Florida’s Chaminade-Madonna starts 2022 at the top of the High School Football America Small Schools Top 25, powered by NFL Play Football. The Lions, who have won four state titles in the last five years, are ranked No. 1 in the preseason national rankings that are created with HSFA’s proprietary algorithm.
C-M is a small school that plays a big-time schedule. Last year, the Lions won the Small Schools’ national championship by beating seven teams ranked in the HSFA 200 national rankings, including two state champs from other states. The Lions beat Georgia 6A champ Buford in mid-September and Arizona 6A champ Highland in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series before the holidays.
Related: Final 2021 HSFA Small Schools Top 25
Chaminade-Madonna is one of three Florida teams in the Preseason Top 25. Right behind the 3A champs is defending 2A champ Trinity Christian Academy of Jacksonville at No. 2. Defending 1A champ Madison County opens the year at No. 16.
Pennsylvania has the most teams in the Small Schools Preseason Top 25.
Leading the way from the Keystone State is defending 4A champ Aliquippa at No. 5. The Quips are known for producing NFL talent like Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka and cornerback Ty Law. Aliquippa alum Darrelle Revis will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2023.
Two-time Pennsylvania AAA champ Central Valley is ranked No. 8. The team CV beat for both titles, Wyomissing, is ranked No. 11.
Five-time defending Pennsylvania state champ Southern Columbia starts 2022 at No. 14. The Tigers won three straight High School Football America Small Schools national titles from 2019 through 2021.
Six-time defending Tennessee state champ Alcoa is ranked No. 3 in the Preseason Top 25.
Two-time defending Texas state champ Shiner is the highest-ranked team from the Lone Star State at No. 4.
In all, fourteen states are represented in the preseason rankings.
High School Football America Small Schools Preseason Top 25
| Rank/Schools/State | 2021 Record | 2021 Ranking |
| No. 1 Chaminade-Madonna (Florida) | (12-1) | 1 |
| No. 2 Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Florida) | (12-1) | 4 |
| No. 3 Alcoa (Tennessee) | (14-1) | 3 |
| No. 4 Shiner (Texas) | (16-0) | 11 |
| No. 5 Aliquippa (Pennsylvania) | (13-1) | 12 |
| No. 6 McClymonds (California) | (12-1) | 14 |
| No. 7 Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (Georgia) | (7-7) | NR |
| No. 8 Central Valley (Pennsylvania) | (15-0) | 10 |
| No. 9 Joliet Catholic (Illinois) | (14-0) | 8 |
| No. 10 Trinity Christian (Sharpsburg, Georgia) | (14-0) | 19 |
| No. 11 Wyomissing (Pennsylvania) | (15-1) | 15 |
| No. 12 Kirtland (Ohio) | (14-1) | NR |
| No. 13 Brooks County (Georgia) | (12-2) | 21 |
| No. 14 Southern Columbia (Pennsylvania) | (15-1) | 17 |
| No. 15 Lafayette Christian Academy (Louisiana) | (10-2) | 7 |
| No. 16 Madison County (Florida) | (11-3) | 18 |
| No. 17 Tarboro (North Carolina) | (14-1) | NR |
| No. 18 Marion Local (Ohio) | (16-0) | 20 |
| No. 19 Lorena (Texas) | (14-2) | 23 |
| No. 20 Riverheads (Virginia) | (14-0) | 24 |
| No. 21 Gray Collegiate Academy (South Carolina) | (14-1) | 13 |
| No. 22 St. Joseph (Hammonton, New Jersey) | (9-3) | NR |
| No. 23 Franklin (Texas) | (16-0) | 16 |
| No. 24 Bay Springs (Mississippi) | (12-1) | NR |
| No. 25 Abbeville (South Carolina) | (12-1) | NR |
Editor’s Note: The High School Football America national, regional and state rankings are developed using our proprietary algorithm.
