Preseason Vermont High School Football Top 25 Rankings
With the new season upon us brings new rankings for high school football as teams reshape and look towards the road of winning a state championship in the fall. Here's how the Massey Ratings ranked Vermont's Top 25 high school football teams for the 2025 season.
The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.
1. Champlain Valley
When it comes to Vermont's top high school football team, Champlain Valley has been the state's best in the last couple of years. The RedHawks were a dominant force throughout the 2024 season and averaging 41 points per game, capping it off with a VPA Division I state championship victory. Champlain Valley Union overwhelmed Rutland Senior, 41-14, to claim the state title. Frank Parisi enters his first season at the helm after serving as the team's defensive coordinator last year.
2. Middlebury Union
Middlebury Union last season was a team all throughout 2024 that proved themselves to be a serious contender for the Division I state championship. A game that showed Middlebury could hang with top-ranked Champlain Valley was a 21-7 loss during the regular season. The Tigers enter this season with renewed energy towards making a run behind a defense that yielded around 14 points per game.
3. Hartford
The Hartford Hurricanes were right on the cusp of being the next challenger to Champlain Valley as they ended up falling in the Division I semifinals last season, 21-14, to Rutland Senior. Now the Hurricanes begin our Vermont Top 25 rankings at No. 3, though Hartford will need to replace a bevy of starters on both sides of the ball, including tailback Nick Daniels.
4. Rutland Senior
The Vermont Division I state runner-ups take the fourth spot after falling to Champlain Valley in a 41-14 decision. Their only other loss on the season came in overtime against Essex Comm. Rutland Senior's offense returns multiple key starters from last year's team, including junior quarterback Giovanni Spallieri (237 passing yards, three touchdowns in 2024) and running back Grady Gallagher (702 rushing yards, eight touchdowns in 2024).
5. Essex Comm. Ed. Ctr.
The 2024 regular season ended last year for Essex Comm. Ed. Ctr. in heartbreaking fashion, falling in a tight battle to Middlebury Union, 28-23. One thing the Hornest can hang their hat on from last year's Vermont VPA playoffs is picking up a dominating 64-7 win over Bellows Free Academy. Essex Comm. was junior-heavy last season, especially on the offensive side of the ball as the Hornets will have experience back behind center. Leading the way is senior quarterback Sam Bent and beside him coming back is running back Griffin Randall.
6. 7. 8. 9. Fair Haven Union10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
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