MaxPreps preseason medium schools high school football rankings

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Booker T. Washington (Miami) defeated American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) in a preseason matchup last week, pitting two of the top teams in the state of Florida. The contest also featured the top two teams in the MaxPreps preseason medium schools national football rankings.

American Heritage is ranked No. 1 on the list, just ahead of Booker T. Washington. The Patriots' loss to the Tornadoes will not count against their record, however, since it was a preseason contest.

Georgia has the most teams in the top 25 with four while Ohio and Florida each have three.

The rankings are based on the MaxPreps National Football Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard. Medium schools are those teams that play in state enrollment divisions that generally have between 1,000 and 2,000 students.

1. (last year 8) American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 9-2, 81.2
The Patriots return eight Division I prospects from a team that was upset by Hallandale in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs last year. American Heritage won the state title in 2014 and 2013.

2. (NR) Booker T. Washington (Miami), 9-5, 73.0
The Tornadoes lost five times in 2015, but they still managed to collect their fourth-straight Class 4A state title. Washington has not lost a district championship in at least 13 years and it returns eight Division I prospects.

3. (4) Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio), 14-1, 67.3
The Knights return 12 starters, seven on offense, from a team that won the Division III championship. Archbishop Hoban's top quarterback and running back return in the form of Danny Clark and Todd Sibley jr., respectively.

4. (12) Cartersville (Ga.), 15-0, 65.5
The Hurricanes won the Class 4A state championship last year and have 12 starters returning from that team, including the nation's top quarterback in the Class of 2018 in Trevor Lawrence.

5. (19) West Orange-Stark (Orange, Texas), 15-1, 65.1
Perennial district champions, West Orange-Stark won a state 4A-II title in 2015. The Mustangs are favored to win the state title again on the strength of eight returning starters on offense and nine on defense.

6. (9) St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), 12-1, 63.4
The Eaglets won the Division 3 state championship in Michigan the past two seasons. Six Division I prospects return, including linebackers Joshua Ross and Dwayne Chapman II.

7. (NR) Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City), 15-0, 62.5
The Chargers move up to Class 4A after winning the Class 3A state championship the past two seasons. Heritage Hall has one of the nation's longest win streaks at 27 games in a row.

8T. (25) Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), 12-1, 61.1
The Stags look to add their third-straight Class 4A I state title in 2016. Bishop Miege averaged 57 points per game last year with six games over 60 points.

8T. (NR) Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 12-2, 61.1
The Sabercats return 13 starters and had an undefeated JV team last season. The team has 11 potential Division I players, topped by defensive back Kaelib Jarrell.

10. (NR) Calabasas (Calif.), 13-2, 60.2
The Coyotes could be one of the more explosive offensive teams in Southern California this year with Division I prospects Darnay Holmes, a preseason MaxPreps all-American, and Keyshawn Johnson Jr., son of the former NFL wideout of the same name. Both will be catching passes from Tristan Gebbia.

11T. (NR) Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (Fort Wayne, Ind.), 14-1, 59.8
The Saints won the Class 4A state title last year, including a regular season win over Class 5A champion Snider.

11T. (NR) South Warren (Bowling Green, Ky.), 15-0, 59.8
The Class 4A state champions have a 52-14 record in their history. They gave up an average of less than six points on defense last year.

13. (NR) Buford (Ga.), 13-2, 58.6
The Wolves fell to Cartersville in last year's state playoffs, but won seven state championships between 2007 and 2014. A total of six Division I prospects dot the Buford roster.

14T. (NR) Knoxville Catholic (Tenn.), 11-4, 57.6
The Fighting Irish claimed the Class 4A state championship last year and have a record of 123-39 over the past 13 seasons.

14T. (NR) Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.), 13-1, 57.6
The War Eagles lost to Buford in the Class 4A playoffs last year. They have not won a recent state championship, but they have won five region titles in the past six years.

16. (NR) Pace Academy (Atlanta), 13-2, 57.3
A Class 2A power, Pace Academy went 13-2 last year with a state championship. The team moves up to Class 3A this year with four Division I prospects, including one of the nation's best offensive linemen in Andrew Thomas (6-5, 310).

17. (NR) Belfry (Ky.), 14-1, 56.9
Winners of three straight state championships, the Pirates return 18 starters from last year's team, nine of both sides of the ball. Belfry is 159-30 over the past 13 seasons.

18. (NR) St. George's (Collierville, Tenn.), 13-1, 56.4
The Gryphons won the Division II Class A championship last year and return a pair of Division I prospects in running back Chase Hayden and linebacker Noah Pope.

19. (NR) Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio), 12-3, 56.3
The Fighting Irish won a Division III state title in 2014 and a Division II crown in 2012. They have a record of 128-34 over the past 13 seasons.

20. (NR) Bishop Hartley (Columbus, Ohio), 12-3, 55.6
A total of 15 starters, eight on defense, return from a team that captured the Division IV championship in Ohio.

21. (24) La Vega (Waco, Texas), 16-0, 55.4
The Pirates knocked off Argyle to win the Class 4A-I state championship. La Vega has one of the state's top tight ends in Division I prospect Kedrick James.

22. (NR) Riverside Academy (Reserve, La.), 11-2, 54.8
The Rebels have not won a recent state championship, but they have claimed three straight district crowns.

23. (NR) Cocoa (Fla.), 10-3, 54.5
A total of 17 starters return for Cocoa, including quarterback Bruce Judson and top running back Timmy Pratt. Cocoa won three straight state titles between 2008 and 2010.

24. (NR) Neville (Monroe, La.), 14-0, 54.3
The two-time defending Class 4A state champions have won 26 games in a row and return 12 starters, six on both sides of the ball. Jaiden Cole ranks as one of the top athletes in Louisiana.

25. (20) Zeeland West (Mich.), 14-0, 54.2
The Dux won the Division 4 state title last year and claimed the Division 3 championship in 2013. They've won five straight league championships and have a 14-game win streak entering the 2016 season.