Patriot-News Releases Preseason Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle

The regular season opening on Friday night, and to get the chatter going, The Patriot-News released its annual preseason high school football rankings in all four classifications.

Defending champs West Catholic (2A) and Clairton (1A) begin the year where they finished it...#1.

The other two defending champs, North Allegheny (4A) and Allentown Central Catholic (3A) are also expected to be in the hunt for another state gold medal.

North Allegheny is ranked #3, while ACC is #2 behind Archbishop Wood.

On Sunday, we'll find out how good AW is when it travels to Pittsburgh to face Pittsburgh Central Catholic, the #1 team in 4A.

Here's a look at the Patriot-News preseason polls:

CLASS AAAA - '10 Record - '10 Final Ranking

1. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) - 11-1 - 5
2. North Penn (1) - 13-2 - 3
3. North Allegheny* (7) - 15-1 - 1
4. Upper St. Clair (7) - 6-4 - NR
5. Neshaminy (1) - 12-2 - 10
6. LaSalle College HS (12) - 13-2 - 2
7. Bethlehem Liberty (11) - 7-5 - NR
8. Council Rock South (1) - 11-2 - 9
9. McDowell (10) - 7-3 - NR
10. Cumberland Valley (3) - 12-3 - 4
Teams to watch: Bayard Rustin (1) 11-2, Coatesville (1) 8-3, Downingtown East (1) 9-3, Easton (11) 12-3, Father Judge (12) 8-3, Ridley (1) 10-1, Whitehall (11) 10-3, Woodland Hills (7) 9-4.

CLASS AAA - '10 Record - '10 Final Ranking

1. Archbishop Wood (12) - 13-1 - 3
2. Allentown C.C.* (11) - 16-0 - 1
3. Montour (7) - 12-1 - 8
4. Bishop McDevitt (3) - 13-3 - 2
5. Thomas Jefferson (7) - 10-2 - NR
6. Central Valley (7) - 10-4 - 6
7. Valley View (2) - 7-5 - NR
8. Grove City (10) - 11-1 - 9
9. Abington Heights (2) - 12-1 - NR
10. Susquehanna Twp. (3) - 9-3 - NR
Teams to watch: Cardinal O’Hara (12) 9-2, Cathedral Prep (10) 9-5, Clearfield (9) 13-1, Greater Johnstown (6) 10-2, Greencastle-Antrim (3) 11-1, Hopewell (7) 12-1, Selinsgrove (4) 7-5, Strath Haven (1) 12-2.

CLASS AA - '10 Record - '10 Final Ranking

1. West Catholic* (12) - 13-2 - 1
2. Aliquippa (7) - 12-1 - 3
3. Lancaster Catholic (3) - 11-1 - NR
4. Lewisburg (4) - 14-1 - 4
5. North Schuylkill (11) - 11-1 - NR
6. Seton-LaSalle (7) - 9-3 - NR
7. Mount Carmel (4) - 8-4 - NR
8. Trinity (3) - 12-2 - 8
9. Tyrone (6) - 12-1 - NR
10. General McLane (10) - 10-2 - NR
Teams to watch:Beaver Falls (7) 10-2, Bloomsburg (4) 8-3, Forest Hills (6) 13-2, Greensburg C.C. (7) 9-1, Hickory (10) 10-3, Lakeland (2) 10-2, Northern Lehigh (11) 13-1, Sharon (10) 11-3.

CLASS A - '10 Record - '10 Final Ranking

1. Clairton* (7) - 16-0 - 1
2. Southern Columbia (4) - 10-3 - 8
3. Rochester (7) - 12-1 - 3
4. Dunmore (2) - 7-5 - 9
5. Sto-Rox (7) - 8-3 - NR
6. Pius X (11) - 8-4 - NR
7. Riverside (2) - 14-2 - 2
8. Springdale (7) - 10-2 - NR
9. Bishop McCort (6) - 8-5 - NR
10. Mercyhurst Prep (10) - 12-1 - 6
Teams to watch: Bishop Carroll (6) 11-3, Curwensville (9) 11-2, Farrell (10) 13-2, Juniata Valley (6) 8-2, Line Mountain (4) 10-2, Northern Bedford (5) 11-1, North Star (5) 9-4, Shenandoah Valley (11) 6-5.