High school football rankings: Defending Texas state champion Carthage headlines Preseason Small Town Top 25

The 2023 Preseason Small Town Top 25 high school football rankings begin the same way that they ended in 2022 – with Carthage (Texas) sitting at No. 1.

The Bulldogs finished 16-0 last year and No. 1 in the Small Town Top 25. Carthage edged out Pierce (Neb.) and China Spring (Texas) for the top spot.

This year, Carthage starts the year just ahead of China Spring while a pair of Ohio schools – Marion Local (Maria Stein) and South Range (Ohio) – come in at No. 3 and 4 respectively. Pierce starts the year at No. 5.

The Small Town Top 25 consist of schools with an enrollment of under 1,000 students from towns with a population of less than 10,000 people. Teams are ranked based on their preseason computer ranking, which is listed along with last year's record. Preseason Small Town Top 25

1. Carthage (Texas)
2022 record: 16-0
2023 preseason rating: 48.9
Finish: Texas Class 4A-II state champion
Outlook: The Bulldogs have won nine state championships since 2008 under coach Scott Surratt, who was the MaxPreps Small Town National Coach of the Year in 2022. Surratt is tied for the most state championships in state history and has a record of 205-29 in 16 seasons. Carthage will miss Small Town National Player of the Year Connor Cuff but returns six starters on offense and five on defense.

2. China Spring (Texas)
2022 record: 15-1
2023 preseason rating: 45.8
Finish: Texas Class 4A-I state champion
Outlook: The Cougars are looking for their third straight state championship. A total of five starters are back on offense and defense, including Small Town All-American Cash McCollum at quarterback. The Cougars also have one of the state's top defensive linemen in Baylor-bound Greydon Grimes (6-5, 235).

3. Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio)
2022 record: 16-0
2023 preseason rating: 42.2
Finish: Ohio Division VI champion
Outlook: The Flyers have won 32 straight games and coach Tim Goodwin is on the verge of winning is 300th game this year (293-48 career record). Marion Local, which moves down to Division VII this year, has won nine state championships since 2011 and 13 overall. All-state running back Drew Lause returns.

4. South Range (Canfield, Ohio)
2022 record: 16-0
2023 preseason rating: 41.9
Finish: Ohio Division V champion
Outlook: The Raiders won their first state championship last year after winning three straight league titles. The top returning player for South Range is offensive lineman Gus Valentine, who earned all-state honorable mention last year. The Raiders will have to replace quarterback Billy Skripac, who earned all-state honors and was conference POY.

5. Pierce (Neb.)
2022 record: 13-0
2023 preseason rating: 40.4
Finish: Nebraska Class C-1 state champion
Outlook: Winners of state titles in two of the past three seasons, Pierce will have to replace state defensive MVP Ben Brahmer. But All-Super State running back Keenan Valverde, who rushed for 1,900 yards and 26 touchdowns, is back along with Korvin Fritz, who led the team with 141 tackles.

6. Gunter (Texas)
2022 record: 16-0
2023 preseason rating: 38.4
Finish: Class 3A-II state champion
Outlook: The Tigers have won three state championships since 2016 and have eight returning starters from last year's undefeated team. Coach Jake Fieszel was the state coach of the year in Class 3A last year, but state defensive player of the year Ashton Bennett has graduated. Gunter does return a pair of all-state players, however, in junior defensive back Colin Peacock and junior kicker Preston Tarpley.

7. Timpson (Texas)
2022 record: 14-1
2023 preseason rating: 38.0
Finish: Class 2A-I semifinalist
Outlook: The Bears lost in the state semifinals to Refugio, 24-21, but return 19 starters from last year, including quarterback Terry Bussey, a five-star prospect by 247Sports. Bussey earned state player of the year honors by Dave Campbell's Texas Football after rushing for 2,596 yards and 46 touchdowns and throwing for 2,177 yards and 26 scores. The Bears also return all-state picks Vosky Howard at receiver and Tyler Lane at linebacker.

8. Franklin (Texas)
2022 record: 16-0
2023 preseason rating: 37.5
Finish: Class 3A-I
Outlook: Although Class 3A state player of the year Bryson Washington has graduated, the Lions return six starters on both sides of the ball from last year's undefeated back-to-back championship team. Franklin has won 32 straight games and returns all-state junior fullback Jayden Jackson along with defensive all-state picks Colby Smith at linebacker, Devyn Hidrogo at defensive back and defensive lineman Major Kimbrough.

9. Brock (Texas)
2022 record: 11-5
2023 preseason rating: 37.1
Finish: Class 3A-I runner-up
10. Morgan (Utah)
2022 record: 13-0
2023 preseason rating: 36.5
Finish: Class 3A state champion
Outlook: The Trojans have won two state titles in the past four seasons and six region championships in seven years. State MVP Nick Despain has graduated, but honorable mention all-state running back Jett Salmon and offensive tackle Cooper McGiven, along with cornerback Tate Nelson and kicker Beau Johnson return.

11. Silsbee (Texas)
2022 record: 13-1
2023 preseason rating: 36.3
Finish: Class 4A-II quarterfinalist
Outlook: The Tigers scored 56 points in their only loss, a 58-56 defeat at the hands of Cuero in the Class 4A-II quarterfinals. A total of 15 starters return from that team, including receiver Drelon Miller, the No. 13-ranked player in Texas by 247Sports.

12. Swainsboro (Ga.)
2022 record: 13-1
2023 preseason rating: 35.5
Finish: Class A Division 1 runner-up
Outlook: Runner-up to state champion Prince Avenue Christian, Swainsboro has won three region championships over the past five seasons. The Tigers have one of the top prospects in the state in all-state safety Demello Jones, who rushed for 1,279 yards and 20 touchdowns, and junior Qindaruis Brown, who ran for 1,237 yards and 13 touchdowns.

13. Hawley (Texas)
2022 record: 16-0
2023 preseason rating: 32.7
Finish: Class 2A-I champion
Outlook: The Bearcats have won five straight district championships and return nine starters from an undefeated state championship team. Texas Tech recruit Chandlin Myers returns. He caught 37 passes for 680 yards and eight touchdowns last year. All-state receiver Diontay Ramon also returns after catching 53 passes for 1,204 yards and nine scores.

14. Harlan (Iowa)
2022 record: 12-1
2023 preseason rating: 32.5
Finish: Class 3A state champion
Outlook: The winners of two straight state championships, the Cyclones have won seven district crowns in the past 10 seasons. All-state quarterback Teagon Kasperbauer has graduated, but all-state receiver Cade Sears returns.

15. Boone Central (Albion, Neb.)
2022 record: 9-3
2023 preseason rating: 32.4
Finish: Class C-1 semifinalist
Outlook: Boone's three losses were to Class C-1 finalists Pierce and Aurora. The defense should be outstanding with returning all-state selections Hank Hudson at linebacker and Parker Borer at defensive back.

16. Irwin County (Ocilla, Ga.)
2022 record: 11-2
2023 preseason rating: 32.2
Finish: Class A Division 1 semifinalist
Outlook: State champions in 2019 and 2020, the Indians lost to Swainsboro 22-21 in the Class A Division 1 semifinals last fall. All-state honorable mention defensive lineman Michael Joiner is the top returning player.

17. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (Rock Rapids, Iowa)
2022 record: 13-0
2023 preseason rating: 32.0
Finish: Class 2A state champion
Outlook: The Lions are the favorite again in Class 2A after winning the title last season. They have two of the top offensive players in the state in all-state running back Graham Eben and receiver Reece Vander Zee. The offensive and defensive lines should also be solid with all-state picks Trevor Dieren and Drew Denekas returning.

18. Aurora (Neb.)
2022 record: 12-1
2023 preseason rating: 31.7
Finish: Class C-1 runner-up
Outlook: The Huskies finished second in Class C-1 last year and won a state championship in 2018. Leading tackler Damian Stanley returns along with all-state two-way lineman Kellen Peterson.

19. Kirtland (Ohio)
2022 record: 15-1
2023 preseason rating: 31.4
Finish: Division VI runner-up
Outlook: Winner of three straight Division V championships from 2018-20, Kirtland moved down to Division VI and finished runner-up to Marion Local. Kirtland starts the year as the top team in Division VI, however, since Marion Local moves down to Division VII. The Hornets have lost just twice in their last 72 games. Although state defensive MVP Philip LaVerde has graduated, all-state defensive back Will Sayle returns along with second team receiver Gino Blasini and third team picks Rocco Alfieri at running back, Matthew Kahley at offensive lineman and Will Bates at defensive line.

20. Andale (Kan.)
2022 record: 13-0
2023 preseason rating: 30.9
Finish: Class 3A state champion
Outlook: Owners of the longest win streak in the nation at 51 in a row, Andale has won four straight state championships. The Indians had one of the top offenses in the nation last year, averaging 53 points a game while giving up just 5.2 points per outing. That included a 108-0 win over Nickerson.

21. Whitesboro (Texas)
2022 record: 11-2
2023 preseason rating: 30.7
Finish: Class 3A-I quarterfinalist
Outlook: The Bearcats' only losses were to Brock, including the playoff quarterfinals. Whitesboro returns its top two receivers from last year in Karter Sluder (35 catches, 755 yards) and Brett Donaldson (42, 513).

22. Columbus (Wis.)
2022 record: 14-0
2023 preseason rating: 30.5
Finish: Division 4 state champion
Outlook: Coach Andrew Selgrad was the state coach of the year by the Associated Press and he returns all-state running back Colton Brunell, who led the state with 2,897 yards rushing and 43 touchdowns.

23. Van Meter (Iowa)
2022 record: 12-1
2023 preseason rating: 30.4
Finish: Class 1A state champion
Outlook: The Bulldogs won the Class 1A state championship the past two years but they move up to Class 2A this season. Van Meter returns a pair of all-state picks in running back Ben Gordon and defensive utility Porter Doggett. Gordon rushed for 1,734 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior.

24. Belle Vernon (Pa.)
2022 record: 12-2
2023 preseason rating: 30.0
Finish: Class 3A state champion
Outlook: Coach Matt Humbert earned state coach of the year honors from Pennsylvania Football News and returns four all-state players in safety Adam LaCarte, running back Quinton Martin, guard Dane Levi and linebacker Jake Gedekoh.

25. Columbus (Texas)
2022 record: 12-2
2023 preseason rating: 30.0
Finish: Class 3A-I quarterfinalist
Outlook: The Cardinals return 10 starters from last year's team that lost to Franklin in the quarterfinals. Junior quarterback Adam Schobel, son of coach Matt Schobel, returns after earning honorable mention all-state honors as a sophomore while throwing for 2,800 yards and 36 touchdowns. John Schobel, Adam's cousin, also earned all-state honors at linebacker. Coach Matt Schobel is one of three Schobels to play in the NFL, joining brother Aaron and cousin Bo.