Harlingen, Midlothian join SBLive’s Texas Top 50 football rankings (Oct. 27)

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 9.

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. 17-23)? | Top stars, best performances from Week 9 (Oct. 20-22) in Texas high school football

Four teams joined the Texas Top 50 after Week 9 action across the state. A pair of those teams — China Spring and Klein Cain — climbed back into the statewide power rankings following signature wins against ranked Stephenville and Klein Collins squads.

But we want to take a closer look at the two teams making their season debut in SBLive's Texas Top 50 football rankings this week: Harlingen and Midlothian.

Both the Midlothian Panthers and Harlingen Cardinals — who make their first Texas Top 50 appearances at No. 50 and No. 49, respectively — each won monumental district matchups to improve to 8-0 overall.

Harlingen (8-0, 3-0) defeated then 50th-ranked San Benito in a pivotal 2022 installment of the Battle of the Arroyo rivalry series.

The Cardinals beat the Greyhounds 37-21 in a battle of unbeaten teams squaring off for sole possession of first place in District 32-6A.

Led by a nearly unstoppable power-running game, Harlingen hung a season-high 37 points on a San Benito defense that was allowing 3.7 points per contest through its first seven games of the year.

The Cardinals have looked like the team to beat in the Rio Grande Valley two months into the 2022 season.

They've topped the 30-point mark in seven of their eight wins this season. And defensively, the Cards have held their opponents to a touchdown or less offensively in half their games this year.

With wins over Laredo United, Laredo United South, Mission Veterans, San Benito and Weslaco among others, Harlingen sits poised to repeat as District 32-6A champions.

The Cardinals can clinch at least a share of the 32-6A district title when they face Brownsville Rivera (2-6, 0-3) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Boggus Stadium in Harlingen.

RELATED — Vote now: Which was the best high school football play in the country Oct. 20-22?

Midlothian (8-0, 6-0), meanwhile, secured a narrow 39-37 victory in a back-and-forth Week 9 game against Lake Belton.

The Panthers rallied from a 23-20 halftime deficit and scored 12 unanswered points during the fourth quarter to cement the comeback win over the Broncos in a high-scoring shootout.

The victory helped Midlothian improve to 8-0 for the first time since 1984, as the Panthers have caught fire during a six-game winning streak in District 4-5A DI play.

Midlothian has racked up the points during district play with 43+ points in four of six wins against 4-5A DI foes thus far.

The Panthers will look to complete a perfect run through the 2022 Texas high school football regular season in their district finale against Killeen Ellison (5-3, 4-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Leo Buckley Stadium in Killeen.

RELATED — SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national high school football rankings (Oct. 24)

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 the biggest moves within 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 | WEEK 8 | WEEK 9

Texas Small School Top 25 rankings: WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7 | WEEK 8 | WEEK 9 | WEEK 10

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 10 (OCT. 25)

1. Austin Westlake Chaparrals (8-0, 6-0)*

Previous ranking: 1st

Last week: W 70-0 vs. Austin High

Next game: Oct. 27 at Austin Bowie (7-1, 5-1)

2. Denton Guyer Wildcats (8-0, 5-0)*

Previous ranking: 3rd

Last week: W 49-7 vs. Allen

Next game: Oct. 27 at McKinney (6-2, 4-1)

3. Galena Park North Shore Mustangs (8-0, 5-0)*

Previous ranking: 2nd

Last week: W 56-14 at Humble

Next game: Oct. 27 at Humble Atascocita (7-1, 5-0)

4. Duncanville Panthers (7-0, 5-0)*

Previous ranking: 4th

Last week: W 63-0 at Dallas Skyline

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. DeSoto (7-1, 5-0)

5. Katy Tigers (8-0, 6-0)

Previous ranking: 5th

Last week: W 56-28 vs. Katy Cinco Ranch

Next game: Oct. 27 vs. Katy Seven Lakes (1-7, 1-5)

6. Southlake Carroll Dragons (8-0, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 6th

Last week: W 42-7 vs. Northwest Eaton

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Trophy Club Byron Nelson (8-0, 5-0)

7. Highland Park Scots (8-0, 6-0)

Previous ranking: 7th

Last week: W 52-0 at Irving MacArthur

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Richardson (3-5, 2-4)

8. Longview Lobos (8-0, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 8th

Last week: W 49-7 vs. McKinney North

Next game: Oct. 27 at Tyler (2-6, 2-3)

9. Cibolo Steele Knights (8-0, 3-0)

Previous ranking: 9th

Last week: W 49-3 vs. San Antonio East Central

Next game: Oct. 28 at Converse Judson (4-4, 2-1)

10. Humble Atascocita Eagles (7-1, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 10th

Last week: W 39-6 at Houston C.E. King

Next game: Oct. 27 vs. Galena Park North Shore (8-0, 5-0)

11. DeSoto Eagles (7-1, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 11th

Last week: W 45-20 vs. Cedar Hill

Next game: Oct. 28 at Duncanville (7-0, 5-0)

12. Argyle Eagles (8-0, 4-0)

Previous ranking: 13th

Last week: W 35-10 vs. Frisco Independence

Next game: Oct. 28 at Denton (4-4, 2-2)

13. Spring Westfield Mustangs (7-1, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 14th

Last week: W 58-6 vs. Aldine MacArthur

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Aldine Davis (3-5, 1-4)

14. Arlington Martin Warriors (7-1, 4-0)

Previous ranking: 15th

Last week: W 58-2 at Grand Prairie

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Arlington (5-3, 3-1)

15. Prosper Eagles (7-1, 4-1)

Previous ranking: 16th

Last week: W 59-14 vs. Denton Braswell

Next game: Oct. 28 at Allen (6-2, 4-1)

16. Allen Eagles (6-2, 4-1)

Previous ranking: 12th

Last week: L 49-7 at Denton Guyer

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Prosper (7-1, 4-1)

17. San Antonio Brennan Bears (7-1, 6-0)

Previous ranking: 19th

Last week: W 69-7 at San Antonio Sotomayor

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. San Antonio Holmes (0-8, 0-6)

18. Rockwall Yellowjackets (7-1, 4-0)

Previous ranking: 17th

Last week: BYE

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Mesquite (3-5, 1-3)

19. Alvin Shadow Creek Sharks (8-0, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 18th

Last week: W 16-10 vs. Pearland Dawson

Next game: Oct. 28 at Alief Taylor (4-4, 3-2)

20. Trophy Club Byron Nelson Bobcats (8-0, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 22nd

Last week: W 56-24 vs. Keller Central

Next game: Oct. 28 at Southlake Carroll (8-0, 5-0)

21. Austin Vandegrift Vipers (7-1, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 21st

Last week: W 29-7 at Round Rock Cedar Ridge

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Cedar Park Vista Ridge (5-3, 4-1)

22. New Caney Eagles (8-0, 6-0)

Previous ranking: 24th

Last week: W 71-0 vs. Cleveland

Next game: Oct. 28 at The Woodlands College Park (3-5, 3-3)

23. Mansfield Timberview Wolves (8-0, 6-0)

Previous ranking: 25th

Last week: W 80-0 vs. Dallas Sunset

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Richland (8-1, 5-1)

24. Dripping Springs Tigers (7-1, 5-1)

Previous ranking: 27th

Last week: W 38-31 at Lake Travis

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Del Valle (1-7, 1-5)

25. Liberty Hill Panthers (7-1, 4-0)

Previous ranking: 23rd

Last week: BYE

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Bastrop (2-6, 2-2)

26. Lucas Lovejoy Leopards (6-2, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 26th

Last week: W 70-3 vs. Mesquite Poteet

Next game: Oct. 28 at Greenville (2-6, 1-4)

27. Aledo Bearcats (7-2, 7-0)

Previous ranking: 30th

Last week: W 35-21 at Denton Ryan

Next game: Nov. 4 vs. Fort Worth Brewer (2-6, 2-4)

28. Frisco Reedy Lions (9-0, 7-0)

Previous ranking: 29th

Last week: W 29-7 vs. Frisco

Next game: Oct. 27 at Frisco Heritage (6-2, 5-1)

29. The Woodlands Highlanders (7-2, 6-1)

Previous ranking: 28th

Last week: W 63-0 vs. Conroe Caney Creek

Next game: Oct. 28 at Willis (5-3, 4-2)

30. Harker Heights Knights (7-1, 4-0)

Previous ranking: 34th

Last week: W 13-9 vs. Temple

Next game: Oct. 28 at Copperas Cove (2-6, 0-4)

31. Odessa Permian Panthers (7-1, 2-1)

Previous ranking: 33rd

Last week: W 42-41 at Wolfforth Frenship

Next game: Oct. 28 at San Angelo Central (5-3, 2-1)

32. Round Rock Dragons (7-1, 4-1)

Previous ranking: 32nd

Last week: W 44-7 vs. Round Rock McNeil

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Round Rock Cedar Ridge (4-4, 3-2)

33. North Crowley Panthers (8-0, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 38th

Last week: W 33-7 vs. Hurst Bell

Next game: Oct. 28 at Fort Worth Chisholm Trail (2-6, 1-4)

34. College Station Cougars (6-2, 4-1)

Previous ranking: 20th

Last week: L 49-38 at Georgetown

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. College station A&M Consolidated (7-1, 5-0)

35. Port Arthur Memorial Titans (7-1, 5-1)

Previous ranking: 31st

Last week: L 28-24 at Baytown Lee

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Barbers Hill (6-2, 5-1)

36. Lancaster Tigers (6-2, 4-1)

Previous ranking: 41st

Last week: W 68-7 at West Mesquite

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. North Mesquite (2-6, 1-4)

37. Katy Tompkins Falcons (6-2, 4-2)

Previous ranking: 39th

Last week: W 52-28 at Katy Mayde Creek

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Katy Jordan (5-3, 4-2)

38. Dallas Parish Episcopal Panthers (7-1, 2-0)

Previous ranking: 45th

Last week: W 42-7 vs. Fort Worth Nolan

Next game: Oct. 28 at Addison Trinity Christian (2-6, 1-1)

39. Temple Wildcats (6-3, 4-1)

Previous ranking: 36th

Last week: L 13-9 at Harker Heights

Next game: Nov. 4 vs. Copperas Cove (2-6, 0-4)

40. Cypress Ranch Mustangs (6-2, 4-1)

Previous ranking: 44th

Last week: W 44-0 vs. Cypress Lakes

Next game: Oct. 29 vs. Langham Creek (4-4, 3-2)

41. Montgomery Lake Creek Lions (9-0, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 47th

Last week: W 46-6 at Huntsville

Next game: Nov. 4 vs. Brenham (5-3, 4-0)

42. China Spring Cougars (8-1, 3-0)

Previous ranking: NR

Last week: W 38-36 vs. Stephenville

Next game: Oct. 28 at Life Waxahachie (2-5, 0-2)

43. Stephenville Yellow Jackets (7-1, 1-1)

Previous ranking: 40th

Last week: L 38-36 at China Spring

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Alvarado (3-5, 0-2)

44. Klein Cain Hurricanes (7-1, 4-1)

Previous ranking: NR

Last week: W 25-21 vs. Klein Collins

Next game: Oct. 29 vs. Waller (0-8, 0-5)

45. Carthage Bulldogs (9-0, 5-0)

Previous ranking: 48th

Last week: W 64-28 vs. Center

Next game: Oct. 28 at Van (5-3, 3-1)

46. Texarkana Texas High Tigers (7-1, 4-0)

Previous ranking: 46th

Last week: W 23-20 at Nacogdoches

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Whitehouse (7-1, 3-1)

47. Manvel Mavericks (6-2, 5-1)

Previous ranking: 49th

Last week: W 58-27 at Magnolia

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Fulshear (7-1, 5-1)

48. Klein Collins Tigers (7-1, 4-1)

Previous ranking: 37th

Last week: L 25-21 vs. Klein Cain

Next game: Oct. 27 vs. Tomball (6-2, 5-0)

49. Harlingen Cardinals (8-0, 3-0)

Previous ranking: NR

Last week: W 37-21 vs. San Benito

Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Brownsville Rivera (2-6, 0-3)

50. Midlothian Panthers (8-0, 6-0)

Previous ranking: NR

Last week: W 39-37 vs. Lake Belton

Next game: Oct. 28 at Killeen Ellison (5-3, 4-2)

Dropped out: Houston C.E. King (#35), Denton Ryan (#42), Lake Travis (#43), San Benito (#50).