LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Orange Beach suffered a top-10 loss, but routed its two other opponents to hold onto the No. 1 spot in the NFCA Spring High School Top 25 Coaches Poll, the Association announced on Thursday.
The five-time reigning Alabama state champion (30-1) Makos, who have won crowns every year of their school’s short existence, dropped their first game of the season hours after becoming the new top-ranked team to then-No. 10 South Warren, 6-1 at home, last Thursday. But Orange Beach rebounded from the loss to breeze past Baker (17-7 on Friday) and Robertsdale (19-6 Saturday) to close out its week.
No. 2 Murrieta Mesa (19-0) stayed right on the Makos’ heels, winning both its games, and the previous No. 1, Calvary Baptist Academy (33-1), won twice easily to remain ranked third.
Lake Creek (28-1) and Owyhee (18-1) moved up one spot apiece following Thompson’s drop out of the top 10, and South Warren (22-0) gained four spots to sixth following its upset win and another victory.
After that, Melissa (26-2) and Skyline (12-0) stayed put at Nos. 7 and 8, while Doral Academy (20-1) and Gray Collegiate (19-0) surged two spots each to round out the first 10.
Three new teams joined the mix this week. California’s Destiny Christian (16-0), which won the NFCA Nor Cal High School Leadoff over the weekend, took over the No. 13 spot, North Carolina’s Weddington (14-0) entered at No. 21, and Indiana’s Penn (7-1) debuted at No. 23.
State rankings submitted by the NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the NFCA Spring High School Top 25 Coaches Poll. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.
NFCA Spring High School Top 25 Coaches Poll – April 16, 2026
|
Rank |
Team |
2026 Record |
Previous |
|
1 |
Orange Beach (Ala.) |
30-1 |
1 |
|
2 |
Murrieta Mesa (Calif.) |
19-0 |
2 |
|
3 |
Calvary Baptist Academy (La.) |
33-1 |
3 |
|
4 |
Lake Creek (Texas) |
28-1 |
5 |
|
5 |
Owyhee (Idaho) |
18-1 |
6 |
|
6 |
South Warren (Ky.) |
22-0 |
10 |
|
7 |
Melissa (Texas) |
26-2 |
7 |
|
8 |
Skyline (Wash.) |
12-0 |
8 |
|
9 |
Doral Academy (Fla.) |
20-1 |
11 |
|
10 |
Gray Collegiate (S.C.) |
19-0 |
12 |
|
11 |
Carterville (Ill.) |
20-0 |
15 |
|
12 |
Marist (Ill.) |
14-0 |
13 |
|
13 |
Destiny Christian (Calif.) |
16-0 |
NR |
|
14 |
Thompson (Ala.) |
30-1-2 |
4 |
|
15 |
Norco (Calif.) |
17-2 |
14 |
|
16 |
Kenton Ridge (Ohio) |
13-0 |
16 |
|
17 |
Fullerton (Calif.) |
19-2 |
17 |
|
18 |
St. John Vianney (N.J.) |
7-0 |
20 |
|
19 |
Donovan Catholic (N.J.) |
8-0 |
21 |
|
20 |
La Salle Academy (R.I.) |
7-0 |
19 |
|
21 |
Weddington (N.C.) |
14-0 |
NR |
|
22 |
Mount St. Dominic Academy (N.J.) |
8-1 |
18 |
|
23 |
Penn (Ind.) |
7-1 |
NR |
|
24 |
Montverde Academy (Fla.) |
15-3 |
24 |
|
T25 |
Barbers Hill (Texas) |
30-3 |
T25 |
|
T25 |
Desert Mountain (Ariz.) |
18-3-1 |
22 |
Dropped out: Middleton (Idaho), Midway (Texas) and Vandebilt Catholic (La.).
2026 NFCA High School Steering Committee
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