August 6, 2009

Dallas Jackson
Rivals High Managing Editor

Last Monday RivalsHigh.com began its 2009 countdown, ranking high school teams from first through No. 100.

We started at the bottom of the rankings and will release two groups of five per day; then we'll do a daily countdown from 10th to first, with our No. 1 team to be unveiled Aug. 10 - which will be two weeks from the start of the season.

After that, we will wait until September 1 for the next rankings, and then every Monday during the season.

The team rankings were compiled by high school sports managing editor Dallas Jackson, the Rivals AMP team, football recruiting analysts, and the entire RivalsHigh network of publishers.

Top 100 Countdown: 100-96 | 95-91 | 90-86 | 85-81 | 80-76 | 75-71 | 70-66 | 65-61 | 60-56 | 55-51
50-46 | 45-41 | 40-36 | 35-31 | 30-26 | 25-21 | Post your thoughts on the message board

Top 100 countdown No. 20 Skyline, Washington

COACH: Mat Taylor LAST SEASON: 14-0, Won Washington 4A State Title FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: No. 16 Nationally KEEP AN EYE ON: 2011 receiver Kasen Williams. Williams is a dynamic receiver who has been integral in Skyline winning the last two state titles. He had 150 yards as a freshman in the title game and made a spectacular catch as a sophomore. Now he should be the go to target and can take his game up a notch. Williams is a freak athlete with a 6-foot-10 high jump and hands like glue he can elevate to an elite athlete. STAR POWER: You can not mention 2010 QB's without taking about Jake Heaps. Heaps has commited to BYU already and can be one of the winningest QBs in the history of Washington with another undefeated season. STRENGTHS: According to coach Taylor the strength of Skyline will be their versatility. They are a traditional four wide set, but having two solid TEs - including Cooper Pelluer - it will allow them to close it down and run 2 TE sets and pound the ball as well as use Heaps to air it out. SCHEDULE: Skyline will take on two frontline teams this season as they welcome Oregon's Portland Jesuit and California's Oaks Christian. Coach Taylor said that the scheduling really just worked out for them, "Jesuit just fell into our lap. And Oaks Christian had a team cancel on them, they called us to see if they could come here. Both seemed like a win-win situation for what we want to do here." THE HUNTED: "As a coach it is your job to find a reason to make your players get up for weeks they think they will have success," explained Coach Taylor. "But our kids know each week they have a bullseye on their back. We have had success at Skyling for some time. Back before we had marquis players. This is a good program with a tradition of hard working football players."

Top 100 countdown No. 19 Long Beach Poly, Calif.

COACH: Raul Lara LAST SEASON: 14-1, Lost CIF Open Division Bowl FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: No. 29 Nationally KEEP AN EYE ON: The defense. The Jackrabbits will be replacing all eleven starters from one of the best defenses in high school football in 2008. Coach Lara told RivalsHigh, "We won't be as dominant as we have been in the past, but we will have a lot of speed and we should come together." STAR POWER: Kaelin Clay is the star of the team. According to Coach Lara, "Kaeilin is fast, there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it." STRENGTHS: Speed. The Jackrabbits often take after their namesake and have speed all over the field. Clay is listed in the Rivals.com database as running a 4.57 40-yard dash. His teammate, and fellow WR, Alex Cannon, is listed as running a 4.4. With speed like that on the outside they will create some opportunities for big plays and allow Cory Westbrook some open space to pound the ball as well. QUOTABLE: "We will miss those guys from last year," Coach Lara said. "But, that is the beauty of being at Poly. We always have a lot of options."

Top 100 countdown No. 18 Centennial, Arizona

COACH: Richard Taylor LAST SEASON: 14-0, Arizona 5A-II State Champs FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: No. 13 Nationally KEEP AN EYE ON: The offensive line. There is not a lot of turnover on the Coyotes this season with 9 starters back on offense and 5 on defense. The offensive line will have three 300-pound lineman up front. STAR POWER: Offensive guard Nick Rowland. Rowland is the No. 6 ranked guard in the country. He is in no hurry to decide his college of choice. Coach Taylor thinks that Rowland will take three officials and then decide. SCHEDULE: "Some teams we play will have their best teams ever," Coach Taylor told RivalsHigh. "Red Mountain and Chandler are supposed to be very good. Not only that but we have to play Brophy too." GETTING UP: "One of the hardest things we have to deal with is the kids getting complacent." Coach Taylor continued, "We have won three titles in a row and we need the kids to understand it isn't easy when all they have experienced is winning." EXPECTATIONS: "Expectations do not bother me at all," said Coach Taylor. "There are billions of people who do not care at all about high school football. We want to win of course, but we want to make sure we love our kids, raise them right, and make them successful in life not just on a football field."

Top 100 countdown No. 17 Cedar Hill, Texas

COACH: Joey McGuire LAST SEASON: 12-2 FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: No. 21 in Texas 5A KEEP AN EYE ON: The development of 2011 QB Driphus Jackson. Jackson is a 6-0 185 pound dual threat player. Behind a great offensive line and having Ben Malena to hand the ball to it could be a good year to learn for Jackson. STAR POWER: Ben Malena will be the star of the team. The Longhorns will be a balanced attack this season according to Coach McGuire. Of course, that balanced attack is 60-40 run at Cedar Hill. STRENGTHS: The offensive line is usually the strength of the team. Oklahoma commit Adam Shead is the No.8 guard in the country. Josh Allen plays center and will anchor the line. AM I STUPID?: "I would have to be an idiot if I didn't give the ball to Ben," Coach McGuire said. "He is a very good football player and if I don't hand him the ball in most every big situation I should be slapped."

Top 100 countdown No. 16 Madison Central, Miss.

COACH: Bobby Hall LAST SEASON: 12-2 FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: No. 6 in Mississippi KEEP AN EYE ON: The depth. Madison Central brings back 9 starters on offense - only losing their left guard and full back. They also bring back seven starters on defense but must replace their secondary. UNDER THE RADAR: Peyton Johnson is the guy under center for the Jaguars and according to Coach Hall he has a lot of similarities to Drew Brees. "In terms of arm strength, stature, and leadership I see a lot of Drew Brees in him," Coach Hall raved. "If he were 3 inches taller he would have offers from everyone." STRENGTHS: The strength of the team are the lines. With four of five back on the offensive line and all four on the defensive front the Jaguars should control the line of scrimmage. Four star defensive tackle Carlton Martin and three star tackle Bryon Bennett can clog the middle and stuff the run. HARD HITTER: Safety Kenny Barnes is a big hitter on the field. Coach Hall told RivalsHigh with a bit of sincerity in his joke, "I am surprised local law hasn't been called in for some of the hits he put on people. He has no regard for his own body out there." CLOSING THE GAP: "South Panola is a special program," Coach Hall said. "Every bit of attention they got from winning they deserved. This is a special year for us. We think we can win states. We certainly have closed the gap on them."