Alabama High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams - Sept. 30

The final weekend of September high school football in Alabama saw some cancellations due to Hurricane Helene, but a majority of the state’s top teams were still able to take the field.

Phenix City Central remains the state’s top program, but Clay-Chalkville has jumped up to No. 2 in the On3 Massey Ratings Alabama top 25 following a big top-five victory over Thompson.

UPDATED SCORES FOR TOP 25 TEAMS IN ALABAMA

Below are the updated top 25 teams in the state heading into the first weekend of October.

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

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1. Phenix City Central

Previous: No. 1
The state’s top team was set to host national top-10 IMG Academy (Fla.) last week, but the game was cancelled due to the hurricane and will not be rescheduled this season. Still undefeated at 5-0, the Red Devils don’t have to wait long for another big test, as No. 3 Auburn heads to Garrett-Harrison Stadium on Friday night.

2. Clay-Chalkville

Previous: No. 4 (+2)
It was an offensive struggle in Alabaster last weekend, but Clay-Chalkville outlasted Thompson for a 14-13 in overtime thanks to a missed extra point. The Cougars received a two-spot bump in the state rankings and are now also the No. 35 team in the nation, per the Massey Ratings. Now 5-0, Chalkville returns home for another ranked matchup, this time against No. 23 Mountain Brook on Friday night.

3. Auburn

Previous: No. 2 (-1)
Auburn was also postponed last week due to the weather but will also benefit from the added rest as it looks to dethrone No. 1 Central on the road this weekend. The 5-0 Tigers already have three ranked wins on the season, most recently a 31-point thrashing of No. 12 Enterprise on the road. The top-ranked Red Devils provide a much tougher challenge, however. The Massey Ratings predict a 37-27 victory for Central.

4. Alabaster Thompson

Previous: No. 3 (-1)
For the second time this season Thompson lost after mustering up just two scores. The missed extra point in overtime sealed the deal for No. 2 Clay-Chalkville last weekend, but the now-No. 4 Warriors have an immediate opportunity to bounce back on Friday. No. 6 Hewitt-Trussville is set to head to Alabaster for another top-10 in-state showdown.

5. Saraland

Previous: No. 5
Saraland’s game against No. 13 Montgomery Catholic Prep was also postponed last week, supplying the Spartans with some extra rest as they head into October. Still undefeated at 5-0 and led by Texas QB commit K.J. Lacey, Saraland is heavily favored to win the remaining four games on its regular season schedule, starting with a home matchup against 0-4 Baldwin County this week.

6. Hewitt-Trussville

Previous: No. 7 (+1)
Hewitt-Trussville has bounced back well since losing 8-7 to top-10 Hoover in the middle of September, winning its last two games by a combined score of 96-23. Now No. 6 in the state, the 5-1 Huskies will look for their marquee victory of the season at No. 4 Thompson. The Massey Ratings predict a 32-14 win for the home team, however.

7. Spain Park

Previous: No. 8 (+1)
After trailing early, Spain Park rallied for a 10-point road win over James Clemens last weekend to improve to 5-0 on the season. The Jaguars have the No. 11 offense in the state, per the Massey Ratings. Averaging 36.2 points per game, they’ll look to remain undefeated on Friday night when they head to 1-4 Pelham.

8. Hoover

Previous: No. 6 (-2)
Hoover’s defense, which ranks No. 2 in the state, once again came to play last weekend, but its offense was stymied in a 14-10 loss at home to now-No. 9 Parker. The Buccaneers are now 4-2 on the season and will round out a three-game home stand on Friday night when they host 3-2 Oak Mountain. Hoover’s next big matchup comes on Oct. 18 at Thompson.

9. Parker

Previous: No. 14 (+5)
After suffering its first loss of the season to nationally-ranked Carrollton (Ga.) two weeks ago, Parker rebounded in a big way over the weekend, besting Hoover on the road. As a result, the 5-1 Thundering Herd jumped into the state top 10 and now has their sights set on a favorable schedule for the rest of the regular season. They’re set to host winless Jackson-Olin this Friday.

10. Oxford

Previous: No. 10
The Yellow Jackets are one of the first teams to 6-0 this season following a 25-point win on the road over Helena last weekend. Oxford already has four wins away from home in 2024 and possesses a top-10 offense in the state that’s averaging 38 points per game overall. Its bye week doesn’t come until after this weekend when it hosts 2-3 Pell City.

Teams 11-25 in latest Alabama High School Football Rankings

11. Opelika (+1)
12. Enterprise (-3)
13. Montgomery Catholic Prep (-2)
14. Montgomery Carver (-1)
15. Spanish Fort

16. Vestavia Hills
17. Central of Clay County (+2)
18. Mary G. Montgomery
19. Hillcrest (+5)
20. Jackson

21. Austin (previously unranked)
22. Baker (-5)
23. Mountain Brook (-2)
24. St. Paul’s Episcopal (-2)
25. Vigor (-2)

Dropped Out: #25 James Clemens