Video: Early Contenders Top 25 football rankings presented by Shock Doctor
We set the tone for 2018 as we look at high school football's elite.
It was all supposed to end last season. It didn't. Not by a long shot.
Kimberly, the pride of Wisconsin, extended its national-leading current win streak to 70 games while posting a 14-0 record, winning a fifth straight Division I state title and outscoring opponents 518-240.
Amazing stuff, considering the team returned five players from the 2016 squad. The Papermakers fell behind 7-0 to Sun Prairie in the 2017 state title game, a team that entered 13-0. Kimberly rallied to win going away, 27-7.
"It's been an incredible journey," Kimberly coach Steve Jones told the Post-Crescent before the game. "You see it (growth from players) all over the place, so I think that's the most rewarding part of coaching to see that growth both as football players and people."
With a roster filled with returning players, the Papermakers figure to keep extended the streak, which began Aug. 23, 2013.
Kimberly, however, isn't even halfway home to break the national all-time record of 151 straight wins pulled off by De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) from 1991-2004.
Kimberly is tied with Edgewood Academy (Elmore, Ala.) for 13th longest win streak in high school football history. It could move into the Top 10 all-time if it manages to run the table once again this fall.
1. Kimberly (Wis.)Win streak: 70
Shutouts in streak: 9
Points for/against in streak: 3,000/906
Average score: 43-13
Games decided by TD or less: 7
Biggest scare: 32-29 over Fond du Lac, Nov. 11, 2016
First 2018 game: Aug. 17 vs. Fond du Lac
Win streak: 59
Shutouts in streak: 14
Points for/against in streak: 2,866/732
Average score: 49-12
Games decided by TD or less: 3
Biggest scare: 22-21 over East, Sept. 3, 2016
First 2018 game: Aug. 10 vs. West
3. Lamar (Mo.)Win streak: 49
Shutouts in streak: 15
Points for/against in streak: 2,358/391
Average score: 48-8
Games decided by TD or less: 3
Biggest scare: 7-6 over Lutheran North, Nov. 18, 2017
First 2018 game: Aug. 10 vs. Laurence Manning Academy
4. (tie) Wise (Upper Marlboro, Md.)Win streak: 42
Shutouts in streak: 19
Points for/against in streak: 1,824/244
Average score: 43-6
Games decided by TD or less: 2
Biggest scare: 15-13 over Calvert Hall, Sept. 8, 2017
First 2018 game: Aug. 31 vs. Camden
4. (tie) Damascus (Md.)Win streak: 42
Shutouts in streak: 9
Points for/against in streak: 1,842/403
Average score: 44-10
Games decided by TD or less: 2
Biggest scare: 14-12 over Franklin, Dec. 8, 2016
First 2018 game: Aug. 24 at Northwest
6. Caledonia (Minn.)
Win streak: 41
Shutouts in streak: 10
Points for/against in streak: 1,748/339
Average score: 43-8
Games decided by TD or less: 1
Biggest scare: 34-27 over Triton, Sept. 8, 2017
First 2018 game: Aug. 31 at Plainview-Elgin-Millville
7. (tie) Simmons (Hollandale, Miss.)Win streak: 40
Shutouts in streak: 21
Points for/against in streak: 1,717/238
Average score: 43-6
Games decided by TD or less: 4
Biggest scare: 22-20 over Nanih Waiya, Dec. 1, 2017; 30-28 over Palmer, Sept. 9, 2016
First 2018 game: Aug. 17 at Coahoma Agricultural
7. (tie) Royal (Royal City, Wash.)Win streak: 40
Shutouts in streak: 14
Points for/against in streak: 1,985/256
Average score: 50-6
Games decided by TD or less: 5
Biggest scare: 24-21 over Connell, Oct. 13, 2017
First 2018 game: Sept. 7 at Othello
9. Choate Rosemary Hall School (Wallingford, Conn.)
Win streak: 39
Shutouts in streak: 13
Points for/against in streak: 1,664/391
Average score: 43-10
Games decided by TD or less: 2
Biggest scare: 33-30 over Cheshire Academy, Sept. 17, 2016
First 2018 game: Sept. 15 vs. St. Thomas More
10. Westfield (N.J.)Win streak: 37
Shutouts in streak: 4
Points for/against in streak: 1,054/312
Average score: 28-8
Games decided by TD or less: 10
Biggest scare: 15-13 over Bridgewater-Raritan, Dec. 3, 2016
First 2018 game: Aug. 24 at West Orange
