GameStrat Blog

Pittsburgh's Central Catholic High School is a preparatory school with a very rich history in the state of Pennsylvania. After another successful season under Head Coach Ryan Lehmeier, finishing 1st in the WPIAL Conference with a 10-2 overall and 5-0 conference record, we decided to sit down with Coach Lehmeier and reflect on his experience using GameStrat over the last 3 seasons.

Cincinnati’s very own Steve Specht, head football coach at St. Xavier High School, is a legend in the state of Ohio. Coach Specht began as the head coach of the Bombers varsity football team in 2003. In that span, Coach Specht has led his team to a 180-74 record, won four Ohio big school championships (2005, 2007, 2016, 2020), earning Ohio Division I Coach of the Year honors in 2005 and 2007, as well as receiving the NFL Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award in 2013.

The Junipero Serra Padres, led by their highly successful Head Coach Patrick Walsh, has been a dominant force in the CIF-Central Coast Section (CCS) for many years. The team has achieved numerous accolades, including their 8th CCS title and 3rd consecutive championship in the fall of 2022. With a string of remarkable achievements and a legacy of excellence, Serra Padres Football has become synonymous with dominance in the sport. Their 2022 season was marked by an impressive 13-game winning streak, setting a record for the most wins in school history.

Cathedral Catholic High School's Football program, under the leadership of Head Coach Sean Doyle, has a rich history of success. With over 400 program wins and Coach Doyle surpassing the 200-win milestone in his career, Cathedral Catholic has established itself as a powerhouse in high school football. Coach Doyle has been instrumental in shaping the team's success and fostering a culture of excellence, with a legacy spanning over four decades. The team's consistent dominance on the field is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and strategic guidance provided by Coach Doyle.

The St. Joseph Regional Football team, under the leadership of Head Coach Dan Marangi, has seen immense success over the years. With 19 NJ State Championships and a perfect record as League Champions from 2012-2016, the team has cemented its place in high school football history. In 2018, the team claimed the State Championship title, adding yet another accolade to their impressive resume. Marangi, who previously served as the Defensive Coordinator at Don Bosco from 2004-2016, and at SJR from 2017-2019, has been an integral part of the team's success, contributing to 10 state championship-winning teams in his career to date.

Head Coach Travis Foster and the Shadow Ridge Mustangs Football Team of Las Vegas, Nevada have been on an incredible run over the past two seasons, compiling a 20-5 record with a perfect 12-0 mark at home. The Mustangs have made two state title game appearances during that time, thanks in part to their explosive offense, which averaged 41.8 points and 399.1 total yards per game.

Climbing to the top of the Alabama State rankings is the Muscle Shoals Trojans - a program which has seen a massive turn around under Head Coach Scott Basden. A former University of North Alabama Offensive Lineman and Division II National Champion(1994-1995), Coach Basden is now heading into his 15th season as Head Coach at Muscle Shoals. Back in 2008, Coach Basden agreed to take over a program that, for the last 40 years, had not seen back to back winning seasons. Under his leadership, Muscle Shoals has gone 115-42 with 4 region titles and 12 playoff spots.

The Sierra Canyon Football Team is gearing up for another big fall football season in the San Fernando Valley. We decided to sit down for a talk about the GameStrat experience with Sierra Canyon Trailblazer’s Head Coach, Jon Ellinghouse, as he heads into his 16th season running the program. Under Ellinghouse’s leadership, Sierra Canyon has appeared in the CIF Semi-Finals or better in 12 of the last 14 seasons, 4 of those being state championship appearances.

We got the chance to sit down and talk about the GameStrat sideline replay experience with former Virginia Tech defensive back and High School Football Head Coach, Loren Johnson of the Highland Springs Springers in Highland Springs, VA. The program boasts an impressive history under Johnson’s tenure, with a run of 4 back-to-back VHSL 5A South State Championship wins (2015-2018) - a feat only 2 other schools in VHSL history have ever been able to accomplish.

Closing out their 2021 season as back-to-back 3AAAAAA Region Champions, a third straight playoff appearance and spending 11 weeks in Georgia's top 5; North Cobb Warrior Football continues to earn respect at the national level. Fortunate to have been able to broadcast on national television (ESPN) with a big win, North Cobb continues to grow and add to their repertoire. With nearly every senior on the Warriors' starting roster boasting college scholarship offers, the following class of 2023 has garnered attention from some major post-secondary programs: QB Malachi Singleton (Arkansas commit), RB Benjamin Hall (Michigan commit) RT Robert Grigsby, Jr (30+ offers), DB Quentin Ajiero (25+), OL Marselle Felton (5+) RB David Mbadinga (4+), DB Charles McCarterens (3+), and 2024 WR David Eziomume (10+).