High school football rankings: Despite season-opening loss, Carthage of Texas No. 1 in Small Town Top 25

Bulldogs have bounced back from rare setback with a pair of blowout wins, program is 102-4 since 2017.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Kevin Askeland
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Sep 26, 2024, 11:00am
Despite losing its season opener to Kilgore (Texas), Carthage (Texas) remains No. 1 in the latest Small Town Top 25 high school football rankings.

Carthage rebounded from a 20-15 loss to Kilgore to post a pair of blowout wins over Liberty-Eylau (Texarkana) and Chapel Hill (Tyler) and maintain its No. 1 ranking. The Bulldogs lead No. 2 Louisville (Miss.), which started the season at No. 5 in the preseason rankings, by 2.2 points in the computer ratings.

Toombs County (Lyons, Ga.) moved to No. 3 spot after starting the year at No. 22. The Bulldogs have won their first five games by an average of just under 40 points per game.

Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio) has climbed three spots to No. 4 with a 5-0 record. The Flyers have the longest active win streak in the nation at 53 in a row and are four away from tying the state record of 57.

Texas has 10 teams in the rankings including six in the top 12.

To qualify for inclusion in the Small Town Top 25, schools must have an enrollment under 1,000 students in a town with a population of less than 10,000. Teams are listed with their record and MaxPreps computer rating.
Regarded as one of the top junior quarterback prospects in the country, Landon Duckworth of Jackson (Ala.) has passed and run for 1,263 yards and 13 touchdowns through five games. The Aggies are ranked No. 10 in this week's Small Town Top 25. (Photo: Brad Boland)
Regarded as one of the top junior quarterback prospects in the country, Landon Duckworth of Jackson (Ala.) has passed and run for 1,263 yards and 13 touchdowns through five games. The Aggies are ranked No. 10 in this week's Small Town Top 25. (Photo: Brad Boland)
Small Town Top 25

1. (Preseason No. 1) Carthage (Texas), 2-1, 52.3
2. (5) Louisville (Miss.), 4-0, 50.1
3. (22) Toombs County (Lyons, Ga.), 5-0, 44.0
4. (7) Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio), 5-0, 42.5
5. (4) Malakoff (Texas), 4-0, 42.2

6. (NR) Kirtland (Ohio), 5-0, 42.0
7. (NR) Columbus (Texas), 4-0, 41.6
8. (NR) Brock (Texas), 4-0, 41.5
9. (NR) Coldwater (Ohio), 5-0, 40.9
10. (19) Jackson (Ala.), 4-1, 39.8

11. (3) Franklin (Texas), 2-1, 37.5
12. (13) Hitchcock (Texas), 3-1, 36.9
13. (11) Perry (Ohio), 4-1, 36.0
14. (6) Gilmer (Texas), 2-2, 35.8
15. (14) Hawthorne (Fla.), 4-1, 35.8

16. (9) Gunter (Texas), 2-2, 33.3
17. (NR) Wahoo (Neb.), 4-0, 33.2
18. (2) Bellville (Texas), 2-2, 33.2
19. (20) Liberty Center (Ohio), 5-0, 32.6
20. (NR) Madison County (Madison, Fla.), 4-1, 32.6

21. (NR) Minneota (Minn.), 4-0, 32.5
22. (NR) Edna (Texas), 3-0, 31.6
23. (21) Stewartville (Minn.), 4-0, 31.2
24. (12) Grundy Center (Iowa), 4-0, 30.6
25. (NR) Elgin (Okla.), 3-0, 30.5

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