Rebel Yell Sports

Best of the best Using its final high school football rankings from 1982 to 2003, USA TODAY identified the nation's top 25 programs (actually the top 26 because of a tie at No. 25) over that 22-year span. Schools were awarded 25 points for a first-place season finish, 24 points for a second-place finish and so on: Rank/school Times ranked Highest finish(es) 1. Concord (Calif.) De La Salle 14 1 (1998, 2000, 2001, '02, '03) 2. Valdosta (Ga.) 7 1 (1984) 3. Cleveland St. Ignatius 8 1 (1989, '93) 4. Central Bucks (Doylestown, Pa.) West 8 3 (1991) 5. Berwick (Pa.) 6 1 (1983, '92, '95) 6. Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei 5 1 (1994, '96) 7. Long Beach Poly 5 2 (1997, 2000) 8. Union (N.J.) 6 4 (1991) 9. East St. Louis (Ill.) 5 1 (1985) 10. Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.) 6 2 (1999) 11. Odessa (Texas) Permian 4 2 (1989, '91) 12. Cincinnati Moeller 4 1 (1982) 13. New Lenox (Ill.) Providence Catholic 5 8 (2001) 14. Farmington (Mich.) Harrison 6 5 (2001) 15. Indianapolis Ben Davis 4 4 (1988, 2001) 16. Chicago Mount Carmel 4 6 (1988, '96) 17. Jenks (Okla.) 4 2 (2001) 18. Pittsburgh North Hills 4 1 (1987) 19. Hampton (Va.) 4 2 (1996) 20. Brockton (Mass.) 4 5 (1987) 21. Charlotte Independence 3 3 (2002) 22. Richmond County (N.C.) 4 5 (1989) 23. West Monroe (La.) 4 5 (2000) 24. Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic 4 9 (1998) 25. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) 5 6 (1986) 25. Midland (Texas) Lee 3 1 (1999) The next 10: 27. Honolulu St. Louis; 28. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy; 29. Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst; 30. Louisville Trinity; 31. Pensacola (Fla.) Woodham; 32. Jefferson City (Mo.); 33. Athens (Ga.) Clarke Central; 34. Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional; 35. Joliet (Ill.) Catholic; 36. Katy (Texas).