National Football Foundation names state winners for inaugural National High School Academic Excellence Award

national football foundation
gamestrat high school football sideline instant replay

Sixty-two high school football programs from 13 states are in the running for the first-ever National High School Academic Excellence Award presented by the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame. The award will recognize the top individual high school football team in the nation for excellence in the classroom.

According to a news release from the NFF, the initiative is designed to inspire and foster a culture of academic excellence on high school football teams throughout the nation.

The 62 finalists (listed below) from each division of play were selected by the individual states’ high school coaches associations from a pool of semifinalists submitted by each school’s head coach. A selection committee, created by the NFF, will be responsible for choosing one school as the recipient of the National High School Academic Excellence Award.

Eligibility requirements for the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award include:

  • A minimum cumulative team GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Superior academic application and performance
  • Successful football season

“Academic and athletic success go hand-in-hand,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “We are proud to announce these 62 outstanding high school football teams as the top academic performers in their states. These schools, coaches, players and their families should all be incredibly proud of their accomplishments, and we look forward to announcing the overall winner of the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award on February 9. We hope by inspiring teams to compete in the classroom with the same competitive spirit that it takes to win on the field, we will better prepare high school football players for success later in life.”

The NFF announced the creation of the award in February 2021, with the Nebraska and Texas state high school coaches associations leading the initial effort.

“Texas is excited to partner with the National Football Foundation in an effort to recognize team academic excellence,” said Joe Martin, the Executive Director of the Texas High School Coaches Association. “This unique, national award recognizes High School Football teams that have excelled in academics during this football season. Not only does the game of football teach life lessons, but the teams receiving this award are proving they can compete in the classroom as well as on the gridiron.” 

“The Nebraska Coaches Association (NCA) is proud to partner with the National Football Foundation to recognize team distinction in the classroom,” said Darin Boysen, the Executive Director of the NCA. “Football is an integral part of education-based athletics across America. The NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award showcases team excellence beyond ‘Friday Night Lights.'”

The winning team will be announced on February 9.

2021-22 NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award – State Winners

Florida 

4A – Umatilla High School in Umatilla, Florida 

Illinois 

7A – Mundelein High School in Mundelein, Illinois

6A – Cary-Grove High School in Cary, Illinois

4A – Wheaton Academy in West Chicago, Illinois 

Indiana 

6A – Westfield High School in Westfield, Indiana

5A – Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana

4A – Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana

3A – Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, Indiana

2A – Centerville Senior High School in Centerville, Indiana

1A – Lutheran High School in Indianapolis, Indiana 

Kansas 

6A – Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas

5A – Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas

4A – St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kansas

3A – Andale High School in Andale, Kansas

2A – Rossville Junior-Senior High School in Rossville, Kansas

1A – Olpe Junior-Senior High School in Olpe, Kansas 

Louisiana 

5A – Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana

1A – Ouachita Christian School in Monroe, Louisiana 

Michigan 

D8 – Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Marine City, Michigan

D6 – Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak, Michigan

D5 – Lutheran North High School in Macomb, Michigan

D4 – Goodrich High School in Goodrich, Michigan

D3 – DeWitt High School in DeWitt, Michigan

D2 – De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren, Michigan

D1 – Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan

8 Man/D2 – Pellston High School in Pellston, Michigan 

Minnesota 

6A – Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota

5A – Alexandria Area High School in Alexandria, Minnesota

4A – Benilde-St. Margaret’s in St. Louis Park, Minnesota

3A – Perham High School in Perham, Minnesota

2A – Maple River Senior High School in Mapleton, Minnesota

1A – Upsala/Swanville Area – Upsala High School in Upsala, Minnesota and Swanville High School in Swanville, Minnesota

9 Man – Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley High School in Graceville, Minnesota 

Nebraska 

A – Kearney High School in Kearney, Nebraska

B – Aurora High School in Aurora, Nebraska

C1 – Fort Calhoun High School in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska

C2 – Grand Island Central Catholic School in Grand Island, Nebraska

D1 – Hemingford High School in Hemingford, Nebraska

D2 – Verdigre High School-Niobrara High School (Co-op) in Verdigre, Nebraska and Niobrara, Nebraska 

Oklahoma 

6A-2 – Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Oklahoma

6A-1 – Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

5A – Duncan High School in Duncan, Oklahoma

4A – Tuttle High School in Tuttle, Oklahoma

3A – Lincoln Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma

2A – Crossings Christian School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

C – Waynoka High School in Waynoka, Oklahoma

B – Southwest Covenant Schools in Yukon, Oklahoma

A – Minco High School in Minco, Oklahoma 

Oregon 

6A – Summit High School in Bend, Oregon

5A – Canby High School in Canby, Oregon

3A – Warrenton High School in Warrenton, Oregon

2A – Monroe High School in Monroe, Oregon

1A – Crosspoint Christian School in Klamath Falls, Oregon 

South Dakota 

11AA – Aberdeen Central High School in Aberdeen, South Dakota 

Tennessee 

5A – Walker Valley High School in Cleveland, Tennessee 

Texas 

6A – Cypress Woods High School in Cypress, Texas

5A – Lubbock-Cooper High School in Lubbock, Texas

4A – Canyon High School in Canyon, Texas

3A – Idalou High School in Idalou, Texas

2A – Smyer High School in Smyer, Texas

1A – Chester High School in Chester,

Texas Private – Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas

Visit NFL Play Football at playfootball.nfl.com

Play Football

nfl play football

About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.