Texas dominates the Preseason Small Town Top 25 high school football rankings with the top four teams and six of the top 10.
That includes No. 1
Carthage, which has been dominant since head coach Scott Surratt took over in 2007. In the 17 seasons since, the Bulldogs have captured nine state titles, won 11 or more games 14 times and gone undefeated four times.
Surratt's record at Carthage is 218-30 including a perfect 9-0 in state championship games.
The Small Town Top 25 consists of schools with an enrollment of less than 1,000 students in towns with a population of less than 10,000. Teams are ordered based on preseason national computer rankings.
Carthage offensive lineman Kash Courtney committed to Arkansas in June over offers from Baylor, Duke, Houston, Texas Tech and West Virginia among others. (Photo: Robbie Rakestraw)
1. Carthage (Texas), 13-1 record in 2023
The 2023 season was a rare one for the Bulldogs as they lost in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state playoffs and finished 13-1. Carthage has won nine state championships under coach Scott Surratt and has gone undefeated during the regular season seven straight seasons. The Bulldogs have one of the state's top offensive linemen in
Kash Courtney (6-4, 285).
2. Bellville (Texas), 15-1, 41.6
The Brahmas won 15 in a row last year before falling to Gilmer in the Class 4A Division II state final. The offensive line returns four starters and the defensive line has one of the state's best in
D.J. Sanders (6-3, 310).
3. Franklin (Texas), 14-2
The Lions attempted to make it three straight state championships but lost to Malakoff 14-7 in the Class 3A Division I state final. All-state first team selections fullback
Jayden Jackson and guard
Lucas Lincecum are back.
4. Malakoff (Texas), 16-0
The Class 3A Division I state champions come in behind Franklin to start the season despite ending its title streak in 2023. Jamie Driskell was the Class 3A Coach of the Year by the sportswriters association. He returns all-state third team picks
Mike Jones at quarterback and
Jerrion Hall at running back.
5. Louisville (Miss.), 15-0
The Wildcats have been dominant the past six seasons, winning four state championships in that span with back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. Louisville has won 26 straight games, including a 15-0 record last year while winning the Class 4A state title. The defense should be dynamic with returning all-state defensive lineman Tayquon McKinney, Travon McDonald and Jayshunn Robbins along with second team all-state linebacker Jacari Owens and free safety Khalin Moore.
6. Gilmer (Texas), 13-3
Although the Buckeyes lost three times during the regular season, they bounced back to defeat Bellville 28-26 for the Class 4A Division II state championship. Winners of 15 district championships since 2003, Gilmer had a senior dominant team last year but returns all-state first team kicker
Brayden Pate along with all-state second team all-purpose back
Brendan Webb.
7. Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio), 16-0
Owners of the longest active win streak in the nation at 48 games, the Flyers have won three straight state championships. Marion Local appears loaded again with four all-state first team picks in quarterback
Justin Knouff, receiver
Victor Hoelscher, tackle
Kyle Ungruhn and kicker
Carson Bills.
8. Aliquippa (Pa.), 14-0
Winners of 18 conference championships in the past 20 years and two state titles in the past three years, the Quips are among the favored teams to win the Class AAAAA championship this year. While Aliquippa plays in one of the state's largest divisions, it qualifies for the small town rankings due to the town's population of around 9,000 people. The Quips return Class AAAA state MVP
Tiqwai Hayes, who rushed for 2,129 yards last year at running back along with all-state defensive back
Arison Walker.
9. Gunter (Texas), 16-0
The Class 3A Division II state championship Tigers were one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation last year at over 56 points per game. They bring a 32-game win streak into the 2024 season after winning back-to-back state championships. The line will be the key for Gunter as first team center
Luke Bullard (6-2, 230) is back along with all-state defensive lineman
Major Thornhill (6-3, 200).
10. Rice Lake (Wis.), 13-1
After losing its season opener, Rice Lake won the next 13 games to claim the Division 3 state championship over Grafton. Although state defensive MVP Easton Stone has graduated, all-state honorable mention defensive back
Zach Orr returns to lead the defense.
11. Perry (Ohio), 16-0
The Pirates claimed the Division V state championship, the first football state championship in school history. Bob Gecewich was the Associated Press Division V Coach of the Year. He returns all-state quarterback
Walter Moses and fellow all-state picks
Luke Sivon at receiver,
Chuck Thomas and
Anthony Zagrocki on the offensive line and
Owen McKoon at linebacker.
12. Grundy Center (Iowa), 13-0
The two-time defending Class 1A state champions will attempt to extend their winning streak of 26 games. Grundy Center loses all-state quarterback Justin Knaack but all-state receiver
Tiernan Vokes returns along with all-state lineman
Ryker Thoren and linebacker
Brody Zinkula.
13. Hitchcock (Texas), 9-2
Division 1 prospects in receiver
Kelshaun Johnson, quarterback
Lloyd Jones and defensive lineman
Malcolm Simpson will lead the way for the Bulldogs.
14. Hawthorne (Fla.), 13-0
Entering the season with a 25-game win streak, Hawthorne will try for its third straight Class 1R state championship. The Hornets have one of the state's top two-sport athletes in quarterback
C.J. Ingram, who also earned all-state in basketball last year. He threw for 2,618 yards and 38 touchdowns as a junior. Leading rusher
Kenoon Johnson also returns after rushing for 1,594 yards.
The Raiders reached the Class 3A Division I quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Malakoff. The 2023 season was Winnsboro's best in nearly a decade. Sophomore
Rudy Calderon gives the Raiders one of the state's best kickers after earning second team all-state honors as a sophomore. Honorable mention all-state players
Camden Capehart (receiver),
Tyson Johnson (running back) and
Payton Turner (tackle) also return.
16. Boone Central (Albion, Neb.), 13-0
The Cardinals knocked off Wahoo in the Class C1 state finals in a battle of unbeatens. Boone Central loses state MVP Parker Borer at running back. All-state defensive lineman
Thomas Roberts (6-3, 200) is the top returning player.
17. Winona (Miss.), 15-0
Winona has won multiple league championships over the past decade but the Tigers picked up their first state championship in that span by going 15-0 last year at the 3A level. Joey Tompkins was the state coach of the year and he returns 3A state defensive player of the year
Tyler Lockhart at linebacker.
18. Columbia (Miss.), 14-1
Runner-up to Louisville in Class 4A, Columbia is only three years removed from winning a state championship. The Wildcats return second team all-state quarterback
Collin Haney along with receiver
A.J. Lewis and Division 1 prospect
Harrison Cluff at tackle.
Mac McDaniel, an all-state pick as a sophomore, leads the defense at linebacker.
19. Jackson (Ala.), 11-1
The Aggies went undefeated during the regular season before falling in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs to Booker T. Washington (Tuskegee). Sophomore
Ezavier Crowell returns at running back after earning second team all-state honors as a freshman. All-state lineman
Nylun Williams (6-2, 265) also returns.
20. Liberty Center (Ohio), 15-1, 27.3
The Tigers reached the Division V championship game but fell to unbeaten Perry, 21-14. All-state honorable mention selection
Zander Zeiter returns on the defensive line while
Camden Kahle is back in the secondary. Junior
Max Walker should be one of the division's top punters.
21. Stewartville (Minn.), 14-0
The Tigers won the Class AAA state title last year, the first football championship in school history. All-state quarterback Ayden Helter graduated but leading receiver
Parker Wangen returns.
22. Toombs County (Lyons, Ga.), 11-2
The Bulldogs captured a region championship last year and advanced to the Class AA quarterfinals. Toombs County drops down to Class A Division 1 this year and returns all-state defensive back
Lagonza Hayward and honorable mention all-state quarterback
T.J. Stanley.
23. Lodi (Wis.), 15-0
The Division 4 state champions dominated on both sides of the ball last year but will have to find a number of replacements from a senior-dominated team, including all-state quarterback Mason Lane.
24. Williston (Fla.), 11-1
The Red Devils have seen a resurgence under head coach Robby Pruitt, who has coached in Florida the past two seasons after racking up over 300 career wins and eight state championships during two decades in Georgia and his first two decades starting out in Florida. Top rusher
Jamari Williams returns (843 yards) as does junior defensive lineman
Timothy Taylor Jr. (12 tackles for loss).
25. Williamsburg (Iowa), 12-1
The Class 3A state champions did not win their district but managed to win the final six games to capture the state crown. Class 3A state MVP Derek Weiskopff is off to Iowa but all-state linebacker
Rayce Heitman returns to lead the defense.
