Aurora Christian, Class 3A State Champs, running the Bubble Screen to perfection from their trips formation.  Note the knockdown block by the #2 receiver.  Nice job by the #3 receiver making the 360 degree catch without breaking stride.

High school football in 1957...the coach at Abilene H.S. in Texas had to turn down the head coaching job at the University of Missouri because they were only offering $10,300.  He was making $13,000 as a high school coach at Abilene.  Lee Tressel, head coach at Massillon H.S. gets "a new car if they win the state title."
The Sports Illustrated Article

Rushing vs. Passing

Class 2A State Champions in Illinois season stat yardage (information at the IHSA website only includes information from 1996-2006 and last year):

The Fullback Belly

The classic block-down, playside guard kickout play:

And the option complement (QB Keep):

And the pitch...

Notre Dame running the Belly in the 1990s with Jerome Bettis:

Tuscola

This week's "Best-of-the-Best" features the Tuscola Warriors.  Nobody in Class 1A runs the spread offense better than Tuscola.  Consider the evidence: the Warriors have appeared in the state championship game five out of the last six years!  Here is a look at their four verticals pass play.  The concept is simple: send four deep threats against a Cover 3 pass defense.  The corners will cover their receivers in their thirds.  The player that is put in a real bind is the free safety.  He is forced to cover two deep threats up the hashes.  Notice that the QB will look off the middle-of-the field safety before hitting the opposite hash inside receiver with a perfect pass.

Joliet Catholic

Let's call this feature "Best-of-the-Best."  We are going to take a look at some of the top programs in the state and break down their signature plays.  Today, we start with Joliet Catholic.  With 13 titles, they have won more state championships than any other program in the state.  In last year's 5A state championship, they set a record for most yards rushing in a title game with 747 yards!  This was their best play: the off-tackle Power O.  The Hilltoppers like to run this play out of a double-tight, double-wing formation.  The playside blocks down, the fullback kicks out the defensive end, and the backside guard pulls through.  Unlike most double wing teams, Joliet Catholic aligns their wingbacks inside their tight ends.  Check out the double team by the right wingback and the right tackle as they knock the defensive tackle seven yards off the ball.  Next, the right tight end will set a great block on the playside inside linebacker.  The fullback gets his kickout block creating the seam, and the backside guard will pull through the hole and block the rolled up corner in the 5-4 defense seen here.  The only defensive player with a shot at making the stop is the playside safety.  That assignment falls on the backside tight end, who can't quite get there on the first play.  No matter, wingback Ty Isaac has enough speed to simply outrun him.  In the second play, you will see the backside tight end pancake the safety.  When you combine perfect execution with great talent, the result is an unstoppable offense.

Crossbuck Pass

This is our favorite play vs. nine-man fronts featuring a two-deep secondary.  We begin with a quick, token fake to the fullback, who peels off for the backside defensive end.  I must emphasize that the fake isn't as important as getting out the defensive end.  Next, we fake to the backside wingback who has gone in three-step motion.  He will attack the frontside defensive end.  The quarterback will fake to the fullback on his first step, the motioning wingback on his second step, take two quick gather steps, then look to hit the frontside wingback over the middle.  This is definitely a pocket pass.  The two fakes in the backfield should bring the inside linebackers up to the line of scrimmage, thus opening up the middle.  The tight ends will run off the two safeties with corner routes, further opening up the middle for the wingback.  The tight ends are intended as decoys.  The wingback is the primary receiver, and if the safeties are doing their job, should be wide open.
We use two types of pass protection.  If we get a five-man front, we will base block it: tackles take tackles, guards have eyes up ready for blitzing linebackers, and the center has the nose.  If we see a four-man front, we will slide protect to the playside.  In the video clips, you will notice that our wingbacks actually get over the top of the tight ends.  We'd really like to see our wingbacks get underneath the tight ends, but you will notice that those deep safeties are clearly keying the tight ends and we are able to exploit the middle of the field.