China Spring (Texas) completed the greatest
season in school history with a 31-7 Class 4A Division II state championship win over Gilmer and a
16-0 record.
The win also puts the Cougars in the top spot of the final small town high school football Top 25 rankings . The rankings consist of
schools that have an enrollment of under 1,000 students and are located
in a city with a population less than 10,000 people.
China Spring
is a census-designated part of McLennan County near Waco. The Cougars
had won one previous state championship in football in 1978 and had
reached the state finals only one other time in 2007.
China
Spring topped Harlan (Iowa), which came in at No. 2 after going
undefeated and winning its state record 13th state championship.
Carthage (Texas), a team China Spring defeated in the quarterfinals,
came in at No. 3.
Teams are listed with their season record, computer rating, school enrollment and the city population.
China Gulch takes home No. 1 honors in the final small town high school football Top 25 rankings after 16-0 season, 4A-II Texas state title.
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Final small town high school football Top 25 rankings
1. China Spring (Texas)
Record: 16-0
Rating: 64.5
Enrollment: 904
Population: 1,455
Finish: Class 4A-II champion
2. Harlan (Iowa)
Record: 13-0
Rating: 55.0
Enrollment: 507
Population: 4,845
Finish: Class 3A champion
3. Carthage (Texas)
Record: 11-1
Rating: 54.8
Enrollment: 823
Population: 6,535
Finish: Class 4A-II Regional Semifinalist
4. Franklin (Texas)
Record: 16-0
Rating: 54.2
Enrollment: 340
Population: 1,989
Finish: Class 3A-II champion
5. Lorena (Texas)
Record: 14-2
Rating: 52.5
Enrollment: 544
Population: 1,761
Finish: Class 3A-I champion
6. Shiner (Texas)
Record: 16-0
Rating: 50.9
Enrollment: 305
Population: 2,192
Finish: Class 2A-I champion
7. Brooks County (Quitman, Ga.)
Record: 12-2
Rating: 50.2
Enrollment: 486
Population: 3,744
Finish: Class A Public champion
8. Bennington (Neb.)
Record: 13-0
Rating: 50.2
Enrollment: 673
Population: 1,931
Finish: Class B champion
9. Brock (Texas)
Record: 15-1
Rating: 50.1
Enrollment: 435
Population: 100
Finish: Class 3A-I runnerup
10. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (Rock Valley, Iowa)
Record: 12-1
Rating: 48.2
Enrollment: 319
Population: 3,812
Finish: Class 3A runnerup
11. Clinton (Okla.)
Record: 13-1
Rating: 47.7
Enrollment: 639
Population: 9,007
Finish: Class 4A champion
12. Central Valley (Monaca, Pa.)
Record: 15-0
Rating: 47.5
Enrollment: 718
Population: 5,737
Finish: Class AAA champion
13. Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio)
Record: 16-0
Rating: 47.3
Enrollment: 286
Population: 2,186
Finish: Class VII champion
14. Gunter (Texas)
Record: 15-1
Rating: 46.8
Enrollment: 305
Population: 1,247
Finish: Class 3A-II champion
15. Clinton-Massie (Clarksville, Ohio)
Record: 14-1
Rating: 46.7
Enrollment: 540
Population: 548
Finish: Class IV champion
16. Fitzgerald (Ga.)
Record: 13-2
Rating: 46.4
Enrollment: 824
Population: 8,812
Finish: Class AA champion
17. Aliquippa (Pa.)
Record: 13-1
Rating: 45.9
Enrollment: 405
Population: 9,238
Finish: Class AAAA champion
18. Pike Road (Ala.)
Record: 15-0
Rating: 45.5
Enrollment: 720
Population: 9,439
Finish: Class 5A champion
18. Gibson Southern (Fort Branch, Ind.)
Record: 14-1
Rating: 45.5
Enrollment: 705
Population: 2,771
Finish: Class 3A champion
20. Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.)
Record: 15-1
Rating: 45.4
Enrollment: 417
Population: 1,556
Finish: Class AA champion
20. Andale (Kan.)
Record: 13-0
Rating: 45.4
Enrollment: 406
Population: 934
Finish: Class 3A champion
22. Snowflake (Ariz.)
Record: 13-1
Rating: 45.3
Enrollment: 727
Population: 6,104
Finish: Class 3A champion
23. Waskom (Texas)
Record: 13-2
Rating: 44.3
Enrollment: 727
Population: 6,104
Finish: Class 3A-II semifinalist
24. Bellville (Texas)
Record: 12-1
Rating: 42.9
Enrollment: 716
Population: 4,232
Finish: Class 4A-II Regional semifinalist
25. Madison County (Madison, Fla.)
Record: 11-3
Rating: 42.8
Enrollment: 510
Population: 2,793
Finish: Class 1A champion