That½s because Poovey was suspended for the remainder of the 2001 season after it was discovered that some Loveland players had applied non-stick cooking spray (Pam) to their jerseys during a 21-12 win over Greeley Central on Oct. 26. The use of a foreign substance on a jersey is a violation of state and National Federation of High Schools rules, although Poovey said he was not aware of that fact.
Poovey told the Denver Post that his players have been greasing their jerseys for several years, because he believes other teams have done it and because one group of game officials indicated that there was no rule to prohibit it.
No players who had the cooking oil on their jerseys were penalized during the game and Loveland was allowed to finish the season and participate in the playoffs.
Last year, Loveland defeated Fruita Monument, 17-12, for the state championship. Loveland principal Doug Deason said that he believes that title is now tainted.
Pair of records fall in Lone Star State
On the same night, two records fell that represented a half-century of high school football history in the state of Texas.
In Valley View, Celina pounded the home-standing Eagles, 40-7, giving the Bulldogs their 50th consecutive win. It broke the previous 11-man record set by Abilene in 1957.
As of press time, Celina last lost in October 1998.
Meanwhile, about 250 miles south in Austin, the Westlake Chaparrals were winning their state-record 59th consecutive district game, a 49-3 decision over cross-town rival Bowie. Unofficially, the streak is also a national record for consecutive wins in district play.
White Oak (Texas) set the previous record from 1941-48.
Two coaches reach 350-win plateau
In the history of high school football, less than a dozen coaches have won 350 games in their careers. This year, two new names have been added to that prestigious club.
Jerry Brewer of Jasper (Ind.) reached the milestone early in the season. Owner of a winning percentage of over 76 percent, Brewer began his head-coaching career in 1960.
Badin (Hamilton, Ohio) coach Terry Malone also secured victory No. 350 this season, topping a career that dates back to 1956 and includes a winning percentage of over 78 percent.
Late-season Top Performers
Running back Monquantae Gibson of Moore (Louisville, Ky.) established a new state rushing record and had quite possibly the best three quarters of football ever in his team½s 51-33 win over Shawnee on Oct. 26. Gibson rushed for 574 yards on 25 carries with eight touchdowns and also scored on a 73-yard kickoff return " all in just three quarters.
On Oct. 19 Arkansas quarterbacks Thomas Thrash of Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) and Reid McKinney of Warren tied the same national record for touchdown passes in a half on the same night. Both Thrash and McKinney connected on eight TDs in the first half, for Thrash during a 77-20 win over Atkins, and for McKinney during a 69-18 rout of Altheimer. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Chris Redman set the record twice while at Male (Louisville) in 1994.
Josh Bainum, a quarterback from Williamsburg, became the all-time leading rusher in Ohio high school football history during a 51-carry, 317-yard performance in a 36-7 win over Bethel-Tate on Oct. 19. Bainum½s 7,780 yards bested the old record of 7,761 set by former Ohio State back Carlos Snow at CAPE (Cincinnati) in 1986.
Late-season verbals of note
The following members of American Football Monthly/ PrepNation.com½s national Top 100 prospects made verbal commitments since the last issue of AFM was published.
QB , Ben Olson , Brigham Young
6-5, 205, 4.7 , Thousand Oaks (Calif.)
RB , Gerald Riggs Jr. , Tennessee
6-0, 215, 4.5 , Red Bank (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
WR , Ian Firestone , North Carolina
6-1, 185, 4.5 , Wilson (West Lawn, Pa.)
OL , Rob Smith , Tennessee
6-3, 270, 5.0 , Highlands (Fort Thomas, Ky.)
S , Bamfield Harmon , Rhode Island*
6-2, 180, 4.55 , The Colony (Texas)
*Harmon committed to Rhode Island on a basketball scholarship
AFM Top 5 Power Rankings
Records and rankings through Nov. 4
1. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) , Coach: Bob Ladouceur
The Spartans added some window dressing to their national-record
winning streak earlier this season by scoring 60 or more points
in a game for the eighth time since 1992. De La Salle also extended
another national record by scoring in every game in which it has
played since 1981.
2. Jenks (Okla.) , Coach: Allen Trimble
Jenks has now won more consecutive games (34) than any other 6A
school in Oklahoma history and is looking for an unprecedented sixth
straight state championship.
3. Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) , Coach: Raul Lara
Poly has lost only twice since 1997, and one of those losses came
this season to top-ranked De La Salle.
4. Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) , Coach: George Smith
The Raiders are as talented and dominant as ever. But with Tallahassee
Lincoln dropping down to join the Class 4A playoff picture this
season, a state title isn½t a lock.
5. Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.) , Coach: Willie Bueno
This set of Raiders ended the regular season unbeaten for the third
consecutive year and looked to be as sure a bet as death and taxes
for a fourth consecutive Class 3A state championship.
Former AFM managing editor Jamie DeMoney of Prepnation.com compiles the National Prep Poll for the Associated Press/World Features Syndicate. He can be reached by email at jdemoney94@aol.com
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