High school football: Valdosta 4-0 start keeps Male, Massillon and Mayfield at bay in race for all-time wins lead

For over 36 years, Valdosta (Ga.) has held on to the claim as the winningest high school football team in the nation. Entering the 2024 season, however, Male (Louisville, Ky.), Massillon (Ohio)  and Mayfield (Ky.) looked to be on the verge of surpassing the Wildcats for the top spot.

But Valdosta is having none of that.

The Wildcats are 4-0 and have lengthened their lead over the three other schools, pushing the advantage to five games after finishing 2023 with a four-game lead over Massillon and Male, according to records kept by MaxPreps.

The four-game lead to start the 2024 season was the smallest advantage for a Valdosta team since the end of the 1988 season when the Wildcats overtook Massillon for the all-time lead and held a five-game lead by season's end.

Valdosta increased its lead over Massillon to as many as 52 games following the 2005 season but the Tigers have been chipping away ever since.

Male trailed Valdosta by as many as 84 games following the 1999 season. But the Bulldogs have put together 22 seasons of 10 wins or more since 1988 compared to just 13 for Valdosta. Washington has 17 seasons of 10 wins or more during that span.

Here's a look at how each of the top four winningest teams in the nation have started their seasons. Valdosta (Ga.), 4-0
What's up: The Wildcats are off to a strong start with four straight wins against Tucker, Mundy's Mill (Jonesboro), Dougherty (Albany) and Jesuit (New Orleans, La.) by a combined score of 198-69. Valdosta is 4-0 for the second time under fourth-year coach Shelton Felton after winning their first six games to start the 2022 season.

Who's hot: Quarterback Todd Robinson leads the offense with 730 yards passing, 214 yards rushing and 14 total touchdowns. Sophomore running back Deron Foster has scored seven touchdowns.

Who's next: Valdosta takes on undefeated South Gwinnett (Snellville, Ga.) on Friday. The two teams from opposite ends of the state have not faced each other since the 1998 Class AAAA quarterfinals with the Wildcats winning 41-7 en route to capturing the state championship.


What's up: The Bulldogs upended St. Xavier (Louisville) 35-34 in overtime to begin the season 3-0. Male avenged a 20-10 loss to the Tigers from last year.

Who's hot: Chayce Burton, a junior in his third year on the varsity, recently went over 1,000 career rushing yards (1,330 yards) and has 428 yards on 61 carries for the season. He leads the team in scoring with eight touchdowns, including four against Ballard (Louisville) when he ran for 214 yards on 34 carries.

Who's next: The Bulldogs take on Trinity (Louisville) on Sept. 20. The Shamrocks lost their first game of the season to Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) and play another Indiana team this week when they travel to play Carmel. Male defeated Trinity last year, 37-20, but the Shamrocks won their final 10 games to capture the Class 6A state championship.


What's up: The last program to hold the all-time national wins lead other than Valdosta, Massillon began the season just four wins behind the Wildcats. However one less game and a 35-21 loss to Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) puts the Tigers six games back. The loss to the Crusaders ended an 18-game win streak by the state's defending Division II champions.

Who's hot: Jalen Slaughter has completed 59 of 96 passes for 709 yards and six touchdowns while Ja’meir Gamble leads the rushing attack with 34 carries for 287 yards and five touchdowns. Jacques Carter also had three touchdown catches on eight receptions and 141 yards.

Who's next: The Tigers take on Canisius (Buffalo, N.Y.), which opened its season last week with a 39-25 win over Scranton Prep (Scranton, Pa.). Massillon has a 2-1 record all-time against Canisius including a 42-7 win in 2022.


What's up: The Cardinals are off to a rough start with two losses sandwiched around a 51-28 win over Hopkinsville. Mayfield has a new coach this year in Cliff Dew, who replaced longtime coach Joe Morris. The Cardinals won seven state championships in 25 years under Morris, who concluded his career with a 300-56 record.

Who's hot: Josiah England is the top rusher for Mayfield with 374 yards and five touchdowns in two reported games. He had 292 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Hopkinsville.

Who's next: Mayfield meets McCracken County (Paducah) on Friday. The Cardinals have defeated McCracken County three straight times including a 48-14 win last year.