1952 National High School Football Rankings

Massillon tops Chicago Mt. Carmel, Lubbock for No. 1.

1952 Washington (Massillon, Ohio) Tigers from massillontigers.com

The 1952 high school football season featured a strong contingent of teams from Ohio, Illinois and California with traditional power Washington (Massillon) holding off Chicago Mt. Carmel (Ill.) and Lubbock (Texas) for the No. 1 overall ranking in High School Sports History’s 1952 National High School Football Rankings.

High School Sports History’s ranking of Massillon at No. 1 overall matches with the selection made by Art Johlfs of the National Sports News Service. In the middle of a second wave of powerhouse teams, this time under coach Chuck Mather (previously under Paul Brown), Washington was a clear choice by the Associated Press as the No. 1 team in Ohio, despite the presence of other powerful teams from Springfield, East Liverpool and Cincinnati Purcell.

The Tigers edge out a Chicago Mt. Carmel team that dominated teams in the Northern part of the state of Illinois and also defeated a Chaminade team that was ranked among the top teams in Ohio for much of the season. The Caravan get the nod in Illinois despite the presence of a strong East St. Louis team, which was just starting a long string of wins in 1952. Even longtime Illinois historian Tom Sikorski found it difficult to choose between the two Illinois teams as the best from the Land of Lincoln. We put Mt. Carmel at No. 2 and the Flyers at No. 6.

Texas wasn’t as strong in 1952 as Abilene had yet to establish its dynasty that took over the Lone Star State in the middle of the decade. Instead, a Lubbock team that went undefeated in 1951 and was dominant again in 1952 claimed the No. 3 place in our rankings.

California did not have state championships in 1952 so the powerhouse teams in the state in the South and North rarely met. Nevertheless, California has no less than four teams in the top 50, led by undefeated Santa Monica at No. 4.

The Top 50 for 1952 includes a multitude of All-Americans, including the eventual greatest athlete in the world - Plainfield running back, and Olympic decathlete Milt Campbell. Other names that would become familiar among football fans include Miami Jackson quarterback Lee Corso, Richmond defensive end Lamar Lundy, Santa Monica quarterback Ronny Knox, Temple’s Doyle Traylor and Fair Park’s Tommy Davis.

Following is High School Sports History’s selections for the Top 50 teams in the nation for 1952.

1952 National High School Football Rankings

1. Washington (Massillon, Ohio), 10-0
In 1952, the Tigers were nearing the end of a tremendous run under coach Chuck Mather. In his fifth season as head coach, Mather had his second 10-0 season (1950 was the other) and had built a record of 47-3 in five seasons. All five seasons had ended with state championships (adding a sixth in 1953, his final season at Massillon). The Tigers outscored opponents 440-93 with the only close game a six-point win over a Len Dawson-led Alliance team, 27-21. The 41-8 win over longtime rival Canton McKinley was the third-largest margin of victory, topped only by the previous two seasons (40-0 in 1951 and 33-0 in 1950). Seniors Jim Geiser (T) and Bob Koehnle (E) were all-state while Lee Nussbaum (FB) was second team. John Traylor led the team in scoring with 102 points. Geiser was also a member of the Wigwam Wiseman All-American third team. The International News Service ranked Massillon No. 1 with 44 first place votes and 649 points. Second place Springfield had 521 points and six first-place votes. Mather, considered a candidate to coach at Ohio State following the 1952 season, ranked the squad as his best in his five seasons at Washington.

Season Log
Akron South, 54-0
Elder, 33-0
Steubenville, 46-13
Barberton, 40-19
Alliance, 27-21
Mansfield, 40-0
Harding, 31-0
Toledo Waite, 60-19
Youngstown South, 68-13
Canton McKinley, 41-8

2. Chicago Mt. Carmel (Ill.), 11-0
In 1952, the Caravan was at the end of a strong four-year run by future Notre Dame coach Terry Brennan that included three straight city championships and a pair of 11-0 seasons (also in 1950). Mt. Carmel dominated throughout the season, turning a close game against St. George early in the season, 20-13, into a blowout in the Catholic League championship, 35-0. The Caravan also knocked off Austin, led by future San Francisco 49er Abe Woodson, in the city finals. Fullback Frank Phinn earned all-state honors along with guard Jim Shea. Seven other Caravan players earned honorable mention.

Season Log
St. George, 20-13
Sheridan, 34-0
Weber, 40-13
Leo, 9-0
St. Mel, 26-13
St. Elizabeth, 47-6
De La Salle, 22-0
St. Rita, 47-0
Chaminade, 28-21
St. George, 35-0
Austin, 27-14

3. Lubbock (Texas), 13-0
Although it certainly didn’t seem like it at the time, the 1952 Lubbock football team was the last, and perhaps the greatest, team in school history. With back-to-back 13-0 seasons in 1951 and 1952, Lubbock had its greatest run in the school’s 114-year history. In the 71 years since the 1952 season, Lubbock has not won more than seven games in a season. The 1952 season was the end of a four-year run of district championships under coach C.R. “Pat” Pattison. In his six seasons at the helm of the Westerners, Pattison had a record of 55-11 with three undefeated regular season finishes. Lubbock twice defeated Baytown Lee for the state championship, including 12-7 in 1952. Lubbock dominated the Star-Telegram’s Class 4A all-state team with five picks, including end Mike Brady, tackle Jimmy Gafford, fullback Jimmy Welch, defensive end Pat Hartsfield, and defensive back Buddy Hill. Gafford also made the all-state team at linebacker. Welch made the Wigwam Wiseman All-American fourth team while Gafford was sixth team.

Season Log
Fort Worth North Side, 27-13
Plainview, 47-0
Highland Park, 33-20
San Angelo Central, 34-0
Midland, 48-0
Amarillo, 40-13
Borger, 32-20
Abilene, 20-2
Odessa, 7-0
Pampa, 20-7
El Paso Austin, 41-7
North Dallas, 42-14
Baytown Lee, 12-7

4. Santa Monica (Calif.), 12-0
After going winless in 1945 and 4-4 in 1946, Santa Monica was a juggernaut in Southern California for the next 13 seasons, going 109-21-5. The 1952 season was the first part of back-to-back Southern Section championship teams that went 21-0-2 during that span. The Vikings didn’t have a close game all season until the Southern Section semifinals where they tied Redlands 7-7, but won based on first downs, 10-6. The section finals was another wipeout with a 34-6 win over South Pasadena. Santa Monica placed three players on the Helms Foundation All-Southern Section team including end Boyd Carter and guard Benny Clark. However no Viking was more important than quarterback Ronnie Knox. The Southern Section player of the year and a Wigwam Wiseman first team selection, Knox had played at Beverly Hills as a sophomore and Inglewood as a junior. At Samohi, he completed 13 of 19 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns in the section finals. For the season, Knox completed 125 of 192 passes for 1,862 yards and a section record 27 touchdown passes. Destined for stardom at the college and professional level, Knox never met that potential. Knox attended California-Berkeley and then transferred to UCLA after one year. Knox’s stepfather Harvey Knox was known to be meddlesome in Ronnie’s career (one reason why he played at three different high schools) and that was likely the reason for Knox’s nomadic career. Ronnie left UCLA after one year and was later declared ineligible. He signed with several different Canadian Football League teams over the ensuing seasons but left to pursue a film career. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1957, but he left the team, due in part to his stepfather’s interference. Another stint in Canada in 1959 turned out to be the end of his football career. He passed away in 1992 at the age of 57, spending most of his life drifting from town to town and job to job, according to a story in the Los Angeles Times in 1988.

Season Log
Mira Costa, 23-0
Alhambra, 31-6
Fremont (LA), 33-7
Inglewood, 26-7
Torrance, 35-7
Leuzinger, 54-6
Redondo, 20-0
Beverly Hills, 34-6
Covina, 34-0
Santa Paula, 45-7
Redlands, 7-7 (downs 10-6)
South Pasadena, 34-6

5. Richmond (Ind.) 10-0
The 1952 and 1953 seasons were easily the best two consecutive seasons in Red Devil history. With a 9-0 record in 1951, Richmond was one of about a half dozen schools in the running for the state championship. In 1952, there was no confusion as to which was the best team in Indiana. Richmond had a Litkenhous rating of 99.1 while the next best team had a rating of 93.2. The closest game for the Red Devils was a 12-point win in the season finale against Lafayette Jefferson. Richmond won games by an average score of 48.7 to 5.2. Richmond also reached the state tournament in basketball, losing to Terre Haute Gerstmeyer in the semifinals. The other semifinalist loser was Milan to South Bend Central. One year later, Milan defeated Muncie Central for the stunning state championship that is the basis for the movie Hoosiers. The top player on both the Richmond football and basketball teams was 6-foot-6 Lamar Lundy. An all-state end, Lundy joined two other Red Devils on the all-state team, including quarterback Bob Barrett and halfback Tommy Fletcher (who led the state in scoring with 177 points). Lundy went on to play at Purdue and then 13 years in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams as one of the Fearsome Foursome defensive linemen. He also made the Wigwam Wiseman All-American second team. Coach Bill Elias was also the all-state coach. He joined Richmond in 1950 and went 24-4 in his three seasons including 22 wins in a row. He joined Lundy at Purdue as an assistant coach and eventually became a head coach at George Washington (D.C.), Virginia and Navy before finishing his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Boston Patriots.

Season Log
Fort Wayne Central Catholic, 27-6
Frankfort, 37-0
Anderson, 66-13
New Castle, 60-0
Indianapolis Broad Ripple, 54-6
Kokomo, 46-7
Logansport, 85-0
Fort Wayne Central, 32-0
Marion, 48-0
Lafayette Jefferson, 32-20

6. East St. Louis (Ill.), 10-0
Coming off a 9-1 season in 1951, the Flyers had not had an undefeated season in nine years since going 11-0 in 1943. While unknown at the time, East St. Louis began a run of four straight undefeated seasons, starting with a 10-0 record in 1952. Coach Wirt Downing had a record of 113-17-7 entering the 1952 season and he went 49-1-2 until his retirement after the 1956 season. The Flyers bolted out of the gates in 1952 with three overwhelming wins against Springfield, Beaumont and Soldan-Blewett and culminated the season by handing Central Catholic (East St. Louis) it’s only loss and blasting rival Belleville on Thanksgiving Day, 39-0. While no Flyers made the Chicago Daily News’ all-state first team, Gene Campbell made the second team at end and Charles Rogers earned a spot in the backfield. Campbell also made the Wigwam Wiseman All-American sixth team.

Season Log
Springfield, 36-0
Beaumont, 37-0
Soldan-Blewett, 53-0
Collinsville, 33-13
Quincy, 32-7
Wood River, 33-0
Granite City, 32-12
Alton, 12-0
Central Catholic, 12-6
Belleville, 39-0

7. Lowell (Mass.), 11-0
Not expected to be a state contender at the beginning of the season, Lowell dominated Eastern Massachusetts opponents under coach Ray Riddick in 1952. While giving up 27 points, Lowell had seven shutouts and had only one game that was closer than a two-touchdown margin. Also included was a 27-14 win over an undefeated Haverhill squad. Selected to play in the Piedmont Bowl in North Carolina at the conclusion of the season, Lowell met a team of North Carolina All-Stars. The all-stars were led by the head coach of state champion R.J. Reynolds and included a half dozen all-state players. Along the way to the game, the Lowell team stopped in New York City and was part of the Bob and Ray Radio Show. Even without star running back Jimmy Dean, who was injured in the Thanksgiving game against Lawrence, Lowell easily defeated the all-stars 26-12. Lowell scored on the fifth play of the game and didn’t give up any touchdowns until the fourth quarter. Tackle Ted Kemos made the Boston Globe All-Scholastics first team, and guard Carl LeBourdais and running back Jim Milinazzo made the second team. Milinazzo had 18 touchdowns on the season .

Season Log
Worcester Trade, 20-7
Peabody, 7-0
Nashua, 27-0
Manchester Central, 27-0
Salem, 33-0
Haverhill, 27-14
Keith Academy, 27-0
Classical, 38-0
Arlington, 41-6
Lawrence, 25-0
North Carolina All-stars, 26-12

8. Montclair (N.J.), 9-0
Since arriving home from World War II, Montclair coach Clary Anderson had the Mounties on a roll. Montclair posted a 51-2 record over six seasons heading into the 1952 season with four 9-0 seasons. The 1952 season, however, might have been the best ever under Anderson, which is saying something considering that he won 17 group championships in his 25 years as head coach. The 1952 squad averaged 40 points a game, which ranked as the highest average in Anderson’s 25 years. According to John W. Cresbaugh of the Montclair Times, both Anderson and assistant Butch Fortunato considered the 1952 team the best during their time as the team’s coaches which began in 1940. Montclair scored 553 points in the Saylor Ratings, which determined the top teams in the state. The Mounties edged No. 2 Plainfield by 10 points. Aubrey Lewis made the all-state team at running back along with Plainfield’s Milt Campbell, a future Olympic decathlon gold medalist, and future NFL quarterback Milt Plum of Woodbury. Everett Christmas made the all-state first team at center. Lewis, who scored 17 touchdowns on the season, went on to be the first black captain at Notre Dame. Christmas had a long career as a national director for the YMCA.

Season Log
Orange, 38-6
Irvington, 44-14
Kearny 47-14
Nutley, 47-0
East Orange 48-0
Columbia, 27-6
West Orange, 52-0
Clifton, 13-0
Bloomfield 44-0

9. Aliquippa (Pa.), 11-0
The Quips dynasty essentially began in 1952 under coach Carl Aschman. Although Aschman had some solid seasons since he began coaching in 1941, the 1952 season was his first WPIAL championship and his best overall team. Aschman finished his career in 1964 with an overall record of 189-88-10. The football field at the school now bears his name. The Quips only close game was the last one, a 13-12 win over Washington for the WPIAL AA championship. Washington had been undefeated at 9-0 heading into the AA final. The Quips got the winning point on a PAT pass to Ernie Pitts from George Sarris. Pitts was the second-leading vote getter on the Associated Press all-state team. Pitts was an All-American at the University of Denver and was a five-time all-star in the Canadian Football League. He’s also a member of the league’s Hall of Fame. He tragically died in 1970 when he was shot in self-defense by his wife.

Season Log
Erie Tech, 40-0
Alleghany, 52-0
McKeesport, 26-6
Ellwood City, 52-13
Rochester, 38-0
Midland, 44-0
Sharon, 40-0
Beaver Falls, 28-7
New Castle, 18-7
Ambridge, 27-13
Washington, 13-12

10. Columbia Central (Tenn.), 11-0
A 27-7 win over Litton and Litton’s continued success the rest of the season helped lift Columbia Central, under coach Malcolm “Mutt” Quillen, to the Litkenhous ratings championship in Tennessee. The Lions scored a 102.9 points, which was the highest point total ever for a team from the mid-state. Litton was close behind at 102.7 and Dr. E.E. Litkenhous noted that Litton’s win over Oak Ridge bolstered Columbia Central’s rating. Columbia Central received a 200-pound bronze plaque for winning the ratings championship. Junior end Robert Elliott and tackle Jimmy Linville made the all-state team by the Nashville Banner.

Season Log
Murfreesboro, 28-6
Isaac Litton, 27-7
Lewisburg, 33-0
Lawrenceburg, 27-6
Centerville, 37-0
Nashville West, 24-0
Gallatin, 32-0
Shelbyville, 20-7
Battle Ground Academy, 39-6
Mt. Pleasant, 19-0
Tennessee Industrial School, 47-13

11. Pioneer (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 8-0
The Pioneers began a four-year run of undefeated seasons in 1952 with a 8-0 record. Pioneer didn’t lose another game until the 1956 season and had a total undefeated streak of 41 games dating back to the second week of the 1951 season. Pioneer edged Port Huron for the No. 1 ranking in the state by the Detroit Free Press. End Merv Baker made the United Press all-state team and the opposite end was future NFL tight end Ron Kramer of East Detroit. The Detroit Free Press picked Baker on the second team, but placed John Batsakes on the first team at running back. He led Ann Arbor with 14 touchdowns.

Season Log
Chicago Fenger, 34-6
Handy, 32-0
Ferndale, 40-6
Sexton, 60-6
Battle Creek Central, 27-0
Eastern, 40-0
Ypsilanti, 21-7
Jackson, 42-6

12. Springfield (Ohio), 10-0
The Wildcats culminated a four-year run in 1952 with a 10-0 season that gave them a 35-3-2 record during that span. An argument could be made for Springfield as the state’s top team. The Wildcats garnered seven first-place votes in the final Associated Press poll of sportswriters and they were ranked No. 1 in the state during a three-week stretch in mid-season. Springfield had finished No. 4 in 1950 and No. 3 in 1951 before finishing No. 2 behind Massillon in 1952. Fullback Lee Williams made the all-state second team by the Associated Press and the International News Service. He finished the season with 19 touchdowns.

Season Log
Dayton Stivers, 27-0
Dayton Kiser, 39-0
Portsmouth, 40-6
Middletown, 20-0
Woodward, 61-0
Hamilton, 27-13
Wilber Wright, 34-7
Lima Central, 28-0
Cleveland Heights, 34-0
Mansfield, 30-13

13. Breckenridge (Texas), 12-1
The 1950s were the greatest decade in the history of Breckenridge football. Of the 15 10-win seasons in school history, seven of them occurred during the 1950s. The 12-1 season for the Buckaroos marked the third straight season of 11 or more wins and the sixth straight district championship. Joe Kerbel guided the Buckaroos in 1952, his first year with the school. He took over for Cooper Robbins, who had left Breckenridge to coach at Texas A&M. Kerbel spent only three years at Breckenridge, leaving after the 1954 season for Amarillo before eventually ending up at West Texas State. Kerbel won two state titles in his three years with the Buckaroos. Breckenridge placed four on the Class 3A all-state team, including tackle Bobby Lockett, guard Wayne Greenlee, center Jerry Tubbs, and quarterback Ken Ford. Tubbs played at Oklahoma and had an 11-year NFL career as a linebacker. He made the Pro Bowl once and spent over 20 years as a coach for the Dallas Cowboys. Ford had a Hall of Fame career at Hardin Simmons and played in the NFL with the Giants and the AFL with the Jets.

Season Log
Big Spring, 33-0
Wichita Falls, 0-13
San Angelo, 27-0
Abilene, 34-13
El Paso Austin, 37-14
Weatherford, 35-0
Grand Prairie, 34-6
Cleburne, 26-0
Irving, 41-7
Brownwood, 34-6
Lamesa, 14-13
Texarkana, 34-7
Temple, 28-20

14. Bessemer (Ala.), 10-0
Heading into the final game of the season against Butler, both Bessemer and their opponent were 9-0. Ranked No. 1 in the state, Bessemer defeated No. 2 Butler 27-6 to claim the state championship as determined by the Birmingham News. Bessemer had a pair of outstanding offensive linemen in guard E.G. Taylor and tackle Frank Christy. Both earned all-state and All-Southern honors. Bessemer had finished 8-0-1 in 1951 and was ranked No. 2 in the state. After a No. 1 ranking in 1952, the Purple Tigers were No. 3 in 1953 and then went back to No. 1 in 1954. The 1952 and 1954 seasons remain the only 10-0 seasons in school history.

Season Log
Anniston, 28-0
West End, 27-0
Ensley, 27-0
Gadsden, 35-0
Woodlawn, 20-6
Phillips Birmingham, 27-0
Fairfield, 21-6
Ramsay, 12-0
Jones Valley, 48-14
Butler, 27-6

15. Polytechnic (San Francisco, Calif.), 10-0
The 1952 Poly team was considered by those in the San Francisco prep circles as the best team under coach Milt Axt. The Parrots defeated Lincoln 54-7 for the AAA championship, giving Poly seven championships since 1944. Since the 1943 season, Poly had a record of 87-5-1. During the 1952 season, the team set a school record for points scored with 378. Running back Gordon Young, meanwhile, set a school record for points scored at 133. The Parrots finished the season with 17 straight wins - a streak that would eventually reach 32 in a row. Quarterback Frank Hall made the All-Northern California team, as chosen by the San Francisco Examiner. He was called by Don Selby, the Examiner prep writer, “the greatest T-formation quarterback in San Francisco history.” He threw for 1,026 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season. A great baseball player as well, Hall played in a national high school all-star baseball game in the summer of 1953. He also played in the 1953 Shrine All-Star football game in Los Angeles that same summer. He went on to play at USC and was drafted by the Eagles in the NFL, but did not play.

Season Log
St. Ignatius, 39-13
Lincoln, 47-20
Galileo, 34-18
Washington, 34-0
Balboa, 44-13
Lowell, 33-21
Sacred Heart, 46-7
Mission, 33-6
Balboa, 14-0
Lincoln, 54-7

16. Litton (Nashville, Tenn.), 10-1
The 1952 season was one of the best years during a 15-year streak where Litton went 121-28 with no-losing seasons and 11 seasons with at least eight wins. The 10-1 record in 1952 included a loss to No. 1 Columbia Central, however Litton also handed powerhouse Oak Ridge its only loss of the season by a considerable margin. Columbia Central finished just two tenths of a point ahead of Litton in the Litkenhous rankings. Litton placed three on the all-state team, including guard L.F. McClellan, halfback George Volkert and defensive back Gray Potter. Volkert earned Wigwam Wiseman second team All-American honors after rushing for 1,177 yards and 136 points. He went on to play at Georgia Tech.

Season Log
Gallatin, 33-6
Columbia Central, 7-27
DuPont, 32-7
Nashville Central, 32-0
Springfield, 35-0
Oak Ridge, 47-19
Hillsboro, 27-0
Nashville East, 27-7
Tennessee Industrial School, 33-0
Montgomery Bell Academy, 60-0
Father Ryan, 19-12

17. Redlands (Calif.), 10-1
Prep writer Johnny Dixon of the Independent labeled Redlands the “greatest defensive team in Southland history” prior to their playoff meeting with Santa Monica. The statistics bear out Dixon’s claim. Redlands gave up just two touchdowns in their first 10 games and had eight straight shutouts. The defense, however, did not give up the two touchdowns as they were scored on a fumble return and an interception return. The Terriers tied Santa Monica in the semifinal, but lost on total first downs. Tackle Ken Stockham and running back Glen Goins made the All-CIF team. Stockham also made the Scholastic Coach All-American team.

Season Log
Anaheim, 26-6
Santa Barbara, 7-0
LaJolla, 20-0
Huntington Beach, 7-0
Chaffey, 27-0
Colton, 21-0
Pomona, 40-0
Riverside, 20-0
San Bernardino, 21-0
St. Anthony’s, 20-7
Santa Monica, 7-7

18. Valdosta (Ga.), 14-0
In his seventh year with the Wildcats, coach Wright Bazemore had his best season at 14-0 while winning a third state championship. Valdosta was ranked No. 1 all season long and was never seriously challenged. The Wildcats won their two state playoff games by shutout and won a region playoff by 52 points. Valdosta played West Springfield (Mass.) in a game called the Peanut Bowl, a charity event for crippled children, on Jan. 1. Valdosta jumped to a 21-6 lead and held on for the 28-26 win. Tackle Paul McNeill and running back Willie Webb made the all-state team.

Season Log
Appling County, 28-0
Cook, 47-0
Fitzgerald, 39-6
Douglas, 55-0
Tifton, 50-6
Moultrie, 33-0
Thomasville, 34-7
Jeff Davis, 48-6
Wayne County, 26-0
Waycross, 33-0
Americus, 59-7
College Park, 26-0
LaGrange, 30-0
West Springfield, 28-26

19. Berkeley (Calif.), 9-0
The Yellowjackets were ranked ahead of Poly in the Northern California rankings by the San Francisco Examiner by a rating of 11.55 to 10.25 in the Examiner’s rating system. However Poly still had to play two more games after the final rankings were released. Berkeley was a West Bay powerhouse in the late 1940s and early 1950s, winning eight league championships in the 10 years prior to 1952. Berkeley used a sp
eedy defense to post seven shutouts and allow just 14 points on the season. Charles Munn made the All-NorCal first team at end while running back Jasper McGee and guard Larry Fites made the second team.

Season Log
Stockton, 25-0
Bellarmine, 26-0
San Lorenzo, 38-7
El Cerrito, 32-7
James Lick, 40-0
Piedmont, 13-0
Hayward, 46-0
Richmond, 12-0
Alameda, 38-0

20. Tucson (Ariz.), 10-0
The Badgers had their best season since going undefeated three straight seasons between 1943 and 1945. Coach Jason Greer replaced Rollin Gridley in 1948 and had six straight winning seasons with 1952 being the best season in his eight-year career. Abe Chanin, a reporter for the Arizona Daily Star, rated the 1952 Badger team as the best in school history - even over the three undefeated teams from 1943 to 1945. The Badgers had four players make the all-state team, including quarterback Pat Flood, halfback Joel Favara, tackle Guy Barrickman, and end Bill Oden. Flood played football at Notre Dame and then the Naval Academy. He played in the 1958 Cotton Bowl and then began a career as a lawyer. However he also became a football referee, eventually working the 1991 Rose Bowl and the 1996 national championship game at the Fiesta Bowl. Favara was a Wigwam Wiseman fifth team All-American and went on to become a high school football coach. His 1962 Safford team won a state championship and he was named state coach of the year. Favara played at Oklahoma A&M after high school while Barrickman played at Missouri.

Season Log
Bisbee, 39-0
West, 31-7
North, 33-14
Yuma, 7-0
St. Marys, 19-0
Mesa, 28-21
Phoenix Union, 41-7
Douglas, 27-6
Phoenix Union, 27-6
Amphi, 25-7

21. Miami Jackson (Fla.), 8-1
Football supremacy in Florida in 1952 centered around three Miami schools, Miami Jackson, Miami Edison and Miami Senior. Jackson defeated Edison 20-0, but lost to Miami 21-19. Edison, however, knocked off Miami Senior in the final game of the season giving Jackson the top spot in the final state rankings. Quarterback Lee Corso was the only Jackson player to earn all-state first team honors. He went on to play at Florida State, where he roomed with Burt Reynolds, and became a longtime college coach. He joined ESPN’s College Gameday broadcast and has been a part of the program for the past 35 years.

Season Log
Lee, 14-6
Landon, 32-6
North Orlando, 26-0
Edison, 20-0
Miami, 19-21
Coral Gables, 27-0
West Palm Beach, 20-6
Fort Lauderdale, 34-7
Hillsborough, 21-7

22. Miami Edison (Fla.), 9-1
With a loss to Miami Jackson earlier in the season, Edison needed a win over Miami Senior on Thanksgiving Day to maintain a chance of winning the No. 1 ranking in the state. That was a tall order considering Edison had not defeated the Stingarees in 30 games over 27 years. However, in front of a crowd of 31,391 fans at the Orange Bowl, Edison defeated the Stingarees 21-7 to hand Miami Senior its second loss of the season. Edison was unable to claim the Big 10 championship ahead of Jackson, however. Triple-threat halfback Jackie Simpson was the top player in Florida as determined by the All-Southern Team selections. He also made the Wigwam Wiseman All-American fourth team. Simpson starred at University of Florida as a defensive back, earning a spot in the school’s Hall of Fame. He also played in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts, winning a pair of NFL championships.

Season Log
Coral Gables, 27-6
Landon, 27-6
Fort Lauderdale, 20-6
Robert E. Lee, 33-7
Jefferson, 60-13
Miami Jackson, 0-20
Jacksonville Jackson, 28-7
St. Petersburg, 34-13
West Palm Beach, 35-6
Miami High, 21-7

23. Rock Island (Ill.), 9-0
The Quad Cities metro area champion and the Northwest Conference winner, Rock Island had an impressive win over Little 7 champion Naperville, according to Illinois prep historian Tom Sikorski. Coach H.V. “Shorty” Almquist had his third undefeated season at Rock Island and upped his overall career record to 151-51-14 in his 25 years of coaching. Dick Allison earned all-state honors by the Chicago Daily News while running back Jack Ellis earned second team honors. No Rock Island players made the Champaign News-Gazette’s 33-man team.

Season Log
Naperville, 40-7
Franklin, 33-6
Farragut, 35-0
East Moline, 26-6
Kewanee, 47-13
Davenport, 13-0
Galesburg, 26-0
Moline, 12-6
Canton, 21-13

24. Lincoln Central (Neb.), 9-0
Coming off a 9-0 record in 1951 with a state championship, Central made it back-to-back championships in 1952 with another 9-0 record. While the Links were not as dominant in 1952 as they were in 1951, they still knocked off the top teams in the final state rankings, including No. 2 Scottsbluff, No. 3 Omaha North, No. 4 Grand Island, and No. 5 Lincoln Northeast. Ends Bob Barnett and Leroy Butherus made the all-state team along with backs Don Erway and Ted King. Erway played in the Wigwam Wiseman All-American game and went on to quarterback the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1955 Orange Bowl. He’s a member of the Nebraska Hall of Fame. Butherus also played in the Orange Bowl with Erway. Bob Barnett played basketball in college at Harvard. Erway, King, Butherus and Barnett all played on the Lincoln basketball team that reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual champion Boys Town. Erway made the all-state basketball team while Barnett was honorable mention.

Season Log
Omaha Central, 6-0
West Waterloo (Iowa), 27-6
Beatrice, 45-13
Lincoln Northeast, 33-0
Scottsbluff, 13-7
Omaha North, 13-6
Omaha South, 31-6
Alliance, 20-0
Grand Island, 39-20

25. Indianapolis Cathedral (Ind.), 9-0
The Irish won the city championship for the third straight year in 1952, posting a record of 26-2 over the three-year period. John Dezelan was still early in his coaching career at Cathedral. He went on to coach until 1969 and finished with a record of 182-60-8. The Irish finished the season with 18 straight wins, but were only No. 4 in the penultimate rankings of the season. With a win over Hammond Noll and East Chicago Roosevelt’s loss to East Chicago Washington, Cathedral rose to No. 2 behind Richmond. The undefeated season was the first for the Irish since 1931. Guard Ronnie Battreal earned all-state honors along with running back Dick Roseman.

Season Log
Indianapolis Washington, 25-6
Crispus Attucks, 19-0
Evansville Reitz, 18-13
Lafayette Jefferson, 20-6
Indianapolis Shortridge, 26-7
Southport, 27-0
Evansville Memorial, 31-7
Indianapolis Broad Ripple, 12-6
Hammond Noll, 27-13

26. Fair Park (Shreveport, La.), 12-1
A safety proved to be the only difference between a loss and an undefeated season for Fair Park. Ranked No. 4 in the state when it took on No. 1 Istrouma in early October, Fair Park held the defending state champions without a touchdown thanks to three interceptions by a Tommy Davis-led defense. Davis, who eventually played 11 seasons with the 49ers where he was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, also carried the ball when Istrouma scored the safety. After Fair Park had stopped Istrouma on the one. Davis took the ball in short punt formation and was tackled in the end zone for the only points of the game. Fair Park recovered, however, and won nine straight games, including the state championship against St. Aloysius. Davis ended up making the Wigwam Wiseman All-American first team.

Season Log
Marshall, 27-7
Bolton, 34-24
Haynesville, 20-6
Istrouma, 0-2
Bastrop, 26-6
OUachita, 27-7
Lake Charles, 47-13
Bossier, 42-7
Neville, 49-6
Catholic, 35-7
Byrd, 27-0
Sulphur, 14-0
St. Aloysius, 20-0

27. Haverhill (Mass.), 8-1
The winningest high school football program for the first half of the 20th century, Haverhill was in contention for the state championship in 1952. A loss to Lowell in midseason hurt the Hillies’ chances of finishing with its first unbeaten season since 1936. The Hillies have only won eight games in a season twice since the 1952 season. Lou Mooradian made the All-Scholastic 11 first team at tackle. He went on to be captain at the University of Connecticut football team.

Season Log
Beverly, 21-6
Malden, 27-6
Lynn Classical, 19-12
Waltham, 33-0
Lowell, 14-27
Salem, 46-13
Medford, 18-14
Lawrence, 48-6
Manchester Central, 19-0

28. Harrisonville (Mo.), 10-0
The Wildcats had one of the top programs in the state in the early part of the 1950s, going 41 straight games without a loss (40-0-1) with 36 wins in a row. The 1952 team might have been the best of those undefeated teams, outscoring opponents 342 to 63 and ending the season with a 24-game win streak. Quarterback Robin Wright was the lone all-state choice for Harrisonville, as he led the Kansas City area with 134 points.

Season Log
Odessa, 39-7
Ruskin, 40-0
Lee’s Summit, 28-12
Center, 31-0
Windsor, 27-7
Grandivew, 39-0
Blue Springs, 26-12
Pleasant Hill, 46-13
Manual, 46-6
Eldorado Springs, 20-6

29. New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.), 8-0
New Trier won the Suburban League in fairly convincing fashion, winning league games by more than 26 points per game. New Trier posted the undefeated season one year after finishing in third place in the Suburban League with a 2-4 record (4-4 overall). New Trier placed 13 players on the All-Suburban League first team and honorable mention. Jack Stillwell made the News-Gazette’s all-state first team at end while Terry Sanford made the second team at guard.

Season Long
Morton, 39-7
Oak Park, 13-7
Schurz, 32-0
HIghland Park, 40-0
Niles, 68-0
Proviso, 28-12
Waukegan, 26-13
Evanston, 27-14

30. Port Huron (Mich.), 9-0
The state champion in 1951, Port Huron finished behind Ann Arbor Pioneer in 1952. Port Huron still managed to finish undefeated and completed a streak of 19 straight wins (which eventually reached 26 in a row). Although Port Huron did not pass the ball much, end Tom Anderle made the all-state team. He was the only Port Huron honored on the three all-state teams. Anderle became a superior court judge in Santa Barbara. The Port Huron Times Herald listed the Big Reds as state champions in both 1951 and 1952, but most newspapers in the state listed Ann Arbor Pioneer as the top team.

Season Log
Handy, 14-7
Highland Park, 20-6
Fordson, 27-6
Mt. Clemens, 41-0
Eastpointe, 35-19
Ferndale, 39-7
Seaholm, 27-7
Grosse Pointe South, 18-0
Hazel Park, 41-0

31. Bemidji (Minn.), 8-0
Considered a big, powerful and well-balanced team, Bemidji was the choice of Ted Peterson of the Minneapolis Tribune as the No. 1 team in Minnesota for 1952. Bemidji was one of 16 teams in the Top 25 to finish with an undefeated record. Bemidji did not play in a conference and it ripped through its eight-game schedule with no game closer than 17 points. Peterson’s all-state team also included just one Bemidji player (Peterson rarely picked two players from the same team) and that was tackle Harold Drescher. He went on to a Hall of Fame career at Bemidji state where he was an NAIA All-American.

Season Log
East Grand Forks, 46-0
Grand Forks Central, 23-6
Park Rapids, 32-7
Fargo Shanley, 32-13
Moorhead, 26-6
Thief River Falls, 34-6
International Falls, 33-0
Crookston, 44-12

32. Plainfield (N.J.), 9-0
As great as the Montclair football team was considered to be in 1952, Plainfield nearly finished ahead of the Mounties in the Saylor rankings. While Montclair finished with a rating of 553, Plainfield was right behind with a rating of 543. According to the Colliton ratings, which were used to declare the state champion in New Jersey, Montclair had a more sizable advantage of 738 to 667. Based on the Saylor ratings, the 1952 team was the best team in Plainfield history. Leading the way for Plainfield was the world’s second greatest athlete, at least according to the Helsinki decathlon standings. Senior running back Milt Campbell rushed for 23 touchdowns and 739 yards on 113 carries during the regular season, but he had spent the previous summer finishing second to Bob Matthias at the Helsinki Olympics. Campbell won the decathlon four years later in Melbourne and played one year in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.

Season Log
Columbia, 29-6
Elizabeth, 27-6
Westfield, 27-14
Central Asbury Park, 7-2
Bound Brook, 42-13
Long Branch, 33-13
North Plainfield, 19-6
Perth Amboy, 28-0
Atlantic City, 20-6

33. Lawrence (Kan.), 9-0
The program that has the most undefeated seasons in high school football history had its first undefeated season under legendary coach Al Woolard in 1952. The Lions had gone 9-0 in Chalmer Woodard’s final season of 1949. Woolard went 5-3-1 in 1950 and 8-1 in 1951. In Woolard’s 19 seasons, Lawrence went 9-0 ten times. The six shutouts in 1952 matched the number the Lions achieved in three other seasons under Woolard. Center Frank Black made the Topeka Daily Capital’s All-State 11 along with running back Charlie McCue. End Bob Preston made the second team and tackle Jack Poe made the third team. McCue made the Wigwam Wiseman All-American seventh team. 

Season Log
Manhattan, 9-6
Topeka, 31-0
Atchison, 28-0
Shawnee Mission, 21-6
Leavenworth, 33-0
Argentine, 57-0
Ottawa, 45-0
Wyandotte, 26-0
Highland Park, 21-14

34. Miami Senior (Fla.), 8-2
Coming off a 9-1 season in 1952 in the first year under coach Charlie Tate, the Stingarees finished 8-2 in 1952 with a chance to win the conference championship. Although Miami had lost to Robert E. Lee midseason, they edged Miami Jackson 21-19 in a key league matchup. Playing Miami Edison in the final conference game of the season, the Stingarees seemed almost assured of a conference title since it had not lost to Edison in 27 years. However the Stingarees lost 21-7 and dropped out of title contention. Miami did finish the season with a win, beating West Warwick (Rhode Island) in the Kiwanis Bowl. The Stingarees also had a win over Chattanooga Central, which had been ranked No. 1 in Tennessee by the Associated Press. Guard Carl Vereen was the lone all-state player for the Stinagarees. A Scholastic Coach All-American, Vereen earned All-American honors in college at Georgia Tech and played one year in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers.

Season Log
Miami Beach, 52-0
Jax Jackson, 14-0
Coral Gables, 28-6
Chattanooga Central, 19-18
Robert E. Lee, 7-14
MIami Tech, 41-0
Jackson, 21-19
Male, 26-0
Edison, 7-21
West Warwick, 41-14

35. Temple (Texas), 11-2
Featuring one of the most advanced passing games in high school football history, Temple advanced to the Texas Class 3A state finals before falling to Breckendridge. Quarterback Doyle Traylor threw for 1,937 yards as a senior, which would have been a state record if not for the 2,188 yards Traylor gained as a junior. He finished his career with 5,900 yards and 78 touchdowns and earned Wigwam Wiseman first team All-American honors. He went on to play at Baylor, but injuries limited the remainder of his career. Among the key wins for Temple in 1952 was a victory over Class 4A runner-up Baytown Lee.

Season Log
Dallas Sunset, 33-7
Waco, 27-19
Baytown Lee, 20-13
Arlington Heights, 48-14
San Jacinto, 41-7
Denison, 38-0
Gatesville, 0-33
Bryan, 26-0
Corsicana, 41-9
Palestine, 21-19
Port Neches Groves, 48-14
McAllen, 26-14
Breckenridge, 20-28

36. Ada (Okla.), 12-1
If not for an unfortunate night of miscues, Ada would have been an undefeated state champion in 1952. Ada fumbled the ball away six times in its only defeat, a 34-12 loss to winless Seminole. The loss was a wakeup call for Ada as it didn’t allow any team within 12 points and easily won the state championship game against Midwest City by 27 points. Ada placed end Mike Willoughby, tackle Byron Beams, and quarterback Jay O’Neal on the all-state team. Coach Elvan George called O’Neal, “the greatest quarterback I’ve coached or seen in high school football.” Beams, meanwhile, was a Wigwam Wiseman first team All-American. O’Neal went on to play back-up quarterback at Oklahoma and never lost a game in his three years on the varsity team there.

Season Log
Hugo, 47-19
Chickasha, 48-7
Durant, 67-0
Pauls Valley, 40-14
Ardmore, 34-14
Wewoka, 40-0
Seminole, 12-34
Henryetta, 39-0
McAlester, 48-19
Holdenville, 26-6
Poteau, 19-7
Ponca City, 41-7
Midwest City, 33-6

37. Baytown Lee (Texas), 11-2
The Ganders had their greatest success from 1940 to 1956 under coach Dan Stallworth. In 17 seasons, Stallworth went 148-34-13 with 11 district championships. The 1952 squad might have been the best in school history as it scored 409 points, which still ranks as the second-best total in school history. Besides a loss to Class 3A runner-up Temple, Baytown Lee advanced to the Class 4A championship game and gave undefeated Lubbock a tough challenge before losing 12-7. The Ganders placed five players on the Class 4A all-state team by the Fort Worth Telegram, including center I.A. Bergeron, running backs Gerald Orton and Fred Ernst, and defensive tackle Norman Adams. Orton was also named on the all-state defense at safety.

Season Log
Texarkana, 42-7
Houston Lamar, 28-13
Jefferson (San Antonio), 34-7
Houston San Jacinto, 40-7
Temple, 13-20
Beaumont, 41-0
Orange, 37-13
Galveston Ball, 35-0
Pasadena, 49-0
Port Arthur, 13-7
Houston Reagan, 36-0
Corpus Ray, 14-7
Lubbock, 7-12

38. Hattiesburg (Miss.), 10-1
A powerhouse during the 1930s, Hattiesburg was just under .500 (66-67-11) from 1935, when it finished 11-0, and 1950, when C.D. Galey took over as head coach. While Galey went 2-7 in his first season and 4-5-1 his second season, he led the Tigers to a Big 8 championship in 1952. Losing only to Laurel, Hattiesburg set a school record for points scored (391) that lasted until 1997. Quarterback Ollie Yates made the All-Southern Team and the Wigwam Wiseman All-American first team. End Levaine Hollingshead made the All-Southern first team. A World War II veteran with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, Galey quit coaching football following the 1952 season and began selling insurance. In 1954, he won a national honor as the company’s best new salesman.

Season Log
Vicksburg, 53-7
Meridian, 40-6
Pascagoula, 25-0
Brookhaven, 56-6
Natchez Adams, 33-6
McComb, 34-6
Moss point, 43-0
Gulfport, 60-0
Biloxi, 20-7
Laurel, 14-33
Central Jackson, 13-0

39. Murphy (Atlanta, Ga.), 12-1
The War Eagles never held a No. 1 ranking in the state until the final game of the season, a 12-7 win over Albany in the Class 2A championship game. Albany had knocked off No. 1 ranked Richmond Academy in the semifinals. Murphy lost its season opener to Decatur and gradually worked its way up from an initial No. 6 ranking at midseason to a No. 2 ranking after a win over Bass. In the playoffs, Murphy avenged its only loss to Decatur in the playoffs. The 12-1 record is the greatest season in school history. The school closed in 2004. End Bob Juhan was the highest vote getter on the all-state team and was named the lineman of the year in Class AA.

Season Log
Decatur, 14-25
Fulton, 33-0
Smith, 9-6
Northside, 40-6
West Fulton, 34-13
Roosevelt, 42-0
O’Keefe, 34-7
Grady, 6-0
North Fulton, 19-0
Bass, 34-6
Brown, 26-14
Decatur, 14-13
Albany, 13-7

40. Everett (Wash.), 9-0
The Seagulls posted their best season in over 30 years with the school yearbook comparing it to the championship team of 1920 (which was deemed national champion by the National Sports News Service). Everett’s first team defense did not give up a point all season and the Seagulls were chosen to face Franklin, the Seattle area champion, on Thanksgiving Day. Although the first team defense gave up its first touchdown of the year, the Seagulls held on for the win. Wes Nelson, known as “The Flying Swede” and Chuck McAninch made the all-state team that played the Tri-City All-Stars. They were also selected to the Scholastic Coach Magazine’s All-American team. Nelson was the halfback and McAninch was the blocking fullback in Everett’s Single Wing offense.

Season Log
Renton, 20-0
Bellingham, 34-13
Seattle Prep, 33-6
Bremerton, 33-7
Wenatchee, 41-13
Lincoln (Tacoma), 41-6
Bellingham, 26-0
Stadium, 20-0
Franklin, 26-13

41. Green Bay West (Wisc.), 8-0
Starting in 1951, Green Bay West went on a 35-game unbeaten streak that included two ties. Unbeaten at 8-0 in 1952, Green Bay West was deemed the state champion, according to Kevin Patrowsky’s book “The Great Teams.” Running back Lee Hermsen led the offensive attack with 875 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. He also earned a spot on the Scholastic Coach Magazine All-American team.

Season Log
Green Bay Catholic Central, 34-0
Fond du Lac, 35-7
Oshkosh, 35-12
Sheboygan North, 20-7
Appleton, 14-13
Manitowoc, 13-7
Sheboygan Central, 40-7
Green Bay East, 21-0

42. Patterson Park (Md.), 8-0
The Clippers won their third straight Maryland Scholastic Association championship after beating Forest Park in the season finale. Winners of 25 straight, Patterson Park (now known as Patterson) won its sixth championship in seven seasons. Between 1945 and 1952, the Clippers went 54-1. Coach Irv Biasi called his 1952 team, “The best he had ever seen.” The Clippers also defeated an Allentown team from Pennsylvania that finished among the top ranked teams in the Keystone state. Patterson Park landed three on the Maryland Junior Chamber of Commerce’s all-state team, including running back Frank Tamburello, end Bob Morgan and tackle Charles Cruise. Tamburello went on to play quarterback at Maryland, leading the Terrapins to the Orange Bowl in 1956.

Season Log
Alleghany, 26-0
Allentown, 12-6
Poly, 27-6
City, 40-14
Southern, 38-6
St. Joseph’s, 38-0
Hershey, 40-12
Forest Park, 39-6

43. Thomas Jefferson (Richmond, Va.), 9-1
After starting the 1951 season 4-0, Thomas Jefferson went 0-4-2 the rest of the way. In 1952, the Vikings started the year 3-1, but had a much stronger finish going 7-0 with a pair of wins over Hampton, which had gone 8-1 in 1951. The only loss in 1952 came in a 2-0 defeat to Petersburg on a fluke play. Petersburg was threatening to score and threw a pass to the end zone which Thomas Jefferson intercepted. Instead of kneeling for a touchback, the defender tried a forward lateral. The ensuing penalty, since it was committed in the end zone, resulted in a safety. Teejay rebounded to win the rest of its games and defeated John Marshall 19-0 in the season finale to claim the state title via Virginia’s state championship formula. The Vikings had three players make the United Press all-state team and seven total on the first, second and third teams. Making the first team were end Bobby Bortner, tackle Tommy Lee and back Dickie Smith. Bortner went on to win the ACC tennis championship in single and doubles and became an FBI agent. 

Season Log
Newport News, 20-13
Andrew Lewis, 13-0
Petersburg, 0-2
G.W. Alexandria, 14-0
Hampton, 13-6
Hermitage, 15-13
Washington & Lee, 21-6
Hopewell, 20-07
Hampton, 21-13
John Marshall, 19-0

44. Butler (Huntsville, Ala.), 9-1
Five small schools in West Huntsville consolidated in 1951 to become Butler. By the school’s second year, it was already contending for football supremacy in the state. Butler lost only to undefeated Bessemer in the final game of the season. The 1952 season essentially proved to be the best in school history. Only one time did Butler win more than nine games in a season before it closed in 2014 and only twice did it score more than the 301 points it scored in 1952. After growing to nearly 3,000 students in the 1970s, Butler was down to just over 400 when it closed. During its final seven seasons it went a combined 3-67. However in 1952, Butler faced defending state champion Bessemer on Thanksgiving Day for the state championship. A pair of fumbles, however, stunted Butler’s powerful offense and handed the Rebels their only loss of the season. Running back Marvin Miller earned All-Southern honorable mention, but did not make the all-state team. Quarterback Glen Nunley, a sophomore, was the only Rebel on the all-state squad. Nunley went on to play quarterback at the University of Georgia, but a knee injury essentially ended his career and paved the way for back-up quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

Season Log
Jackson County, 25-0
Deshler, 42-19
Decatur, 32-20
Woodlawn, 39-13
West End, 26-12
Sheffield, 19-0
Etowah, 19-13
Madison County, 61-13
Huntsville, 32-7
Bessemer, 6-27

45. East Liverpool (Ohio), 9-0-1
The Potters finished the best season in the school’s history in impressive fashion with a pair of 60-point outbursts in their final two games. Only a tie with Sandusky kept East Liverpool from a 10-0 season. The Potters defeated a Len Dawson-led Alliance team in mid-season. The Potters finished No. 3 in the Associated Press rankings. While Massillon had a clear edge with 407 points in the rankings, East Liverpool was just four points behind No. 2 Springfield, 268-264. End Bob McCoy and guard Ernie Bell made the United Press all-state first team while back Eddie Oliver made the second team. McCoy entered the military and rose to the rank of Lt. General in the Air Force. 

Season Log
Cleveland West, 35-8
Steubenville, 28-13
New Philadelphia, 48-6
Sandusky, 13-13
Youngstown Rayen, 40-6
Alliance, 31-14
Martin’s Ferry, 34-7
Salem, 33-6
Ashtabula, 66-6
Wellsville, 62-6

46. Chattanooga Central (Tenn.), 8-1-2
While Columbia and Litton finished just barely ahead of defending state champion Chattanooga Central in the Litkenhous rankings, the Purple Pounders finished ahead of those teams in the Associated Press rankings - and it wasn’t even close. The final Associated Press poll had Chattanooga, with 177 points while Columbia, Litton and Oak Ridge were all tied for second with 136 points. Chattanooga Central was ranked No. 1 for seven out of 10 weeks. The only loss was a one-point defeat to Miami Senior while it also tied Kentucky state champion Flaget 7-7 and powerful Oak Ridge 18-18. The Purple Pounders finished third in the Litkenhous rankings with 102.5 points while Columbia had 12.9 and Litton 102.7. Tackle Don Duncan and quarterback Jimmy Pack made the all-state team. The backfield also included Bobby Hoppe, who earned All-American honors in 1953.

Season Log
Fayetteville, 31-0
Young, 26-6
Manual, 20-0
Dobyns Bennett, 33-0
Red Bank, 42-7
MIami Senior, 18-19
Landon (Fla.), 33-13
Bradley County, 32-7
Flaget, 7-7
Baylor, 28-12
Oak Ridge, 18-18

47. Boys Town (Neb.), 8-1
Boys Town traveled the country to play its schedule, taking on opponents in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Missouri and its home state of Nebraska. The only loss came in the final game of the season in New York. The team was considered to be the best of coach Skip Palrang’s teams in his 10 years as the Cowboys’ head coach. After the Aquinas game, Palrang said, “Aquinas is as tough as ever. It outcharged us, outplayed us and outgeneraled us.” Charles “Deacon” Jones made the all-state team by the Omaha World Herald at running back. He rushed for 1,030 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season. A state champion miler, Jones eventually participated in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics in the steeplechase. Gene Becker made the all-state team at tackle.

Season Log
De La Salle (Kansas City), 27-6
Christian Brothers (St. Joseph), 45-6
Thomas Jefferson, 27-6
Creighton Prep, 47-6
Catholic Central (Detroit), 6-0
McCook, 43-6
North Catholic (Pittsburgh), 27-20
Cathedral (Sioux Falls), 40-7
Aquinas Institute (Rochester, NY), 7-19

48. Allentown (Pa.), 10-1
Aside from a three-year run from 1943-45 when Allentown was 31-2, Allentown’s best season was 1952 when it posted a score of 532 in the Saylor ratings. That rating was the second-best in the state behind Aliquippa that year and Allentown’s only loss came against Maryland’s best team, Patterson Park. Allentown also had key wins against Easton and Bethlehem to give it the “Big Three” championship among independent schools. Emerich Stellar made the United Press all-state second team at tackle.
Season Log
Southeast Catholic, 18-6
Norristown, 19-0
Patterson Park, 6-12
Simon Gratz, 63-7
Roxborough, 52-0
Phillipsburg, 20-14
Central Catholic, 50-6
Edward Bok Voc. Tech, 46-0
Easton, 45-19
West Scranton, 25-21
Bethlehem, 25-6

49. Cincinnati Purcell (Ohio), 9-0-1
While Massillon was the power in the northeastern part of the state, Purcell was the dominant team in the southwest. Undefeated through nine games, Purcell tied Chaminade, whose quarterback was future Archbishop Moeller coach Gerry Faust, 27-27 in the final game of the season. The tie actually allowed Purcell to move up from No. 6 in the United Press ratings ahead of Chaminade and into the No. 4 spot behind Massillon, Springfield and East Liverpool. Tackle Paul Schramm made the Wigwam Wiseman’s All-American first team before heading to Notre Dame. Ironically, the United Press picked Schramm second team all-state.
Season Log
Newport Catholic, 47-0
Withrow, 33-0
Central, 37-0
Western Hills, 54-7
Evansville, 46-7
Portsmouth, 32-7
St. Xavier, 59-6
Bacon, 27-0
Elder, 21-13
Chaminade, 27-27

50. Washington (Sioux Falls, S.D.) 10-0-1
A missed field goal attempt resulted in a 14-14 tie against Brookings, leaving Washington with a tie in an otherwise perfect season. The Warriors routinely outgained opponents by over 300 yards per game. Washington finished the season with a 34-game unbeaten streak intact. Tackle Bob Berguin and guard Jim Skaggs made the all-state team while coach Bob Burns was the state coach of the year.
Season Log
Cathedral, 34-6
Yankton, 32-7
Mitchell, 28-13
Watertown, 34-0
Madison, 35-0
Huron, 41-6
Aberdeen, 35-0
Rapid City, 48-19
Brookings, 14-14
Sioux City Central, 20-8
Sioux City East, 33-13