Surprise 3-0 New Deal ascends in high school football power rankings - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

The rankings, which judge teams on a pound-for-pound basis rather than straight records, still have Ropes sitting at No. 1 after the Eagles dismantled Texico, a New Mexico state champion, 50-8 last week. That win mattered beyond one scoreboard. Texico has already beaten two other South Plains teams this season, which makes Ropes' margin of victory the kind of thing that gets a coach's attention around here.

Ropes moves on to face Panhandle this week at 2-1, another test for a program that's opened the year looking dominant. New Deal's rise into the conversation shows how fast the picture can change through three weeks of Texas high school football, where undefeated small-town teams can force their way into rankings usually reserved for the area's known powers.

For fans across the South Plains, these rankings are the early scouting report on who's actually good versus who's just been beating up on weaker schedules. New Deal earning a look after three straight wins gives neighbors in that community something to talk about heading into district play.