July 17, 2025

ENCORE VERSION | Preseason high school football polls, for those of you ‘summer-ing’

Mitch Lucas 19 hours ago
Kilgore and Carthage are in two different classifications of UIL 4A, but the two meet regularly in the non-district schedule. They’ll do so again, once again in the season opener, this time in Kilgore on Friday, Aug. 29. (Photo by DENNIS JACOBS – ETBLITZ.COM)

It’s summer, and you guys are… summer-ing.

So we originally ran the preseason high school football polls back on July 5. But the polls are getting buried in stories that have ran since then, particularly our editions of Wake Up!, which run every single day.

We thought we’d bring these back again, back to the forefront, so you guys can take a look and see who’s ranked where, who’s not ranked, and so on. By the way, at the time the polls ran, ETBlitz.com was still a week from announcing which schools would be added to our coverage area. We all know now – it’s Carthage, Beckville and Pine Tree, and we’ll cover all sports at those schools beginning with the 2025-26 school year.

That gives a little different perspective on these preseason polls, because now, in addition to ETBlitz.com-area programs Kilgore, Gilmer, Troup, Arp and Overton being state-ranked, we also have Carthage in the mix as one of our new schools. So six football teams in the ETB coverage area are ranked in the preseason polls.

Now, why do we recognize the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football polls as our state polls? For a myriad of reasons, but let’s state a few of them: they’ve been around a LONG time; they’re the most respected; they wind up pretty accurate from the beginning of the season throughout the playoffs; and one more reason, and this is important, too: because we don’t want to look like idiots by having our own poll, and just ranking the same schools over and over each week, when classifications matter, among other reasons.

A few notes:

ETBlitz.com does not have any 6A or 5A programs in our coverage area, but we have included those polls in this story to be thorough, so all of the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football polls can be found below.

There are five 4A programs in our area. Kilgore, Pine Tree and Henderson compete in University Interscholastic League Class 4A, Division I, the larger of the 4As, as UIL bases things on enrollment, of course. Carthage and Gilmer both compete in 4A-Division II.

Four programs in the ETB coverage area – Gladewater, Sabine, Tatum and White Oak – compete in 3A’s Division I. And three others – Arp, Troup and West Rusk – compete in 3A-DII.

Two of our schools, Overton and Beckville, compete in Class 2A. Beckville, as mentioned one of our three new programs to ETBlitz coverage, plays in the 2A-DI classification and Overton in 2A-DII.

And Leverett’s Chapel is the lone 1A program in the ETB coverage area, the only six-man program we currently cover.

One more thing: we don’t have a paywall here on ETBlitz.com. You can read, and read, and read, and thank our advertisers for that. If you want to read the DCTF site, though, it is a subscription site, but it’s worth it – they do a great job. Click the link below to find out more.

Now, on to the polls. The next polls won’t be out until after the first week of games.

CLASS 6A PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Southlake Carroll15-1
2. North Crowley16-0
3. Duncanville13-1
4. Austin Westlake14-2
5. Galena Park-North Shore14-1
6. Austin Vandegrift15-1
7. Allen13-1
8. Katy11-2
9. Lake Travis12-2
10. DeSoto11-3
11. Humble Summer Creek12-3
12. Fort Bend Ridge Point10-2
13. Humble Atascocita12-2
14. Euless Trinity11-2
15. Denton Guyer10-4
16. Dickinson7-4
17. Longview12-3
18. Pearland9-3
19. The Woodlands11-2
20. Cibolo Steele11-2
21. Waxahachie9-4
22. Prosper8-3
23. San Antonio Brennan10-2
24. Bridgeland10-2
25. Cy Ranch8-4
26. Coppell12-1
27. Alvin Shadow Creek9-2
28. Rockwall6-6
29. San Antonio Harlan12-2
30. San Antonio Johson10-2
31. Willis12-1
32. Lewisville7-4
33. Spring Westfield8-3
34. North Forney8-4
35. Klein Cain9-2
36. Tomball10-2
37. Dripping Springs8-4
38. Wylie East10-2
39. Katy Jordan11-2
40. Midland Legacy6-6
41. Fort Bend Hightower9-2
42. Klein Collins7-6
43. Wolfforth Frenship10-2
44. Rockwall Heath4-6
45. Crowley8-5
46. Fulshear12-1
47. Cy Falls9-3
48. Harker Heights8-3
49. Byron Nelson8-3
50. Hebron8-5

CLASS 5A, DIVISION I PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Aledo12-2
2. Smithson Valley14-2
3. Denton Ryan13-2
4. Highland Park14-2
5. Frisco Lone Star12-2
6. La Porte10-4
7. Angleton13-2
8. College Station11-2
9. Abilene9-4
10. A&M Consolidated12-1
11. San Antonio Pieper11-1
12. Pflugerville Weiss8-3
13. Midlothian 10-3
14. Richland10-3
15. Lufkin10-2
16. Georgetown10-2
17. Port Arthur Memorial8-4
18. PSJA North10-2
19. West Mesquite11-1
20. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial9-3
21. Frisco Reedy 10-3
22. Amarillo6-5
23. New Braunfels9-4
24. Red Oak7-5
25. Amarillo Tascosa7-6

CLASS 5A, DIVISION II PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Richmond Randle16-0
2. South Oak Cliff13-3
3. Brenham11-2
4. Argyle13-2
5. Iowa Colony12-2
6. Texas High12-1
7. Fort Bend Marshall10-3
8. Huntsville8-4
9. Port Neches-Groves12-2
10. Anna9-4
11. Lovejoy10-4
12. Corpus Christi Miller11-3
13. Alamo Heights12-1
14. Boerne11-4
15. Liberty Hill9-3
16. Prosper Walnut Grove11-2
17. Midlothian Heritage8-4
18. Bastrop9-3
19. Melissa6-4
20. Colleyville Heritage8-3
21. Victoria West10-3
22. Gregory-Portland5-6
23. Lubbock-Cooper8-4
24. Marshall10-3
25. Mansfield Timberview6-5

CLASS 4A, DIVISION I PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Celina16-0
2. Canyon West Plains11-4
3. Kilgore13-3
4. Stephenville12-2
5. La Vernia11-4
6. San Antonio Davenport10-2
7. Frisco Panther Creek10-2
8. Austin LBJ11-1
9. Sulphur Springs10-3
10. Alvarado13-1
11. Chapel Hill10-4
12. Bay City12-2
13. Corpus Christi Calallen10-3
14. Decatur7-5
15. Canyon Randall11-2
16. Springtown10-2
17. Dallas Kimball8-3
18. Lindale6-6
19. Fort Bend Crawford5-6
20. Huffman-Hargrave9-2
21. Fischer Canyon Lake8-4
22. El Campo6-5
23. Lampasas10-3
24. Aubrey8-5
25. Needville7-5

So, Kilgore, who met No. 1 Celina in the 4A, Division I state championship game a year ago, will begin its season ranked No. 3 in 4A, two spots down from Celina. We’ll see if there will be a rematch. You’ll see below that Carthage, the defending state champ in 4A, Division II, begins its 2025 season as the No. 1 team in that classification. And Kilgore and Carthage see each other again right out of the gate, meeting in Kilgore at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium on August 29, the season opener for both programs.

Also notable in the poll above, the 4A, Division I poll, is that both Chapel Hill and Lindale, two rivals of Kilgore and Henderson in District 9-4A, are ranked, Chapel Hill at 11 and Lindale at 18. Chapel Hill was hit heavily by graduation.

And below, Gilmer, one of our ETBlitz-area programs, checks in at No. 9. The Buckeyes finished 8-4 a year ago, but they’re two seasons removed from a 4A, Division II state championship.

CLASS 4A, DIVISION II PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Carthage15-1
2. Pleasant Grove10-3
3. Waco La Vega12-4
4. Brock13-2
5. Sealy10-4
6. Bellville8-4
7. Sunnyvale9-4
8. West Orange-Stark9-3
9. Gilmer8-4
10. Graham12-2
11. Silsbee9-4
12. Wimberley12-3
13. Cuero9-4
14. Glen Rose10-3
15. Midland Greenwood10-2
16. Hamshire-Fannett10-2
17. Seminole10-2
18. Robinson8-3
19. Sinton13-1
20. Athens8-3
21. Lubbock Estacado7-5
22. Brookshire Royal7-4
23. Van10-4
24. Center8-3
25. Lago Vista9-4

CLASS 3A, DIVISION I PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Columbus15-1
2. Franklin10-3
3. Paradise12-3
4. Jefferson12-1
5. Edna14-1
6. Malakoff15-1
7. Liberty-Eylau11-3
8. Llano12-2
9. Hitchcock10-2
10. Winnsboro10-3
11. Atlanta7-4
12. Shallowater11-3
13. Jim Ned9-4
14. Palestine Westwood11-1
15. Goliad10-2
16. Palmer10-2
17. Bushland10-2
18. Yoakum8-3
19. Grandview13-1
20. Fairfield8-3
21. Orange Grove7-5
22. Crystal City7-4
23. Peaster10-4
24. Vernon8-3
25. Marion9-4

Noticeable immediately in the poll above, the 3A, Division I poll, is that there are three programs in the same district — Jefferson, Liberty-Eylau and Atlanta — all ranked in the top 11 in the state, along with Tatum, Gladewater, Sabine and White Oak in that district. That’s a tough assignment.

Below, notice that Troup (14) and Arp (22) are getting some attention after both had strong seasons a year ago.

CLASS 3A, DIVISION II PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Gunter14-2
2. Tidehaven12-3
3. Wall13-2
4. Lexington12-2
5. Newton9-4
6. Woodville13-3
7. Holliday11-3
8. Canadian10-4
9. Daingerfield8-6
10. Poth12-1
11. East Bernard10-2
12. Blanco7-4
13. DeKalb11-2
14. Troup8-4
15. Jacksboro9-4
16. Van Vleck6-7
17. Grand Saline11-1
18. Idalou10-3
19. Tolar11-2
20. Wichita Falls City View9-3
21. Slaton7-4
22. Arp7-4
23. Bells7-5
24. Blue Ridge9-3
25. Rice Consolidated7-5

CLASS 2A, DIVISION I PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Refugio11-2
2. Ganado15-1
3. Waskom10-3
4. Garrison9-3
5. Stamford15-1
6. Panhandle10-2
7. Marlin10-4
8. Honey Grove12-2
9. Post13-1
10. Joaquin10-5
11. DeLeon7-5
12. Mason11-2
13. Hamilton14-1
14. Axtell12-2
15. Wolfe City8-3
16. Mildred12-1
17. Centerville9-2
18. Weimar7-5
19. Hawley10-2
20. Shelbyville10-3
21. Cisco8-5
22. Frankston8-4
23. Tioga9-3
24. Sunray12-1
25. Cooper7-5

CLASS 2A, DIVISION II PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Muenster14-2
2. Shiner12-4
3. Bremond12-3
4. Albany9-3
5. Gruver14-1
6. Wink11-2
7. Collinsville12-2
8. Windthorst11-2
9. Lovelady9-3
10. Ropes12-2
11. Grapeland10-4
12. Junction12-2
13. Stratford7-4
14. Falls City8-4
15. Mart9-3
16. Mount Enterprise9-4
17. Goldthwaite7-5
18. Granger9-4
19. Lindsay8-4
20. Wellington9-3
21. Iraan10-3
22. Brackettville7-4
23. Overton10-3
24. Wheeler9-3
25. Burton6-5

It’s about TIME Overton was recognized after 20 wins in two years. Coach Scotty Laymance and his staff and their players have had two phenomenal seasons. Can they replace the production that graduated seniors like Bryce Still and Jayden Edwards are taking with them? Let’s sure hope so.

CLASS 1A (SIX-MAN) DIVISION I PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Gordon15-0
2. Whiteface14-1
3. Water Valley11-3
4. May9-2
5. Aquilla11-2
6. Union Hill9-3
7. Abbott13-1
8. Avalon10-1
9. Borden County8-5
10. Newcastle7-5
11. Buena Vista9-1
12. Jonesboro10-2
13. Westbrook10-3
14. Happy10-2
15. Robert Lee7-4
16. Millford6-5
17. Spur10-1
18. Rankin6-5
19. Menard9-2-1
20. Medina5-7
21. Hermleigh7-3
22. Ira7-4
23. Perrin-Whitt7-3
24. Saint Jo10-3
25. Lorneta7-3

CLASS 1A (SIX-MAN) DIVISION II PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLL

Rank / School2024 final record
1. Jayton 15-0
2. Klondike9-5
3. Richland Springs12-1
4. Oglesby11-3
5. Cherokee10-2
6. Strawn8-3
7. Iredell10-3
8. Oakwood9-6
9. Benjamin9-2
10. Motley County11-1
11. Zephyr10-2
12. Whitharral7-3
13. Bluff Dale6-4
14. Ackerly Sands8-4
15. Blackwell5-7
16. Paducah6-4
17. Three Way9-2
18. Miami6-4
19. Bowie Gold Burg7-5
20. Follett8-4
21. Blanket8-2-1
22. McLean4-6
23. Gustine7-2
24. Amherst7-3
25. Rochelle5-5

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