Top 25 Texas high school football rankings (9/4/2023)

Melissa rises; Reagan, McKinney debut; The Woodlands, Argyle drop out of SBLive Texas Power 25

Throughout the 2022-23 high school football season, SBLive is taking a look at the top 25 teams in the state of Texas, spanning all classifications and corners of the Lone Star State.

Each week, we release an updated SBLive Texas Power 25 team rankings, reflecting all results from the previous week. As games begin to kick off in Week 3, take a look at the most recent rankings, updated Monday.

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YOU DECIDE

• Vote: Who should be SBLive's Texas Offensive High School Football Player of the Week? (9/4/2023)

• Vote: Who should be SBLive's Texas Defensive High School Football Player of the Week? (9/4/2023)

• Vote: Who should be SBLive's Texas High School Athlete of the Week? (Aug. 28-Sept. 3)

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Who rose and fell after Week 2? Find out below in this complete breakdown of the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Texas Power 25 rankings, as of the week of Monday, September 4:

PAST RANKINGS: PRESEASON | AUG. 28 

Have a case to make about a team? A bone to pick? Reach our Texas editor at andy@scorebooklive.com.

SBLIVE TEXAS POWER 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS

What are the best 25 high school football teams in the Lone Star State, regardless of size and classification?

1. Duncanville Panthers (2-0)

SBLive/Sports Illustrated national ranking: 6
Previous rank: 1
Last Week: Def. Rockledge (FL), 44-0

It was smooth sailing for the Panthers on Saturday night against their out-of state foe, Rockledge as they cruised to a 44-0 victory. Duncanville continues to show why they are a top-10 nationally ranked team and the top team in the Lonestar State being led by their share of top players across the country, led by 4-star recruit Keelon Russell adding 3 more touchdowns through the air in the opening half.

Up next: at Lake Ridge, Sept. 15

2. DeSoto Eagles (1-0)

SBLive/SI Power 25 ranking: 11
Previous rank: 2
Last week: Bye

The Eagles took the week off after their Week-1 victory over Allen 39-7 at Allen Stadium, and will now travel to Kincaide Stadium to battle with the no. 14 South Oak Cliff Bears for SBLive Texas Power-25 match up. Senior quarterback Darius Bailey will lead the Eagles offense as he tossed 3-touchdowns in their opening game as DeSoto will continue to battle all season as the top team in the Lone Star State.

Up next: South Oak Cliff, Sept. 9 

3. Galena Park North Shore Mustangs (2-0)

SBLive/Sports Illustrated national ranking: 12
Previous rank: 3
Last Week: Def. Spring 53-0

With Desoto on a bye this week, and North Shore’s big shutout, lopsided 53-0 victory over Spring, the Mustang’s are looking like a complete team that can knock off Duncanville. It was a balanced win throughout as the Mustangs jumped out to a 17-0 1st quarter lead and never looked back. North Shore will wrap up their non-district schedule this week against SBLive Texas Power-25, no. 15 Westfield.

Up next: Westfield, Sept. 8

4. Austin Westlake Chaparrals (2-0)

SBLive/Sports Illustrated national ranking: 25
Previous rank: 4
Last week: Def. Converse Judson 47-0

Westlake started fast and never let off the gas against Judson, cruising to a complete shutout victory against the San Antonio powerhouse. The Chaps rushed for nearly 200 yards on the ground, led by senior Army commit Jack Kayser's 95 yards and a touchdown.

Up next: vs. Austin-Akins, Sept. 8

5. Aledo Bearcats (2-0)

Previous rank: 6
Last week: Def. No. 13 Denton-Guyer, 48-45

The Bearcats and head coach Robby Jones are showing why they are the team to beat in TX-5A, yet again for the 2023 season. The reigning state champs showed that they can win a shootout as they put on a show on the ground gaining nearly 300-yards led by 2026 running back Ray Guillory with 140 yards on the ground and one trip to the endzone.

Up next: Justin Northwest, Sept. 8

6. Vandegrift Vipers (2-0)

Previous rank: 7
Last week: Def. Cedar Park, 41-17

The Viper offense looked in sync against non-district foe Cedar Park, led by three-star Louisville commit Deuce Adams spreading the ball around to his weapons on the outside. Vandegrift looked to be more balanced this week and more poised to continue its quest for a state championship.

Up next: Waco Midway, Sept. 8

7. Atascocita Eagles (2-0)

Previous rank: 11
Last week: Def. No 5 Katy, 42-34

The Eagles were finally able to get over the hump as they defeated Katy on Friday night and this win may propel the Eagles for the rest of the season to make a deep playoff run into the state championship game. Atascocita jumped out to a quick lead scoring 21-points in the second quarter, then held off Katy’s comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. 

Up next: East St Louis (Illinois), Sept. 9

8. South Lake Carroll Dragons (2-0)

Previous rank: 12
Last week: Def. Marcus 57-15

The Dragons are climbing up the rankings after two impressive wins. Led by their ground attack as they racked up 363 yards rushing on the ground against Marcus, Sophomore tailback Davis Penn and 2024 running back Owen Cook tallied 123 yards apiece and Penn had two touchdowns.

Up next: at Cedar Hill, Sept. 8

9. Katy Tigers (1-1)

Previous rank: 5
Last week: Lost to Atascocita, 42-34

The Tigers gave up 21 point in the second quarter against the Eagles and never recovered. Katy will certainly look to bounce back this week against Katy-Tompkins to regroup with district play beginning this week, and they make their way back to the top in TX-6A.

Up next: vs. Katy-Tompkins, Sept. 8

10. Prosper Eagles (2-0)

Previous rank : 14

Last week: Def. Sachse, 49-13

It has been a great start to the 2023 season for the Eagles starting 2-0 as they have one more tune-up game before they begin district play this week. Against Sachse, it was a balanced offensive attack that propelled the Eagles to the win, and they will game plan for similar success this week.

Up next: vs. Rockwall, Sept. 8

11. Melissa Cardinals (2-0)

Previous rank: 20

Last week: Def. No 9 China Spring, 66-33

No team has had a more hot start than the Melissa Cardinals to open the 2023 season. In back-to-back weeks, they have two SBLive Texas Power-25 wins, including this past week on the road against the two-time reigning TX-4A State Champions, China Spring. Between their offense and the defense, they have been dominant on both sides of the ball and look like they are on a crash course for a final’s meeting with Aledo in Arlington come December.

Up next: vs. Royse City, Sept. 8

12. China Spring Cougars (1-1)

Previous rank: 9
Last week: Lost to No. 20 Melissa 66-33

The two-time reigning TX-4A champs ran into a buzz saw last week against Melissa as the Cougars looked outmatched against the TX-5A competition. China Spring’s rest of their non-district only gets tougher and it will be a true test to see where the Cougars and what they need to improve on in order to win the coveted 3-peat in Texas High School Football.

Up next: vs. Mexia, Sept. 8

13. Pharr San Juan Alamo (2-0)

Previous rank: 17

Last week: Def. Los Fresnos 54-17

The Raiders off to a hot start down in South Texas as they are rising up the rankings in TX-5A. The balanced offense is averaging 47.5 points per game, and the defense gets after opposing quarterbacks in a hurry.

Up next: vs. Laredo United South, Sept. 8

14. South Oak Cliff Bears (1-1)

Previous rank: 16
Last week: Def. Lancaster, 42-21

After dropping its opener to Duncanville, SOC will get another crack at a top-ranked team in Texas in perennial powerhouse DeSoto. With two top-10 matchups in the first three weeks, how successful a season 2023 will be for the Bears? SOC has the firepower on offense and defense to compete at the high level led by their 2024 stars in the backfield of William Little and Danny Green.

Up next: No. 2 DeSoto (nationally ranked)

15. Spring Westfield Mustangs (1-1)

Previous rank: 8
Last week: Lost to Fort Bend Hightower, 14-9

In a Saturday night match up, the Mustangs dropped their non-district contest to Fort Bend Hightower in Week-2 as they are preparing for next week’s game against North Shore.

Up next: vs. No. 3 North Shore, Sept. 8

16. Carthage Bulldogs (2-0)

Previous rank: 22
Last week: Def. Pittsburgh, 42-17

Carthage remains a staple in TX-4A, Division II and remains undefeated through two games. The reigning state champions have been led by sophomore running back KJ Edwards (169 yards rushing, three touchdowns in win over Pittsburgh).

Up next: vs. Cornerstone Christian, Sept. 8

17. Lucas-Lovejoy Leopards (2-0)

Previous rank: 24
Last week: Def. Argyle, 42-14

The Leopards knocked off ranked Argyle on Friday, jumping up 21-0 quickly in the first quarter and 35-0 by half. They will return home this week to host North Crowley and will try to remain undefeated in non-district play.

Up next: vs. North Crowley, Sept. 8

18. Cibolo-Steele Knights (1-1)

Previous rank: 15
Last week: Lost to Lake Travis, 20-10

The Knights suffered their first loss on the road at Lake Travis as Steele could not overcome an early first quarter deficit. 2025 quarterback Chad Warner paced the Steele offense with 200-plus yards through the air and one touchdown. Warner and the Knights return home this Friday night to host the Hutto Hippos and Texas Tech commit Will Hammond.

Up next: Hutto, Sept. 8

19. Longview Lobos (1-1)

Previous rank: 25
Last week: Def. Marshall, 49-7

The Lobos bounced back from their opening week loss to McKinney in grand fashion — a lopsided victory over Marshall. Longview relied on their ground attack and 2024 Oklahoma commit Taylor Tatum, who had 136 of the team's 295 yards rushing.

Next week: vs. Tyler-Legacy, Sept. 8

20. Parish-Episcopal Panthers (0-2)

Previous rank: 10
Last week: Lost to Episcopal, 27-20

Sow start for the Panthers. After a tough battle with Aledo in the opening week, Parish matched up with Episcopal in Week 2, and could not overcome Panther quarterback Sawyer Anderson's three interceptions. The schedule for the Panthers does not get any easier as they travel to face the SOC Bears in Week 4, then travel to China Spring.

Up next: vs. LBJ-Austin, Sept. 8

21. Lewisville Farmers (1-1)

Previous rank: 18
Last week: Lost to Highland Park, 21-18

The Farmers suffered their first loss of the season to Highland Park after a slow start, trailing 21-10 after the first 12 minutes. Lewisville kept Highland off the scoreboard for the rest of the game, but could not overcome the deficit. One more tuneup before district play ahead.

Up next: vs. Mesquite, Sept. 8

22. McKinney Lions (2-0)

Previous rank: NR
Last week: Def. Berkner, 35-14

After a big opening week win against TX-5A foe Longview, McKinney continued their winning ways this week and now finds themselves in the SBLive TX Power-25 with a 2-0 start. The Lions continued to rely on their ground attack as they tallied 245 yards rushing against Berkner led by class of 2025 standout Jacoby Probes, who added 113 yards on the ground.

Up next: Flower Mound, Sept. 8.

23. Smithson Valley Rangers (1-1)

Previous rank: 24
Last week: Def. Harker Heights, 27-10

After dropping their opening week game to their rival Reagan, Smithson Valley coach Larry Hill and the Rangers went on the road and knocked off Harker Heights to even their record at 1-1. The long-tenured coach is two wins away from his 300th career win. Hill will continue to lean on their ground game and defense, along with 4-star 2024 Texas commit Freddie Dubose, finding different ways to get him the ball. 

Up next: vs. East Central, Sept. 8

24. Reagan Rattlers (2-0)

Previous rank: NR
Last week: Def. Round Rock, 35-28

Reagan jumps into the Power 25 from the bubble after a slim, one-touchdown victory on the road at Round Rock. In two games, Reagan is being led by 2024 running back Cole Pryor, who has 300 rushing yards and five touchdowns in two games. The defending TX-6A, District-28 champs are now 2-0 as district play opens.

Up next: vs. Clark, Sept. 8

25. Dallas Christian Chargers (1-1)

Previous rank: 23
Last week: Lost to Ouachita Christian, 17-14

Traveled across state lines to Louisiana and lost a nail biter. Junior quarterback Luke Carney had a well-balanced game against Ouachita Christian, throwing for over 200 yards and rushing for over 100 yards, but the Chargers could not overcome two interceptions. 

Up next: vs. Tolar, Sept. 8

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DROPPED OUT:

The Woodlands Highlanders

Argyle Eagles

NEXT 5 OUT:

Willis Wildkats

Brennan Bears

Lake Travis Cavaliers

Corpus Christi Miller Buccaneers

Wimberley Texans