Game Ball
Alabama commit Derrick Henry surpassed one of the longest-standing records in all of sports on Friday night when he broke the national high school career rushing yardage record.
The Yulee, Florida native broke the 59-year-old record set by Sugarland, Texas star Ken Hall with a 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of Yulee’s first-round playoff game against Taylor County.
Henry, who finished the game with 482 yards and 6 touchdowns on 58 carries, will play at least one more game in his high school career and currently holds a career rushing total of 11,254 yards.
Henry also currently holds another national high school record for consecutive games with 100-yards rushing. Henry has rushed for at least 100-yards in 45 consecutive games, which includes every game of his high school career.
Hall spoke to Henry on Thursday during a radio interview and gave the star prospect some advice about handling the fame that comes with owning such a prestigious record.
“That’s something I’ll cherish for a long time,” Henry told MaxPreps. “It was just a special moment hearing about his high school career and what the record meant to him. He talked about all the memorable players who helped him along the way. Talking to the ‘Sugarland Express’ was very, very special to me.”
Henry committed to the Crimson Tide in September and is rated a five-star prospect by the 247Composite index of the four major recruiting services.
Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings, Nov. 26, 2012
1. Manatee, Bradenton, Fla. (12-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Defeated Venice, 56-7, in Class 7A, Region 3 semifinals. Up next: Friday at Fort Pierce Central in region final.
2. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (12-0)
Previous: 2.
Recap: Defeated Amador Valley (Pleasanton), 49-0, in in CIF-North Coast Section Division I semifinals. The Spartans advanced to their 29th straight sectional final as senior RB Tiapepe Vitale scored three TDs before the break. Up next: Saturday vs. James Logan (Union City) in Division I sectional final in Dublin.
3. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (11-0)
Previous: 3.
Recap: Defeated Riverside Academy (Reserve), 62-10, in Class 2A quarterfinals. The Patriots exploded for 35 points in the third quarter. Up next: Friday vs. Springfield in Class 2A semifinals at Muss Bertolino Stadium in Kenner.
4. Vista Murietta, Murietta, Calif. (13-0)
Previous: 4.
Recap: Defeated Rancho Cucamonga in CIF-Inland Division semifinals. The Broncs’ defense stepped up for a third shutout of the season. Up next: Friday vs. Corona Centennial in sectional final.
5. Butler, Matthews, N.C. (14-0)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Defeated Mallard Creek (Charlotte), 27-0, in Class 4AA semifinals. Up next: Saturday vs. Jack Britt (Fayetteville) in final at Chapel Hill.
6. Hoover, Ala. (13-0)
Previous: 6.
Recap: Defeated Vestavia Hills, 21-7, in Class 6A quarterfinals. RB Calen Campbell scored on runs of 11 and 8 yards and QB Connor Short threw a 33-yard scoring strike to Mike Powers. If the Bucs advance in semis, they’d play Carver (Montgomery) or Opelika for the title. Up next: Friday vs. Clay-Chalkville (Pinson) in 6A semifinals.
7. Katy, Texas (12-0)
Previous: 7.
Recap: Defeated Langham Creek (Houston), 49-0, in Class 5A Division II Area playoff. Up next: Saturday vs. La Porte in Region 3 quarterfinals at Houston’s Reliant Stadium.
8. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (12-0)
Previous: 9.
Recap: Idle. Up next: Thursday vs. Memphis University School in Division II-AA final in Cookeville.
9. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (12-0)
Previous: 10.
Recap: Defeated San Antonio Roosevelt, 45-0, in Class 5A, Division II Area playoff. Up next: Saturday vs. Edinburg North in Region 4 quarterfinals at Kingsville’s Javelina Stadium.
10. DeSoto, Texas (12-0)
Previous: 12.
Recap: Defeated Coppell, 42-14, in Class 5A Division I Area playoff. Up next: Saturday vs. Arlington Bowie in Region 1 quarterfinals in Hurst.
11. Goose Creek, S.C. (13-0)**
Previous: 11.
Recap: The Gators denied in court a chance to defend their Class 4A, Division II title last week for use of ineligible player. The Gators advanced to the semifinals but team they beat, Bluffton (and it lost), competed in their place. Since they haven’t lost on the field and were forced out on a technicality, coach Chuck Reedy’s team stays ranked in the Blue Star Media Go-To 25. Season complete.
12. Bellevue, Wash. (13-0)
Previous: 13.
Recap: Defeated Mount Si (Snoqualmie), 37-7 in Class 3A semifinals. RB John Nguyen rushed for 147 yards and three TDs as the Wolverine won for the 29th straight time. It’ll be a battle of unbeaten in the 3A championship. Up next: Friday vs. Eastside Catholic (Sammamish) in 3A final at Tacoma Dome.
13. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (13-0)
Previous: 15.
Recap: Defeated Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh), 21-14, in WPIAL Class AAAA final. QB Mack Leftwich flipped three TDs in the opening half and it stood up. NA became the first Quad A team to win three straight WPIAL titles. Up next: Friday vs. McDowell (Erie) in PIAA Class AAAA state quarterfinals at Seneca Valley High in Harmony.
14. Northside, Warner-Robins, Ga. (12-0)
Previous: 16
Recap: Defeated Thomas County Central (Thomasville), 45-17, in Class AAAAA second round. Up next: Friday vs. Tucker in state quarterfinals.
15. Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif. (13-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated Carson, 39-12, in CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I semifinals. Johnell Jackson rushed for 113 yards and two TDs as the Gauchos won their 18th straight and go for a second consecutive sectional title. Up next: Saturday vs. Crenshaw (Los Angeles) in City final at East Los Angeles College.
16. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (12-1)
Previous: 17.
Recap: Defeated Reed (Sparks), 49-24, in Nevada Division I state semifinal. Up next: Saturday vs. Liberty (Henderson) in final at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, 12:15 p.m. PT.
17. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (11-1)*
Previous: 18.
Recap: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship.
18. Camden County, Kingsland, Ga. (11-1)
Previous: 19.
Recap: Defeated East Coweta (Sharpsburg), 34-14, in Class AAAAAA second round. Up next: Friday vs. Norcross in state quarterfinals.
19. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (12-0)
Previous: 21.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 20 Plant (Tampa), 24-7, in Class 8A, Region 2 semifinals. Up next: Friday vs. East Lake (Tarpon Springs) in region final.
20. Skyline, Sammamish, Wash. (13-0)
Previous: 22.
Recap: Defeated Camas, 51-28, in Class 4A semifinals. USC-bound QB Max Browne had a monster game, completing 29 of 32 passes (91 percent) for 387 yards and four TDs and now needs only 9 yards to become the state’s all-time leading passer. Up next: Saturday vs. Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma) in 4A final at Tacoma Dome.
21. Booker T. Washington, Miami (11-1)
Previous: 23.
Recap: Defeated Gulliver Prep (Miami), 57-0, in Class 4A, Region 4 final. Up next: Friday at Cocoa in 4A semifinals.
22. Skyline, Dallas (11-1)
Previous: 24.
Recap: Defeated Mesquite Horn, 47-28, in Class 5A Division I Area playoff. Up next: Saturday vs. Spring Westfield in Region 2 quarterfinals in Georgetown.
23. Whitmer, Toledo, Ohio (14-0)
Previous: 24.
Recap: Defeated Mentor, 62-34, in Division I semifinals. The Panthers peeled off 42 points in the second half. Up next: Saturday vs. Moeller (Cincinnati) in final at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.
24. Millard North, Omaha, Neb. (13-0)*
Previous: 25.
Recap: Defeated Omaha North, 17-14, in Class A final. QB Isaac Aakre carried 22 times for 110 yards and threw a pair of TD passes, including a 46-yarder to Clay Fisher for the game-winner in the fourth quarter. Season complete.
25. Kahuku, Hawaii (12-0)*
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated Punahou School (Honolulu), 42-20, in Division I state final. Season complete.
Dropped: No. 8 Grayson, Loganville, Ga. lost to North Gwinnett, 28-10, in Class AAAAAA second round; No. 20. Plant (Tampa, Fla.) lost to No. 21 Dr. Phillips (Orlando), 24-7, in Class 8A, Region 2 semifinals.
High-Fives by Region
East
1. LaSalle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (12-1)
2. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (13-0)
3. Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pa. (13-0)
4. Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y. (11-0)*
5. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (13-0)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midlands
1. Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (14-0)*
2. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (15-0)*
3. Arrowhead, Hartland, Wis. (13-0)*
4. Ankeny, Iowa (14-0)*
5. Blue Springs, Mo. (13-1)*
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
South
1. Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (13-0)
2. Abilene, Texas (12-0)
3. Maryville, Tenn. (14-0)
4. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (12-1)
5. Whitehaven, Memphis (14-0)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
1. Sheldon, Eugene, Ore. (12-0)
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-2)
3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (12-1)
4. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (12-2)*
5. Jordan, Sandy, Utah (12-1)*
Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
* Denotes state or conference champion; ** Season halted for use of ineligible player.
About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Football Rankings are released weekly from September until the conclusion of the high school season. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition and quality of league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers.
