterback Mike Teel and receiver Marquis Liverpool, two first team all-state selections as both juniors and seniors. Speedster Michael Ray Garvin saw time at running back and was a shutdown cornerback.

Brian Toal, son of head coach Greg Toal, starred at running back and linebacker and may be the most dominant high school football player in state history. In fact, the 2003 Don Bosco Prep team was recognized as the greatest in state history following its remarkable run.



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4. 2008 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

The 2008 Aquinas squad was a team without a weakness. Explosive on offense and punishing on defense, the Raiders opened the season with an 11-point victory on the road against Elder (Cincinnati) and won each subsequent game by more than 20 points.

Quarterback Ryan Becker had plenty of offensive weapons at his disposal, including receivers Duron Carter and Dwayne Difton as well as running backs Giovanni Bernard and James White.



Led by linebacker Vincent Mauro and defensive back Cody Riggs, there was no shortage of talent on the defensive side of the ball either.

George Smith's squad capped off its perfect season with a stunning 56-7 drubbing of rival Lakeland.



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3. 2005 Lakeland (Fla.)

While the 2006 Lakeland team may have gotten greater recognition nationally, folks around Florida believe the 2005 Dreadnaughts were better than their ‘06 version.

Quarterback Billy Lowe provided senior leadership to a team that also featured twin offensive linemen Michael and Maurkice Pouncey and running backs Chris Rainey and Jamar Taylor. The Pounceys and Rainey signed with Florida after the following season while Taylor signed with Alabama.

John Brown manned the defensive line, while Ahmad Black roamed the secondary. Seniors Scott Bryant and Troy Johnson anchored the linebacker spots.



Lakeland capped off a 15-0 season with a 29-point win over an Aquinas squad that entered the title game unbeaten and boasted five first team all-state players, among them future NFL'ers Major Wright, Marcus Gilbert and Sam Young.

Florida high school football historian Larry Blustein, who watched both 2005 Lakeland and 2008 Aquinas, told MaxPreps he gives the edge to 2005 Lakeland "by a field goal."



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2. 2004 Colerain (Cincinnati)

Ask any Ohio high school football fan to name the state's all-time best team, and the 2004 Colerain squad is bound to be mentioned sooner rather than later. Head coach Kerry Coombs' squad opened the year with a 21-3 win over Elder; which had captured the Division I title the previous year and had beaten Colerain three straight seasons.

Quarterback Dominick Goodwin and running backs Mister Simpson and Danny Magness led the Cardinals' lethal triple-option attack. However, Colerain's defense really shined.

Led by linebacker Andre Revels, twin defensive linemen Terrill and Tirrdell Byrd, and defensive back Brayden Coombs, Colerain allowed a touchdown or less in 10 of 15 games. Its average margin of victory was a stunning 39.8 points, including a 50-10 drubbing of McKinley in the Division I title game.





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1. 2003 North Shore (Houston)

This team ranks with the greatest squads in the storied history of Texas high school football.

With playmaking quarterback Bobby Reid behind center and bruising running back Justin McNeese taking handoffs, North Shore's offense was consistently explosive. Add in the fact that its defense allowed an average of only eight points over the team's final five games and you have an utterly dominant team on both sides of the ball.

In the Class 5A-I final, North Shore held previously unbeaten The Woodlands and standout receiver Danny Amendola to seven points and a paltry 133 yards. The Woodlands entered the contest averaging more than 35 points per game.

On the season, North Shore outscored opponents 702-89.