Lathrop High School, having won two consecutive Division II high school football state championships, enters the 2023 season as the number one team in the High School Football America Alaska Top 5 rankings, powered by NFL Play Football. The Malemutes will immediately put their ranking to the test in their first game against No. 2 Soldotna, a rematch of last year’s state title game
Lathrop won the DII title 21-18 against the Stars, using two junior quarterbacks, Solomon Wade and Jenner Webb, who alternated on every other series. Both quarterbacks, Solomon Wade and Jenner Webb, are returning to play for head coach Luke Balash, who became the coach of the team in 2016
After winning eight consecutive state titles, Lathrop ended the Stars’ title streak in 2021 with a 39-28 victory. Now, Lathrop is on a championship streak of its own.
Colony, the Division I champ, starts the year ranked at No. 3. They will be relying on senior quarterback Jack Nash, who was named Gatorade Alaska Football Player of the Year last season.
The Top 5 rankings are rounded out by Bettye Davis East at No. 5 and Juneau-Douglas/Thunder Mountain at No. 4
High School Football America Alaska Top 5
| Ranking/Team | Record | Last Year Ranking |
| No. 1 Lathrop | (10-0) | 1 |
| No. 2 Soldotna | (9-1) | 4 |
| No. 3 Colony | (9-2) | 2 |
| No. 4 Juneau-Douglas/Thunder Mountain | (10-1) | 3 |
| No. 5 Bettye Davis East | (4-6) | NR |
Read also – Idaho Top 5 High School Football Rankings 2023 Preseason
