Video: Top 10 Games of the Week No. 12 Bishop Gorman hosts No. 2 Mater Dei in a matchup of the last two national champions.
Texas dominates MaxPreps' preseason look at the top 25 small school football teams as 11 teams found their way into the rankings.
Newton leads the way with the No. 1 overall ranking after winning a class 3A title in 2017.
Florida and Georgia each had five teams selected, including the Nos. 2 and 3 teams. Chaminade-Madonna follows Newton and Cedar Grove (Ga.) is No. 3.
Those three teams top the list of the 25 best small school football teams in the nation. The list includes teams that generally have under 1,000 students. The teams are listed, along with their computer ranking and last season's record.
Preseason Top 25 Small Schools Football Rankings
Newton won the Texas Class 3A-2 state championship last year and opens as the No. 1 small school in the country.
File photo by Kyle Dantzler
The Eagles culminated a six-year run of district dominance by finishing undefeated and claiming a Class 3A-2 state championship. Newton returns 17 starters, including nine on offense. Four-star defensive end
James Sylvester (6-4, 225) leads the defense while 4-star wide receiver
Tamauzia Brown (6-1, 175) leads the offense.
2. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 59.0, 11-2
A total of seven Division I prospects dot the roster for the Lions, including 4-star defensive backs
Te'cory Couch and
Keontra Smith along with defensive tackle
Willie Moise (6-2, 275). They won a Class 3A state championship last year with a 31-28 win over Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach).
3. Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.), 52.1, 13-1
Five-star wide receiver
Jadon Haselwood leads a Cedar Grove team that lost only to Calhoun last year. The Saints have won five region titles in the past eight years with a state title in 2016. They have a tough schedule that includes McEachern and Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.)
4. Brock (Texas), 52.0, 13-3
The Eagles last won a state championship in 2015, but they have three district titles in 2014-16. Coach Chad Worrell has 15 returning starters including eight on offense. One of them is highly regarded tight end
Baylor Cupp (6-foot-6, 235).
5. Canadian (Texas), 48.4, 14-1
The Wildcats have had a tremendous record over the past 15 years, going 182-27 during that span with 10 district titles and four state championships during that span. They last won back-to-back state titles in 2014 and 2015. The only loss last year was to Gunter in the state semifinals.
6. Gunter (Texas), 48.0, 15-1
The Tigers fell to Newton in the state championship game to end their shot at back-to-back state titles. Gunter has won nine state championships in the past 15 seasons and has 154-37 record in that time. They have a Division 1 prospect in wide receiver
Dylan Jantz (5-9, 175).
7. Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, Ga.), 45.2, 12-2
Brothers Myles and
Christopher Hinton, sons of former NFL All-Pro Chris Hinton, lead the Spartans. Myles (6-6, 305) is a 4-star offensive tackle while Chris is a 5-star senior defensive end.
8. Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater, Fla.), 45.0, 11-1
The Marauders have won six straight district championships, but fell to Chaminade Madonna in the post season. The receiving corps should be stellar with Division I prospects
Jerjuan Newton at wide receiver and
Brett Seither (6-5, 225) at tight end.
9. Goliad (Texas), 44.9, 11-2
Goliad is a team on the rise, especially in the past two seasons when it won a pair of district titles. The only losses last year were to Yoakum in the playoffs and Refugio during the regular season.
10. Mart (Texas), 43.9, 15-1One of the winningest programs in the nation, Mart captured a Class 2A-I state championship last year and has won 15 straight after losing its season opener last year. Mart returns six starters each on offense and defense, including starting running back
Tyrek Horne (5-8, 165).
11. Trinity Catholic (St. Louis), 43.5, 9-1
The Titans are the team to beat in Division 3 in Missouri thanks to 12 Division I prospects back from last year's state championship team. Leading the way is 5-star receiver
Marcus Washington.
12. Yoakum (Texas), 42.7, 13-2
Yoakum finished one game short of the state championship game, falling to Rockdale in the postseason. The Bulldogs will have to replenish a strong receiving group that lost Joshua Moore and Isaac Pope.
13. West (Texas), 42.6, 10-3
Long a baseball power in Texas, West won a district title last year for the first time in more than a decade. The Trojans defeated Rockdale in the regular season, but then lost to Rockdale in the playoffs.
14. Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.), 42.2, 14-0
The three-time Class A Private state champions have won 36 games entering the 2018 season. They have one of the state's top defensive tackles in 4-star junior Marquis Black.
15. Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), 42.0, 16-0
Winners of 11 league championships in the past 15 seasons and six state championships, Southern Columbia went undefeated last year and has a 192-22 record since 2003.
16. Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio), 41.8, 15-0
Winners of 27 straight games, Marion Local has won eight state titles in the past 12 seasons, including back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017.
17. Childress (Texas), 41.7, 12-2
The Bobcats lost twice to Canadian during the season, including once in the postseason. Childress last won a district title in 2007 when it won the last of its three straight championships. Childress has gone 110-63 since 2003.
18. Madison County (Madison, Fla.), 41.4, 14-0
The Cowboys have won 10 district championships over the past 15 years and claimed a Class 1A state title last year with an undefeated season. The defense will be solid with 4-star cornerback
Travis Jay and 3-star defensive tackle
Terray Jones.
19. Boyle County (Danville, Ky.), 40.5, 14-1
The defending Class 3A state champion in Kentucky may be even better in 2018 with 13 returning starters and a 10-0 JV team moving up. Among the top players are receiver
Jackson Smith and running back
Landen Bartleson.
20. West Rusk (New London, Texas), 40.3, 10-2
The Raiders have a pair of Division I prospects in
Darius Richardson (6-2, 290, DT) and
DJ Hart (6-0, 175, WR). West Rusk won a district championship last year for the first time since 2010 and fell to Newton in the postseason.
21. Calhoun (Ga.), 40.2, 14-1
The defending Class AAA state champions in Georgia, Calhoun has won 17 consecutive region championships. A talented receiving crew boasts
Brannon Spector and
Luke Moseley.
22. Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah, Fla.), 39.6, 9-2
A number of Division I prospects fill the roster, led by receiver
Johnquai Lewis. Only losses were to Kentucky state champion Trinity (Louisville) and University (Fort Lauderdale).
23. Brooks County (Quitman, Ga.), 39.5, 12-2
A total of 11 starters return and an undefeated JV team moves up for the Trojans.
Tae'aviion Gray and
Darryl Gallon lead the defense at defensive end.
24. Pahokee (Fla.), 39.5, 8-3Winners of six state titles in the past 15 seasons, Pahokee has also won eight district championships. The Blue Devils have one of the state's top defensive end in
LaTarie Kinsler (6-4, 210).
25. Muenster (Texas), 38.9, 16-0
With eight district championships in the last 15 years, Muenster picked up a Class 2A-II state championship with an undefeated season. Muenster scored over 50 points eight times including over 70 points three times. A total of 10 starters return, along with quarterback
Parker McGrew and lineman
Kody Walterscheid (6-6, 240).
