Two of high school football's most storied programs opened the season against each other in August with
Washington (Massillon, Ohio) beating all-time wins leader
Valdosta (Ga.) 28-17. Should Washington (6-0) run the table this season, the Tigers would join Valdosta in a tie for third place on the list of schools with the most undefeated seasons, which is the latest addition to the MaxPreps National High School Football Record Book.
The list includes some of the all-time great programs in high school football history, like Valdosta and Washington. Topping the list is
Lawrence (Kan.), the all-time wins leader in Kansas. No. 2 on the list is
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), which holds the national record for consecutive wins at 151.
This list (ties included) is going to differ somewhat from the one found in the National Federation of High Schools record book. For one, the NFHS record book includes teams that list a number of seasons with only one or two wins. These seasons usually occurred around the turn of the 20th century when teams often only played a couple of games a year.
MaxPreps has set a minimum qualifying criteria of five games played in order to qualify as a "season."
Record Book: Most undefeated seasons
As a result, Lawrence is listed with 32 all-time undefeated teams by the NFHS record book, but only 26 by MaxPreps. Six of Lawrence's seasons, based on the website Kansas High School Football History, have fewer than three games and all of those occurred prior to 1900.
Still, 26 undefeated seasons is still easily the national record. The Lions benefited from having Al Woolard as head coach from 1950 to 1968. During that 19-year stretch, Woolard fielded 12 undefeated teams (and three others that lost just once). The Lions had a string of 47 straight wins and 34 in a row during Woolard's tenure.
DaOne Owens helped Washington knock off Valdosta in August, ensuring that the Georgia school wouldn't add to its total of 21 unbeaten seasons. (Photo: Jeff Harwell)
Unsurpisingly, De La Salle comes in right behind with 22 undefeated seasons. The Spartans' 151-game win streak included a string of 12 straight undefeated seasons. The Spartans didn't begin playing football until 1973 but have finished undefeated in 44 percent of their 50 seasons.
Valdosta is third on the list with 21 along with
Bakersfield (Calif.) and
Rome Free Academy (Rome, N.Y.). The Wildcats are listed by the NFHS record book with 23 undefeated seasons but Georgia High School Football Historians and the school football boosters website lists Valdosta with only 21.
Washington is No. 6 on the list with 20 undefeated seasons, nine of which resulted in the Tigers earning a national championship by the National Sports News Service.
Also making the list with 18 undefeated seasons each are Connecticut small school power
Ansonia (Conn.), Illinois juggernaut
East St. Louis (Ill.) and
Lincoln (Neb.).
Everett (Mass.),
Muskegon (Mich.) and
Westfield (N.J.) all have 17 apiece while
Caledonia-Mumford (Caledonia, N.Y.) has 16.
