By Jon Mahoney, Special to SI.com, Rise

7. Lufkin (Texas)
2005 Record: 14-1
Top Players: QB Jeremy Claybon (6 feet, 185, Sr.); WR Dez Bryant (6'2", 200, Sr.); RB Ja'Corey Turner (5'10", 170, Sr.); LB A.J. Penson (6'2", 220, Sr.); WR-DB Ralph Thomas (5'9", 165, Sr.)
Key Game: Oct. 26 at The Woodlands (Texas)
Outlook: The Panthers won their first 14 games last season before losing to eventual state champion Southlake Carroll in the state Class 5A Division II semifinals. With 14 starters back, Lufkin looks primed for a better finish. After throwing for 2,500 yards and 24 touchdowns, Claybon, who missed the Carroll game because of a broken right (nonthrowing) arm, is back at full strength and has a prime target in Bryant (48 receptions, 1,060 yards, 16 touchdowns). Senior Jaime Fernandez (102 points, 16-for-22 FGs) is one of the top kickers in Texas. The leader of the defense is the hard-hitting Penson, who had 110 tackles.

8. South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)
2005 Record: 15-0
Top Players: LB Chris Strong (6'3", 240, Sr.); QB Leroy Diggs (6 feet, 180, Sr.); RB-DB Darius Barksdale (6'2", 190, Jr.); RB Jeramie Griffin (6 feet, 215, Sr.); OL Hunter Bailey (6'2", 315, Sr.); OL Cameron Wagner (6 feet, 260, Jr.)
Key Game: Aug. 25 at Clarksdale (Miss.)
Outlook: The Tigers have won three straight state Class 5A championships and carry a 45-game winning streak into the season. A strong senior class includes three players who have committed to Ole Miss: Strong, Diggs and Griffin. Strong is the state's top player and one of the nation's best linebackers. The offense relies on a running game that mixes option with misdirection out of an I formation. Last season Diggs ran for 1,450 yards and 14 touchdowns in addition to throwing for 956 yards and 15 scores. Tailback Griffin had 1,116 rushing yards and 14 TDs.

9. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
2005 Record: 12-1
Top Players: DB-RB Nate Oliver (6 feet, 205, Sr.); RB Frank Edmonds (5'8", 190, Sr.); LB Diaunte Morrow (6 feet, 190, Sr.); LB Jeff Lucas (6'3", 225, Sr.); WR Kyle Hubbard (6'4", 225, Sr.)
Key Game: Sept. 9 at No. 14 St. Xavier (Cincinnati)
Outlook: The Eagles' only loss last season was a 21-17 setback to Massillon Washington in the state Division I semifinals, but the return of 13 starters gives them a shot at going all the way in '06. Defense is the team's strength, and Oliver -- who had 16 tackles for loss in '05 and has committed to Ohio State -- sets the tone. Morrow added 75 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks. On offense St. Edward boasts one of Ohio's top running backs in Edmonds; despite being only 5'8", he ran for 2,200 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. Hubbard is a tall target who hauled in 57 passes for 625 yards and eight TDs.

10. St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.)
2005 Record: 14-0
Top Players: RB Michael Lee (5'9", 180, Sr.); DB Michael Williams (5'11", 192, Sr.); TE-LB Blaine Irby (6'3", 237, Sr.); OL Vaughn Dotsy (6'5", 340, Jr.); LB Ryan Panapa (6'2", 247, Jr.); DB Glenn Wakam (5'11", 191, Sr.)
Key Game: Sept. 22 vs. No. 3 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Outlook: Winners of 95 of their last 98 games, the Seraphs won their sixth section title in seven years last season. Williams, one of the nation's top recruits (still undecided), had 94 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks and a fumble recovery -- and also returned a total of 30 kickoffs and punts for 873 yards and four touchdowns. Irby, a Texas recruit, is a dominant tight end who will also see time at linebacker. The running game is in good hands with Lee, who rushed for 1,929 yards and 31 touchdowns.

11. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh)
2005 Record: 10-2
Top Players: OL Stefen Wisniewski (6'3", 285, Sr.); RB-DB Lamont Smith (5'10", 175, Sr.); LB Anthony Bailey (6'1", 190, Sr.); DB Casey Dunn (6'2", 190, Sr.); LB Lamar Mason (5'11", 190, Sr.); FB-DE Dan Vaughan (6'3", 210, Jr.)
Key Game: Sept. 22 at Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh)
Outlook: The Vikings, who won the state Class AAAA title in 2004, are loaded on both sides of the ball, and they'll need it against a tough schedule that includes Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.) and Woodland Hills, which defeated Central Catholic in the WPIAL semifinals last season. Wisniewski, a Top 100 recruit, leads an offensive line that has fellow seniors Anthony Petrocinni and Dean Sherman back as well. They'll open holes for Smith, who ran for 2,070 yards and scored 29 touchdowns in '05 and has committed to Colorado. Bailey and Dunn are playmakers on defense.

12. John Curtis (River Ridge, La.)
2005 Record: 10-1
Top Players: RB-WR-DB Joe McKnight (6 feet, 197, Sr.); OL Andrew Nierman (6'2", 305, Sr.); LB Jacob Dufrene (6'2", 215, Sr.); DL Jonathan English (6'1", 305, Sr.); LB-DB Colby Arceneaux (5'9", 185, Sr.); RB David Seeman (5'11", 190, Sr.)
Key Game: Sept. 29 at No. 1 Hoover (Ala.)
Outlook: Despite winning the state Class 2A championship last year, the Patriots had a difficult season because many players were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. "There's a deeper appreciation of football than there was before," says coach J.T. Curtis (son of the school's founder). "That experience changed their perspective on life in general." Curtis has one of the nation's most exciting players in McKnight, who scored 22 touchdowns in '05. Other weapons on offense include Seeman, senior quarterback Kyle Collura and junior wide receiver P.J. Smith.