Power 25 Rankings: Thompson back on top with big week ahead
Three-time reigning Class 7A champion Thompson moved back to the No. 1 spot in this week’s AL.com Power 25 rankings.
The Power 25 is a weekly ranking of the top high school football teams in Alabama regardless of classification.
RELATED: Injured Tide WR commits expected to return
Thompson, which has won seven straight games since opening the season with back-to-back losses to quality out of state teams, received two first-place votes. Hoover and Theodore received one each.
Just three points separate the top three teams in this week’s poll – Thompson, Saraland and Hoover. Thompson and Hoover play Friday night in Alabaster. Saraland travels to play Theodore.
Here are this week’s rankings:
25. Pleasant Grove (7-1)
Total points: 8
Highest ranking: 18
Last week’s ranking: NR
Last week: Defeated Carver-Birmingham 42-0
This week: at Jasper, Friday
24. Ramsay (7-2)
Total points: 13
Highest ranking: 13
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 24th
Last week: Defeated Hayden 49-0
This week: at Carver-Birmingham, Thursday
23. Muscle Shoals (7-1)
Total points: 16
Highest ranking: 15
Last week’s ranking: NR
Last week: Defeated Cullman 23-16
This week: Idle
21. (TIE) Gulf Shores (7-1)
Total points: 17
Highest ranking: 16
Last week’s ranking: 19
Last week: Idle
This week: at Vigor (Ladd-Peebles Stadium), Friday
21. (TIE) Elba (8-0)
Total points: 17
Highest ranking: 15
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 21st
Last week: Defeated Florala 55-27
This week: at Pleasant Home, Friday
20. Deshler (9-0)
Total points: 25
Highest ranking: 14
Last week’s ranking: 23
Last week: Defeated Rogers 35-13
This week: at Brooks, Friday
19. Leeds (8-0)
Total points: 26
Highest ranking: 15
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 24th
Last week: Defeated Moody 14-13
This week: vs. Lincoln, Friday
18. Gardendale (6-2)
Total points: 30
Highest ranking: 14
Last week’s ranking: 18
Last week: Defeated Woodlawn 37-20
This week: at No. 7 Mountain Brook, Friday
17. Fyffe (8-0)
Total points: 33
Highest ranking: 11
Last week’s ranking: 17
Last week: Defeated Pisgah 40-6
This week: vs. Ider, Friday
16. Anniston (8-0)
Total points: 36
Highest ranking: 14
Last week’s ranking: 16
Last week: Defeated Talladega 62-0
This week: vs. Cleburne County, Friday
15. Hewitt-Trussville (6-3)
Total points: 37
Highest ranking: 8
Last week’s ranking: 14
Last week: Defeated Spain Park 35-10
This week: vs. Chelsea, Friday
14. Andalusia (9-0)
Total points: 41
Highest ranking: 11
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 12th
Last week: Defeated B.T. Washington 36-14
This week: vs. No. 9 Montgomery Catholic, Friday
12. (TIE) Hartselle (9-0)
Total points: 45
Highest ranking: 10
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 12th
Last week: Defeated Decatur 41-14
This week: Idle
12. (TIE) Fairhope (7-1)
Total points: 45
Highest ranking: 11
Last week’s ranking: 15
Last week: Defeated Alma Bryant 37-7
This week: vs. Baker, Friday
11. UMS-Wright (8-0)
Total points: 58
Highest ranking: 4
Last week’s ranking: 11
Last week: Defeated Citronelle 50-6
This week: vs. Faith Academy, Friday
THE TOP 10
Hueytown’s Jakhael Rowser runs into a wall of Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa defenders during the second half of the Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Hueytown high school football game in Hueytown, Ala., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
10. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (9-0)
Total points: 60
Highest ranking: 9
Last week’s ranking: 10
Last week: Defeated Paul Bryant 56-13
This week: at McAdory, Friday
Montgomery Catholic prepares to take the field against Alabama Christian on Friday night. (Wesley Lyle |[email protected])
9. Montgomery Catholic (9-0)
Total points: 64
Highest ranking: 5
Last week’s ranking: 9
Last week: Defeated Dale County 52-0
This week: at No. 14 Andalusia, Friday
Mountain Brook running back Cole Gamble (19) during a game at Parker High school in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, Oct. 6, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
7. (TIE) Mountain Brook (7-1)
Total points: 75
Highest ranking: 4
Last week’s ranking: 8
Last week: Defeated Mortimer Jordan 56-14
This week: vs. No. 18 Gardendale, Friday
Central High-Phenix City’s Deontae Ware tackles Auburn High’s DV Williams during an AHSAA football game Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Phenix City, Alabama. (Julie Bennett | [email protected])Julie Bennett | [email protected]
7. (TIE) Auburn (7-1)
Total points: 75
Highest ranking: 6
Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week: Lost to No. 4 Central-Phenix City 38-17
This week: at Prattville, Friday
Clay Chalkville’s Aaron Osley (21) carries the ball against Thompson during a game at Warriror Stadium in Alabaster, Ala., Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
6. Clay-Chalkville (7-1)
Total points: 78
Highest ranking: 5
Last week’s ranking: 6
Last week: Defeated Oxford 25-20
This week: at Shades Valley, Friday
Theodore’s run out banner prior to the game at McGill-Toolen. (Brad McPherson | [email protected])
5. Theodore (8-0)
Total points: 83
Highest ranking: 1
Last week’s ranking: 5
Last week: Defeated McGill-Toolen 37-10
This week: vs. No. 2 Saraland, Friday
Central High-Phenix City’s Romello Green outruns Auburn High’s Will Walker and Auburn High’s Rico Spinks during an AHSAA football game Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Phenix City, Alabama. (Julie Bennett | [email protected])Julie Bennett | [email protected]
4. Central-Phenix City (7-2)
Total points: 89
Highest ranking: 3 (twice)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Last week: Defeated No. 7 Auburn 38-17
This week: Idle
Hoover’s Bradley Shaw celebrates the stop of Tuscaloosa County’s Kevin Riley during a game at the Met in Hoover, Ala., Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
3. Hoover (8-1)
Total points: 91
Highest ranking: 1
Last week’s ranking: 4
Last week: Defeated Chelsea 38-0
This week: at No. 1 Thompson, Friday
Saraland quarterback KJ Lacey rolls out to pass during a prep football game, Friday, August 26, 2022, in Saraland, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
2. Saraland (8-0)
Total points: 92
Highest ranking: 2 (twice)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week: Idle
This week: at No. 5 Theodore, Friday
Thompson coach Mark Freeman talks with officials during a game at Thompson High School’s Warrior Stadium in Alabaster, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
1. Thompson (7-2)
Total points: 94
Highest ranking: 1 (twice)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Last week: Defeated Tuscaloosa County 49-7
This week: vs. No. 3 Hoover, Friday
Dropped out: Opelika, Center Point
Also receiving votes: Center Point (6), Austin (6), Faith Academy (6), Moody (6), Vestavia Hills (6), Mars Hill (5), Piedmont (4), Excel (3), Mary G. Montgomery (3), Priceville (2), Gordo (2), Handley (1), Highland Home (1), Patrician Academy (1).