EDITOR'S NOTE: I decided to rerun this Final Top 20 from last season to give you a taste of what to expect this coming season. Many features will be added to the new top 20.

The following is the PelicanPreps.com final Overall Top 20 football rankings based on games played through Saturday, Dec. 11. Information compiled by Tensey Pricer from interviews, newspaper and internet reports.

(Previous ranking in parenthesis)

The Patriots won their 19th state championship by scoring 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to get past Northside (Lafayette) 29-14 in the Class 4A state championship game of the Nokia Sugar Bowl Prep Classic. In the true spirit of what John Curtis' program was build upon, four different players scored, including both quarterbacks in the two-QB system the Patriots have employed all season. Curtis piled up 302 yards rushing with Joe Gueldner getting 96 yards on 12 carries and a 42-yard touchdown. Quarterback Johnny Theil, the title-game MVP, had 77 yards rushing, including a 3-yard TD and a 2-point conversion run. Scoring the Patriots' go-ahead TD in the third quarter was QB Blake Couch on 14-yard run while RB Kirk Bush added the final score on a 5-yard run. John Curtis played in its 26th state championship game. The victory capped long week for coach J.T. Curtis, whose father and school founder John Curtis announced his retirement. The elder Curtis has battled health problems and was recently hospitalized. Also, the game mark perhaps Curtis' final one in Class 4A. Curtis will play in Class 2A – the class of its school enrollment – the next two years after losing a vote by principals of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to play up to Class 4A.

The Eagles stopped West Monroe near its own goal line twice in three attempts in the closing minutes – the last on a two-point conversion the Rebels went for instead of forcing overtime – as Evangel captured the Class 5A state championship 21-20. It was the Eagles' third Class 5A state championship in four years and fourth since 1999 – all coming on wins over West Monroe. The Rebels were making their eighth appearance in the championship game in the last nine years, but last won in 2000 in a 35-7 victory over Shaw. Evangel has played in 10 state championship games since 1992 (2 in Class 1A, 3 in 3A and 5 in 5A). WMHS quarterback Drew Thomas scored on 1-yard run with 28 seconds to pull the Rebels to 21-20, but on the extra point try fullback Brandon Banks was stopped at the 1-yard line. Two possessions earlier, Banks was held to a 2-yard gain on fourth-and-5 from the Eagles 9. Evangel was held to 62 yards rushing – 35 from QB Denny Duron and 28 from RB Billy Barefield. Duron, who scored on 3-yard run, completed 11 of 17 passes for 149 yards and a 3-yard TD to Zach Schreiber. Jeff Hulett led Evangel in receiving with 67 yards, 57 of which came on one play to set up Duron's TD run. Chase Jennings scored what proved to be the winning run on a 63-yard punt return with 8:33 left in the game. Barefield made all three PAT kicks for Evangel. It was Evangel's final game in Class 5A, at least for two seasons, because Louisiana High School Athletic Association principals voted not to allow Evangel to play up from its enrollment class, which is Class 1A based on the 250 students in the school.

West Monroe fullback Brandon Banks was stopped at the 1-yard line by Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport) on the 2-point conversion attempt giving the Eagles a 21-20 victory in the Class 5A state championship game in the Nokia Sugar Bowl Prep Classic. West Monroe, making its eighth appearance in the state championship game in the last nine years, pulled to within 21-20 on Drew Thomas' 1-yard TD run with 28 seconds remaining. It capped a drive that started at midfield and set the stage for the Eagles' goal line heroics. Twice in three West Monroe attempts near the Evangel goal line the Eagles held. Evangel took a 21-14 lead on Chase Jennings' 63-yard punt return for a touchdown. It marked the fourth time West Monroe has lost to Evangel in the Class 5A title game. West Monroe last won state in 2000 and before that three consecutive years from 1996 to 1998. RB Frank Goodin led West Monroe's 225-yard rushing effort with 100 yards on 13 carries. Banks, who scored on an 8-yard run and a 2-point conversion, finished wih 70 yards on 18 carries and Thomas had 55. West Monroe's defense, the backbone of the team all season, held the high-scoring Evangel offense to just 211 yards total offense and 14 points. Jonathan Nugent made a pair of 31-yard field goals for the Rebels, who trailed 7-3 at the half, but went up 14-7 late in the third quarter.

Season complete. Lost 14-13 to Slidell in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

The Vikings, making their first appearance in a state championship and giving Lafayette its first team in the Nokia Sugar Bowl Prep Classic, matched John Curtis score for score in the first half before finally falling 29-14 in the Class 4A state championship game. Northside running back Keiland Williams, a junior in classification but a senior in eligibility, rushed for a game-high 129 yards on 31 carries. He also scored on a 1-yard run midway through the second quarter to tie the score at 14-14. Quarterback Darious Duffy rushed for 29 yards and pass for 26. In the second half the Patriots took over, scoring twice in the third quarter.

Season complete. Lost to Fontainebleau (Mandeville) 23-19 in Class 5A quarterfinals.

Season complete. Lost to Northside (Lafayette) 28-22 in double overtime in Class 4A semifinal.

Season complete. Lost to John Curtis 25-21 decision in Class 4A semifinals.

Season complete. Lost to West Monroe 49-17 in the Class 5A semifinals.

Walter Mason scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard dive with 6:50 to play to give the Warriors their first state championship since 1999 with a 21-14 victory over Notre Dame (Crowley). Kendrick Perry had 110 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown run, despite a well-prepared Pioneers defense keying on him and James Burns. Mason scored the winning TD two plays after Burns completed a 46-yard halfback pass to Jamal Jackson, setting Amite up on the ND 3 yard line. Amite, which went up 14-7 right before halftime on Ellis Taylor's 59-yard TD reception, was on shaky ground late in the third when ND tied the score 14-14 and then Amite tossed an interception in the end zone. But the Warriors recovered, thanks to a Baker interception and then his long completion on the half back pass.

Season complete. Lost 20-14 to East St. John in second round of Class 5A playoffs.

Season complete. Lost to to Evangel Christian Academy 45-5 in the Class 5A semifinals.

Season complete. Lost to West Monroe 12-10 in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

Patrick Jackson rushed for Prep Classic record 263 yards and tied a Class 2A and composite record with four rushing touchdowns in a 46-2 rout of St. Helena Central in the 2A championship game. It was the Rams' second straight state championship and third under coach Laury Dupont since 1998. West St. John blew the game open with a 24-point third quarter, scoring off of three turnovers and a 57-yard Ray Bartholomew punt return. Jackson, who will now concentrate on recruiting, scored on runs of 9, 76, 2 and 22 yards. WSJ became the first 2A team to repeat as state champion since Haynesville won the last of four straight in 1996.

Season complete. Lost to Evangel (Shreveport) 62-42 in Class 5A quarterfinals.

The Pioneers put on a determined and championship-worthy performance in the Class 3A state championship game, but lost to Amite 21-14 – Notre Dame's second consecutive close loss in the 3A title game. Inspired and well-prepared Notre Dame contained the power Amite offense most of the game, holding star back Kendrick Perry to 110 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown run. Amite scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard dive by quarterback Walter Mason with 6:54 left in the game. Two plays before, Antione Baker -- who set up the winning drive by intercepting a Notre Dame pass deep in Amite territory – completed a 46-yard halfback pass to Jamal Jackson down to the ND 3-yard line. Rick Zaunbrecher led Notre Dame with 97 yards rushing, 56 coming on a touchdown run to put the Pioneers up 7-0 in the first quarter. Scotty Francis had Notre Dame's other score, a 7-yard run, midway through the third quarter, capping a 10-play, 58-yard drive and tying the score at 14-14.

Season complete. Lost 31-13 to Northside (Lafayette) in quarterfinals of Class 4A playoffs.

Season complete. Lost 48-21 to Amite in the Class 3A semifinals.

Season complete. Lost to St. James 55-34 in Class 3A quarterfinals.

Season complete. Lost to Lutcher 33-23 in Class 3A quarterfinals.