1954 National High School Football Rankings

East St. Louis gets the nod ahead of Vallejo, Massillon.

The Vallejo Apaches are the 1954 national champions as chosen by Art Johlfs of the National Sports News Service, and in retrospect it seems to make perfect sense. Afterall, Vallejo featured one of the greatest running backs in California high school football history in Dick Bass and it routed nine opponents in earning a No. 1 ranking in Northern California by the San Francisco Examiner.

However, when retroactive selections such as these are made, it’s easy to look at what happened after Vallejo finished 9-0 and use the information to justify the national ranking. Bass went on to a solid career at Pacific and ran for over 1,000 yards several times in the NFL. Those types of credentials certainly make Vallejo a worthy pick.

But since no national rankings were compiled in 1954, High School Sports History is attempting to rank teams with regard to what happened before the start of the season in question. This is how preseason rankings are currently done, which leads to final rankings once the season is over. In the case of 1954, it’s more important to look at the success of teams leading into the season. For this reason, East St. Louis has to be one of two teams that would have been ranked as the preseason favorite in the nation. The other would have been Washington (Massillon, Ohio), which had won 24 straight games and six straight state championships. The Flyers, meanwhile, had won 21 straight games and were the top team in Illinois two years running. Washington likely would have been No. 1 to start the year and East St. Louis would have been No. 2. Since Washington suffered its only loss early in the 1954 season, East St. Louis would have moved up to No. 1, which is where it would have stayed since the Flyers finished the year undefeated.

One aspect of the 1954 season is that there were no overwhelming candidates to threaten either East St. Louis or Vallejo for the top spot. Ohio’s top three teams all had at least one loss, Florida’s top team had two losses and a tie, Georgia’s top team had a tie and Texas’s top team had a loss. Additionally the top teams in Southern California all had losses.

Thus the choice for the final national champion really only comes down to two schools - East St. Louis and Vallejo - and it’s the Flyers who have to get the nod as the national champion from High School Sports History.

1954 Top 50 National High School Football Rankings

1. East St. Louis (Ill.), 11-0
Heading into the 1954 season, East St. Louis had won 21 games in a row, making the Flyers the odds on choice to be the preseason No. 1 team in the nation in 1954, if such rankings were kept back then. Under coach Wirt Downing, who was coaching his final season with East St. Louis, the Flyers went 11-0 in 1954 and extended the win streak to 35 in a row before a tie with St. Louis University in 1955. The unbeaten streak came to an end in 1956 with a 13-12 loss to Moline, but not until the Flyers had gone 43-0-1. East St. Louis gets the edge over Vallejo due to its wins over highly successful teams like Peoria Manual (8-2), Assumption (9-2), St. Louis University (7-3) and Centralia (9-1). The Flyers had four all-state players on the team including center Jim Sims, who was named the Wigwam Wiseman All-American first team captain. Quarterback Don Mason joined Sims on the News-Gazette all-state team while end Jim Jones and fullback Jack Purdy made the Daily News all-state team.
Season Log
Springfield, 27-7
Peoria Manual, 39-14
Bloom Township, 33-0
Assumption (East St. Louis), 27-12
St. Louis University, 13-0
Warren Central, 19-0
Schlarman, 28-7
Granite City, 46-13
Alton, 39-0
Centralia, 28-7
Township, 20-6

2. Vallejo (Calif.), 9-0
Ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation by Art Johlfs, Vallejo comes in at No. 2 in High School Sports History’s retroactive Top 50. The Apaches had one of the top running backs in the nation in Wigwam Wiseman All-American Dick Bass. The future Los Angeles Ram led Vallejo over two seasons with 280 carries for 3,690 yards and 68 touchdowns. He also added 34 conversions and finished with 442 career points. As a senior, he ran for 1,964 yards. Vallejo wasn’t a one-man team, however, On the North Bay League all-conference team, 14 Apaches were either first or second team or honorable mention. Over Bass’s two season, Vallejo was 17-0-1 with the only blemish a 7-7 tie against Santa Rosa in 1953. The Apaches’ schedule was not as tough as the one East St. Louis played. Only three of Vallejo’s opponents - Lodi (3), Berkeley (20) and Santa Rosa (23) ranked among the top 25 teams in Northern California by the San Francisco Examiner. The presence of Bass, however, certainly makes Vallejo one of the top teams in the nation. Bass ranks as possibly the greatest running back in Northern California prep history.
Season Log
Berkeley, 41-0
Lodi, 40-7
McClymonds, 47-7
Salinas, 77-12
Drake, 52-0
Napa, 53-0
Tamalpais, 87-25
Riordan, 54-0
Santa Rosa, 59-7

3. Washington (Massillon, Ohio), 9-1
Ohio football rankings proved to be quite contentious during the 1954 season as multiple teams could lay claim to the mythical state title. Washington (Massillon), and Alliance had one loss each and McKinley (Canton) had two. They finished 1-2-3 in the rankings. Mansfield, also 9-1, ended up No. 4 while five other teams in the top 10 finished undefeated. Massillon ended up getting the nod for the state championship by both UPI and INS despite a loss to Alliance. The Tigers, who had won six straight state championships prior to 1954, had a new coach in Tom Harp. They opened the season ranked No. 1, but dropped to No. 2 after falling to Alliance in week 3. The loss ended a 25-game winning streak for the Tigers. McKinley defeated Alliance in week 6 and moved up to No. 1 while Alliance dropped to No. 3 and Massillon stayed at No. 2. That set up the battle for the state championship between McKinley and Massillon, which the Tigers won handily, 26-6. Massillon thus finished ranked No. 1 in the final poll. Running back Homer Floyd led Massillon in scoring with 104 points and earned All-American honors. He was also Back of the Year on the all-state team after rushing for 1,351 yards in 10 games.
Season Log
Struthers, 68-0
Canton Lincoln, 47-0
Alliance, 7-19
Steubenville, 28-0
Mansfield, 18-0
Cleveland Benedictine, 34-7
Warren Harding, 12-7
Barberton, 34-14
Akron Garfield, 21-13
Canton McKinley, 26-6

4. Centralia (Ill.), 9-1
If not for a loss to East St. Louis, Centralia might have been the best team in the country in 1954. The Orphans won five lopsided shutouts over Flora, Herrin, Salem, Marion and Mt. Vernon and outscored opponents 370-32 heading into the final game of the season against East St. Louis. The Flyers had defeated Centralia in 1953 by one point, 7-6, but Centralia was the leading scorer in the state in 1954 with 41 points per game. Centralia managed only 143 yards of offense in a 28-7 loss to East St. Louis, however, and finished 9-1. Running back Bobby Joe Mason made the all-state second team after throwing for 1,113 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushing for over 500 yards. Guard/linebacker Leonard Taylor also made the second team. Mason, who also starred for Centralia’s basketball team, went on to play basketball in college at Bradley. Although selected by Cincinnati in the NBA draft, Mason never played in the NBA. Instead, he played over 13 years with the Harlem Globetrotters. Coach Jimmy Evers was in his fourth season with the Orphans and the 9-1 season was his best to date. He replaced legendary coach Arthur Trout (who won 811 games as a basketball coach and 153 in football) in 1951 and finished his career in 1966 as the school’s winningest coach (by percentage) with a record of 110-35-7 (.747).
Season Log
Flora, 32-0
Benton, 32-13
Herrin, 46-0
Murphysboro, 13-7
Harrisburg, 30-6
Salem, 60-0
Marion, 60-0
Mt. Vernon, 39-0
West Frankfort, 58-6
East St. Louis, 7-28

5. Montclair (N.J.), 9-0
Clary Anderson began coaching the Mounties in 1940 and after a four-year stint with the military during World War II, he returned to coach Montclair for the next 23 years. Never losing more than three games in a season, Anderson’s teams lost one game or less each year from 1946 to 1957 for a record of 102-4-1. For his career, Anderson was 197-22-5 for an 89.1 winning percentage. The 1954 team was one of his best. According to the Colliton points that were used to determine unofficial state champions (there were no playoffs), Montclair had 756 points. That total was the highest in the history of the Colliton points and marked the sixth time in nine seasons that Montclair had been named unofficial state champions. Guard Carmen Pizzano and running back Bernie Peoples made first team all-state by the Newark newspaper.
Season Log
Orange, 7-0
Irvington, 33-13
Kearny, 20-7
Nutley, 13-7
East Orange, 13-7
West Orange, 20-7
Clifton, 34-7
Columbia, 27-7
Bloomfield, 34-0

6. McKinley (Canton, Ohio), 8-2
After an early season loss to unranked Warren Harding, McKinley went on a roll over the ensuing seven weeks by outscoring opponents 276-27. Included in the streak was a 26-6 win over Alliance that boosted the Bulldogs to No. 1 in the Associated Press state rankings. The win also set up a battle for the state championship against No. 2 Massillon in the final game of the season. Massillon charged to the win, outgaining McKinley 446 yards to 135. McKinley tied Elder (Cincinnati) with three players on the all-state team, including Lineman of the Year John Kompara at tackle. John Goodrich made the team at defensive back and Ernie Sheeler made the team at offensive end.
Season Log
Cleveland Lincoln, 55-0
Warren Harding, 6-7
Timken, 40-7
Canton Lincoln, 33-7
Springfield, 26-7
Steubenville, 52-0
Alliance, 26-6
Erie Academy, 66-0
Akron South, 33-0
Massillon, 6-26

7. Alliance (Ohio), 9-1
The Aviators had never won a mythical state championship prior to 1954, not even in 1952 when the school’s greatest player, future NFL Hall of Famer Len Dawson, was earning all-state first team honors. The 1954 team had the best chance to win a state championship thanks to its monumental upset over Washington (Massillon) in the third game of the season. Alliance had not beaten Massillon since 1948 and in between the Tigers had won six straight state championships. Alliance trailed 7-6 in the fourth quarter, but scored twice to gain the 19-7 win. The Alliance fans stormed the field after the game and tore down the goal posts. Alliance moved from No. 3 in the rankings to No. 1 and stayed there for four weeks before losing to McKinley, 26-6. Alliance eventually finished No. 3 after Massillon defeated McKinley in the final game of the season. Tom Barnett was the lone first-team all-state selection for the Aviators. He rushed for 1,347 yards and 23 touchdowns, including six in one game. He went on to join Dawson at Purdue and played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Season Log
Akron Central, 40-12
Ursuline, 45-0
Massillon, 19-7
Barberton, 21-20
Cleveland St. Joseph, 19-0
Akron East, 26-12
McKinley, 6-26
Canton Lincoln, 13-0
Akron North, 38-0
East Liverpool, 54-7

8. Breckenridge (San Antonio, Texas), 11-1-1
Winners of a state championship in 1951 and 1952, the Buckaroos had one of its best seasons due mainly to their win over Abilene in the third game of the season. Breckenridge, a Class 3A team, defeated the Eagles, who went on to win the Class 4A state championship with a 13-1 record. The Fort Worth Telegram accurately predicted in its preview of the Oct. 2 game that the unofficial state championship between Class 4A and 3A would be decided in the game. Going up against a defense that had not allowed a point through the first two weeks of the season, Breckenridge racked up 312 yards rushing against the Eagles in a 35-13 win. The Buckaroos dropped to No. 2 in the rankings behind Lufkin after the tie with Levelland, however. Breckenridge then fell to No. 3 behind Port Neches by the end of the regular season. The Buckaroos beat both of those teams in the postseason, however, edging Lufkin on penetrations after a 14-14 tie and beating Port Neches in the finals 20-7. Tackle Jerry Cramer was Breckenridge’s only member of the all-state first team, which was chosen prior to the championship game. Running back Dick Carpenter ran for 966 yards on the season while Jake Sandefer gained 839.
Season Log
Wichita Falls, 41-13
Brownwood, 42-7
Abilene, 35-13
Plainview, 35-7
Levelland, 13-13
Lamesa, 35-0
Big Spring, 35-14
Snyder, 42-13
Sweetwater, 14-18
Vernon, 35-0
Garland, 20-7
Lufkin, 14-14
Port Neches, 20-7

9. Abilene (Texas), 13-1
The Eagles won their first of three straight Class 4A state championships in 1954, but it didn’t get off to a good start. In the second season under coach Chuck Moser, Abilene won its first two games over Highland Park and Sweetwater by shutout, but eventual Class 3A state champion Breckenridge humbled the Eagles with a 35-13 whipping in the third game. The loss knocked the Eagles down to No. 6 in the rankings, but Abilene worked its way back to the top of Class 4A by romping through the first two rounds of the playoffs winning by a combined total of 107-0. Abilene played a surprising Stephen F. Austin (Houston) team in the finals. Austin had upset Galveston in the first round and edged Corpus Christi Miller in the second round, both by scores of 21-20. Abilene won 14-7 and went on to go undefeated over 49 games through the 1957 season. Three Eagles made the all-state AAAA team, including Twyman Ash at end, John Thomas at guard and Jim Millerman at back. Millerman was also a member of Abilene’s 440 relay team in the spring of 1954, which ran the nation’s fastest time of the season.
Season Log
Highland Park, 40-0
Sweetwater, 13-0
Breckenridge, 13-35
Borger, 34-7
Odessa, 21-7
Pampa, 41-7
Amarillo, 47-0
Lubbock, 35-7
Midland, 28-14
San Angelo, 27-0
El Paso Austin, 61-0
Fort Worth Poly, 46-0
Stephen F. Austin (Houston), 14-7

10. Lowell (Mass.), 9-0
The Devils opened the season with a 23-game win streak and extended it to 32 in a row by the end of the season. Lowell posted five shutouts on the season and gave up just 31 points in going 9-0. The streak began in midseason 1951 following a loss to Haverhill and got up to 36 in a row before ending with a loss to Haverhill in 1955. The Devils were crowned co-champions of Class A along with Brookline since both teams finished undefeated at 9-0. Don Overlock was the only All-Scholastic first team player for Lowell, selected at end for his play on offense and defense. He also earned sixth team Wigwam Wiseman All-America honors. Tackle Ed Paulauskas, guard George Andricopoulos and back John Freitas made the Scholastics team as reserves.
Season Log
Peabody, 4-0
Nashua, 20-0
Manchester Central, 26-6
Salem, 14-0
Haverhill, 18-0
Keith, 42-12
Lynn Classical, 38-0
White Plains, 7-6
Lawrence, 19-7

11. Central (Jackson, Miss.), 11-0
Under Doss Fulton, Central had the best football program in Mississippi from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. The Tigers never had a losing season in Fulton’s eight seasons, going 68-14-2 with three Big 8 championships, three undefeated seasons and a 26-game win streak. The 10-0 season in 1954 marked Fulton’s last season as coach before he became the athletic director for all Jackson Public Schools. Central never won a Big 8 championship after 1954 and never had another undefeated season before closing in 1976.
Season Log
Natchez Adams, 26-13
Greenville, 26-7
Memphis Central, 40-0
McComb, 33-0
Vicksburg, 20-12
Hattiesburg, 20-13
Corinth, 26-0
Greenwood, 20-14
Lee, 33-7
Meridian, 26-0
Hattiesburg, 27-0

12. Bessemer (Ala.), 10-0
Over the course of the 1952-54 seasons, the Purple Tigers went 28-2 with a pair of 10-0 seasons in 1952 and 1954. Bessemer defeated three teams ranked in the Class 3A Top 10 state rankings, including Anniston, Woodlawn and Shades Valley. The Devils also defeated Arkansas state champion Little Rock Central. Running back Tommy Lorino paced Bessemer, earning Wigwam Wiseman All-America second team honors after scoring 18 touchdowns. Lorino went on to star on Auburn’s 1957 national championship team and played one year in the Canadian Football League. He later became a collegiate football official in the SEC for 30 years.
Season Log
McGill, 28-13
Anniston, 19-13
West End, 22-0
Gadsden, 27-7
Phillips Birmingham, 20-0
Woodlawn, 13-0
Ensley, 35-7
Ramsay, 25-0
Little Rock Central, 20-7
Shades Valley, 19-0

13. Bishop Fenger (Chicago), 11-0-1
The only blemish on Fenger’s regular season record was a 7-7 tie with Vocational, but the Titans avenged that tie with a 28-0 blanking of the Cavaliers in the Chicago Public League’s championship game at Soldier Field. Coach Chuck Palmer considered the 1954 squad one of the best he had coached in his 20 years at the school. The Titans also held the favorite role in the city championship game against Catholic League champion Mt. Carmel. The 20-13 win in front of 46,728 fans gave Fenger its first unbeaten season since 1946. Fenger had five players on the all-state first and second teams. End Richard Kreitling, tackle Ron Nietupski and fullback Jack Delveaux made the first team and guard Art Krumrei and center Richard Calder made the second team. Delveaux played in the Canadian Football League of six seasons and won the Grey Cup three times with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Kreitling was a first round pick by the Cleveland Browns and played five seasons in the NFL. Nietupski also played briefly in the CFL.
Season Log
Austin, 26-7
St. George, 7-0
Phillips, 51-0
Hirsch, 46-0
Tilden, 48-6
Vocational, 7-7
Lindblom, 40-0
Du Sable, 38-0
Austin, 34-7
Schurz, 44-7
Vocational, 28-0
Mt. Carmel, 20-13

14. Lufkin (Texas), 11-0-1
Lufkin took over the No. 1 ranking in the Class AAA poll by the Dallas Morning News following Breckenridge’s tie with Levelland in October. The Panthers held the top spot through the end of the regular season. Lufkin easily won its first round playoff game against Sherman, but tied eventual state champion Breckenridge 14-14 in the second round. Breckenridge moved on to the next round due to more penetrations into the opposing team’s side of the field. The 1954 season marked the end of a stellar run by the Panthers who had 14 district championships between 1936 and 1954 with nine seasons of 10 or more wins. The 11 wins in 1954 marked the most for a Lufkin team until 2001 when it went 15-1. Tackle Milton Hawkins and fullback Bobby Bounds made the all-state team for Lufkin. Bounds rushed for 1,157 yards on the year.
Season Log
Palestine, 21-0
Freeport, 14-7
Orange, 76-0
Bryan, 56-14
Texarkana, 41-20
Marshall, 53-0
Mt. Pleasant, 41-0
Longview, 48-7
Kilgore, 49-13
Nacogdoches, 32-7
Sherman, 26-0
Breckenridge, 14-14

15. Phoenix Union (Ariz.), 9-0-1
The Coyotes won 25 state championships in their history before closing in 1982 due to dwindling enrollment. The penultimate title came in 1954 when Phoenix went undefeated against Arizona competition, including a 13-7 win over a Mesa team that was undefeated. Phoenix also blasted perennial central California powerhouse Bakersfield 33-14. The only blemish was a 7-7 tie with Redlands (Calif.). The 9-0-1 mark was also the last time the Coyotes finished undefeated. George Greathouse, considered one of the all-time greatest athletes from the Phoenix area, was named the state player of the year by the Arizona Republic. He repeated as the state’s top player his senior year in 1955. He scored 37 touchdowns over his two seasons at Phoenix and went on to play at Arizona State.
Season log
Yuma, 41-7
St. Marys, 37-13
Redlands (Calif.), 7-7
Bakersfield (Calif.), 33-14
Tech, 33-0
Tucson, 34-7
Mesa, 13-7
West, 36-13
Amphi, 34-8
North, 14-7

16. Mesa (Ariz.), 9-1
If not for a loss to Phoenix Union, Mesa might have been a lot higher on this list. The Jackrabbits opened the season with seven straight wins, including a 19-12 win over a strong North Phoenix team. After the loss to Phoenix, Mesa blasted a pair of California teams, Glendale and Centennial Compton, by a combined scored of 70-13. Centennial went on to win the Southern Section championship. Mesa placed three on the all-state first team including end Richard Saba, center Berkeley Chough and back Ralph Hunsaker.
Season log
Amphi, 21-13
North, 19-12
St. Marys, 27-6
West, 13-12
Yuma, 34-6
Tucson, 28-0
Tech, 40-12
Phoenix Union, 7-13
Glendale (Calif.), 30-0
Centennial Compton (Calif.), 40-13

17. Manual Arts (Los Angeles), 10-1
Winners of the 1952 Los Angeles City Section championship against Los Angeles, the Toilers topped the Romans again in 1954 for the city title. Manual Arts opened the season with a loss to North Hollywood, but then won 10 straight to capture the title. Manual Arts placed three players on the Helms Athletic Foundation All-City team, including fullback Earnel Durden, end Willard Penn and tackle Ted Bates. After matriculating to Oregon State, Bates played five seasons in the NFL including four years with the Chicago Cardinals.
Season log
North Hollywood, 6-18
San Fernando, 25-13
Venice, 19-13
Fremont, 18-7
Garfield, 32-0
Washington, 20-9
Jefferson, 32-0
Roosevelt, 60-12
Bell, 18-6
Lincoln, 17-0
Los Angeles, 21-0

18. Centennial (Compton, Calif.), 11-1-1
Centennial opened the season with six straight shutouts and gave up just six points on defense prior to an interstate game against Mesa (Ariz.) on Nov. 20. After grabbing a 13-7 lead in the first quarter, Centennial was no match for the Jackrabbits the rest of the way as Mesa grabbed the 40-13 win. While the setback prevented Centennial from finishing the season undefeated, the Compton team responded by winning the remainder of its games, including a 6-6 tie against rival Compton in the Southern Section semifinals in which Centennial advanced due to penetrations. The Apaches defeated Glendale Hoover 13-6 in the section finals on a pair of touchdowns by future American Football League all-pro Paul Lowe. While Lowe made the All-CIF third team, teammates Lee Sampson and Charles McNeal made the first team and Eddis McNeal made the second team.
Season log
Mary Star, 18-0
Fremont, 13-0
Torrance, 25-0
Leuzinger, 41-0
Inglewood, 19-0
Paramount, 51-0
Redondo, 26-0
Santa Monica, 13-6
Mesa (Ariz.), 13-40
Baldwin Park, 13-6
Montebello, 21-9
Compton, 6-6 (advance)
Glendale Hoover, 12-6

19. Rossville (Ga.), 11-0-1
After going 7-0-3 in 1953 under third-year coach Glenn Wade, the Bulldogs extended their undefeated streak in 1954 with an 11-0-1 record and a AA state championship. Ranked No. 3 by the Atlanta Constitution heading into the state playoffs, Rossville knocked off No. 2 Northside (Atlanta) in the semifinals and No. 1 Savannah in the finals, 38-0. Rossville also made up for the tie game with Griffin during the regular season with a 21-7 win over Griffin in the region playoffs. Running backs James Reynolds and Doug Veazey both earned all-state first team honors with Reynolds playing college ball at Auburn and Veazey playing at Georgia Tech. Veazey a Wigwam Wiseman All-American, went on to write a book about Rossville’s championship season, called “Marching Through Georgia.”
Season log
Cedartown, 13-0
Marietta, 24-0
Rome, 8-0
Russell, 13-7
Chattanooga City, 12-6
Dalton, 29-6
Griffin, 20-20
Decatur, 33-7
Red Bank, 46-0
Griffin, 21-7
Northside Atlanta, 13-0
Savannah, 38-0

20. Ada (Okla.), 11-0
Under highly successful coach Elvan George, who went 141-25 in his 15 years at the school, Ada won five state championships between 1952 and 1957, but the 1954 season was not one of them. That’s because the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association voted to not hold state playoffs that year. Ada was still the team to beat in the state, however, as it went 11-0 and averaged 45 points per game. Ras McAdams made the all-state team at tackle while quarterback Dan Wagner also made the all-state team.
Season log
Hugo, 40-0
Chickasha, 44-13
Duran, 48-6
Pauls Valley, 52-0
Ardmore, 20-7
Wewoka, 34-14
Seminole, 26-0
Henryetta, 32-20
McAlester, 40-20
Holdenville, 79-0
Sulphur, 82-0

21. Dreher (Columbia, S.C.), 11-0
After winning a state championship in 1951, Dreher fielded perhaps the best team in school history in 1954 under coach W.C. “Red” Myers, who was named the state coach of the year. Between 1951 and 1959, Dreher won three state championships and had double-digit win totals five times, including 12-0 in 1959. However Dreher has not won more than eight games in a season in the 64 years since. As members of the Big 13 Conference, Dreher didn’t compete in a state playoff system, but instead just used conference play to determine the state’s best AA team. Receiver Eddie Beall earned all-state and All-Southern honors and was named the top player in the state. Tackle Joe Smith joined Beall on the all-state first team.
Season log
Eau Claire, 14-6
Camden, 27-6
Olympia, 18-0
Mount Zion Institute, 27-0
Brookland Cayce, 7-0
Edmunds, 21-7
Greenville, 32-13
Orangeburg, 26-7
Cooper River, 32-0
Rock Hill, 14-0
Columbia, 33-0

22. Clairton (Pa.), 9-0-1
A tie in the first game of the season against Dormont was the only stumble for the Bears, who blazed to a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championship. In capturing the title, Clairton topped an undefeated Duquesne team in the finals. All-state running back Joe Belland led the Bears, scoring three touchdowns in the championship game. He went on to play four years at Arizona State and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers.
Season log
Dormont, 6-6
Mon City, 35-7
Glassport, 58-13
McKeesport, 40-6
Munhall, 21-7
Ellwood City, 41-0
Charleroi, 41-20
Turtle Creek, 51-12
Redstone, 41-6
Duquesne, 26-0

23. Wheatley (Houston, Texas), 11-1
Winners of a state championship in 1944 in the Prairie View Interscholastic League, the Wildcats won a second title in 1954 after making the finals three times during the decade between the two titles. The only loss came on Thanksgiving Day in a one-point loss to Yates. Wheatley defeated a Moore team out of Waco that was looking for its third championship in four seasons.
Season log
Coles, 45-0
Booker T. Washington, 20-2
Terrell, 19-0
Lincoln (Port Arthur), 14-8
Hebert (Beaumont), 12-0
Beaumont Charlton-Pollard, 38-6
Galveston Central, 21-0
Houston BTW, 27-0
Kemp Bryan, 55-6
Yates, 14-15
Wheatley (SA), 53-20
Waco Moore, 13-0

24. Lincoln Central (Neb.), 9-0
The state championship in Nebraska came down to two teams in 1954, Creighton Prep and Lincoln Central. While the state did not hold any playoffs, the rankings determined the state champion. Lincoln Central’s overwhelming offense proved to be enough to get the nod at No. 1. While Creighton Prep scored over 30 points just three times in a 9-0 season, Lincoln Central scored fewer than 39 points only once (a 26-0 win over Grand Island). The Lincoln Journal Star even called Lincoln the “best offensive team in Nebraska prep history.” End Mike Lee made the all-state team along with tackle Jack Duffek and quarterback Roger Krhounek. Lee earned All-America honors from Scholastic Coach and he later earned All-Big 8 honors playing at Nebraska. Duffek, Krhounek and Lee are all members of the Lincoln High School Hall of Fame.
Season log
Omaha Central, 50-6
North Platte, 39-13
S.C. Central, 39-6
Grand Island, 26-0
Scottsbluff, 40-6
Omaha North, 45-19
Omaha South, 53-19
Omaha Tech, 45-6
Lincoln Northeast, 60-0

25. Notre Dame (West Haven, Conn.), 9-0
The top team in school history to that point, Notre Dame did not have a close game the entire season in earning the No. 1 ranking in Connecticut. The Knights gave up just 12 points on the season with seven shutouts. Running back Nick Pietrosante became the first Notre Dame player to ever be named to the New Haven Register’s all-state team after scoring 23 touchdowns. He went on to play at Notre Dame in South Bend (Ind.) where he was a third-team All-American. Drafted by the Detroit Lions with the sixth overall pick in the 1959 draft, Pietrosante was the NFL’s Rookie of the Year and went on to a nine-year career with two Pro Bowl appearances.
Season Log
Wilbur Cross, 19-0
West Haven, 33-0
New London, 32-6
Fairfield, 29-0
Tich, 26-0
Sacred Heart, 57-0
Saint Mary’s, 61-0
Milford Prep, 56-6
Hamden, 19-0

26. Cathedral Latin (Cleveland, Ohio), 10-0
A powerhouse in the 1940s, Latin slid down out of the rankings by the early 1950s until 1953 when Dan Mormile left a position at John Carroll College to coach the Lions. After losing just one game in 1953, the Lions went undefeated in 1954 and won 17 games in a row. Mormile was named the state coach of the year by the Associated Press and the Lions finished ranked No. 5 in the final rankings after defeating Holy Name for the City championship. Tackle Don Lawrence and halfback Ron Toth earned all-state first team honors.
Season Log
St. Ignatius, 19-13
John Adams, 61-7
Glenville, 56-0
Collinwood, 44-6
East, 74-0
Holy Name, 20-0
Benedictine, 40-0
East Tech, 40-0
St. Joseph, 46-0
Holy Name, 13-0

27. Battle Creek Central (Mich.), 8-0-1
The Bearcats finished the season ranked No. 1 in Michigan, ahead of undefeated Grosse Pointe and Dearborn, as well as Pioneer, which it tied 0-0 in mid-season. The 8-0-1 record marked the first time in school history that the Bearcats had won more than seven games in a season dating back to the year football started at the school in 1893. Only one Central team had a better percentage, and that was the 1897 team that went 6-0. Center Jim Holds earned first team all-state honors while running back Dick Donnell was second team.
Season Log
Roseville, 41-6
Jackson, 23-14
Ypsilanti, 35-13
Eastern, 21-0
Pioneer, 0-0
Sexton, 25-0
Holland, 25-7
Union, 14-13
Kalamazoo Central, 27-12

28. Pioneer (Ann Arbor, Mic.), 7-0-1
A 0-0 tie against No. 1 ranked Battle Creek Central proved to be the only non-win during a 41-game unbeaten streak. Pioneer won seven straight in 1951 and then went 8-0 in 1952 and 1953. After winning the first four games in 1954, the Pioneers tied Central, ending a 27-game win streak. Pioneer then won 13 more games before losing to Flint Northern in 1956. Running back Dick Williams made the all-state first team while guard Stan Larmee was second team.
Season Log
Memorial, 41-0
Kalamazoo Central, 31-0
Flint Northern, 25-0
Sexton, 51-6
Battle Creek Central, 0-0
Eastern, 44-6
Ypsilanti, 13-0
Jackson, 27-6

29. Peoria (Ill.), 10-0-1
Only a 6-6 tie with Woodruff kept Peoria for seriously contending for top honors in Illinois along with East St. Louis and Centralia. Peoria shut out seven teams and was the first Peoria team to go undefeated in 50 years. Running back Gene Carr led the offense with 922 yards rushing and was the team’s top offensive player. Tackle Roger Thomson led the team in tackles with 123 and was the most valuable lineman.
Season Log
Galesburg, 20-0
Lamphier, 44-0
Woodruff, 6-6
Spalding, 28-0
Streator, 23-0
Springfield, 30-0
Pekin, 27-7
East Peoria, 27-6
Decatur, 7-0
Canton, 40-0
Manual, 26-6

30. Chattanooga Central (Tenn.), 9-1
The Purple Pounders reached the No. 1 ranking in Tennessee in the final game of the season. Oak Ridge was ranked No. 1 in the state in November by the Litkenhous rankings, but Oak Ridge lost to Baylor in the penultimate week of the season. Central then dumped Baylor 20-7 in the final game to move up to No. 1. Linemen Ray Moss and Larry Clingan earned all-state honors while running back Charles Cantrell made second team. Moss starred at Tennessee and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills. His father Ray Moss Sr. was a pitcher in the Major Leagues for the Brooklyn Robins.
Season Log
Charlotte (NC), 28-6
Memphis Central, 13-14
Grady (Ga.), 20-6
Dobyns-Bennett, 27-0
Red Bank, 46-2
Miami Senior, 21-14
Bradley County, 21-6
Landon (Fla.), 32-13
Litton, 27-7
Baylor, 20-7

31. Grosse Pointe (Mich.), 8-0
The demographics of Grosse Pointe in the early 1950s favored well-to-do families, but not necessarily great athletes. Derisively called “cake-eaters” by their opponents for living at “the Pointe”, the Blue Devils had the best season in school history in 1954 when they went undefeated and were ranked No. 1 in the state. Coached by Ed Wernet, who went on to coach 22 years at the school, Grosse Pointe headed into the final game of the season against Port Huron with a 7-0 record. The year before, Grosse Pointe defeated Port Huron to end its 26-game win streak. In 1954, the Blue Devils ran their streak to nine in a row by taking a 42-0 lead at halftime against Port en route to a 56-12 win. Don Eugenio was the lone all-state player for the Blue Devils, earning the nod for his play at running back (nine touchdowns) and defensive back.
Season Log
Mt. Clemens, 27-6
Ferndale, 39-13
Dondero, 7-0
Monroe, 12-7
Wyandotte, 20-0
Highland Park, 20-0
Fordson, 45-19
Port Huron, 56-12

32. Longmont (Colo.), 11-1
For the first time in school history, Longmont won a state championship. The Trojans won their first six games of the season, including a win over Fort Collins for the first time in 11 years. The following week, Longmont suffered its only loss to Boulder, but it won its next five games, including the championship game over Grand Junction, for the state title. Kent Anderson and Doug Wills made all-state for the Trojans by both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News.
Season Log
Manual, 21-7
Aurora, 35-0
Pueblo, 12-6
Sterling, 26-19
Loveland, 28-7
Fort Collins, 12-6
Boulder, 13-20
Greeley, 55-0
Englewood, 34-7
Fort Collins, 27-0
North, 40-20
Grand Junction, 40-7

33. Northside (Atlanta, Ga.), 10-1-1
Heading into Thanksgiving week, Northside was ranked No. 2 in the state AA rankings behind undefeated Savannah. After Savannah lost to Benedictine 28-13 on Thanksgiving Day, it had to play Benedictine again two days later in the region playoffs. This time Savannah won and advanced to play Albany in the semifinals. Northside took on Rossville in the semifinals and lost. After Savannah also lost to Rossville in the finals, Northside stayed at No. 2 in the final rankings while Savannah dropped to No. 3. Lester Simerville made the AA all-state team at running back. He twice ran for over 1,000 yards and scored over 100 points and was a first team Wigwam Wiseman All-American. He went on to play at Georgia Tech.
Season Log
Griffin, 20-13
Roosevelt, 18-0
Fulton, 0-0
Murphy, 25-0
O’Keefe, 20-12
Bass, 27-0
Grady, 13-7
Sylvan, 22-14
West Fulton, 20-12
North Fulton, 7-6
Fulton, 12-0
Rossville, 0-13

34. Webster Groves (Mo.), 9-0
Rated as the top team in the state by the sports writers association, the Statesmen cruised to a Suburban League championship. Webster Groves was one of nine teams to finish undefeated in the state’s final Top 10 rankings. The Statesmen had 12 first place votes and 168 total points to finish 36 points ahead of Kirksville. Hank Kuhlman was an all-state pick at running back. Kuhlman played football and baseball at the University of Missouri and he went on to coach in the NFL, finishing the final five games of the 1989 season with the Cardinals after coach Gene Stallings was let go midseason.
Season Log
Poplar Bluff, 23-7
Southwest, 14-0
Woodriver, 13-0
Normandy, 25-6
Ritenour, 21-0
Quincy, 34-14
U. City, 33-7
Maplewood, 40-6
Kirkwood, 46-6

35. Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb.), 9-0
After closing out the season with a win over Boys Town, Creighton Prep finished the 1954 season with a 20-game win streak and a No. 2 ranking in the state behind Lincoln Central. The Junior Jays placed three players on the all-state team by the World Herald, including guard Dan Smith, quarterback Mike Dugan and running back Robert Varley. Dugan threw for 989 yards on the season while Varley rushed for 889 yards. Dugan earned Wigwam Wiseman Seventh Team All-American honors.
Season Log
Omaha South, 30-0
Thomas Jefferson, 14-7
Omaha Central, 35-7
Omaha North, 19-6
Abe Lincoln, 27-0
Omaha Tech, 39-13
Omaha Benson, 32-13
Grand Island, 28-21
Boys Town, 12-7

36. Roosevelt (Des Moines, Iowa), 8-0
The Roughriders were the clear favorite in the final poll of sports editors and radio sports directors in Iowa. Out of 54 ballots, Roosevelt won 24 first place votes and topped No. 2 Davenport by over 100 points. Quarterback Randy Duncan earned first team all-state honors and Wigwam Wiseman Third Team All-American honors after completing 51 of 97 passes for 839 yards. He went on to star at Iowa and lead the Hawkeyes to a Rose Bowl win and a No. 2 rankings in 1959. He was runner-up to Pete Dawkins in the Heisman Trophy and went on to play in the Canadian Football League.
Season Log
Oskaloosa, 48-6
Dowling, 28-19
Tech, 33-0
Lincoln, 33-0
Newton, 27-12
North, 21-0
Loras, 26-0
East, 14-7

37. Pittsburg (Kan.), 9-0
The Dragons got the nod as state champions in 1954 over a Lawrence team that went undefeated at 8-0-1. Pittsburg had gone 9-0 in 1951, but missed out on the state title to a 9-0 Wyandotte team. The Dragons were ranked No. 4 in the second-to-last state sportswriters poll, but moved up to No. 1 with eight first place votes compared to five for Lawrence. Running back Herb McHenry earned all-state honors by the Wichita Eagle.
Season Log
Miami, 20-6
Chanute, 20-12
Springfield, 39-13
Iola, 25-6
Fort Scott, 48-21
Parsons, 34-0
Coffeyville, 26-13
Independence, 33-6
Columbus, 58-0

38. Dearborn (Mich.), 9-0
The Pioneers put together their first undefeated season since 1931 and was the only Class A team in Michigan to go 9-0 in 1954. Dearborn posted seven shutouts while finishing No. 4 in the United Press rankings behind Battle Creek Central, Ann Arbor Pioneer and Grosse Pointe. Dearborn gets the nod here ahead of Battle Creek Central and Pioneer since those two teams tied in their late-season showdown. Tackle Don Wright was the only Dearborn player to make the all-state team.
Season Log
Jackson, 13-7
East Detroit, 12-0
LIncoln Park, 19-0
Melvindale, 46-0
Hamtramck, 12-0
River Rouge, 19-0
Ecorse, 37-13
Wayne, 27-0
Fordson, 6-0

39. Los Angeles (Calif.), 9-1-1
The Romans rebounded from an opening-week tie with Franklin to defeat eventual Southern Section finalist Glendale Hoover 20-0 to start a nine-game win streak. Los Angeles finally lost in the Los Angeles City Section finals to Manual Arts. Clint Whitfield, a guard, earned All-City Player of the Year honors by the Helms Athletic Foundation. Running back Jim Maxfield joined Whitfield on the first team.
Season Log
Franklin, 13-13
Glendale Hoover, 20-0
San Fernando, 21-20
Venice, 48-0
Fairfax, 34-0
Dorsey, 13-7
Hamilton, 33-7
University, 13-7
Wilson, 27-7
San Fernando, 7-6
Manual Arts, 0-21

40. Mansfield (Ohio), 8-1
The Tygers were ranked No. 3 in the state heading into the final week of the season and they easily knocked off Springfield 39-12 in their finale. However Massillon’s win over McKinley, coupled with Alliance’s earlier win over Massillon, moved Alliance ahead of Mansfield, which suffered its only loss at the hands of Massillon in the third week of the season. Running back Willie Mack was a first team all-state running back, finishing with 19 touchdowns on the season. Teammate Willmer Fowler also had 19 touchdowns. Fowler went on to play for the Buffalo Bills before a ruptured Achilles tendon ended his career in 1961.
Season Log
Akron South, 35-0
Cleveland East, 52-12
Massillon, 0-18
Akron East, 19-13
Warren, 42-7
Cleveland Rhodes, 39-7
Portsmouth, 49-19
Toledo Waite, 47-21
Springfield, 39-12

41. Greensboro (N.C.), 10-0-1
The Whirlies had played Durham three times in the state finals and had lost all three. But in 1954, Greensboro pulled off the 20-14 win for the state championship. Quarterback Norm Odyniec made the all-state team along with teammate Doug White at running back. Odyniec went on to play running back at Notre Dame before becoming a doctor.
Season Log
Raleigh, 20-7
Durham, 30-12
Charlotte, 24-12
Gastonia, 12-7
Asheville, 13-0
Winston Reynolds, 27-13
Reidsville, 6-6
Salisbury, 20-12
High Point, 27-6
Burlington, 25-0
Durham, 20-14

42. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 8-1
The Red Raiders routed opponents through the first eight games of the season, giving up just 14 points with six shutouts. Included in the wins was a 16-0 defeat of Miami Senior, which went on to win the state championship in Florida. Baylor had two big showdowns to end the season, beating previously No. 1 ranked Oak Ridge 20-7 before falling to Chattanooga Central by an identical score. Baylor finished with the second-best Litkenhous score in the state, finishing first in the Prep Schools division and second overall behind Chattanooga Central. Since it was considered a prep school, Baylor did not place anyone on the all-state team. Running back Calvin James did make the Chattanooga Times’ all-area team.
Season Log
Chattanooga, 7-0
Georgia Military, 45-0
Gordon Military Academy, 25-0
Notre Dame, 34-7
Sewanee B team, 46-0
Miami Senior, 16-0
Greenbrier Military (WV), 6-0
Oak Ridge, 20-7
Chattanooga Central, 7-20

43. Miami Senior (Fla.), 7-2-1
The Stingarees had a rough non-conference schedule, losing to a pair of Tennessee teams. In conference play, Miami tied Coral Gables and thus was not considered the team to beat for the state championship. However Miami’s opponents turned out to be pretty good. Chattanooga Central went on to secure the No. 1 ranking in Tennessee and Baylor finished No. 2. Coral Gables, meanwhile, finished No. 3 in the final Florida state rankings. After moving its record to 5-2-1, Miami met Edison, ranked No. 1 at the time, for the City Championship. The Stingarees won 6-0 in front of 40,000 fans - the largest crowd ever for a high school game at that time. Miami then qualified for the Kiwanis charity bowl game and defeated an 8-0-1 St. John’s team of Washington D.C., 14-6. Running back Larry Fonts earned Mr. Football honors before embarking on a four-year career at Georgia Tech.
Season Log
Chattanooga Central, 14-21
Baylor, 0-16
Coral Gables, 14-14
Jackson (Jacksonville), 20-6
Lee (Jacksonville), 13-7
Fort Lauderdale, 47-7
Miami Beach, 20-0
Jackson, 28-0
Edison, 6-0
St. John ‘s, 14-6

44. Miami Edison (Fla.), 9-1
The team to beat in Florida for much of the season, Edison won showdowns with Coral Gables early in the season and Miami Jackson in mid-October. That set up a monumental matchup against Miami Senior on Thanksgiving Day for the City Championship and likely the No. 1 ranking in the state. Edison was ranked No. 1 with an 8-0 record heading into the game, but the odds were not on the Red Raiders’ side. In 31 meetings between the two teams stretching back over 30 years, Edison had only defeated the Stingarees once and were 1-28-2. Edison was pegged as a two-touchdown favorite heading into the game at one point, but Miami claimed the favorite role just before gametime by a touchdown. Miami pulled off the 6-0 win and claimed the state title. Edison finished ranked No. 2 in the state. Edison placed three on the all-state team in guard Nathan Kelly, end Dan Edginton and halfback Olin Greene. Kelly was named the honorary captain. Greene became a fireman and was named the U.S. Fire Administrator by President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
Season Log
Coral Gables, 19-6
Jacksonville Landon, 19-7
Fort Lauderdale, 62-6
Jacksonville Lee, 32-2
Miami Jackson, 27-0
Pensacola, 21-7
Jacksonville Jackson, 33-0
West Palm Beach, 33-12
Miami, 0-6

45. Port Neches (Texas), 12-2
Port Neches suffered just one defeat during the regular season, falling to Nederland 27-24. Among the wins during the regular season was a 23-14 victory over Lake Charles, which went on to win the Louisiana state championship. Port Neches advanced through the playoffs, but fell to Breckenridge in the 3A state finals. Guard James Blount made the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s 3A all-state team.
Season Log
Aldine, 33-6
Orange Stark, 91-13
Beaumont, 40-6
Brazosport, 26-7
Nederland, 24-27
Lake Charles, 23-14
Texas City, 46-14
South Park (Beaumont), 33-0
Conroe, 13-6
Aldine, 31-6
Beaumont French, 61-6
Temple, 13-7
McAllen, 44-14
Breckenridge, 7-20

46. Wayne County (Jesup, Ga.), 11-1
A pair of wins over Valdosta cemented Wayne County’s place on this list. Although the Yellow Jackets lost to Savannah early in the season, they went on to win the next 10 games and the Class A championship. Wayne County’s 13-7 win over Valdosta in early November ended the Wildcats’ 40-game unbeaten run that included a pair of ties (38-0-2). Two weeks later, Wayne County beat Valdosta again in the Region playoffs. The Yellow Jackets also beat Americus and Rockmart to claim the state title. Center Richard Johnson was the top player for Wayne County, earning Lineman of the Year honors on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s all-state team.
Season Log
Jeff Davis, 27-0
Savannah, 0-12
Commercial, 30-0
Waycross, 31-14
Screven County, 40-0
Appling County, 15-0
Statesboro, 46-21
Valdosta, 13-7
Glynn Academy, 27-0
Valdosta, 13-7
Americus, 19-6
Rockmart, 26-6

47. Lake Charles (La.), 11-1-1
The Wildcats won their first state championship in 22 years with a 35-12 win over Baton Rouge. The only loss came to Texas Class AAA runner-up Port Neches and the Wildcats opened the season with a tie against traditional state powerhouse Istrouma. Lake Charles placed two on the all-state team in tackle Allen Stough and running back Claude Mason, who rushed for 1,035 yards and scored 102 points. Mason went to Tulane and was the older brother of future Minnesota Viking running back Tommy Mason.
Season Log
Istrouma, 27-27
DeRidder, 27-7
Byrd, 20-12
New Iberia, 35-7
LaGrange, 49-12
Lafayette, 34-0
Port Neches, 14-23
Fair Park, 33-7
Jennings, 42-6
Bolton, 40-6
Sulphur, 25-6
Bastrop, 32-14
Baton Rouge, 35-12

48. Woodrow Wilson (Portsmouth, Va.), 9-0-1
Lynn Hopewell made the all-state first team at end and David Ames made the team as a running back. Hopewell also earned All-Southern honors and went on to become a CIA Agent and one of the top financial planners in the nation. Ames played at the University of Richmond and played in the AFL for the Denver Broncos and New York Titans.
Season Log
South Norfolk, 20-0
Hopewell, 12-6
Norview, 21-0
Washington-Lee Arlington, 14-0
Newport News, 13-7
Petersburg, 38-2
Maury, 33-13
Granby, 32-0
Jefferson Sr., 20-20
Suffolk, 27-0

49. International Falls (Minn.), 8-0
The Broncos had some incredible statistics during its undefeated season. They only punted three times all season and gave up only three fumbles. The defense also intercepted 14 passes on the season and allowed only 12 completions. The offense averaged 12.2 yards per rushing attempt running behind tackle Bronko Nagurski Jr. The son of the Hall of Fame running back of the same name, Bronko Jr. earned Wigwam Wiseman All-American honors and played at Notre Dame. He played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League, where he won two Grey Cups and was a three-time all-star.
Season Log
Coleraine, 38-0
Chisholm, 37-6
Grand Rapids, 33-13
Hibbing, 38-13
Virginia, 40-12
Eveleth, 42-7
Ely, 75-0
Superior Central, 40-6

50. Green Bay West (Wisc.), 8-0
Coached by former Green Bay Packer John Biolo, Green Bay West entered the 1954 season with 24 straight wins. Biolo, in his first year, kept the streak alive with eight more wins and was named the Fox River Valley coach of the year. Running back Bill Andersen earned first team all-state honors.
Season Log
Catholic Central, 20-13
Sheboygan North, 21-8
Oshkosh, 27-7
Manitowoc, 10-7
Sheboygan Central, 14-0
Fond du Lac, 34-7
Appleton, 26-6
Green Bay East, 13-6