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All four Classic teams among West powers | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Tuesday, August 20, 2002

All four Classic teams among West powers

Advertiser Staff and News Services

The First Hawaiian Bank Football Classic on Sept. 21 will feature four of the top nine teams in the West region, according to USA Today's preseason rankings released yesterday.

De La Salle of Concord, Calif., is ranked No. 1 in the newspaper's national Super 25, while Long Beach (Calif.) Poly is No. 4 and St. Louis is No. 21. Kahuku is unranked in the Super 25.

But in USA Today's West region rankings, De La Salle is No. 1, Long Beach Poly No. 2, St. Louis No. 5 and Kahuku No. 9.

In the Classic, Kahuku will play Long Beach Poly at 5 p.m., and St. Louis will play De La Salle at 8.

De La Salle has finished three of the past four seasons (1998, 2000, 2001) as USA Today's national champion.

Student Sports Inc., a magazine and Web site based in Torrance, Calif., lists De La Salle at No. 1, Long Beach Poly at No. 8 and St. Louis at No. 15 in its preseason Fab 50.

Following is USA Today's preseason Super 25:

Records and statistics are from 2001 season unless noted. First regular-season ranking will appear Sept. 10.

  1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (12-0). Returning starters: 11. The scoop: The Spartans have won a national record 125 consecutive games and the last two USA Today national titles. Experienced secondary features Maurice Drew and juniors Cameron Colvin and Willie Glasper. Linemen John Chan (6-1, 225) and Erik Sandie (6-1, 265) will block for inexperienced QB Britt Cecil. RB-FS Jackie Bates (5-10, 175) is a top newcomer. Opens: Sept. 13 vs. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose).
  2. Palm Bay, Melbourne, Fla. (12-1). Returning starters: 8.
  3. Lincoln, Tallahassee, Fla. (14-1). Returning starters: 11.
  4. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (13-1). Returning starters: 8. The scoop: C Hercules Satele (6-3, 260) and OG Kevin Brown (6-2, 300) are stronger following productive offseason. QB Leon Jackson throws to WRs Derrick Jones (10 TDs), who averaged 34 yards a catch, and Alex Watson (5-11, 175). RB Lorenzo Bursey (5-9, 165) is the feature back. Opens: Sept. 13 at Westchester (Los Angeles).
  5. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (15-0). Returning starters: 11.
  6. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (10-2). Returning starters: 15.
  7. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (11-4). Returning starters: 9.
  8. Jenks, Okla. (13-0). Returning starters: 9.
  9. Parkview, Lilburn, Ga. (15-0). Returning starters: 16.
  10. Los Alamitos, Calif. (10-2-1). Returning starters: 13.
  11. Humble, Texas (9-3). Returning starters: 15.
  12. Woodland Hills, Pittsburgh (14-1). Returning starters: 9.
  13. Independence, Charlotte, N.C. (16-0). Returning starters: 14.
  14. Downers Grove (Ill.) South (12-2). Returning starters: 12.
  15. Evangel Christian Academy, Shreveport, La. (14-1). Returning starters: 13.
  16. Trinity, Louisville (13-1). Returning starters: 5.
  17. Westlake, Austin, Texas (14-2). Returning starters: 12.
  18. Loyola, Los Angeles (7-3-1). Returning starters: 14.
  19. John Curtis, River Ridge, La. (14-1). Returning starters: 14.
  20. St. John's Prep, Danvers, Mass. (11-1). Returning starters: 17.
  21. St. Louis, Honolulu (10-1-1). Returning starters: 9. The scoop: QB Bobby George, who completed 141 passes for 2,510 and 29 TDs, and WR Jason Rivers (1,226 yards, 20 TDs) are reliable. DE Tolifili Liufau (6-3, 290) has 40 career sacks. Opens: Saturday at Nanakuli.
  22. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-0). Returning starters: 7.
  23. Marlboro County, Bennettsville, S.C. (15-0). Returning starters: 10.
  24. Joliet (Ill.) Catholic (13-1). Returning starters: 10.
  25. Helix, La Mesa, Calif. (12-1). Returning starters: 16.

Regional rankings

(Last year's records in parentheses)

WEST

  1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (12-0)
  2. Long Beach Poly, Calif. (13-1)
  3. Los Alamitos, Calif. (10-2-1)
  4. Loyola, Los Angeles (7-3-1)
  5. St. Louis, Honolulu (10-1-1)
  6. Helix, La Mesa, Calif. (12-1)
  7. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (8-2-2)
  8. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (12-2)
  9. Kahuku, Hawai'i (14-0)
  10. Chatfield, Littleton, Colo. (14-0)

EAST

  1. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (10-2)
  2. Woodland Hills, Pittsburgh (14-1)
  3. St. John's Prep, Danvers, Mass. (11-1)
  4. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-0)
  5. Gilman School, Baltimore (6-4)
  6. Central Dauphin, Harrisburg, Pa. (9-2)
  7. Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pa. (9-3)
  8. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (9-1)
  9. Berwick, Pa. (10-3)
  10. St. Joseph's Prep, Philadelphia (10-3)

SOUTH

  1. Palm Bay, Melbourne, Fla. (12-1)
  2. Lincoln, Tallahassee, Fla. (14-1)
  3. Jenks, Okla. (13-0)
  4. Parkview, Lilburn, Ga. (15-0)
  5. Humble, Texas (9-3)
  6. Independence, Charlotte (16-0)
  7. Evangel Christian Acad., Shreveport, La. (14-1)
  8. Westlake, Austin (14-2)
  9. John Curtis, River Ridge, La. (14-1)
  10. Marlboro County, Bennettsville, S.C. (15-0)

MIDWEST

  1. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (15-0)
  2. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (11-4)
  3. Downers Grove (Ill.) South (12-2)
  4. Trinity, Louisville (13-1)
  5. Joliet (Ill.) Catholic (13-1)
  6. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (11-1)
  7. Blue Springs, Mo. (14-0)
  8. Eisenhower, Utica, Mich. (13-1)
  9. Harding, Warren, Ohio (11-2)
  10. Detroit Catholic Central, Redford, Mich. (11-3)

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