With 11 state championships in the past 18 years including back-to-back crowns in 2024 and 2025, it shouldn't be a surprise to see
Carthage (Texas) at No. 1 in the initial Small Town Top 25 high school football rankings for 2026.
Under head coach Scott Surratt, who holds the Texas record for state titles with those 11 crowns, the Bulldogs have gone 131-4 since 2017 with eight undefeated regular seasons and five undefeated seasons (four of them 16-0).
It's been more of the same for Carthage in 2026 with a 3-0 record while putting up 52 points per game. The Bulldogs have their toughest test so far this season when they play at
West Orange-Stark (Orange) on Friday.
Bryston Price (left) and Javon Landers of Carthage celebrate a touchdown during a 67-36 win over Pine Tree earlier this month. (PHOTO: Brad Kennedy)
Carthage's computer rating easily outdistances No. 2
Beechwood (Fort Mitchell, Ky.), who have been remarkably consistent in four games with winning margins of 42, 41, 41 and 42 points.
Toombs County (Lyons, Ga.) checks in at No. 3. The Bullodgs (4-0) are averaging 55 points per game including putting up 76 last week in a win.
At No. 4 is
Hawthorne, which won the Florida's Rural championship last year and is the state's top 1A team in this season with a 5-0 mark. The Hornets are ranked just ahead of unbeaten
Indian Valley (Gnadenhutten, Ohio) at No. 5.
To be eligible for inclusion in the Small Town Top 25, schools must have an enrollment of under 1,000 students in a town with a population under 10,000. Rankings are based on the MaxPreps computer ratings. Teams are listed with their record and computer rating.
Small Town Top 25
2.
Beechwood (Fort Mitchell, Ky.), 4-0, 78.7
3.
Toombs County (Lyons, Ga.), 4-0, 78.7
4.
Hawthorne (Fla.), 5-0, 73.1
5.
Indian Valley (Gnadenhutten, Ohio), 4-0, 72.8
6.
Heard County (Franklin, Ga.), 4-0, 72.5
7.
Brock (Texas), 2-1, 72.3
8.
Louisville (Miss.), 2-2, 72.2
9.
Homedale (Idaho), 4-0, 72.1
10.
Gunter (Texas), 3-0, 66.3
11.
Elgin (Okla.), 4-0, 66.19
T12.
Columbus (Texas), 4-0, 66.15
T12.
Hamshire-Fannett (Hamshire, Texas), 4-0, 66.15
14.
Wall (Texas), 4-0, 65.9
15.
Gilmer (Texas), 3-1, 63.0
16.
Noxubee County (Macon, Miss.), 62.4
17.
Tuttle (Okla.), 2-1, 62.3
18.
Strom Thurmond (Johnston, S.C.), 4-0, 61.99
19.
Bellville (Texas), 2-2, 61.97
20.
Liberty Center (Ohio), 5-0, 61.6
21.
Kosciusko (Miss.), 4-0, 61.1
22.
Poplarville (Miss.), 4-0, 60.65
23.
Orange Beach (Ala.), 5-0, 60.64
24.
Lorena (Texas), 2-1, 60.5
25.
Cuero (Texas), 4-0, 60.4
