After finishing No. 1 in the Small Town Top 25 high school football rankings in 2024,
Carthage (Texas) is rolling toward another undefeated season with an 8-0 record and three straight 60-point outings.
However, the Bulldogs have actually dropped to No. 4 in the updated October edition of the Small Town Top 25, falling behind three teams who are deeper into season and ready to begin postseason play this week.
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.
After leading Indian Valley to a state title in Ohio as a junior, Air Force commit Grady Kinsey has rushed for 1,895 yards and 28 touchdowns through nine games for the unbeaten Braves. (PHOTO: Jeff Harwell)
took over the top spot in this month's rankings with a 9-0 record. The Lions enter Iowa's Class 3A playoffs as the top seed and open the postseason Friday against
Mt. Vernon. Head coach Aaron Stensland's squad has allowed just 35 points all season and has shut out its last three opponents.
is close behind Clear Lake with a 10-0 record. The Whippets are pounding opponents by an average margin of 36 points per game and are the No. 1 seed in the Division IV Region 14 playoffs.
Waverly (Neb.) comes in at No. 3 with a 9-0 record. The Vikings have key wins over
Bennington and
Norris (Firth) this year, handing those two teams their only losses of the season. Waverly is the No. 1 seed in the Class B state playoffs and opens Friday against
Northwest (Grand Island).
Carthage comes in at No. 4 with two regular season games left to play.
Holdingford (Minn.) rounds out the top five after finishing 8-0 in the regular season and outscoring its first two playoff opponents 102-8. The Huskers meet
Osakis in the Class AA third round Friday.
Read on for a complete look at the Small Town Top 25. Teams are listed with their September ranking, overall record and MaxPreps computer rating.
Small Town Top 25
Rank. (Sept. Ranking) School, Record, Rating
5. (NR)
Holdingford (Minn.), 10-0, 42.1
6. (2)
Brock (Texas) 8-0, 40.0
7. (4)
Wahoo (Neb.), 9-0, 40.3
8. (19)
Liberty Center (Ohio), 10-0, 39.0
9. (20)
West Lyon (Iowa), 9-0, 38.1
10. (NR)
Bennington (Neb.), 7-2, 37.7
11. (24)
Wall (Texas), 9-0, 37.3
12. (18)
Marion Local (Ohio), 10-0, 37.0
13. (NR)
Stockton (Ill.), 9-0, 37.0
14. (NR)
Worth County (Sylvester, Ga.), 10-0, 36.7
15. (NR)
Norris (Firth, Neb.), 8-1, 36.5
16. (13)
Bellville (Texas), 6-2, 36.3
17. (14)
Columbia (Miss.), 9-0, 36.2
18. (11)
Tuttle (Okla.), 8-0, 35.4
19. (NR)
Seneca (Mo.), 8-1, 35.4
20. (NR)
Indian Valley (Gnadenhutten, Ohio), 9-0, 35.4
21. (NR)
Jackson County Central (Jackson, Minn.), 9-0, 35.2
22. (5)
Louisville (Miss.), 6-2, 35.0
23. (12)
Thomasville (Ga.), 6-3, 34.8
24. (NR)
Pine Island (Minn.), 9-0, 34.4
Next 25
26. (NR)
Lincoln County (Lincolnton, Ga.), 9-0, 34.2
27. (NR)
Westville (Ill.), 9-0, 34.2
28. (6)
Gunter (Texas), 7-1, 34.1
29. (NR)
West Delaware (Manchester, Iowa), 8-1, 33.9
30. (NR)
Lena-Winslow (Lena, Ill.), 8-1, 33.8
31. (NR)
Girard (Ohio), 10-0, 33.5
32. (NR)
Toombs County (Lyons, Ga.), 8-1, 33.3
33. (21)
Columbus (Texas), 6-2, 32.8
34. (NR)
St. Henry (Ohio), 8-1, 32.6
35. (NR)
Heard County (Franklin, Ga.), 9-0, 32.5
36. (NR)
Solon (Iowa), 9-0, 32.3
37. (9)
Franklin (Texas), 5-2, 32.2
38. (NR)
Wheelersburg (Ohio), 10-0, 32.2
39. (NR)
Sonora (Calif.), 9-0, 32.1
40. (3)
Jackson (Ala.), 8-2, 32.0
41. (NR)
Amherst (Wis.), 9-1, 31.6
42. (NR)
Columbus (Wis.), 9-1, 31.6
43. (NR)
Loris (S.C.), 9-0, 31.6
44. (NR)
Sioux Center (Iowa), 8-1, 31.5
45. (NR)
Harbor Beach (Mich.), 9-0, 31.5
46. (NR)
Pillager (Minn.), 8-1, 31.2
47. (NR)
Springfield/Comfrey (Springfield, Minn.), 9-0, 31.0
48. (NR)
Kosciusko (Miss.), 8-1, 30.9
49. (NR)
Staples-Motley (Staples, Minn.), 8-2, 30.5
50. (NR)
Plymouth (Wis.), 10-0, 30.4
