Then I'mgoing to ask for your help once again in selecting the top 10 teams of all time. Alphonse Dotson, the first small-college player named to a major All-America team in 1964, his senior year at Grambling State. The San Diego Chargers chose him fourth overall in the 1976 NFL Draft, and Joe Washington Jr. began his nine-season stint in the league. But he still wasnt the best his pops had ever seen. 60. MILLCOLEMAN, QB, ALBION/FARMINGTONHARRISON (1986-1989): There was a reason Coleman was called The Thrill, and high school football fans will never forget the electricity thathe generated. But even among these giants of the game, perhaps nobody cast a longer PVIL shadow than Dick "Night Train" Lane. 77. DON COLEMAN, OL/DL, FLINT CENTRAL (1954): Coleman played only one year of high school football, but it wasmemorable, as he earned all-state honors and helped lead Flint Central to a state championship. The streak would eventually stretch to 32 straight games before it finally ended during the 1970 season. 84. Six PVIL stars went on to become Pro Football Hall of Famers, including "Mean" Joe Greeneand Ken Houston. 68. He also held the record for longest field goal for 13 yearsafter a 55-yard effort in 1981 vs. Farmington. Ever since PARADE selected its first All America High School Football Team in 1963, the magazine has been discovering some of the greatest gridiron legends in history. 10. His signature move, a clothesline tackle called the "Night Train Necktie," was considered more dangerous than helmet-to-helmet contact for more than a half-century. I passed a couple of white guys and heard one of them say, 'They need to take that n-----coach Brown and let him coach the white team cause these white boys aint doin nothin, and these n-----s dont never lose.". For more information . It was also an age before the NJSIAA playoffs were adopted in 1974. He was named the UPI High School Player of the Year for Michigan in 1967 and went on to play defensive tackle at Michigan State University. He was one of the premier players in the state in 1997 and earned Parade and USA Today all-American honors. Greg Willard Spirit Award; NCAA Season Awards. He finished his high school career with 2,525 career receiving yards and 40 career touchdown receptions. A winner who could beat you with his arm or his legs, Coleman led Harrison in three Class B state title games, of which he won two. With linebacker size and world-class speed,he was a threat to go the distance every time he touched the ball. 25. The six selectors recognized by the NCAA as "official" for the 1964 season are (1) the Associated Press (AP), (2) the United Press International (UPI), (3) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), (4) the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), (5) the Central Press Association (CP), and (6) the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA). During his junior year, Duckett totaled 140 tackles and three sacks while accounting for 2,080 total yards and 20 touchdowns. He was part of the Electric Company offensive line that blocked for O.J. Granata rushed for 5,655 yards during his career and finished with 553 career points. The Sporting News and Time magazine polled football scouts and coaches. 80. The two combined on a 38-yard touchdown pass for the only points in the 1980 Class A state title game, where Brother Rice defeated Dearborn Fordson 6-0. VanPelt went on to a stellar NFL career and was a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker. He was a hulking offensive end and linebacker who dominated on both sides of the football. 85. 75. Walderzak was an all-state tackle, and he went on to play tackle infor University of Nebraska. And while North Jersey observers thought that East Orange was the top team in the state in days before the NJSIAA playoffs, everyone in South Jersey was sure the Indians were No. #10 1970 Edison Red Raiders: You can't mention great South Florida teams without mentioning the Edison Red Raiders. Their season included an 89-0 win over Jackson (Tenn.) High. 36. GARY VAN ELST, FB/LB, MIDDLEVILLE (1965-1967): Van Elst was a battering ram of a football player who dominated on both sides of the football. He holds the career record for receptions in the state with 214. Dec. 26. He totaled 98 tackles as a junior and 117 tackles as a senior before headingto Grand Valley State University, where set a number of school records. 39. He rushed for 2,680 yards and scored 248 points in 1996. He had many career paths, working as a newspaper publisher, a restaurant owner, an oil promoter and a football coach early in his career. Coach: Manuel Douglas. Anderson High School in Austin, Texas, was known for his hard-hitting style, which is on display here in the 1956 NFL Pro Bowl. Under head coach Charles Brown, the Bulldogs played for the state title in five of six years, with players so goodwhite folks made sure not to miss their games. He went on to be a two-time all-Mid American Conference tight end at Western Michigan Universityand was a John Mackey Award finalist before moving on to the NFL with the Denver Broncos and theDetroit Lions. The team that standouts over the others, is the 2001 version of the Spartans. As a senior at Heritage, Schweigert ran for 1,502 yards and scored 22 touchdowns as an option quarterback who passed for over 500 yards. Henson played in college at University of Michigan and then played pro football with the Dallas Cowboys and pro baseball with the New York Yankees. For the year 1964, the NCAA recognizes seven published All-American teams as "official" designations for purposes of its consensus determinations. End Gary Bronson was a defensive stalwart, while catching four touchdown passes from Sendzik, as Brick went undefeated for the third time in Wolfs nine seasons. 1974-ABCA/Rawlings All-America Teams: High School All-America First Team: Pos. 9. He went on to play college football at UCLA, where tied a Rose Bowl record with four touchdowns against University of Iowa in 1986 before playing six years in the NFL with Cincinnati. CALVIN ONEAL, LB, SAGINAW (1969-1971): A two-time all-state linebacker, ONeal averaged 14 tackles per game his senior year and wasMVP of the Saginaw Valley League. He went on to play at Northwestern University,where he was an all-Big 10 player and left as the fifth all-time rusher in school history. The feedback so far has been incredible, but I need more as we move forward. In 1977, he scored 206 points, and in 1978 he scored 212 points, as he led Forest Park to back-to-back state final appearances. Along with hitting legendary, tape-measure home runs, Henson was one of the top prep quarterbacks in the nation. As a tight end,hecaught eight touchdown passes. 98. Breasbois totaled 7,216 career passing yards, as Merrill operated out of four and five-receiver sets. Alphonse Dotson, the first small-college player named to a major All-America team in 1964, his senior year at Grambling State. Tackle Joel Scott anchored the Green Dragon lines. 97. JOSH THORNHILL, LB, LANSING EASTERN (1994-1997): A four-year starter for the Quakers, Thornhill was a dominant defensive force, who totaled 151 tackles as a junior and 150 as a senior. He is Purdues all-time leader in interceptions with 17. He went on tosuccess at Central Michigan Universitybefore a lengthy NFL career as a safety with the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Martucci, a junior guard on that team, would return to serve as an assistant under Rizzo before taking over in 1984 and compilinga 197-81-1 record before stepping down in 2011, winning five state sectional titles and 10 division crowns. St. Louis. The league stocked the rosters of historically Black colleges and universities in and around Texas:Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern, Grambling State, Jarvis Christian, you name it. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was also the first Michigan State football player tohave his uniform retired. Prized 2024 South Carolina WR Mazeo Bennett Jr. Trims List Ahead of Decision. 78. 61. That total is 73 points higher than the next-highest point total. 95. 55. He also had the second- and third-highest single season point totals in state history (306 in 2001 and 288 in 2000). JASON FRACASSA, QB, UTICA STEVENSON (2006-2009): The all-time passing king in Michigan high school football, Fracassa amassednumbers that will be hard to top. In what is still referred to as The Game, the Lions, ranked second in the state, beat top-ranked Toms River, 14-8, in what many consider the greatest game ever at the Jersey Shore. He then played in the NFL for the Cardinals for 13 seasons and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. During its 17-year span it produced the following results: 1963 - Niles - state champion; Massillon - 2nd place 1964 - Massillon - state champion; Canton McKinley - 2nd place Hall of Famer "Mean" Joe Greene (75), from the PVIL's Dunbar High School in Temple, Texas, won four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That honor went to Sam Clark, a player Joe Sr. coached at Hilliard. A two-time all-state player and two-time winner of the Bay City Times Golden Helmet Award, Koscielniak capped his career by rushing for 529 yards against Pellston in his final game. "Mostly we were totally ignored, and I think that was terrible.". He chose the University of Michigan, where he earned all-American honors and was the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year. DREW HENSON, QB, BRIGHTON (1995-1997): Few stars shined as brightly on the baseball field and football field than Hensons while at Brighton. Frank Moaning was a member of the 1960 Bulldogs team that went undefeated. CARL BANKS, LB, BEECHER (1976-1979): A dominating defender and all-state player for the Buccaneers, Banks is one of the greatest high school players ever from the city of Flint. NICK HILL, RB, CHELSEA (2006-2009): Hill was dynamite in a small package. Shaw was an academic all-American linebacker at Pennsylvania State Universityand is currently playing for the Tennessee Titans in his seventh NFL season. He transferred to John Glenn High School in 1964 and during this transition period, Don was responsible for the athletic programs of both high schools and also the five Junior high programs. He finished his career with 10,615 passing yards, which is 2,709 yards more than the number-two passer. Harry Walters caught 36 passes from Rip Scherer for 538 yards and seven touchdowns that season. Schweigert defeated Charles Rogers in the 100-meter dash in the Division 1 track & field finalsin a time of 10.45 seconds. LUIS SHARPE, OT, DETROIT SOUTHWESTERN (1976-1978): Southwestern was not just a basketball school, and Sharpe was not only the premier lineman in Michigan but was alsoa prep all-American who went on to play for UCLA. All-NBA and All-NBA Team Selections by Player; All-Defensive Team Selections by Player; Referee Awards. Prior to 1982 the following Newspapers and Agencies selected All-State Teams since 1916 when the first All-State team was chosen by the Birmingham News. BENNY CLARK JR., RB, RAVENNA (1993-1996): Clark was one of the greatest small-school runing backs in state history. Graham was an all-American at University of Michigan and was drafted in the first round by the NFLs Philadelphia Eagles. But when it comes to Nashville's 50 greatest high school football players of all-time, named by The Tennessean, that is not the case. Some of the criteria included players. OK He also caught 189 career passes to place fourth on the career list and finished his career with 31 touchdown passes. 1 in New Jersey. 57. Ken went on to play college ball at the University of North Texas, followed by a couple years in the CFL. Ever since PARADE selected its first All America High School Football Team in 1963, the magazine has been discovering some of the greatest gridiron legends in history. After a couple of decades coaching in the same league in whichLane perfected his necktie tackles and in whichDickeys ambidextrous passing left fans jaws dropped to the floor, Joe Sr. was not an easy football man to impress. ANDRE RISON, WR, FLINT NORTHWESTERN (1982-1985): One of the greatest all-around high school athletes to come out of Flint, Rison was a dynamic wide receiver in high school along with being an all-state guard in basketball. PARADE editors selected them not only for their achievements in high school, but also the qualities that would make them legends in the NFL. For his career, Ellsworth totaled 632 points, good for fifth place all-time. Quarterback Tom Hughes was a threat running and throwing, while end Dick Hudak caught four touchdown passes. 17. 2023 NFL Draft odds: Will Georgia's Stetson Bennett get selected? ROGER EMMENDORFER, RB, NEW LOTHROP (2003-2006): Emmendorfer was the catalyst of some high-powered New Lothrop offenses. During that streak they boasted numerous NFL and division 1 prospects. ERIC BALL, RB, YPSILANTI (1982-1984): Ball was a rare combination of size and speed at running back. "Altogether, it was quite a season. He was a talented pilot, and during the Vietnam War completed his first tour that included 100 successful individual combat missions. 76. His junior year in high school, Kinder ran the ball 27 times for 150 yards and scored a touchdown in East Lansings Division 2 state title game victory over Brother Rice. The All-American Conference was billed a the best league of high school football teams in Ohio. Woodley continues to make his mark in high school football in Saginawthrough his various philanthropic endeavors. Coach John Jeep Bednarik, brother of future NFL Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik, also saw the program end a 35-year drought against Asbury Park in 1963. MIKE KOSTER, WR, LOWELL (2002-2004):Even thoughLowell is known for running the ball, few receivers were as efficient as Koster. The team finished with a perfect season, asLeach passed for 1,668 yards and 23 touchdowns in an era dominated by the ground game. Dec. 22. The Class C champions closed out the campaign with a 56-13 win over Jackson on Thanksgiving Day, coming on the heels of a 69-0 win over Lawrence. In 2005, he was selected tothe College Football Hall of Fame. THOMASJOHNSON, LB, DETROIT MACKENZIE (1979-1981): Pepper Johnson was a dominating linebacker, who was an all-state and all-American selection. He was Division 7 Player of the Year as a senior, when he totaled 137 tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions. 96. Charlie Bell (basketball) James Bell (basketball) Milton Bell Bob Bender Jonathan Bender Benoit Benjamin Corey Benjamin Elmer Bennett Winston Bennett Kent Benson Joe Bergman Joel Berry II Travis Best Len Bias Mike Bibby Chauncey Billups Uwe Blab James Blackmon Jr. James Blackmon Sr. Wayne Blackshear Lance Blanks Mark Blount Trevon Bluiett Defensively, John Pedone, who finished with 10 sacks, and back Butch Brunson were top performers. He was also a state-champion wrestler who was a three-time all-American at Central Michigan University and finished with 104 career wins. He went on to an all-American career at Michigan State University and was selected all Big 10 three times. JONES, WR, ITHACA (1999-2001): While Ithaca has produced numerous standout quarterbacks, few Yellowjackets orreceivers in state history can match the production of Jones. Past members of the MaxPreps High School Football All-America Team include Keenan Allen (2009), Donovan Edwards (2020), Myles Garrett (2013), Stefon Diggs (2011), Derrick Henry (2012), Travis Hunter (2021), Derwin James (2014), Julio Jones (2007), Micah Parsons (2017 . RELATED:What Shore team has won the most state championships? DEANDRE JOHNSON, RB, MADISON (2003-2006): Johnson was one of the most productive running backs ever in the Detroit area. Follow him on Twitter at @RJ_Young. Long was an all-American offensive tackle at the University of Michigan and has played for the Miami Dolphins and the St. Louis Rams during his six-year NFL career. In 1996,he rushed for 2,239 yards and scored 37 touchdowns, as the Chieftains reached the state semifinals. RYAN CUNNINGHAM, RB, FULTON (1992-1995): A bruising running back, Cunningham rushed for 5,337 yards during his career. In 2002 he was rated the No. Beginning the season with a 33-0 romp over Garfield and a 27-0 whitewashing of New Brunswick, the Blue Bishops closed the year by beating Woodbridge, 13-0, on Thanksgiving Day. 1950 Don Henry * 1958 Larry Coleman 1972 Earl Milligan * 1992 Josh Whicker * (honorable mention) 1993 Josh Whicker * Academic All-State (For 2003 to present, player received Academic All-State award from IFCA unless otherwise noted) 1993 John Rittichier 1997 J.P. Claybourn, Donnie Cummings, Ryan Fetscher, Bill Rittichier, Dan . The input I've received from readers over the past few weeks has been tremendous. He went to University of Michigan, where he was part of the Wolverines 1998 National Championship team and finished his career third on the all-time tackles list with 265. Senior back Jack Vitale led the Shore in scoring with 156 points, running behind the blocking of tackle Steve Hatch, whom he played alongside at linebacker on defense. MARK DELL, WR, FARMINGTONHARRISON (2004-2006): Dell was a winner who could dominate games from his wide receiver position. Missouri. He also was agile and very fast. He was also the most productive back ever in Michigan high school football, as he scored a state-record 924 points, 138 points more than the second-best point scorer. He completed 31 of 50 passes for 465 yards in that semifinal game against Traverse City St. Francis. It was a time of tremendous growth in Monmouth and Ocean counties, with new rivalries forming as the level of play rose. A team with 21 seniors capped a solid three-year run for the Scarlet Fliers program, going 23-3-1 over that period andwinning a pair of Class A titles. In 1951, he led the Big Reds to a state championship, as he threw forwhat wasthen aschool-record 851 yards and 11 touchdowns. ALEX NIZNAK, QB, ITHACA (2008-2010): A two-time all-state selection, Niznak led Ithaca to a perfect 14-0 season in 2010, as he passed for 2,731 yards and 31 touchdowns while rushing for 1,161 yards and 21 touchdowns. Although he weighed only 180 pounds, Coleman was a dominating offensive and defensive lineman who isregarded to this day as the greatest Michigan State Universityfootball player ever. He signed with Purdue University,where he was a four-year starter before playing in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders. After Manasquan took the early lead, on the first play of the second quarter the center came out on the end of the line and side-armed a pass to Davis, who raced 64 yards for a touchdown. Despite hearing "Little Joe" was the finest middle-school talent in town, Joe Sr. was too busy coaching varsity to be impressed by preteen running back prodigies even if the genius ball carrier was his own flesh and blood. Back then, it wasn't uncommon for 6,000 fansor moreto ring the field fora big high school game, Offensive innovations were just beginning to take hold, and NFL and college games on television were becoming commonplace. 87. Try 7 Days Free to get access to 837 million+ pages, 1965 Parade All-America High School Football Team (3rd Annual), Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. A dominating linebacker and fullback in high school, Bettis led Mackenzie to the West Division title in the Detroit PSL and to a state playoff berth. Mackenzie is a member of both the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. He transferred to Southwestern his senior year and opened the 2007 season by establishing a new Flint rushing record, when he ran for a city-record 319 yards and four touchdowns. 63. Nobis was a two-time All-American in 1964 and '65, averaged nearly 20 tackles per game, and won the Outland Trophy and Maxwell Award as a senior. Goro . He led the NFL in catches in 1979, made All-Pro in 81 and became a Super Bowl champion with Washingtonin 83. Leading the senior backfield was Eric Swenson, an All-State selection who led the Shore in scoring; Art Cotgreave; and George Tauser, who were joined by junior quarterback Merv Eastwick. Defensively, the Lions had five shutouts and scored seven TDs off takeaways. He was the best running back I ever had.". He also held the state shot put record until T.J. Duckett broke it in 1998. With Lane on the roster, Austins L.C. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 42. A large Group IV school at the time, Asbury Park hadonly onelocal opponent, Long Branch, playing the remainder of its games against the biggest schools in Central and North Jersey. Missouri. PETE METZELAARS, TE, PORTAGE CENTRAL (1975-1977): At 68, Metzelaars was a dominant receiver in high schoolwho earned all-state honors and led his team to the 1977 Class A state title game. 1916 End . DAVID BOWENS, LB, ORCHARD LAKE ST. MARYS (1992-1994): Bowens was a dynamic linebacker and the top player in the state in 1994,when hehelped the Eaglets win the Class CC state title. 20. He was drafted fifth overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1991 and was a two-time Pro Bowl player and member of the 1999 St. Louis Rams Super Bowl championship team. Other organizations choosing All-American teams during those periods included Scholastic Coach Magazine, Coach and Athlete Magazine, USA Today, Students Sports, ESPN and MaxPreps. He won a USFL championship with the Michigan Panthers in 1983 and later played six seasons for the Buffalo Bills of the NFL, with whom he played in two Super Bowls. Lato ended his career with 522 points. 1962 prep football all-star teams. The only blemish on their record in 1965 was a tie against Monmouth Regional, which finished the season ranked No. He totaled over 1,600 all-purpose yards in 2006, as he caught 26 passes for 700 yards (26.9 yards/reception) and seven touchdowns. LB, Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.) Defense. Thursday Night Lights came before Friday Night Lights both the 1988 Odessa Permian Panthers that author Buzz Bissinger made famousand that TV show yall liked with the hard-drinking fullback. RICKY BRYANT, WR, FARMINGTON HARRISON (1995-1998): Bryant was a big-play receiver, who finished his career with 132 receptions for 2,665yards and 33 career touchdown receptions. In addition, 27 players were selected to the Second Team. Page 99. He went on to play at University of Michigan and at Western Illinois University before playing over a decade in the NFL with several teams. "Little Joe" was a two-time NCAA All-American and a driving force behind three Big Eight titles for the Sooners. The league also had considerable influence on the Associated Press sportswriters that determined which was the best team in the state until the advent of the playoffs. Leading the way were back Harry Grodberg and end Tony Red''DeAngelis, a pair of All-State selections, while Barry Stewart returned five interceptions for touchdowns on defense. Player: School: State: C: Paul Konerko : Chaparral: AZ: C: Mark Johnson . All American: Created by April Blair. Pine Bluff High School to the NFL: Jackie Harris . Subscribe to The RJ Young Show on YouTube. After making all-PSL in Detroit as a sophomore,he was a two-time all-state playerwho alsoearned numerous all-American honors as a senior, including being named a captain of the U.S. Army Bowl game. He went on to a successfulcareer at Michigan State University. The 1966 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. Every state has its high school basketball legends. RICK LEACH, QB, FLINT SOUTHWESTERN (1972-1974): As one of the finest quarterbacks produced in the state, Leach led one of the greatest high school teams of all time, the 1974 Flint Southwestern squad. 44. [3][4] AP, UPI, NEA, Central Press, and The Sporting News chose both first and second teams. Newspapers.com makes these newspapers available for the purpose of historical research, and is not responsible for the content of any newspapers archived at our site. Herron later played in the NFL for the Steelers and for the Packers. 1963. EARL MORRALL, MUSKEGON (1949-1951): Few quarterbacks can match the legacy of Morrall. 1965. 1964 Middletown (9-0) In coach Dick Kleva's second season, the Lions roared with a 40-0 win over Toms River on opening day and closed with a 45-0 victory over Freehold as they captured the Shore. He did the clothesline and other tackles that just devastated the ball carrier.". Coached by Hal Manson, the Warriors closed out their first perfect season in 11 years with a 19-0 win over Point Beach, and senior John Kenney ran for 222 yards and threw for another 72 yards. 32. Players and teams so great they took up permanent space in the memories of basketball fans. A great deal of research went into this first team in the series. LAMARR WOODLEY, LB, SAGINAW (1999-2002): Woodley had the rare ability to dominate a football game from the defensive side of the ball and was part ofthe renaissance of Saginaw High Schoolfootball in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was a three-sport letterman at Michigan State Universityand a two-time football all-American whowon the Maxwell Trophy. Page 104. He recorded 50 tackles and three interceptions on defense. A late-season 33-18 win over previously unbeaten Manasquan secured the Class B title, with a trick play called the Lambertville Special which coach Barry Rizzo had waited eight years to use after Lambertville used it against him sparking them. 1 team. One of the Lansing areas best linebackers ever,he was also a leading receiver in the area as a senior and was runner-up as the state player of the year. An outstanding running back,he also finished his career with 20 interceptions and scored the only touchdown in Harrisons 7-0 win over Muskegon Catholic Central in the 1981 Class B state title game. Abdella's fourth-quarter heroics in a 20-13 win over Long Branch secured the division title, as he scored two touchdowns in a five-minute stretch, including the game-winner with 40 seconds to play. All-America Team CSCAA Click here to learn more about & register for the 2023 CSCAA Annual Meetings & Convention. Focus on Sport/Getty Images CB Deion Sanders . 28. REGGIE MACKENZIE, OL, HIGHLAND PARK (1965-1967): The finest high school player ever produced at Highland Park, Mackenzie was a three-year starter at the University of Michigan and was an all-American in 1971. 91. "Night Train" and the Yellow Jackets hooked some horns that day. Problem was, not enough people knew. Career: 14 seasons (1964-77) Teams: Dallas Cowboys. 1978. 54. Final HS Season: 1964 State Championships: 1964 Awards: Texas High School Hall of Fame, All-State (1) Key Stats: Rushing: 1,045 Yards, 14 TD; Defense: 6 Interceptions-Senior College: Texas Professional: Philadelphia (1969-76), St. Louis (1977) Cliff Branch Wide Receiver Houston Worthing Final HS Season: 1966 Riello had 225 yards from scrimmage in their win over Freehold and broke a 75-yard touchdown run in their victory over Neptune, playing late in the season with an injured elbow. He also led the Big Ten in batting average on the baseball team. McFadden was one of the finest D2 defensive lineman in the nation during the 2005 and 2006 seasons and was a two-time Gene Upshaw award winner as the top lineman in D2 football. From 1964 through '66, Leonardi's . Note: Led by arguably the greatest high school player ever in the 7-foot-2 Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Power Memorial won 71 games over three seasons before falling to DeMatha in 1965. The All-State halfback scored 91 points as a senior, giving him a then-Shore Conference record 313 points for his career. 58. The names, logos, and other source identifying features of newspapers depicted in our database are the trademarks of their respective owners, and our use of newspaper content in the public domain or by private agreement does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement from, the publishers of the newspaper titles that appear on our site. DAN LATO, RB, FOREST PARK (1976-1978): Lato was arguably the finest running back to ever come out of the Upper Peninsula. Ever since PARADE selected its first All America High School Football Team in 1963, the magazine has been discovering some of the greatest gridiron legends in history. Cummings finished his career with 85 touchdowns and helped to lead the Redskins to the 1995 state title before continuing his career at the University of Michigan. All-American running back Billy Hicks scored 42 touchdowns and converted 34 point-after attempts. An all-state quarterback who could win with his arm or his legs, Wright led Arthur Hill to a state title in 1991 and a state runner-up finish in 1992. They closed the 1960 season with their 18th straight victory, beating Rumson-Fair Haven, 18-0, on Thanksgiving in front of a standing-room crowd of 6,500.