Category: Football

The midway point of the 2025 AHSAA season is officially behind us, and if Week 6 taught us anything, it’s that no ranking is safe in the cutthroat world of Alabama high school football. After a massive victory, there’s a new king sitting atop the state’s Super 25 rankings as compiled by the Massey Ratings and various local polls.

The Clay-Chalkville Cougars (7-0) have finally broken through to claim the coveted No. 1 spot. The Cougars cemented their position with a decisive 49-0 shutout victory over a strong Mountain Brook team, proving that their previous win over a top-ranked opponent was no fluke. This move bumps them past the former top contenders and establishes a new benchmark for the rest of the state.

The shakeup continues just behind them. The Thompson Warriors (5-2) and Hewitt-Trussville Huskies (6-1), both perennial powerhouses, slot in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Thompson, despite having two losses, holds its strong position due to its punishing schedule and quality wins, while Hewitt-Trussville remains a top threat despite a recent defeat.

The Week 7 Super 25 Rankings (Massey Ratings/Consensus)

Mid-Season Takeaways: The Playoff Picture Clears Up

With the season entering its final stretch, the playoff picture is starting to come into focus, and the Week 7 rankings highlight several key developments:

• The 7A Gauntlet: Class 7A is as brutal as ever, dominating the top of the rankings despite every team outside of Mary G. Montgomery and Fairhope already having at least one loss. The strength-of-schedule in this classification is unmatched, meaning even teams with multiple defeats—like Thompson and Hoover—are still viewed as elite.
• 6A Powerhouses Emerge: Clay-Chalkville and Saraland are separating themselves as the clear frontrunners in Class 6A, both holding perfect records. Muscle Shoals also deserves a nod, keeping pace with an impressive 6-0 mark.
• The Unbeaten Ranks: Beyond the big classes, teams like the Williamson Lions (7-0) and Vigor Wolves (6-0) from Class 5A are making a statement, showcasing that talent is deep across the state. These teams are on a collision course for a deep playoff run.

Looking Ahead to Week 7/8

The coming weeks will be pivotal. Intense region matchups are on the horizon, which will undoubtedly lead to more movement in the Super 25. Every Friday night victory now carries the weight of a potential playoff seed. Coaches are pushing their teams, top recruits are cementing their legacies, and fans across the state are bracing for a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 regular season.

Alabama high school football never disappoints, and with a new No. 1 team on the board, the excitement is just getting started.

Week 8 of the Utah high school football season was a showcase of pure gridiron drama, featuring upsets, weather delays, and individual efforts that defined the phrase “leaving it all on the field.” From clutch overtime scores to stunning passing displays, the state was treated to a spectacular slate of games. Here is a human article compiling the top 20 most impactful performances from the week.

The Elite Individual Showcases

Some players simply could not be stopped, turning their games into personal highlights reels.

1. Kamden Lopati (QB, West): The West High senior delivered the most commanding performance of the week. In a 63-0 rout of West Jordan, the Illinois commit threw six touchdown passes and rushed for a seventh. His effortless command and steady leadership are the intangible factors elevating the Panthers, who are now averaging over 60 points in their last five games.

2. Tradon Bessinger (QB, Davis): The Boise State commit lit up the scoreboard, completing 32 of 41 passes for a massive 504 yards and five touchdowns in a 54-22 victory over Syracuse. Bessinger is a state-level statistical leader, and Week 8 was a masterclass in aerial attack.

3. Lincoln Tahi (RB, Skyridge): In the game of the week—a double-overtime thriller against rival Lone Peak—Tahi was the closer. He ran for 213 yards and scored two touchdowns, including the walk-off 16-yard score in double-overtime that secured the Falcons’ 37-34 win and an emotional move up the state rankings. This was a defining, clutch performance.

4. The Mountain Ridge Defense: Football isn’t just about offense. The Sentinels’ defense takes this spot as a collective for their performance in handing previously unbeaten Herriman its first loss (26-7). They successfully navigated storm delays and a potent running attack, proving they are a top-tier defensive unit.

The Best of the Rest: Impactful Team and Individual Efforts

The following is a curated list of standout efforts that significantly shaped the week’s results:

Week 8 was a testament to the talent and intensity in Utah high school football, setting the stage for an explosive final stretch before the playoffs begin.

If you want to see a general overview of the teams leading the state heading into the week, you can watch Utah High School Football Top 25 Entering Week 8.

Utah High School Football Top 25 Entering Week 8 – YouTube

KSL Sports · 172 views

The fall high school sports seasons are reaching a fever pitch! Don’t miss out on the action, starting tonight with “The Prep Zone” sports show, live from the locally owned Sonic Drive-In on 39th Avenue in Gainesville from 6-7 p.m.

This week, we’re hitting the links! Tune in as we chat with Buchholz boys golf coach Ryan McNickle and members of the Bobcats’ golf team. They’ll be breaking down their stellar season as they wrap up regular matches against P.K. Yonge, Forest (Ocala), GHS, and the Ann & John Ives Tournament at the Mark Bostick Golf Course. The main event? Their preparations for the crucial Class 3A-District 3 tournament coming up on Monday, October 27th!

You can listen to the show live and check out archived episodes online at Mainstreet Daily News and ThePrepZone.com.

Jags Are Back! Catch the Coaches Show and Sunday Showdown!

Ready for some NFL action? Get the inside scoop on Thursday night with the Jacksonville Jaguars Coaches Show on 106.9 FM “I am Country.” Then, gear up for this Sunday’s home game as the Jaguars take on the Seattle Seahawks. The pregame show kicks off at noon, followed by the whistle for kickoff at 1 p.m.

Football Frenzy: District Battles and Must-Win Games!

We’ve got three crucial high school football broadcasts lined up this week, including a massive district game on Thursday night.

GHS Needs a Win After Brutal Loss

The Gainesville (GHS) football team is desperate to bounce back after a brutal 44-0 loss to bitter rival Buchholz last Friday. The Hurricanes (2-4) have dropped three in a row and will host the Leesburg Yellow Jackets (3-3) at Citizens Field this Thursday at 7 p.m. in a pivotal Class 4A-District 5 clash. Last year was a heartbreaker, with the Yellow Jackets scoring late to steal a 35-34 win.

LISTEN LIVE: Catch all the action streaming online at Mainstreet Daily News. Join Marty Pallman (Play-by-play) and Jake Hoffman (Color) starting with the pregame at 6:45 p.m.

Eastside Rams Face South Sumter in HUGE Title Tilt

On Friday, the Eastside football team has a chance to seize the advantage in the highly competitive four-team Class 3A-District 5 title race.

The Rams (4-2, 1-0), ranked 12th in Class 3A, will host the South Sumter Raiders (5-1) in a battle of top 12 teams! This is a massive game, especially since the Raiders, ranked 10th in 3A, denied the Rams a district title last year. Both teams are 1-0 in league play, meaning this showdown has huge playoff and district championship implications! Eastside still has to face North Marion (Citra) later this month, but a win here is critical.

LISTEN LIVE: The action streams live on Mainstreet Daily News. Join Cam Parker (Play-by-play) and Audrey Djuricich (Color) for the pregame at 6:45 p.m., followed by the 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

Hawthorne Hornets Take on Top 1A Contender

Our radio broadcast will take us to Duval County as the Hawthorne Hornets (4-1) travel to face University Christian (Jacksonville) in a matchup of top 10 teams.

Hawthorne, who started the FHSAA rankings at No. 9, has rocketed up to fourth in the state in the Rural classification! Their strength of schedule has even improved to a solid $2.97$. They face a formidable University Christian (5-2) squad, ranked 10th in Class 1A, who have already dominated two other Alachua County teams this year (47-14 vs. Newberry and 49-17 vs. Santa Fe).

LISTEN LIVE: Tune in to 106.9 FM “I am Country” or stream the audio online at IamCountryGainesville.com. Join Mainstreet Daily News Sports Director Mike Ridaught (Play-by-play) and former Gator Hank Rone (Color) for the call, starting at 7:00 p.m. with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

Full Football Schedule: Don’t Miss a Second!

Thursday, Oct. 9

Friday, Oct. 10

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