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Home > Blogs > High School Huddle > Archives > 2009 > August > 21
Friday, August 21, 2009
Week 2 will be madness in Cincinnati
To start the football season, the Cincinnati area will claim two of the nation’s Top 13 high school football teams, at least according to USA Today.
The first Super 25 ranking from the newspaper is now available, and although Elder High School didn’t make No. 1, the Panthers will have to settle for No. 4.
Elder will get a quick test to see if it belongs on the list, as the Panthers will open their season against East St. Louis, which is No. 10 on USA Today’s list.
It gets better. Elder, in Week 2, will meet Colerain, which starts its season No. 13 on the national list.
An important note on Colerain from the USA Today reporter, who says that “Colerain’s defense might be its best ever.” Do you know how serious of a statement that is? Anyone remember Colerain from 2004? The team that pretty much made opposing offenses cry? The one against which Moeller decided it wouldn’t call running plays because, really, what was the point?
Here are a few snippets from a 2004 story we reported on that Colerain team:
The payoff has been a 14-0 record heading into Saturday’s Division I state final appearance against Canton McKinley. And, a reputation throughout the state as one of the most demoralizing defenses in recent memory. In outscoring opponents a combined 645-88 (an average of 46.1 to 6.3), the Cardinals have remained No. 1 in the state and No. 5 nationally, according to USA Today, for much of the season.
“If they can go on and win this thing, I think they’ll be looked at as one of the best teams that has played in this state,” said Elder coach Doug Ramsey, whose team, the two-time defending state champion, lost by a combined 59-6 in two games with Colerain this season.
And …
“They are, without a doubt, the absolute best high school football team I’ve ever seen, hands down,” said Centerville coach Ron Ullery, who recently finished his 28th year of coaching.
The Elks were 11-0, the state’s No. 3 team and had scored an average of 37.1 points per game when they faced Colerain in the second round of the playoffs. They lost 35-0.
“I don’t think anybody remembers a team so overwhelming,” said Mike Schneider, a Northmont assistant coach who has been following Ohio high school football since he was 4 years old. “I mean, their defense … I don’t think we remember hearing about anything like it.”
Anyway, here’s USA Today’s Top 10:
St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale
Byrnes, Duncan, S.C.
Katy, Texas
Elder
Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J.
Miami (Fla.) Northwestern
Oaks Christian, Westlake Village, Calif.
Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va.
Centennial, Peoria, Ariz.
East St. Louis, Ill.
