National Prep Football Preseason Poll released

By Jamie DeMoney

The National Prep Football Poll is compiled by high school sports journalist Jamie DeMoney with input from sportswriters, experts, and coaches. The national Top 25 and regional Top 25s follow with 2006 won-loss-tie records:

Following one of the more difficult deliberations in recent summers, St. Xavier (Cincinnati) has been pegged as the top-ranked team in the 2007 preseason National Prep Poll.

The Bombers, who return 16 starters including seven regulars off their 2005 undefeated state championship team, narrowly edged Carroll (Southlake, Texas), DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and Northwestern (Miami) for the No. 1 nod.

Six St. Xavier players had received Division I scholarship offers by the end of the summer. Coach Steve Specht says a half dozen more are capable of playing at least at the Division I-AA level next year.

St. Xavier’s superior overall schedule and continuity in its coaching staff were the deciding factors in this first poll. However, as with the teams ranked in spots 2 through 25, every team will be evaluated and re-evaluated during each week of the season.

The Bombers first major test of the season will come September 2 at the Kirk Herbstreit Classic in Cincinnati when they’ll meet No. 3 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.). The game is tenatively scheduled to be aired on ESPN.

#1. Cincinnati, St. Xavier (10-2-0), seeks second state title in three years    
#2. Southlake, Texas, Carroll (16-0-0), 5A champ four of last five seasons
#3. Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha (12-0-0), plays No. 1 St. Xavier on Sept. 2  
#4. Miami, Northwestern (15-0-0), plays No. 2 Carroll on Sept. 15   
#5. Long Beach, Calif., Poly (11-2), five CIF crowns last 10 years
#6. Katy, Texas (13-1-0), led by UCLA-bound RB Aundre Dean   
#7. Charlotte, N.C., Independence (16-0-0), nation’s longest active win streak (108)
#8. Batesville, Miss., South Panola (15-0-0), four-time defending 5A champ
#9. Warner Robins, Ga., Northside (15-0-0), returns state offensive MVP QB Marques Ivory
#10. Chandler, Ariz., Hamilton (13-1-0), three state titles in school’s nine-year history
#11. Roswell, Ga. (13-1-1), tied for 5A state crown last season
#12. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei (8-3-0), Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart played here
#13. Jenks, Okla. (13-1-0), eight 6A championships in 11 years  
#14. Maryville, Tenn. (15-0-0), coach George Quarles is 108-9 in eight seasons
#15. Pittsburgh, Central Catholic (10-2-0), prep home of Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino
#16. River Ridge, La., John Curtis (14-0-0), 443 wins for coach J.T. Curtis, second most all-time
#17. Virginia Beach, Va., Salem (12-1-0), RB Kevin Whaley has three 1,000-yard seasons
#18. Pahokee, Fla. (14-0-0), features Miami recruit DT Micanor Regis
#19. Chicago, St. Rita (13-1-0), defending 7A state titlist   
#20. Cincinnati, Colerain (13-1-0), 38-3 over last three years
#21. Sherman Oaks, Calif., Notre Dame (11-1-0), QB Dayne Crist committed to Notre Dame
#22. Gaffney, S.C. (15-0-0), seeks fourth state crown in five years  
#23. Littleton, Colo., Columbine (13-1-0), four 5A titles since 1999      
#24. Muskegon, Mich. (14-0-0), QB Chris Crawford is 18-2 as starter  
#25. Jersey City, N.J., St. Peter’s (11-1-0), led by blue chip QB Will Hill
Southeast
#1. Miami, Northwestern, 15-0-0
#2. Batesville, Miss., South Panola, 15-0-0
#3. Warner Robins, Ga., Northside, 15-0-0
#4. Roswell, Ga., 13-1-1
#5. Maryville, Tenn., 15-0-0
#6. River Ridge, La., John Curtis, 14-0-0
#7. Pahokee, Fla., 14-0-0
#8. Miami, Washington, 12-2-0
#9. Prattville, Ala., 15-0-0
#10. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Aquinas, 12-2-0
#11. Seffner, Fla., Armwood, 11-2-0
#12. Jacksonville, Fla., Bolles, 14-0-0
#13. Lakeland, Fla., 15-0-0
#14. Ponte Vedra, Fla., Nease, 14-1-0
#15. Smyrna, Tenn., 13-2-0
#16. Norcross, Ga., 12-1-0
#17. Bastrop, La., 15-0-0
#18. Tampa, Fla., Plant, 15-0-0
#19. Valdosta, Ga., Lowndes, 6-4-0
#20. Daphne, Ala., 9-3-0
#21. Hoover, Ala., 13-2-0
#22. Belle Glade, Fla., Glades Central, 12-3-0
#23. West Monroe, La., 10-1-0
#24. Lakeland, Fla., Lake Gibson, 10-3-0
#25. Suwanee, Ga., Peachtree Ridge, 11-3-1