Today we are continuing our preseason football coverage with a detailed review of the 1998 season. It's the fourteenth part in a series taking a look back at the past quarter century of prep football in the Golden State, beginning with the 1985 season. Football coaches can CLICK HERE to print out a questionnaire to make sure your program is included in our series of team previews for the 2009 season and considered for our preseason state rankings package. Please fax completed questionnaire to (209) 463-1219 or email info to mark@studentsports.com.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

California Schools With the Most D1 Signers (1998-1999)

Poly (Long Beach) (10) - Larry Croom (5-10, 185, RB) to Arizona; Jeremy Johnson (6-4, 205, TE) to Fresno St.; Kareem Kelly (6-2, 180, WR) to USC; Chris Lewis (6-3, 205, QB) to Stanford; Dennis Link (6-2, 200, LB) to UCLA; Samie Parker (5-10, 160, WR) to Oregon; Darrell Rideaux (5-8, 155, DB) to USC; Aaron Smith (5-8, 170, DB) to Villanova; Joe Veach (6-2, 265, OL) to Portland St.; David Word (5-9, 185, TB) to Boise St.
A.B. Miller (Fontana) (6) - Lamar Anderson (5-11, 170, WR) to Colorado St.; Nick Barnett (6-1, 188, OLB) to Oregon St.; Justin Colbert (5-7, 160, WR) to Hawaii; Alan Flores (5-11, 175, QB) to Army; Jeff McGarity (6-0, 200, RB) to Colorado St.; Shaheed Richardson (6-3, 238, DE) to Illinois.
Elk Grove (6) - Lance Briggs (6-2, 225, LB) to Arizona; Jeremy Callaway (6-1, 185, RB-LB) to Sacramento St.; Ric Cottengim (6-2, 170, DB) to Oregon; Ryan Dinwiddie (6-0, 180, QB) to Boise St.; Russell Gardner (6-2, 230, TE) to Sacramento St.; Trent Lundin (6-4, 190, WR) to Northern Arizona.
Los Alamitos (6) - Sagan Atuatasi (6-4, 300, DL) to USC; Ryan Hanson (6-3, 210, QB) to UNLV; Keenan Howry (5-9, 160, WR) to Oregon; Adolph Keyes (5-9, 160, CB) to Oregon; Stefan Merriweather (6-1, 190, LB) to Nevada; Bernard Riley (6-3, 305, DL) to USC.
Bakersfield (5) - Aaron Graham (6-1, 210, LB) to USC; Calvin Hosey (6-4, 235, OLB) to Cal; Sean Mackey (6-1, 185, DB) to UNLV; Jermaine McDermott (6-2, 210, OLB) to Fresno St.; Bryce McGill (5-11, 195, DB) to Fresno St.
Fountain Valley (4) - Ryan Breska (6-3, 195, QB) to Purdue; Aaron Carter (6-2, 185, WR) to Nevada; Jarom Fano (6-1, 265, DL) to Colorado St.; Andre Sommersell (6-3, 200, DL) to Colorado St.
Morse (San Diego) (4) - Tyrone Brown (6-4, 240 TE) to Arizona; Regis Crawford (6-3, 310, OL) to Arizona St.; Marcus Dixon (5-11, 210, LB) to New Mexico St.; Chris Prosser (6-1, 200, LB) to USC.
Serra (Gardena) (4) - Kevin Boyer (5-8, 150, DB) to San Jose St.; Kevin Jackson (6-2, 285, DL) to UTEP; DaShaun McCullough (5-10, 180, CB) to UCLA; Sean Weston (5-10, 160, DB) to Texas A&M.
Valley View (Moreno Valley) (4) - Kevin Jackson (6-4, 215, LB) to Hawaii; Chris Massey (5-11, 185, CB) to Washington; Troy McPeak (5-10, 180, DB) to Colorado St.; Adam Wade (6-1, 195, LB) to Colorado St.
Vista (4) - Edrick Contreras (6-1, 306, OL) to San Jose St.; Michael Johnson (5-11, 185, WR) to UNLV; Mike Sullivan (6-6, 310, OT) to Stanford; Pisa Tinoisamoa (6-1, 225, RB-LB) to Hawaii.

1998 Notes & Highlights: Coming into the season, it was no secret that California had some of the best teams and recruits in the country. That was not only reflected in the ratings, but in the recruitment of the state's best players as well.

In many other years, Elk Grove's total of six signers would have led the state, but in this special season that total tied for second with preseason No. 4 Los Alamitos and relative newcomer A.B. Miller of Fontana. It's still the second-highest reported number of signers from a single school in Northern California since Cal-Hi Sports has kept records in that unique category, trailing only the eight singers from St. Mary's of Stockton back in 1995-96.

The Thudering Herd, which opened the season ranked one spot below Mater Dei of Santa Ana at No. 6, capped a dominant 14-0 season with a resounding 77-22 victory over Atwater in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I title game. Elk Grove staked its claim of being recognized as one of the best teams in the nation and in section history by gaining 843 total yards in the title game, upping its winning streak to 26 games and finishing its season with 789 points, the No. 2 total in state history.

No less than four schools had at least six D1 signers, including 10 by preseason No. 2 Long Beach Poly. Last year, no team was reported with six signers and only two schools had five.

Poly's total was the state's highest for one program since since 1988 when Carson's state team of the year also produced 10 signers. Poly could have led the nation with a whopping 11 signers, which would have broken the school record of 10 set by the 1985 club, but it looks like academics will prevent talented WR Andre Cyrus from a scholarship.

Poly's 1985 club did not lose its last game, something this year's club was unable to duplicate after Mater Dei defeated them in a highly-anticipated CIF Southern Section Div. I championship game. In 1997, the Jackrabbits defeated Mater Dei to snap the Monarchs' 27-game winning streak and finish a close No. 2 in the ratings to state team of the year De La Salle.

This time around, it was Poly that had a 27-game win streak snapped as the Monarchs were able to return the favor behind the play of junior Matt Grootegoed. The hard-nosed safety dominated on both sides of the ball, finishing with 244 rushing yards and two TDs on 32 carries. Mater Dei edged Elk Grove for the state's final No. 2 rating.

If the state had a bowl game system, as was proposed and voted down last year by the CIF Federated Council, the most logical match up among large schools would be No. 1 vs. No. 3, not No. 1 vs. No. 2.

It's easy to figure out why.

De La Salle ended its season with the nation's longest-ever winning streak intact, at 88 games and counting, by winning its 18th consecutive playoff game and seventh consecutive CIF North Coast Section title courtesy of a 55-13 victory over Castro Valley. The title game wasn't even close to the Spartans' most impressive victory.

Since the Bay Valley Athletic League allowed the Spartans to compete as a quasi-independent, the nation's preseason No.1 team played by far its toughest schedule ever. Preseason No. 10 Bakersfield, which reported five D1 signers, took a shot at the Spartans and lost 48-20.

Here's what second team all-state linebacker Aaron Graham had to say to a reporter about the Spartans at a USC football game the day after they played them.

"We scored three times in the fourth quarter after they took out their starters. It was 48-0 in the third quarter. They just killed us. They could have won 80-0 if they wanted to."

Graham's comments wouldn't have convinced a plethora of Southern California football fans who believed the Spartans winning-streak was a result of playing relatively weak opponents in Northern California. That argument was basically laid to rest on September 26, 1998 at Anaheim Stadium in what was billed as the biggest regular season game in state history at the time. De La Salle vs. Mater Dei. NorCal vs. SoCal. The team with the longest winning streak in U.S. history would finally play someone.

In a thrilling game that would gain significance as the rest of the season played out, it was De La Salle that emerged victorious, 28-21. Before a crowd of nearly 21,000, the Spartans dominated the first half as they scored on three of their six possessions and held the Monarchs to just two first downs. Only a fumble at their own 10-yard line, which was converted into a Mater Dei touchdown, prevented the Spartans from leading by more than 21-7.

In the second half, Mater Dei's defense stiffened and the offense found success throwing deep as quarterback Scott Lukash connected on two touchdown passes. On the last play of the third quarter, a huge loss on a screen pass forced the Spartans into a 3rd-and-32 from their own 19-yard line.

That's when the biggest play of the season occurred.

Taking a handoff on a trap play, all-state RB Atari Callen of De La Salle broke into the left flat and ran 58 yards to the Monarch 23-yard line. Quarterback Vinnie Padilla dove into the end zone three plays later on a nine-yard scoring run. Mater Dei's last drive toward a possible game-tying score ended when Lukash fumbled while being sacked. The ball was recovered by De La Salle's Ray Foerster to end the threat and the notion that the Spartans couldn't defeat a top-tier CIF Southern Section team.

"Now maybe everyone will realize what I discovered in the 1970s while doing California high school football research back to the 1890s," said Cal-Hi Sports founder Nelson Tennis. "I realized that Southern California high school football isn't better than Northern California high school football. Year in and year out, Southern California has more good players and more good teams, but often the very top Northern California teams are just as good."

A Look Back at the 1998 Season
(All Selections Made by Cal-Hi Sports)

State Team of the Year: Concord De La Salle 12-0

Preseason No. 1 Team: Concord De La Salle 12-0 (No. 1 final rating)

Number of Undefeated Teams: 11 (34 in the regular season)

Highest Score (11-man only): Elk Grove 77, Atwater 22

Eight-Man Team of the Year: Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep 11-1

State Coach of the Year: Randy Blakenship (Clovis West, Fresno) 12-1

CalHiSports.com Mr. Football State Player of the Year: Kyle Boller (Hart, Newhall) QB

Junior Player of the Year: D.J. Williams (De La Salle, Concord) LB-RB

Sophomore Player of the Year: DeAndre Scott (Alemany, Mission Hills) RB

Medium Schools Player of the Year: Akil Harris (Monrovia) RB

Small Schools Player of the Year: Marque Davis (Dos Palos) DB

State Quarterback of the Year: Boller

State Running Back of the Year: Onterrio Smith (Grant, Sacramento)

State Offensive End of the Year: Jerry Owens (Hart, Newhall)

State Lineman of the Year: Bernard Riley (Los Alamitos)

State Linebacker of the Year: Williams

State Defensive Back of the Year: Ricky Manning Jr. (Edison, Fresno)

Individual Scoring Leader: Smith -- 318 pts. (53 TDs, 12 gms.)

Individual Rushing Leader: Smith -- 3,125 yds. (12 gms.)

Individual Passing Leader: Boller -- 4,838 yds. (14 gms.)

Individual Touchdown Pass Leader: Robert De La Cruz (Cathedral, Los Angeles) 61 TDs (13 gms.) Jr.

Individual Receiving Yardage Leader: Jonathon Jackson (Temecula Valley, Temecula) 1,556 yds. (74 rec., 13 gms.)

CalHiSports.com Nickname of the Year: Lawrence "Taco" Wallace (Taft, W. H.) WR

Previous Seasons:

Season in Review (1997)
Season in Review (1996)
Season in Review (1995)
Season in Review (1994)
Season in Review (1993)
Season in Review (1992)
Season in Review (1991)
Season in Review (1990)
Season in Review (1989)
Season in Review (1988)
Season in Review (1987)
Season in Review (1986)
Season in Review (1985)

Note: The above list of reported signers includes players that signed with Div. I-A or Div. I-AA programs; does not include Div. II, Div. III or NAIA. For additions, comments or corrections, send email to ronnie@studentsports.com. To view our various state player of the year lists going back to the late 1800s, our all-time state rankings going back to 1975 and our various all-state teams (first team, second team, medium schools, small schools, underclass, sophomore) going back to 1980, consider ordering the seventh edition of the CalHiSports.com State Record Book & Almanac. For ordering info, call (800) 660-1334 Ext. 4431. If you love the content on our site, you'll love the book, so order your copy today.