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).