AL.com Power 25 HS Rankings: Who is the state’s No. 1 football team?
Clay-Chalkville jumped from No. 3 to No. 1 in the final AL.com Power 25 high school football poll of 2023 after knocking off Saraland on Friday in the Class 6A championship game.
Alabama commit Jaylen Mbakwe accounted for four touchdowns in the dramatic 31-28 Cougar victory. The Spartans slipped to No. 3 following the loss. Class 7A champion Central-Phenix City, the No. 1 team last week, finished at No. 2.
The Power 25 ranks the best teams in Alabama regardless of classification. Four state champions finished among the Top 10 teams in the state.
Here is the final poll of 2023:
25. (TIE) Reeltown (13-1)
Total points: 9
Highest rank: 17
Last week’s ranking: Not ranked
Final results: Lost to Fyffe 43-24 in Class 2A championship game.
25. (TIE) Pike Road (11-3)
Total points: 9
Highest rank: 17
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 21st
Final results: Lost to Saraland 46-7 in Class 6A semifinals
25. (TIE) Hartselle (9-3)
Total points: 9
Highest rank: 17
Last week’s ranking: Not ranked
Final results: Lost to Gadsden City 22-15 in Class 6A second round.
25. (TIE) St. James (11-3)
Total points: 9
Highest rank: 17
Last week’s ranking: Not ranked
Final results: Lost to Mobile Christian 34-30 in Class 3A semifinals.
24. Elba (13-1)
Total points: 10
Highest rank: 18
Last week’s ranking: Not ranked
Final results: Lost to Leroy 27-24 in Class 1A semifinals
23. Cherokee County (13-2)
Total points: 14
Highest rank: 18
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 19th
Final results: Lost to Montgomery Catholic 35-0 in Class 4A championship game.
21. (TIE) Dothan (8-3)
Total points: 15
Highest rank: 16
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 21st
Final results: Lost to Mary G. Montgomery 21-13 in Class 7A first round.
21. (TIE) Guntersville (12-2)
Total points: 15
Highest rank: 18
Last week’s ranking: Not ranked
Final results: Lost to Ramsay 35-14 in Class 5A semifinals.
20. Mountain Brook (8-4)
Total points: 19
Highest rank: 11
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 21st
Final results: Lost to Clay-Chalkville 17-13 in Class 6A second round.
19. Pleasant Grove (10-2)
Total points: 20
Highest rank: 16
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 19th
Final results: Lost to Guntersville 31-21 in Class 5A quarterfinals
18. Leroy (14-0)
Total points: 25
Highest rank: 9
Last week’s ranking: 18
Final results: Defeated Coosa Christian 28-21 in Class 1A championship
17. Enterprise (9-3)
Total points: 34
Highest rank: 9
Last week’s ranking: 17
Final results: Lost to Mary G. Montgomery 13-10 in Class 7A quarterfinals.
16. Fyffe (14-1)
Total points: 40
Highest rank: 10
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 21st
Final results: Defeated Reeltown 43-24 in Class 2A state championship game.
15. Parker (12-2)
Total points: 41
Highest rank: 14
Last week’s ranking: 14
Final results: Lost to Clay-Chalkville 38-13 in Class 6A semifinals.
14. Muscle Shoals (11-1)
Total points: 48
Highest rank: 6
Last week’s ranking: 15
Final results: Lost to Clay-Chalkville 44-27 in Class 6A quarterfinals.
13. Ramsay (12-3)
Total points: 50
Highest rank: 7
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 5th
Final results: Lost to Gulf Shores 21-14 in Class 5A championship game.
12. Auburn (9-3)
Total points: 53
Highest rank: 8
Last week’s ranking: 16
Final results: Lost to Central-Phenix City 49-21 in Class 7A quarterfinals.
11. Mobile Christian (15-0)
Total points: 56
Highest rank: 5
Last week’s ranking: 12
Final results: Defeated Madison Academy 55-28 in Class 3A championship
THE TOP 10
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa’s Decorrion Thomas goes in for a touchdown against Saraland in the first half of a prep football playoff game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Saraland, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected]) Mike Kittrell | [email protected]
10. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (12-1)
Total points: 57
Highest rank: 10
Last week’s ranking: 8
Final results: Lost to Saraland 31-21 in Class 6A quarterfinals
Montgomery Catholic coach Kirk Johnson celebrates the win over Cherokee County coach Jacob Kelley during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 4A championship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])Dennis Victory
9. Montgomery Catholic (15-0)
Total points: 60
Highest rank: 6
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 9th
Final results: Defeated Cherokee County 35-0 in Class 4A championship game.
Vestavia Hills quarterback John Paul Head looks for a receiver against Thompson during a Class 7A second round playoff game at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster, Ala., on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])Dennis Victory
8. Vestavia Hills (9-3)
Total points: 61
Highest rank: 7
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 9th
Final results: Lost to Thompson 34-14 in Class 7A quarterfinals.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Dylan Cope runs the ball during a Class 7A semifinal playoff game at Warrior Stadium in Alabaster, Ala., on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (Jason Homan | [email protected])Jason Homan
7. Hewitt-Trussville (9-4)
Total points: 69
Highest rank: 5
Last week’s ranking: 7
Final results: Lost to Thompson 21-10 in Class 7A semifinals.
Gulf Shores celebrates the win over Ramsay during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 5A championship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])Dennis Victory
6. Gulf Shores (15-0)
Total points: 75
Highest rank: 4
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 9th
Final results: Defeated Ramsay 21-14 in Class 5A championship game.
Mary G. Montgomery quarterback Jared Hollins drops back to pass during a preps football game, Friday, November 17, 2023, in Semmes, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | [email protected])Scott Donaldson | [email protected]
5. Mary G. Montgomery (12-1)
Total points: 78
Highest rank: 5
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 5th
Final results: Lost to Central-Phenix City 21-7 in Class 7A semifinals
Thompson’s Vini Pires celebrates his punt block against Central-Phenix City with assistant coaches during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 7A championship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])Dennis Victory
4. Thompson (11-2)
Total points: 84
Highest rank: 4
Last week’s ranking: 4
Final results: Lost to Central-Phenix City 21-19 in Class 7A championship game.
Clay-Chalkville’s Aaron Osley runs into a Saraland wall of defenders during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 6A championship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])Vasha Hunt | [email protected]
3. Saraland (14-1)
Total points: 93
Highest rank: 2
Last week’s ranking: 2
Final results: Lost to Clay-Chalkville 31-28 in Class 6A championship.
Thompson’s AJ Green is topped by Central-Phenix City’s Emanuel Smith, left, Trent Hood and Jiquan Sanks during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 7A championship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])Dennis Victory
2. Central-Phenix City (13-0)
Total points: 97
Highest rank: 1
Last week’s ranking: 1
Final results: Defeated Thompson 21-19 in Class 7A championship game.
Clay-Chalkville celebrates the win over Saraland during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 6A championship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])Dennis Victory
1. Clay-Chalkville (14-0)
Total points: 98
Highest rank: 1
Last week’s ranking: 3
Final results: Defeated Saraland 31-28 in Class 6A championship game.
Dropped out: Benjamin Russell
Others receiving votes: Jackson (5), Coosa Christian (4), B.B. Comer (3), Andalusia (3), Hoover (1)