Main Story: Carthage remains No. 1 in MaxPreps’ Small Town Top 25, but Beechwood is closing the gap after a dominant stretch. Hawthorne and Indian Valley also moved up, while several previously unranked teams entered the poll.

By the Numbers
  • Carthage: 6-0, with an 81.4 rating.
  • Beechwood: 8-0, rated 79.2—2.2 points behind Carthage.
  • Beechwood has outscored opponents 423-45 this season and 257-7 over its last four games.
  • Hawthorne is 9-0 with a 78.6 rating; Indian Valley is 8-0 with a 77.9 rating.
Yes, But

Carthage has the top rating and an unbeaten record, but its lead over Beechwood has shrunk from 7.6 points last month to 2.2. The rankings are based on computer ratings, not a direct comparison of teams on the field.

State of Play
  • Beechwood is No. 2 after scoring at least 62 points in each of its last four games.
  • Hawthorne rose to No. 3, and Indian Valley climbed to No. 4; both remain unbeaten.
  • Toombs County fell two spots to No. 5 despite staying unbeaten.
  • Teams must have fewer than 1,000 students and be based in a town with fewer than 10,000 residents to qualify.
Bottom Line

Carthage still sets the pace, but Beechwood’s scoring surge has made the top spot less secure. The next rankings will show whether the Bulldogs can hold their lead as other unbeaten teams continue to climb.