Top 10 high school football winning streaks entering 2012 season

Eight high school football teams will enter the 2012 campaign with 30 or more consecutive victories.

It's a mixed bag of large and small schools, but leading the group is Class A powerhouse Clairton (Pa.), which has won 47 consecutive games and three consecutive state championships. The Bears have a great shot at the state record, which is 59 straight victories.

Mike White, longtime preps writer from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, told MaxPreps, "I'd be surprised if they didn't go undefeated into the postseason. They lost a lot of linemen, but they still have guys who are really good."

Leading some outstanding skill players is senior running back Tyler Boyd, who has more than 20 college scholarship offers. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder rushed for 2,400 yards and scored 48 touchdowns as a junior. Veteran Tom Nola has called Boyd the best player he ever has coached.



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2. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 46 straight
The Ironmen have built their winning streak against an outstanding schedule year after year and are the defending national champions.

This year, however, they will be severely tested due to heavy losses through graduation and transfers. They return just three starters on each side of the ball. The landmine-loaded schedule includes Gilman (Baltimore) and former national champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).

The Ironmen, who are ranked No. 21 in the Preseason Xcellent 25, will rely heavily this year on a strong defense, anchored by Al-Quadin Muhammad.

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3. Lafayette Central Catholic (Ind.), 45 straight
The Knights have dominated Indiana's Class A ranks, similar to what Clairton has done in Pennsylvania, capturing the last three state championships. They are the first Hoosier football team in any class to go unbeaten three consecutive years.

"Defense has been our staple," said coach Kevin O'Shea, who returns six starters on offense and five on defense. "We have overall team speed and have averaged just 5.8 points per game on defense over the last four years."

The defensive leader is 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker Ross Corporan, who led the Knights in tackles as a junior.
Guerin Catholic (Noblesville, Ind.) and Class 3A rival West Lafayette (Ind.) will be tough regular-season opponents.
 




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4. Hornell (N.Y.), 39 straight
The Red Raiders have dominated Class B in New York, notching the last three state titles. However, veteran Gene Mastin has retired as head coach and been replaced by Erik Werner, who was his assistant for the past nine years. Another change will see Hornell dropping down to Class C, though playing a rather similar regular-season schedule.

The cupboard definitely is not bare with five offensive and six defensive starters returning. Historically, Hornell has been strong in its line and running backs. This year it also has a couple of excellent receivers, Werner noted.

Zack Bacon will be starting for the fourth year. The 6-foot, 230-pound senior stars at fullback and middle linebacker. Last year he was named All-State after making 90 tackles - including 45 solos – while also rushing for 434 yards and five touchdowns.

Werner expects Livonia (N.Y.) and Bath (N.Y.) to be especially tough foes this year.

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5 (tie). Truckee (Calif.), 36 straight
This school is isolated in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, a little less than 20 miles from the Nevada border, and so it competes in the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. The Wolverines have won the last two Class 4A-Division 2 state titles, but their streak will be severely challenged this year by Churchill County (Fallon, Nev.), which lost two close games to the champs last year.

Starting his 18th year as head coach, Bob Shaffer has a chance to run the table again if senior Eric Holmer (6-2, 200) can make a smooth transition from slot receiver to quarterback. He also is an excellent linebacker.



Senior twins Jake Pettit and Zach Pettit are among other key returners. Jake is a 6-3, 200-pound running back, while Zach is a 6-3, 235-pound two-way end. Graham Christian (6-0, 200) is a powerhouse linebacker.

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5 (tie). Waunakee (Wis.), 36 straight
The Warriors are another team that has won its state championship – Division 2 in this case – for the last three years. They have not lost a home game in 14 years.

The streak, though, is in immediate jeopardy because they open against their toughest two opponents – No. 2 state-ranked Monona Grove (Wis.) and DeForrest (Wis.).

Coach Pat Rice returns four starters on offense and three on defense. Rob Hernandez of Madison.com noted that if the Warriors get past their first two foes, "They're pretty much home free until the regular-season finale against Mount Horeb-Barneveld (Mount Horeb, Wis.), the last team to beat them in conference play. Just too deep, too strong and too athletic for anyone around here."



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7. Lafayette (Oxford, Miss.), 32 straight
The two-time Class 4A state champions will be under a new coach, Eric Robertson, after Anthony Hart elected to concentrate on athletic director duties.



With nine returning starters – five on defense – Robertson counts heavily on Brandon Mack making a successful move from receiver to quarterback. The 6-1, 180-pounder, who runs 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, led the Commodores in receiving as a junior. The Commodores will have good athletes at the skill positions, but their lines will be young.

The streak will be strongly tested in the opener against Tupelo (Miss.) and soon afterwards against rival Oxford (Miss.).

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8. Webb City (Mo.), 30 straight
The Cardinals have won the last two Missouri Class 4 state championships. Last year they finished 15-0 and won by an average of 31.5 points.

Coach John Roderique returns five starters on each side of the ball, including the No. 1 running back and defensive player. The biggest threat to the streak could be Har-Ber (Springdale, Ark.).



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9. Maryville (Tenn.), 29 straight
The Rebels will be looking for their third-consecutive Class 6A state championship this year.



Veteran coach George Quarles returns six starters on defense and five on offense and expects wide receiver to be an especially strong position. Six-foot, 180-pound junior Shawn Prevo amassed 1,500 yards last year as a running back/wide receiver and runs 40 yards in 4.6 seconds. Junior Cody Carroll (5-9, 150) is the fastest wide receiver with a 4.5 clocking. Quarles also is pleased to have basketball player T.J. Kimble out as a senior.

Alcoa (Tenn.) again could prove to be the Rebels' toughest test. They began their classic rivalry series in 1926.

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10. 4-way tie, 28 straight
This logjam at 28 straight victories includes Regina (Iowa City, Iowa), Ithaca (Mich.), Martinsburg (W. Va.) and Boylan (Rockford, Ill.).