High school football rankings: California state champion Sonora finishes No. 1 in Small Town Top 25

By Kevin Askeland Dec 23, 2025, 12:00pm

State champs from Alabama, Ohio, Texas and Kansas round out the top five.

Outscoring opponents 229-71 in five postseason games, Sonora (Calif.) rolled to a 15-0 season, state championship and the No. 1 ranking in the final Small Town Top 25 high school football rankings.

Sonora has won two straight state titles and has the longest active win streak in California at 22 games in a row.

Alabama state champion Jackson checks in at No. 2 after blasting Anniston 52-0 for the Class 4A state championship.
Sonora head coach Kirk Clifton celebrates with his team following its section championship victory over Ripon Christian. (PHOTO: Sam Stringer)
Sonora head coach Kirk Clifton celebrates with his team following its section championship victory over Ripon Christian. (PHOTO: Sam Stringer)
Ohio state champion Liberty Center, Texas state champion and 2024 Small Town Top 25 No. 1 Carthage and Kansas state champion Andale round out the top five.

The Small Town Top 25 is based on the MaxPreps computer ratings. To be eligible for inclusion, schools must have an enrollment under 1,000 students in towns with a population under 10,000. Teams are listed with their final overall record and computer rating. 

Final Small Town Top 25

1. Sonora (Calif.), 15-0, 55.0
2. Jackson (Ala.), 13-2, 51.2
3. Liberty Center (Ohio), 15-0, 48.3
4. Carthage (Texas), 16-0, 47.6
5. Andale (Kan.), 13-0, 44.7
6. Wahoo (Neb.), 13-0, 43.4
7. Byron (Ill.), 14-0, 43.1
8. Tuttle (Okla.), 14-0, 42.3
9. Wall (Texas), 16-0, 41.4
10. Kirtland (Ohio), 15-0, 41.1
11. Jackson County Central (Jackson, Minn.), 13-0, 40.7
12. Indian Valley (Gnadenhutten, Ohio), 12-1, 40.0
13. Wilmington (Ill.), 13-1, 38.6
14. Jones (Okla.), 14-0, 38.5
15. Wheelersburg (Ohio), 14-1, 38.4
16. Sulphur (Okla.), 13-1, 38.1
17. Columbia (Miss.), 15-0, 38.0
18. Menominee (Mich.), 14-0, 37.6
19. Brock (Texas), 14-1, 37.5
20. Royal (Royal City, Wash.), 13-0, 37.3
21. Minneota (Minn.), 13-0, 37.1
22. Hawthorne (Fla.), 11-1, 36.9
23. Lena-Winslow (Lena, Ill.), 13-1, 36.7
24. St. Henry (Ohio), 13-1, 36.5
24. Elgin (Okla.), 13-1, 36.5


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27. West Lyon (Inwood, Iowa), 13-0, 36.0
28. Nemaha Central (Seneca, Kan.), 13-0, 35.9
29. Cascade (Clayton, Ind.), 15-0, 35.8
30. Mansfield (Ark.), 14-0, 35.5
31. Bronxville (N.Y.), 12-0, 35.4
32. Princeton (W. Va.), 14-0, 35.2
33. Waverly (Neb.), 13-0, 35.0
34. Round Valley (Eagar, Ariz.), 13-1, 34.8
35. Harbor Beach (Mich.), 14-0, 34.6
36. Winneconne (Wis.), 14-0, 34.4
37. Gunter (Texas), 13-2, 33.9
38. Muenster (Texas), 14-2, 33.8
38. Darlington (Wis.), 14-0, 33.8
40. Blountstown (Fla.), 12-1, 33.6
41. Frankfort (Ridgeley, W.Va.), 14-0, 33.5
41. Seneca (Mo.), 13-1, 33.5
43. Kosciusko (Miss.), 13-2, 33.4
44. Elkins (Ark.), 14-1, 33.2
45. Sutter (Calif.), 13-2, 33.1
46. Yoakum (Texas), 14-2, 32.5
47. Corbin (Ky.), 10-4, 32.4
48. Louisville (Miss.), 10-3, 32.2
48. Clairton (Pa.), 15-1, 32.2
48. Star Valley (Afton, Wyo.), 12-0, 32.2
51. Adair (Okla.), 14-0, 32.1
51. Stockton (Ill.), 12-1, 32.1
53. Strasburg (Va.), 13-1, 32.0
54. South Pittsburg (Tenn.), 14-1, 31.8
55. Tidehaven (El Maton, Texas), 13-1, 31.7
56. Huntingdon (Tenn.), 14-1, 31.4
56. Iowa (La.), 14-0, 31.4
58. Farrell (Pa.), 12-3, 31.2
59. Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), 15-1, 30.9
60. Holdingford (Minn.), 12-1, 30.8
60. Raleigh (Miss.), 14-1, 30.8
62. Ferndale (Calif.), 13-1, 30.7
63. Adams Central (Monroe, Ind.), 13-1, 30.6
63. Kingsley (Mich.), 11-3, 30.6
65. Washington (Okla.), 12-2, 30.4
66. Toombs County (Lyons, Ga.), 13-2, 30.3
66. Clear Lake (Iowa), 10-1, 30.3
66. Pewamo-Westphalia (Pewamo, Mich.), 11-1, 30.3
66. Hopewell-Loudon (Bascom, Ohio), 13-2, 30.3
66. Peaster (Texas), 13-2, 30.3
71. Worth County (Sylvester, Ga.), 15-0, 30.2
72. Calaveras (San Andreas, Calif.), 13-2, 30.0
73. Orono (Long Lake, Minn.), 10-3, 29.9
74. Heidelberg (Miss.), 12-3, 29.8
74. Loris (S.C.), 13-1, 29.8
74. Williamston (Mich.), 11-1, 29.8
77. Hudson (Mich.), 13-1, 29.7
77. Bell County (Pineville, Ky.), 12-2, 29.7
77. Brownstown Central (Brownstown, Ind.), 14-1, 29.7
77. Holtville (Calif.), 9-2, 29.7
81. Tolono Unity (Tolono, Ill.), 12-2, 29.6
81. Mayville (Wis.), 14-0, 29.6
83. Snowflake (Ariz.), 10-2, 29.5
83. Lincoln County (Lincolnton, Ga.), 14-1, 29.5
83. Homedale (Idaho), 11-1, 29.5
86. Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn/Remsen-Union (Marcus, Iowa), 13-0, 29.4
86. Girard (Ohio), 12-1, 29.4
88. Sealy (Texas), 11-2, 29.3
88. Cascade (Turner, Ore.), 13-0, 29.3
88. Gibson Southern (Fort Branch, Ind.), 12-2, 29.3
91. Bowdon (Ga.), 13-2, 29.0
92. Colonel Crawford (North Robinson, Ohio), 13-2, 28.9
92. New Lexington (Ohio), 11-2, 28.9
94. Bennington (Neb.), 9-3, 28.8
94. Baldwin-Woodville (Baldwin, Wis.), 12-1, 28.8
96. Nevada (Iowa), 11-2, 28.7
96. Goodhue (Minn.), 12-1, 28.7
98. Fruitland (Idaho), 10-1, 28.6
98. Almeta Crawford (Rosharon, Texas), 12-2, 28.6
100. Ludington (Mich.), 9-1, 28.4
100. Paradise (Texas), 12-2, 28.4
100. Cashmere (Wash.), 11-2, 28.4

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