Westlake takes top spot in SBLive’s Texas Top 50 football rankings (Oct. 12)
With more than half of the 2022 Texas high school football season officially in the books, it’s time to review and assess how the state’s top teams performed in Week 7.
We’re taking a closer look at the top squads across the Lone Star State in the newest edition of SBLive’s Texas Top 50, our statewide rankings which seek to recognize the 50 best teams in Texas high school football regardless of classification level.
RELATED — Vote now: Who should be the next SBLive Texas High School Athlete of the Week (Oct. 3-9)?
Austin Westlake headlines the most recent movement in the latest edition of the Texas Top 50.
The Chaparrals seized the top spot in this week's rankings, their first week at No. 1 this year.
The top-ranked Chaps leapfrogged undefeated Galena Park North Shore, which beat Humble Summer Creek 34-27 last weekend in its first full game without sophomore starting quarterback Kaleb Bailey after he was sidelined by a lower-leg injury during Week 6.
Westlake, meanwhile, extended its 46-game winning streak — the longest active streak in Texas high school football — by dismantling Austin Anderson in a dominant 66-17 victory in District 26-6A action.
It marked the second straight game where the Chaps' offense eclipsed 65 points on the scoreboard led by senior wide receivers Keaton Kubecka and Jaden Greathouse, who are committed to Kansas and Notre Dame, respectively.
The Chaparrals' defense might be their biggest strength in 2022, though.
Westlake has held its opponents to 13.0 points per contest through its first six games. The Chaps' defense has also accounted for 43 TFLs, 19 sacks, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Austin Westlake (6-0, 4-0) will face its biggest test of the 2022 campaign so far when the Chaps travel to face Dripping Springs (6-0, 4-0) on Friday night in a first-place battle in District 26-6A.
RELATED — Vote now: Which was the best high school football play in the country Oct. 6-8?
Where does your squad stand in the latest edition of our statewide Texas high school football rankings?
To see which programs climbed into our top 10 and find out which teams made their season debut in this week’s rankings, then check out the latest, updated version of SBLive’s Texas Top 50 below.
SBLive’s Texas Top 50 football rankings are compiled by Andrew McCulloch and Buck Ringgold, and will be updated weekly throughout the regular season.
Texas Top 50 rankings: WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7
Texas Small School Top 25 rankings: WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7 | WEEK 8
Editor’s Note: * represents Texas teams who also hold spots in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national high school football rankings
SBLIVE’S TEXAS TOP 50 FOOTBALL RANKINGS — WEEK 8 (OCT. 12)
1. Austin Westlake Chaparrals (6-0, 4-0)*
Previous ranking: 2nd
Last week: W 66-17 vs. Austin Anderson
Next game: Oct. 14 at Dripping Springs (6-0, 4-0)
2. Galena Park North Shore Mustangs (6-0, 3-0)*
Previous ranking: 1st
Last week: W 34-27 at Humble Summer Creek
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Beaumont West Brook (0-6, 0-3)
3. Denton Guyer Wildcats (6-0, 3-0)*
Previous ranking: 3rd
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 14 at Denton Braswell (2-4, 0-3)
4. Duncanville Panthers (5-0, 3-0)*
Previous ranking: 4th
Last week: W 24-7 vs. Waxahachie
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Mansfield (6-0, 3-0)
5. Katy Tigers (7-0, 5-0)
Previous ranking: 5th
Last week: W 54-0 at Katy Paetow
Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Katy Cinco Ranch (5-2, 4-1)
6. Southlake Carroll Dragons (6-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 6th
Last week: W 38-35 vs. Keller
Next game: Oct. 13 at Keller Central (1-5, 1-2)
7. Highland Park Scots (7-0, 4-0)
Previous ranking: 7th
Last week: W 38-17 at Richardson Berkner
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Irving Nimitz (1-6, 1-4)
8. Longview Lobos (6-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 8th
Last week: W 46-7 vs. Forney
Next game: Oct. 14 at North Mesquite (2-4, 1-2)
9. Cibolo Steele Knights (6-0, 1-0)
Previous ranking: 11th
Last week: W 42-24 vs. New Braunfels
Next game: Oct. 14 at San Marcos (3-3, 1-0)
10. Humble Atascocita Eagles (5-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 11th
Last week: W 38-0 at Beaumont United
Next game: Oct. 14 at Humble (3-3, 1-2)
11. Allen Eagles (5-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 10th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. McKinney (5-1, 3-0)
12. Argyle Eagles (6-0, 2-0)
Previous ranking: 14th
Last week: W 30-14 vs. Lake Dallas
Next game: Oct. 13 at Frisco Emerson (7-0, 3-0)
13. Dripping Springs Tigers (6-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 13th
Last week: W 67-6 at Austin Akins
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Austin Westlake (6-0, 3-0)
14. DeSoto Eagles (5-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 15th
Last week: W 56-7 vs. Mansfield Legacy
Next game: Oct. 14 at Mansfield Lake Ridge (2-4, 1-2)
15. Arlington Martin Warriors (5-1, 2-0)
Previous ranking: 12th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Arlington Sam Houston (0-7, 0-3)
16. Spring Westfield Mustangs (5-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 17th
Last week: W 63-20 vs. Aldine Nimitz
Next game: Oct. 13 vs. Aldine Eisenhower (2-4, 2-1)
17. Prosper Eagles (5-1, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 18th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 13 at McKinney Boyd (0-6, 0-3)
18. Rockwall Yellowjackets (6-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 19th
Last week: W 50-24 vs. Royse City
Next game: Oct. 14 at North Forney (3-3, 0-2)
19. College Station Cougars (5-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 20th
Last week: W 17-0 at Cedar Park
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Leander Glenn (5-1, 3-0)
20. Alvin Shadow Creek Sharks (6-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 23rd
Last week: W 62-7 vs. Alief Elsik
Next game: Oct. 14 at Alvin (2-4, 0-3)
21. San Antonio Brennan Bears (5-1, 4-0)
Previous ranking: 21st
Last week: W 33-30 at San Antonio Warren
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. San Antonio Stevens (3-4, 3-2)
22. Liberty Hill Panthers (6-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 22nd
Last week: W 56-49 vs. San Antonio Veterans
Next game: Oct. 14 at Lockhart (4-2, 1-1)
23. Austin Vandegrift Vipers (5-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 24th
Last week: W 57-0 vs. Round Rock McNeil
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Round Rock (6-0, 3-0)
24. Lucas Lovejoy Leopards (4-2, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 26th
Last week: W 70-0 vs. Princeton
Next game: Oct. 14 at Crandall (5-1, 2-1)
25. Trophy Club Byron Nelson (6-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 28th
Last week: W 65-7 vs. Haltom
Next game: Oct. 14 at Keller (5-1, 2-1)
26. Odessa Permian Panthers (6-0, 1-0)
Previous ranking: 27th
Last week: W 38-7 at Odessa
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Midland Legacy (2-4, 0-1)
27. Round Rock Dragons (6-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 29th
Last week: W 17-7 vs. Manor
Next game: Oct. 14 at Round Rock (6-0, 3-0)
28. New Caney Eagles (6-0, 4-0)
Previous ranking: 30th
Last week: W 50-28 vs. Conroe
Next game: Oct. 14 at Conroe Grand Oaks (3-4, 1-4)
29. Mansfield Timberview Wolves (6-0, 4-0)
Previous ranking: 25th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 13 vs. Dallas Molina (1-6, 0-5)
30. The Woodlands Highlanders (5-2, 4-1)
Previous ranking: 31st
Last week: W 70-0 vs. Cleveland
Next game: Oct. 14 at The Woodlands College Park (3-3, 3-1)
31. Cypress Ranch Mustangs (5-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 33rd
Last week: W 56-16 at Cypress Park
Next game: Oct. 14 at Cypress Bridgeland (3-3, 2-1)
32. Harker Heights Knights (6-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 34th
Last week: W 42-24 at Hutto
Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Temple (5-2, 3-0)
33. Frisco Reedy Lions (7-0, 5-0)
Previous ranking: 37th
Last week: W 55-29 vs. Frisco Lebanon Trail
Next game: Oct. 14 at Sherman (2-4, 1-3)
34. Houston C.E. King Panthers (4-2, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 35th
Last week: W 42-21 vs. Humble Kingwood
Next game: Oct. 14 at Beaumont United (1-5, 0-3)
35. Burleson Centennial Spartans (6-0, 4-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Last week: W 23-16 at Denton Ryan
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Aledo (5-2, 5-0)
36. Katy Tompkins Falcons (4-2, 2-2)
Previous ranking: 32nd
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 13 vs. Katy Morton Ranch (5-2, 3-2)
37. Temple Wildcats (5-2, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 38th
Last week: W 44-10 at Waco Midway
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Hutto (3-3, 0-2)
38. Denton Ryan Raiders (4-2, 4-1)
Previous ranking: 17th
Last week: L 23-16 at Burleson Centennial
Next game: Oct. 21 vs. Aledo (5-2, 5-0)
39. Stephenville Yellow Jackets (6-0, 0-0)
Previous ranking: 36th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Life Waxahachie (2-4, 0-1)
40. Port Arthur Memorial Titans (6-0, 4-0)
Previous ranking: 43rd
Last week: W 54-34 at La Porte
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Baytown Goose Creek Memorial (1-5, 0-4)
41. Klein Collins Tigers (6-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 44th
Last week: W 61-49 vs. Tomball Memorial
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Klein Forest (4-2, 2-1)
42. Aledo Bearcats (5-2, 5-0)
Previous ranking: 47th
Last week: W 68-0 vs. Fort Worth South Hills
Next game: Oct. 14 at Burleson Centennial (6-0, 4-0)
43. Lancaster Tigers (4-2, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 40th
Last week: W 55-9 at Tyler
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Forney (4-2, 2-1)
44. Lake Travis Cavaliers (3-3, 3-1)
Previous ranking: 42nd
Last week: W 49-7 vs. Del Valle
Next game: Oct. 14 at Austin Anderson (3-4, 1-4)
45. Texarkana Texas High Tigers (5-1, 2-0)
Previous ranking: 39th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Marshall (4-3, 2-1)
46. Dallas Parish Episcopal Panthers (5-1, 1-0)
Previous ranking: 46th
Last week: W 44-0 vs. Dallas Bishop Lynch
Next game: Oct. 14 at San Antonio Cornerstone (1-6)
47. Amarillo Tascosa Rebels (6-1, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 45th
Last week: W 21-10 at Lubbock Monterey
Next game: Oct. 20 vs. Amarillo Caprock (4-3, 1-2)
48. Carthage Bulldogs (7-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 48th
Last week: W 49-0 vs. Canton
Next game: Oct. 14 at Rusk (4-2, 1-1)
49. Richmond Foster Falcons (6-1, 4-1)
Previous ranking: 50th
Last week: W 45-0 vs. Fort Bend Kempner
Next game: Oct. 13 at Manvel (4-2, 3-1)
50. North Crowley Panthers (6-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Last week: W 21-17 vs. Fort Worth Boswell
Next game: Oct. 14 at Weatherford (5-1, 2-1)
Dropped out: Klein Cain (#41), China Spring (#49).