Being originally from Tennessee I have to ask... Has a North Carolina team ever been number one in the nation in football? I feel like the Chris leak years at Independence would have put them number one.
Question for the old timers....
- Thread starter BigCharlieHayes
- Start date
Final National Rankings (1998)
NATIONAL SPORTS NEWS SERVICE FINAL 1998 TOP 25 FOOTBALL RANKINGS Note: Also released as National Prep Poll/Student Sports Magazine
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I found online a list from USA Today for final rankings for 2004
1. Southlake -Carroll TX
2. Independence- Charlotte
3. Mission Viejo Calif
4. Hoover- Alabama
5. Colerain- Cincinnati
6. Central Catholic-Pittsburgh
7. South Panola -Batesville Miss
8- Bellevue-Washinton
9- John Curtis-River Ridge, La
10- Poly-Long Beach, Calif
11- Lowndes-Valdosta, Ga
12-Christian Brothers Academy- Syracuse, NY
13-Muskeon High, Muskeon, Mich
14- Catholic - Joliet, Ill
15- Riverdale, Murfreesboro Tenn
There were many more teams down the list (I think they had 50 teams), but these were the top 15 in the USA Today 2004 final ratings. Oddly enough, the 2004 Independence team was quarterbacked by Joe Cox, and Coached by Bill Guiller.
There probably were other polls that did not agree this list, but I had no luck finding any other polls for the end of 2004 season. I'm pretty sure Independence was never ranked #1 in any poll in any year.
1. Southlake -Carroll TX
2. Independence- Charlotte
3. Mission Viejo Calif
4. Hoover- Alabama
5. Colerain- Cincinnati
6. Central Catholic-Pittsburgh
7. South Panola -Batesville Miss
8- Bellevue-Washinton
9- John Curtis-River Ridge, La
10- Poly-Long Beach, Calif
11- Lowndes-Valdosta, Ga
12-Christian Brothers Academy- Syracuse, NY
13-Muskeon High, Muskeon, Mich
14- Catholic - Joliet, Ill
15- Riverdale, Murfreesboro Tenn
There were many more teams down the list (I think they had 50 teams), but these were the top 15 in the USA Today 2004 final ratings. Oddly enough, the 2004 Independence team was quarterbacked by Joe Cox, and Coached by Bill Guiller.
There probably were other polls that did not agree this list, but I had no luck finding any other polls for the end of 2004 season. I'm pretty sure Independence was never ranked #1 in any poll in any year.
Butler, Indy, and Richmond during their best runs were always right near the top but never broke through to number one.
In 2004 I saw SLC, Indy, and Hoover play in person. Thought SLC would have struggled a bit with Indy's OL and DL which were very impressive that season. Indy would have struggled with stopping SLC passing attack due to their complete package in that phase. Only big difference between the two would have been the specialist. SLC had a big time kicker which can cause some issues. Been a long time but I thought Indy could and would have pulled it off.
Many felt Colerain was the best team in the nation with their rushing attack and big time defense but they never went against an elite passing team so the top three may have caused them some issues.
In 2004 I saw SLC, Indy, and Hoover play in person. Thought SLC would have struggled a bit with Indy's OL and DL which were very impressive that season. Indy would have struggled with stopping SLC passing attack due to their complete package in that phase. Only big difference between the two would have been the specialist. SLC had a big time kicker which can cause some issues. Been a long time but I thought Indy could and would have pulled it off.
Many felt Colerain was the best team in the nation with their rushing attack and big time defense but they never went against an elite passing team so the top three may have caused them some issues.
Seen eleven of those schools play. Been to games at SLC, Indy, Hoover, Central Catholic, South Panola, J Curtis, Lowndes., and Joliet.
Joliet was ranked in the top ten nationally when I saw them probably 2007 or 2008. They were not a top four team in Charlotte. Think they were on a long winning streak and would lose in the state playoffs by a TD.
In 2004 Joliet Catholic was sort of living off the distant memories of the 80s and 90s. The huge south and west suburban explosion had started and they weren't recruiting as much. Naperville schools, Lincoln Way, Providence Catholic and some others had begun going vertical and took alot of talent away.
I'm pretty sure Page HS was in the early 1980's maybe 1984/1985 with Todd Ellis(USC) as QB and young Tripp Welbourne(Michigan) as WR/DB. I can't quite remember if they were #1 but at or near the top because I remember them being in the USA Today newspaper.
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I think Indy may have been ranked number one in 2004 by one small, since defunt, website. It was SLC, Mission V, Colerain, and Indy in most top fours.
USA Today Super 25 82-2006
1982 Jacksonville #24
1983 Randleman was #13
1984 Page #11
1985 Page #11
1985 Page #11
1987 Garner #17
1989 Richmond #5
1990 Burlington Cummings(3A) #17
1992 East Forsyth #15
1993 Northern Durham #9
1994 Crest #15
1995 West Charlotte #20
1996 Crest #17
1997 Richmond #13
1998 Richmond #6
2001 Independence #6
2002 Independence #3
1982 Jacksonville #24
1983 Randleman was #13
1984 Page #11
1985 Page #11
1985 Page #11
1987 Garner #17
1989 Richmond #5
1990 Burlington Cummings(3A) #17
1992 East Forsyth #15
1993 Northern Durham #9
1994 Crest #15
1995 West Charlotte #20
1996 Crest #17
1997 Richmond #13
1998 Richmond #6
2001 Independence #6
2002 Independence #3
With Lemay there is more hype so more potential in the rankings but I did not find a huge dropoff between Lemay and Ferguson once Riley figured it out in the Richmond game. Lemay's receiving corp in 2009 was impressive.
Only remember the AP doing a state poll. There were several publications that did rankings but did not have the audience like the internet brings.
1996 tied early with Kings Mountain. Had some close games in 1994 and 1996. Thought Jacksonville in 1994 was the weakest state finalist in 4A prior to subdividing that I remember.
Thought when West Charlotte won in 1995 that they would win four in a row as that team was not the one expected to come near winning a state title. 1996 could not control the running back and big TE from Page and lost in a shootout by a point and 1997 and 1998 Richmond was just too much for them although Indy had the 1997 playoff game ready for the W column but did not make the best decisions down the stretch, both coaching and player antics.
National Prep Poll
1987 Garner #20
1988 Richmond #5
1989 Richmond # 4
1990 Burington Cummings #11
1990 Richmond #20
1992 East Forsyth #17
1993 Northern Durham #7
1994 Crest #20
1996 Crest #18
1997 Richmond #8
1998 Richmond #2
2001 Independence #7
2002 Independence #3
2003 Indpenedence #3
2004 Independence #4
2005 Independence #6
2006 Independence #9
2009 Butler #3
2010 Butler #13
2011 Page #21
2012 Butler #7
2013 Mallard Creek #13
2016 Wake Forest #25
2017 Wake Forest #20
1987 Garner #20
1988 Richmond #5
1989 Richmond # 4
1990 Burington Cummings #11
1990 Richmond #20
1992 East Forsyth #17
1993 Northern Durham #7
1994 Crest #20
1996 Crest #18
1997 Richmond #8
1998 Richmond #2
2001 Independence #7
2002 Independence #3
2003 Indpenedence #3
2004 Independence #4
2005 Independence #6
2006 Independence #9
2009 Butler #3
2010 Butler #13
2011 Page #21
2012 Butler #7
2013 Mallard Creek #13
2016 Wake Forest #25
2017 Wake Forest #20
I found AP Polls that had rankings broken down state by state, but no national poll
RB from that 1996/97 Page team was Carlos Doggett. One of the best RBs to play for Page and he ended up playing for NC State.
National Sports News Service Poll
1977 East Meck #11
1982 Jacksonville #13
1984 Page #18
1985 Page #11
1987 Garner #14
1988 Richmond #15
1989 Richmond #6
1990 Burlington Cummings #12
1992 East Forsyth #16
1993 Northern Durham #7
1994 Crest #19
1996 Crest #17
1997 Richmond #7
typo has Fairfield Central in NC but it's SC.. at #8
1998 Richmond #2
1977 East Meck #11
1982 Jacksonville #13
1984 Page #18
1985 Page #11
1987 Garner #14
1988 Richmond #15
1989 Richmond #6
1990 Burlington Cummings #12
1992 East Forsyth #16
1993 Northern Durham #7
1994 Crest #19
1996 Crest #17
1997 Richmond #7
typo has Fairfield Central in NC but it's SC.. at #8
1998 Richmond #2
In most states there would be a panel of sportswriters through local papers that would vote. Think the AP poll in NC died a few years ago. hard to get the panelist.
There was a game back there in the '90s between Crest and I think it was either Shelby or Kings mountain that was a multiple overtime game that was one of the greatest games I've ever seen in my life. I can't remember the year but it was in Shelby county and it was an absolute barn burner that went late into the night. The level of athletes on that field was amazing. I'm getting so old now I can't remember where I put my keys but I can remember going to that and it was cold as hell and it was a hell of game.
USA Today
National Prep Poll
AP Polls
National Sports News Service Poll
Which one is official?
National Prep Poll
AP Polls
National Sports News Service Poll
Which one is official?
