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City League: Toughest high school football cities in 2014 by region

September 19, 2014 by MaxPreps, AZPreps365


Photos by Darryl Oumi, Hesotn Quan, Ted Aguirre

The Los Angeles area has four Top 25 teams.

We're only a  few weeks into the football season, but it's time to look at which cities are the toughest to play in around the country thus far.

We will update this as the season goes on. Each region has the top five cities and the 10 teams representing each city.

In order to break this down, we took the top 10 teams in each major city and surrounding areas, gathered up each team's rating based on the MaxPreps Computer Rankings and totaled them all together to get the city's overall ranking.

See the Top 15 toughest cities to play high school football in 2014

For the purposes of these rankings, the country was broken down into five regions:

West: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Hawaii, Alaska, and Montana.

Southwest: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Midwest: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

South: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Northeast: Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware and Vermont.

Toughest Football Cities by Region

West

1. Los Angeles Area
Average rating: 71.32

St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Overall rating:  84.4
National rank:  5
Photo by Heston Quan

D.J. Morgan, St. John Bosco


Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Overall rating:  83.6
National rank:  6

Long Beach Poly (Calif.)
Overall rating:  70.9
National rank:  19

Servite (Anaheim, Calif.)
Overall rating:  70.3
National rank:  21

Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.)
Overall rating:  69.8
National rank: 25

Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.)
Overall rating: 69.6
National rank: 27

JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Overall rating:  67.6
National rank: 31

Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
Overall rating: 65.8
National rank: 41

Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.)
Overall rating: 65.6
National rank: 42

Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Overall rating: 65.6
National rank: 43

2. Sacramento Area
Average rating: 51.25

Folsom (Calif.)
Overall rating: 81.5
National rank: 8

Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills, Calif.)
Overall rating: 52.5
National rank: 196

Grant (Sacramento, Calif.)
Overall rating: 51.9
National rank: 212

Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.)
Overall rating: 49.6
National rank: 277

Rocklin (Calif.)
Overall rating: 48.7
National rank: 304

Vacaville (Calif.)
Overall rating: 47.7
National rank: 332

Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.)
Overall rating: 47.3
National rank: 349

Sutter (Calif.)
Overall rating: 45.3
National rank: 423

Granite Bay (Calif.)
Overall rating: 45.2
National rank: 430

Elk Grove (Calif.)
Overall rating: 42.8
National rank: 430

3. Salt Lake City area
Average rating: 50.21

Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)
Overall Rating: 67
National Rank: 32

Timpview (Provo, Utah)
Overall Rating: 56.3
National Rank: 122

Jordan (Sandy, Utah)
Overall Rating: 54.7
National Rank: 151

Brighton (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Overall Rating: 53.5
National Rank: 179

Davis (Kaysville, Utah)
Overall Rating: 47.9
National Rank: 326

American Fork (Utah)
Overall Rating: 47.8
National Rank: 328

Woods Cross (Utah)
Overall Rating: 46.7
National Rank: 379

Herriman (West Herriman, Utah)
Overall Rating: 46.5
National Rank: 383

Pleasant Grove (Utah)
Overall Rating: 41.1
National Rank: 650

Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)
Overall Rating: 40.6
National Rank: 679

4. Seattle area
Average rating: 50.17

Bellevue (Wash.)
Overall Rating: 69.6
National Rank: 28

Bothell (Wash.)
Overall Rating: 60.7
National Rank: 72

Lynden (Wash.)
Overall Rating: 52.4
National Rank: 197

Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.)
Overall Rating: 52.1
National Rank: 206

Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)
Overall Rating: 50.7
National Rank: 250

O'Dea (Seattle, Wash.)
Overall Rating: 46
National Rank: 405

Marysville-Pilchuck (Marysville, Wash.)
Overall Rating: 45.4
National Rank: 417

Sedro-Woolley (Sedro-Woolley, Wash.)
Overall Rating: 44
National Rank: 492

Mount Si (Snoqualmie, Wash.)
Overall Rating: 41.4
National Rank: 647

Tumwater (Wash.)
Overall Rating: 39.7
National Rank: 744

5. San Diego area
Average Rating: 49.05

Oceanside (Calif.)
Overall Rating: 65
National Rank: 47

Helix (La Mesa, Calif.)
Overall Rating: 63.8
National Rank: 56

Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
Overall Rating: 57.9
National Rank: 105

Mission Hills (San Marcos, Calif.)
Overall Rating: 49.3
National Rank: 290

El Capitan (Lakeside, Calif.)
Overall Rating: 47.7
National Rank: 333

St. Augustine (San Diego)
Overall Rating: 43.1
National Rank: 533

Ramona (Calif.)
Overall Rating: 42.4
National Rank: 574

La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.)
Overall Rating: 42
National Rank: 596

Rancho Bernardo (San Diego)
Overall Rating: 40.2
National Rank: 710

Eastlake (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Overall Rating: 39.1
National Rank: 791


Southwest

1. Dallas-The Metroplex
Average rating: 66.99

Allen (Texas)
Overall rating: 86
National rank: 3
Photo by Neil Fonville

Kyler Murray, Allen


DeSoto (Texas)
Overall rating: 75.7
National rank: 12

Skyline (Dallas)
Overall rating: 70.8
National rank: 20

Cedar Hill (Texas)
Overall rating: 66.7
National rank: 33

Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Overall rating: 66.6
National rank: 35

Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
Overall rating: 66.1
National rank: 37

Trinity (Euless, Texas)
Overall rating: 61.9
National rank: 65

Coppell (Texas)
Overall rating: 59.5
National rank: 85

Rockwall (Texas)
Overall rating: 58.6
National rank: 95

Aledo (Texas)
Overall rating: 58
National rank: 104

2. Greater Houston
Average rating: 54.71

Manvel (Texas)
Overall rating: 73
National rank: 16

Katy (Texas)
Overall rating: 60.2
National rank: 75

Pearland (Texas)
Overall rating: 56.4
National rank: 120

Westfield (Houston)
Overall rating: 54
National rank: 164

Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City, Texas)
Overall rating: 53.1
National rank: 185

Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas)
Overall rating: 52.3
National rank: 185

Navasota (Texas)
Overall rating: 52.1
National rank: 207

The Woodlands (Texas)
Overall rating: 50.3
National rank: 261

Klein Collins (Spring, Texas)
Overall rating: 48.5
National rank: 307

Lamar (Houston)
Overall rating: 47.2
National rank: 353

3. Phoenix area
Average rating: 52.71

Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Overall rating: 65.5
National rank: 45

Chandler (Ariz.)
Overall rating: 62.3
National rank: 63

Mountain Pointe (Phoenix)
Overall rating: 58
National rank: 103

Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Overall rating: 56.9
National rank: 113

Desert Ridge (Mesa, Ariz.)
Overall rating: 53.6
National rank: 175

Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.)
Overall rating: 49.3
National rank: 291

Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Overall rating: 46.6
National rank: 381

Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)
Overall rating: 45.2
National rank: 429

Pinnacle (Phoenix)
Overall rating: 43.8
National rank: 499

Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.)
Overall rating: 40.9
National rank: 658

4. Greater San Antonio
Average rating: 45.11

Brennan (San Antonio)
Overall Rating: 58.8
National Rank: 91

Brandeis (San Antonio)
Overall Rating: 54.6
National Rank: 153

Steele (Cibolo, Texas)
Overall Rating: 54.2
National Rank: 160

O'Connor (Helotes, Texas)
Overall Rating: 44.7
National Rank: 451

Judson (Converse, Texas)
Overall Rating: 43.7
National Rank: 505

La Vernia (Texas)
Overall Rating: 42.7
National Rank: 556

Boerne-Champion (Boerne, Texas)
Overall Rating: 39.4
National Rank: 767

Churchill (San Antonio)
Overall Rating: 38.3
National Rank: 844

Reagan (San Antonio)
Overall Rating: 37.9
National Rank: 875

Cuero (Texas)
Overall Rating: 37.1
National Rank: 918

5. Greater Austin
Average rating: 45.11

Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
Overall Rating: 56.7
National Rank: 118

La Grange (Texas)
Overall Rating: 50.3
National Rank: 260

Cedar Park (Texas)
Overall Rating: 48.4
National Rank: 310

Westlake (Austin, Texas)
Overall Rating: 47.7
National Rank: 339

Hendrickson (Pflugerville, Texas)
Overall Rating: 46.5
National Rank: 386

Cedar Ridge (Round Rock, Texas)
Overall Rating: 44.7
National Rank: 455

Vandegrift (Austin, Texas)
Overall Rating: 42.2
National Rank: 585

Georgetown (Texas)
Overall Rating: 41.4
National Rank: 627

Vista Ridge (Cedar Park, Texas)
Overall Rating: 36.7
National Rank: 953

Liberty Hill (Texas)
Overall Rating: 36.5
National Rank: 981


Midwest

1. Greater Cleveland
Average rating: 56.9

St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
Overall rating: 91.9
National rank: 1
Photo by Scott Mapes

Alex Stump, St. Edward


Mentor (Ohio)
Overall rating: 66.6
National rank: 34

St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
Overall rating: 60.9
National rank: 70

Hudson (Ohio)
Overall rating: 59.1
National rank: 89

Brunswick (Ohio)
Overall rating: 55.5
National rank: 134

Strongsville (Ohio)
Overall rating: 49.5
National rank: 282

Madison (Ohio)
Overall rating: 47.7
National rank: 340

Kirtland (Ohio)
Overall rating: 47.2
National rank: 357

Nordonia (Macedonia, Ohio)
Overall rating: 46.1
National rank: 401

Washington (Massillon, Ohio)
Overall rating: 45.4
National rank: 419

2. Indianapolis
Average rating: 55.6

Ben Davis (Indianapolis)
Overall rating: 74.6
National rank: 13

Carmel (Ind.)
Overall rating: 69.3
National rank: 29

Warren Central (Indianapolis)
Overall rating: 64.9
National rank: 50

Pike (Indianapolis)
Overall rating: 55.5
National rank: 136

Indianapolis Cathedral
Overall rating: 52.8
National rank: 189

Columbus East (Ind.)
Overall rating: 51.4
National rank: 230

Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)
Overall rating: 48.4
National rank: 311

Southport (Indianapolis)
Overall rating: 47.3
National rank: 348

Fishers (Ind.)
Overall rating: 47
National rank: 369

New Palestine (Ind.)
Overall rating: 44.8
National rank: 445

3. Kansas City
Average rating: 54.71

Fort Osage (Independence, Mo.)
Overall rating: 64.5
National rank: 52

Lee's Summit West (Mo.)
Overall rating: 59.9
National rank: 80

Blue Springs (Mo.)
Overall rating: 58.2
National rank: 99

Kearney (Mo.)
Overall rating: 53.7
National rank: 171

Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.)
Overall rating: 53.6
National rank: 172

Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.)
Overall rating: 52.8
National rank: 191

Blue Valley (Stilwell, Kan.)
Overall rating: 51.6
National rank: 221

Olathe North (Kan.)
Overall rating: 51.3
National rank: 231

East (Wichita, Kan.)
Overall rating: 50.8
National rank: 14075

Park Hill (Kansas City, Mo.)
Overall rating: 50.7
National rank: 254

4. Chicago
Average rating: 52.78

Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.)
Overall rating: 61.5
National rank: 68

St. Rita (Chicago)
Overall rating: 56.8
National rank: 116

Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.)
Overall rating: 55.9
National rank: 130

Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.)
Overall rating: 55.7
National rank: 132

Brother Rice (Chicago)
Overall rating: 51.6
National rank: 223

Maine South (Park Ridge, Ill.)
Overall rating: 50.7
National rank: 249

Joliet Catholic Academy (Joliet, Ill.)
Overall rating: 50.1
National rank: 263

Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)
Overall rating: 49.5
National rank: 280

Mount Carmel (Chicago)
Overall rating: 48.3
National rank: 313

Cary-Grove (Cary, Ill.)
Overall rating: 47.7
National rank: 334

5. Greater Cincinnati
Average rating: 48.6

Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)
Overall rating: 69.9
National rank: 24

Elder (Cincinnati)
Overall rating: 59.5
National rank: 84

St. Xavier (Cincinnati)
Overall rating: 54.5
National rank: 156

Clinton-Massie (Clarksville, Ohio)
Overall rating: 51.4
National rank: 229

La Salle (Cincinnati)
Overall rating: 50.6
National rank: 255

Covington Catholic (Park Hills, Ky.)
Overall rating: 48.7
National rank: 302

Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio)
Overall rating: 45.8
National rank: 407

Highlands (Fort Thomas, Ky.)
Overall rating: 44.5
National rank: 459

Springboro (Ohio)
Overall rating: 41.6
National rank: 619

Mt. Healthy (Cincinnati)
Overall rating: 41.3
National rank: 634


South

1. Miami
Average rating: 58.29

St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Overall rating: 81.7
National rank: 7
Photo by Stuart Browning

Colin Byrne, St. Thomas Aquinas


Washington (Miami)
Overall rating: 77.4
National rank: 11

Central (Miami)
Overall rating: 66.4
National rank: 36

American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
Overall rating: 62.1
National rank: 64

Miramar (Fla.)
Overall rating: 56.9
National rank: 115

Columbus (Miami)
Overall rating: 51.2
National rank: 233

Westminster Christian (Miami)
Overall rating: 48
National rank: 323

Killian (Miami)
Overall rating: 47.5
National rank: 345

Monarch (Coconut Creek, Fla.)
Overall rating: 46
National rank: 404

South Dade (Homestead, Fla.)
Overall rating:  45.7
National rank: 410

2. National Capital Region
Average rating: 57.65

Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)
Overall rating: 80.2
National rank: 9

Centreville (Clifton, Va.)
Overall rating: 71.5
National rank: 18

St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Overall rating: 64.9
National rank: 49

Tuscarora (Leesburg, Va.)
Overall rating: 53.6
National rank: 178

Martinsburg (W. Va.)
Overall rating: 53.3
National rank: 183

Northwest (Germantown, Md.)
Overall rating: 52.5
National rank: 195

Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)
Overall rating: 52
National rank: 210

DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
Overall rating: 49.8
National rank: 267

Linganore (Frederick, Md.)
Overall rating: 49.4
National rank: 284

Massaponax (Spotsylvania, Va.)
Overall rating: 49.3
National rank: 289

3. Metro Atlanta
Average rating: 57.5

Buford (Ga.)
Overall rating: 74.5
National rank: 14

Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Overall rating: 60.8
National rank
: 71

Griffin (Ga.)
Overall rating: 60
National rank:
79

Milton (Ga.)
Overall rating: 56.4
National rank
: 121

North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.)
Overall rating: 56.1
National rank:
124

McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
Overall rating: 56.1
National rank
: 125

Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Ga.)
Overall rating: 55.3
National rank:
137

Dacula (Ga.)
Overall rating: 53
National rank:
187

Marist (Atlanta)
Overall rating: 52.1
National rank
: 208

Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.)
Overall rating: 50.7
National rank: 253

4. Nashville
Average rating: 52.37

Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.)
Overall rating: 70.2
National rank: 22

Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Overall rating: 64.8
National rank: 51

Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.)
Overall rating: 63.5
National rank: 57

Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Overall rating: 54.6
National rank: 154

Bowling Green (Ky.)
Overall rating: 50.9
National rank: 244

Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)
Overall rating: 46.8
National rank: 375

Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Overall rating: 43.3
National rank: 519

Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.)
Overall rating: 43.3
National rank: 524

Hendersonville (Tenn.)
Overall rating: 43.3
National rank: 525

Independence (Thompson's Station, Tenn.)
Overall rating: 43
National rank: 534

5. Greater New Orleans Region
Average rating: 50.66

Destrehan (La.)
Overall rating: 59.5
National rank: 82

Curtis (River Ridge, La.)
Overall rating: 58.7
National rank: 92

Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.)
Overall rating: 58.4
National rank: 96

Picayune (Miss.)
Overall rating: 57.2
National rank: 112

Easton (New Orleans)
Overall rating: 53.6
National rank: 174

Franklinton (La.)
Overall rating: 46.8
National rank: 374

Ponchatoula (La.)
Overall rating: 46.7
National rank: 380

Jesuit (New Orleans)
Overall rating: 43.6
National rank: 509

St. Charles Catholic (LaPlace, La.)
Overall rating: 42.1
National rank: 591

Covington (La.)
Overall rating: 40
National rank: 726


Northeast

1. New York-Tri-State Area
Average rating: 58.04

Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
Overall rating: 86.6
National rank: 2
Photo by Richard Ta

Wesley McKoy, Don Bosco Prep


St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.)
Overall rating: 68.7
National rank: 30

St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.)
Overall rating: 65.5
National rank: 44

Paramus Catholic (N.J.)
Overall rating: 65
National rank: 48

New Canaan (Conn.)
Overall rating: 52.4
National rank: 199

DePaul (Wayne, N.J.)
Overall rating: 51.7
National rank: 217

Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)
Overall rating: 51.4
National rank: 227

Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
Overall rating: 47.2
National rank: 356

Pascack Valley (Hillsdale, N.J.)
Overall rating: 47
National rank: 364

Union City (N.J.)
Overall rating: 44.9
National rank: 441

2. Philadelphia
Average rating: 53.79

Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.)
Overall rating: 74.4
National rank: 15

St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)
Overall rating: 60.2
National rank: 74

La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.)
Overall rating: 55.2
National rank: 142

Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Pa.)
Overall rating: 54.1
National rank: 163

Parkland (Allentown, Pa.)
Overall rating: 53.6
National rank: 173

Easton (Pa.)
Overall rating: 49.9
National rank: 266

Downingtown West (Downingtown, Pa.)
Overall rating: 48
National rank: 324

Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia)
Overall rating: 47.9
National rank: 325

Wilson (West Lawn, Pa.)
Overall rating: 47.8
National rank: 329

3. Southwestern Pennsylvania
Average rating: 45.46

South Fayette (McDonald, Pa.)
Overall rating: 56.9
National rank: 114

Central Catholic (Pittsburgh)
Overall rating: 54.4
National rank: 158

Central Valley (Monaca, Pa.)
Overall rating: 48.2
National rank: 315

Penn-Trafford (Harrison City, Pa.)
Overall rating: 45.9
National rank: 406

Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh)
Overall rating: 44.5
National rank: 460

North Catholic (Pittsburgh)
Overall rating: 44.1
National rank: 478

Aliquippa (Pa.)
Overall rating: 44
National rank: 490

Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Hills, Pa.)
Overall rating: 39.7
National rank: 747

West Allegheny (Imperial, Pa.)
Overall rating: 39.5
National rank: 764

Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.)
Overall rating: 37.4
National rank: 900

4. Boston
Average rating: 38.99

Central Catholic (Lawrence, Mass.)
Overall rating: 46.2
National rank: 395

Xaverian Brothers (Westwood, Mass.)
Overall rating: 44.1
National rank: 479

St. John's (Shrewsbury, Mass.)
Overall rating: 42.5
National rank: 571

Tewksbury Memorial (Mass.)
Overall rating: 40.2
National rank: 712

Concord (N.H.)
Overall rating: 39.4
National rank: 766

Bedford (N.H.)
Overall rating: 36.6
National rank: 969

Bishop Fenwick (Peabody, Mass.)
Overall rating: 36.2
National rank: 1009

Everett (Mass.)
Overall rating: 35.1
National rank: 1098

Windham (N.H.)
Overall rating: 34.8
National rank: 1124

Dennis-Yarmouth Regional (South Yarmouth, Mass.)
Overall rating: 34.8
National rank: 1133

5. Greater Hartford
Average rating: 33.97

Southington (Conn.)
Overall rating: 47.1
National rank: 361

Hand (Madison, Conn.)
Overall rating: 38.5
National rank: 829

Suffield Academy (Suffield, Conn.)
Overall rating: 38.2
National rank: 852

Ansonia (Conn.)
Overall rating: 34.2
National rank: 1185

Xavier (Middletown, Conn.)
Overall rating: 33
National rank: 1317

Glastonbury (Conn.)
Overall rating: 32.3
National rank: 1383

Cheshire (Conn.)
Overall rating: 30.5
National rank: 1595

West Haven (Conn.)
Overall rating: 29.8
National rank: 1704

Loomis Chaffee (Windsor, Conn.)
Overall rating: 28.9
National rank: 1822

Avon Old Farms (Avon, Conn.)
Overall rating: 27.2
National rank: 2039