Shamrocks' talent, perfect season put them at top

The Trinity High School Shamrocks completed their football season unblemished, and rarely challenged, with a 62-21 defeat of Scott County in the KY 6A State Championship game. With that win, the 14-0 Shamrocks recieve the No. 1 ranking in the CatholicSportsNet.com Catholic high school football power rankings.

Don Bosco Prep, who throttled Bergen Catholic for the second time this season en route to the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 championship, finished their season 11-0 and a close second to Trinity in the CSN top 10.

Recent rumors have swirled about these two powerhouse teams squaring off later in December to decide the number one ranking on the field. Those rumors were quickly and resoundingly dispatched as state agencies and governing bodies would not sanction the game.

But what a game that could be. Check back with CSN.com later this week for a preview of that dream game. Here are the latest rankings:

1. Trinity (Louisville, KY) - The Shamrocks have defeated the three best teams from Cincinnati (Moeller, Elder, Cincy St. Xavier), Indiana's state 4A champs (Indianapolis Cathedral) and two of the best from Tennessee (Montgomery Bell Academy and Brentwood Academy). Closest competitor being Cincy St. Xavier, who the Rocks dropped 17-7 in Cincinnati. They possess one of the most prolific and explosive offensive attacks in the country led by Division I Blue Chip prospects in a trio of juniors: quarterback Travis Wright, running back Dalyn Dawkins and wide receiver James Quick, not to mention offensive linemen Joey Warburg (6'6" 270lb T, and Illinois commit), John Heile (6'3" 275lb C, uncommitted) and 6'4" 275lb tackle Tyler English (uncommitted).

2. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) - Ironemen coach Greg Toal has let everyone know just how special his defense and his team is. He firmly believes they're worthy of the nation's top ranking. But we who put together the CSN power rankings believe that Trinity has too much offense for Bosco to handle. With another Group 4, Non-Public state championship under their belts, the Ironmen finish a close, very close, second to Trinity.

3. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, MD) - The talented Falcons team completed an undefeated season with a D.C. championship. Two early season wins over nationally ranked teams from Florida (Manatee High School) and Maryland (Gilman High School), vaulted OLGC to the top ten in many polls.

4. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) - One slip-up early in the season is the only thing that held Gorman from a potential top two ranking here. The Gaels finished their season 15-1 and as Nevada state champs. Their only loss coming at home against Armwood (Florida) high school, 20-17. The earned a big win at home over CA power Servite (see their ranking below), 31-28.

5. De La Salle (Concord, CA) - The Spartans are still in the hunt for the California championship and have suffered just one loss, an early season 30-6 defeat at Ft. Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas when both teams were ranked in the top 10 nationally.

6. Bellarmine Prep (San Jose, CA) - The Bells have reeled off 12 straight wins since losing their first game of the season at No. 5 De La Salle, 26-23. Bellarmine defeated Palo Alto 41-13 to win the CIF Central Coast championship.

7. Santa Margarita Catholic (Santa Margarita, CA) - Even though the Eagles lost a heartbreaker to Servite, 43-42, Servite lost to Tesoro in the playoffs and SMC trounced Tesoro in their regular season matchup 39-7. And now the Eagles are playing for the CIF Southern Section championship this coming week.

8. Servite (Anaheim, CA) - Another team that could lay claim to one of the top spots if not for two close losses by a combined 7 points. The loss at Bishop Gorman was tough, but not as tough as the loss to Tesoro in the second round of the CIF Southern Section championship.

9. Indianapolis Cathedral (Indianapolis, IN) - The Fighting Irish opened their season with two three-point losses to local rivals Ben Davis and Warren Central, but then went 12-1 the rest of the way en route to the Indiana 4A state championship. Their other blemish? To top-ranked Trinity high school, 36-14.

10. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH) - The Wildcats defeated highly touted, and highly ranked, rivals St. Edward twice this season by identical 20-17 scores. Losses to Cincy St. X (14-12) and to Mentor high school (38-24) kept this team from climbing higher in the rankings early in the season. But St. Ignatius avenged their loss to Mentor in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs with a 23-17 win on their way to earning the Ohio Division I championship crown.