Complete USA Today/NFCA High School Top 25 Poll 

Fresh off winning the state title, Cactus High School (Ariz.) claimed the top spot in the final USA Today/NFCA High School Top 25 Poll and became the first Arizona team to claim the NFCA High School National Championship trophy. 

The Cactus coaching staff will receive the award during the opening business meeting at the 2006 NFCA National Convention in Tucson, Ariz. A pair of Texas squads, Fort Bend Elkins in 2004 and Keller in 2005, won the national title the first two years of the award’s history. 

Central Cabarrus of North Carolina, No. 1 for several weeks during the season, moved up one place to second, while Garland (Texas), who knocked off Keller in playoff action, moved up to third. Keller dropped two places to fourth. 

Freedom (Calif.) remained at No. 5, while a pair of Florida standouts, Bartow and Palm Beach Gardens, stayed at sixth and seventh, respectively. Chamberlain, another “Sunshine State” institution, held at No. 9, preceded by No. 8 St. Amant, La. Beecher out of Illinois stayed at No. 10 with a 33-0 mark. 

Florida standouts Escambia and Santa Fe both moved up this week. After tying for 13th a week ago, Escambia moved up to No. 11 and Santa Fe to No. 12. 

Escondido (Calif.) advanced one place to No. 13, while Canyon del Oro (Ariz.) jumped one spot to 14th. Bishop O’Connell also leaped on place to No. 15. Sunnyslope (Ariz.), Regina (Mich.) and St. Benedict (Tenn.) all moved up one place this week, coming in Nos. 16-18, respectively. 

Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) moved into the poll this week at No. 19, and Cave Spring (Va.) came in at No. 20, a jump of one place from a week ago. 

Olathe East (Kan.) finished the season at No. 21, while Brazoswood (Texas) moved out of a tie for 23rd into the No. 22 spot. The team it tied with a week ago, Santiago (Calif.), stayed in the No. 23 spot. 

Newark Memorial dropped four places to No. 24, and New Bedford (Mass.) debuted at No. 25 to round out the season’s final rankings.