Si's Top 10

1. CARROLL (Southlake, Texas) 2006 RECORD: 16-0

TOP PLAYERS: QB Riley Dodge (6 feet, 187, Sr.); RB Tre' Newton (6 feet, 194, Sr.); LB Derek Tomlin (6 feet, 200, Sr.)

OUTLOOK: With eight of 11 starters returning on offense, including Dodge (4,184 passing yards and 54 TDs in 2006) and Newton (2,010 rushing yards), the Dragons are favored to win a fourth straight Texas 5A title. Though the D has only three starters back, the players are athletic and know the system. BIG GAME: Sept. 15 vs. Northwestern ( Miami)

2. NORTHWESTERN ( Miami) 2006 RECORD: 15-0

TOP PLAYERS: QB Jacory Harris (6' 4", 171, Sr.); DT Marcus Forston (6' 2", 286, Sr.); WR Aldarius Johnson (6' 3", 195, Sr.)

OUTLOOK: The Bulls look primed for a second straight Florida 6A title. Harris (2,920 passing yards, 37 TDs) and Johnson (1,361 receiving yards, 19 TDs) headline a potent offense that averaged 43.3 points a game last season. Big man Forston leads a dominant defense that allowed 7.2 points per game in 2006. BIG GAME: Sept. 15 at Carroll

3. ST. XAVIER ( Cincinnati) 2006 RECORD: 10-2

TOP PLAYERS: RB Darius Ashley (5' 9", 190, Sr.); DB Fred Craig (6' 2", 205, Sr.); LB Nick Schneider (6' 3", 225, Sr.)

OUTLOOK: The Bombers ended last season with a 24-7 loss to Colerain ( Cincinnati) in an Ohio Division I regional final, but the return of 15 starters (six are Division�I recruits) gives them a better shot at winning it all. All eyes will be on the explosive Ashley, who in two seasons has racked up 3,133 yards and 48 touchdowns. BIG GAME: Sept. 2 vs. DeMatha

4. DEMATHA ( Hyattsville, Md.) 2006 RECORD: 12-0