Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings through Week 2

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle

Defending champ West Catholic fell from its perch as the #1 in Class AA in the latest Patriot-News high school football rankings.

The Burrs fell to #2 after suffering a loss to Archbishop Wood, the #1 ranked team in 3A.  Taking over the #1 spot in AA is Aliquippa, the former #2.

Like West Catholic, defending 3A champ Allentown Central Catholic is also off to an 0-2 start after losing to Bethlehem Freedom Friday night.  ACC falls into this week's honorable mention category in AAA.

Here's the rest of this week's rankings:

Class AAAA -- Record -- Previous rank
1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (2-0) LW: #1
2. North Allegheny (2-0) LW: #2
3. Upper St. Clair (2-0) LW: #3
4. LaSalle College (1-1) LW: #4
5. North Penn (1-1) LW: #5
6. Council Rock South (2-0) LW: #6
7. Neshaminy (2-0) LW: #7
8. Woodland Hills (2-0) LW: #8
9. Downingtown East (2-0) LW: #9
10. Cumberland Valley (2-0) LW: #10

Teams to watch: Bethlehem Liberty 2-0, Coatesville 2-0, Father Judge 1-1, Gateway 2-0, McDowell 2-0, Ridley 2-0, Whitehall 2-0, Wyoming Valley West 1-1.

Class AAA -- Record -- Previous rank
1. Archbishop Wood (1-1) LW: #1
2. Central Valley (2-) LW: #5
3. Bishop McDevitt (1-1) LW: #4
4. Grove City (2-0) LW: #7
5. Hopewell (2-0) LW: NR
6. Montour (1-1) LW: #2
7. Valley View (2-0) LW: #6
8. Thomas Jefferson (1-1) LW: #8
9. Susquehanna Twp. (2-0) LW: #10
10. Cathedral Prep (1-1) LW: NR

Teams to watch: Abington Heights  1-1, Allentown Central Catholic  0-2, Cardinal O’Hara 1-1, Clearfield 2-0, Franklin Regional  2-0, Greater Johnstown 2-0, Strath Haven  2-0, West Allegheny  1-1.

Class AA -- Record -- Previous rank
1. Aliquippa (2-0) LW: #2
2. West Catholic (0-2) LW: #1
3. Lancaster Catholic (2-0) LW: #3
4. North Schuylkill (2-0) LW: #5
5. Seton-LaSalle (2-0) LW: #6
6. Mount Carmel (2-0) LW: #7
7. Trinity (1-1) LW: #8
8. Lewisburg (1-1) LW: #4
9. Greensburg Central Catholic (2-0) LW: NR
10. Beaver Falls (1-1) LW: #10

Teams to watch: Bloomsburg, Hickory 2-0, Northern Lehigh 2-0, Pen Argyl 2-0, Sharon 1-1, South Fayette 1-1, Wilmington 2-0.

Class A -- Record -- Previous rank
1. Clairton (2-0) LW: #1
2. Southern Columbia (2-0) LW: #2
3. Rochester (2-0) LW: #3
4. Dunmore (2-0) LW: #4
5. Sto-Rox (2-0) LW: #5
6. Pius X (2-0) LW: #6
7. Bishop McCort (2-0) LW: #8
8. Mercyhurst Prep (2-0) LW: #9
9. Farrell (2-0) LW: #10
10. Curwensville (2-0) LW: NR

Teams to watch: Juniata Valley 2-0, Line Mountain 1-1, Marian Catholic 2-0, Monessen 2-0, North Star 2-0, Riverside 1-1, Sharpsville 2-0.

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.

Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football Huddle


As the Pennsylvania high school football season hits the halfway point, not many changes in the latest Patriot-News high school football rankings.  In fact, there's only one new team entering the rankings this week.


Former #6 Easton lost to still unbeaten Whitehall on Friday and drops to "teams to watch".  That opened the door to Mount Lebanon to enter the AAAA rankings at #10.


The other big change is in A where Southern Columbia tumbles from #3 to #6 after a 28-21 loss last Friday to AA Lewisburg.




CLASS AAAA - Record - Previous rank
1. Ridley (1) 5-0 1
2. La Salle College HS* (12) 4-1 2
3. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) 5-0 3
4. North Allegheny (7) 5-0 4
5. Cumberland Valley (3) 4-1 5
6. North Penn (1) 4-1 7
7. Downingtown East (1) 4-1 8
8. Neshaminy (1) 5-0 9
9. Wilson (3) 5-0 10
10. Mount Lebanon (7) 5-0 NR
Teams to watch: Central Dauphin (3) 5-0, Council Rock South (1) 5-0, Easton (11) 4-1, McDowell (10) 4-1, North Hills (7) 5-0, Upper St.Clair (7) 4-1, Whitehall (11) 5-0.

CLASS AAA - Record -  Previous rank
1. Allentown C.C. (11) 5-0 1
2. Thomas Jefferson (7) 4-1 2
3. Archbishop Wood (12) 5-0 3
4. Montour (7) 5-0 4
5. Cardinal O’Hara (12) 5-0 5
6. Abington Heights (2) 5-0 6
7. Clearfield (9) 5-0 7
8. West Allegheny (7) 4-1 8
9. Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 5-0 9
10. Pottsgrove (1) 4-1 10
Teams to watch: Bishop McDevitt (3) 3-2, Cathedral Prep (10) 3-2, Central Valley (7) 4-1, Dallas (2) 5-0, Greencastle-Antrim (3) 5-0, Manheim Central (3) 3-2, West Scranton (2) 4-1.

CLASS AA - Record - Previous rank
1. Lancaster Catholic* (3) 5-0 1
2. Aliquippa (7) 5-0 3
3. Greensburg C.C. (7) 5-0 2
4. North Schuylkill (11) 5-0 4
5. South Fayette (7) 5-0 5
6. West Catholic (12) 3-2 6
7. Forest Hills (6) 5-0 7
8. Keystone Oaks (7) 5-0 9
9. Tyrone (6) 5-0 8
10. Northern Lehigh (11) 5-0 10
Teams to watch: Beaver Falls (7) 4-1, Danville (4) 5-0, General McLane (10), 4-1, Lewisburg (4) 5-0, Littlestown (3) 5-0, Seton-LaSalle (7) 5-0, Trinity (3) 4-1.

CLASS A - Record - Previous rank
1. Clairton* (7) 5-0 1
2. Rochester (7) 5-0 2
3. Farrell (10) 5-0 5
4. Mercyhurst Prep (10) 5-0 4
5. Riverside (2) 5-0 6
6. Southern Columbia (4) 4-1 3
7. Dunmore (2) 3-2 7
8. Bellwood-Antis (6) 4-1 8
9. Sharpsville (10) 5-0 9
10. Sto-Rox (7) 4-1 10
Teams to watch: Avonworth (7) 4-1, Beth-Center (7) 5-0, Line Mountain (4) 4-1, North Catholic (7) 4-1, Penns Manor (6) 5-0, Schuylkill Haven (11) 4-1, Springdale (7) 4-1. 

Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Pennsylvania High School Football News

Three of the four #1 teams in the Patriot-News opened the season with wins to maintain their positions in the first regular season poll. Clairton, the pre-season top dawg in A, lost to Laurel 15-7, and fell to #7 this week...one spot behind Laurel.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette rankings saw two team fall from their #1 perch. In addition to Clairton, AAAA pre-season #1 Liberty lost its opener. North Penn, which beat the defending state champs Friday night, take over the top spot this week.

Patriot-News High School Football Rankings

CLASS AAAA
1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic 1-0, LW: #1
2. LaSalle College 1-0, LW: #2
3. Bishop McDevitt 1-0, LW: #4
4. State College 1-0, LW: #5
5. North Penn 1-0, LW: #9
6. Gateway 1-0, LW: HM
7. St. Joseph's Prep 1-0, LW: HM
8. McKeesport 0-1, LW: #3
9. Downingtown West 1-0, LW: #8
10. Neshaminy 1-0, LW: HM

Honorable mention: Cumberland Valley (3) 1-0, George Washington (12) 0-1, Liberty (11) 0-1, McDowell (10) 1-0, Parkland (11) 1-0, Penn Hills (7) 0-1, Pennsbury (1) 1-0, Woodland Hills (7) 0-1.

CLASS AAA
1. Thomas Jefferson 1-0, LW: #1
2. Selinsgrove 1-0, LW: #2
3. Wilson Area 1-0, LW: #3
4. Erie Cathedral Prep 0-1, LW: #4
5. Manheim Central 1-0, LW: #5
6. Abington Heights 1-0, LW: #6
7. Hopewell 1-0, LW: #7
8. Pottsgrove 1-0, LW: #9
9. Bayard Rustin 1-0, LW: #10
10. Berwick 1-0, LW: HM

Honorable mention: Bok (12) 1-0, Chartiers Valley (7) 1-0, Strath Haven (1) 1-0, Strong Vincent (10) 0-1, Susquehanna Twp. (3) 1-0, Upper Moreland (1) 0-1, West York (3) 1-0.

CLASS AA
1. Greensburg Central Catholic 1-0, LW: #1
2. Lancaster Catholic 1-0, LW: #2
3. Wilmington 1-0, LW: #3
4. Beaver Falls 1-0, LW: #4
5. Dunmore 1-0, LW: #5
6. Keystone Oaks 1-0, LW: #6
7. Martinsburg Central 1-0, LW: #7
8. Montoursville 1-0, LW: #8
9. Aliquippa 1-0, LW: #9
10. General McLane 1-0, LW: NR

Honorable mention: Brockway (9) 1-0, Jeannette (7) 1-0, Northern Lehigh (11) 1-0, Sto-Rox (7) 1-0, West Catholic (12) 1-0.

CLASS A
1. Rochester 1-0, LW: #2
2. Farrell 1-0, LW: #3
3. Bishop McCort 1-0, LW: #4
4. Southern Columbia 1-0, LW: #7
5. Serra Catholic 1-0, LW: #8
6. Laurel 1-0, LW: NR
7. Clairton 0-1, LW: #1
8. Steelton-Highspire 0-1, LW: #6
9. North Catholic 0-1, LW: #5
10. Portage 1-0, LW: #10

Honorable mention: Bellwood-Antis (6) 1-0, Bloomsburg (4) 1-0, Cameron County (9) 1-0, Monessen (7) 0-1, Old Forge (2) 1-0, Schuylkill Haven (11) 1-0, Springdale (7) 1-0.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rankings

AAAA
1. North Penn 1-0
2. Bishop McDevitt 1-0
3. Pittsburgh Central Catholic 1-0
4. State College 1-0
5. La Salle 1-0

AAA
1. Thomas Jefferson 1-0
2. Selinsgrove 1-0
3. Manheim Central 1-0
4. Berwick 1-0
5. Wilson Area 1-0

AA
1. Lancaster Catholic 1-0
2. Greensburg Central Catholic 1-0
3. Wilmington 1-0
4. Beaver Falls 1-0
5. Dunmore 1-0

A
1. Schuylkill Haven 1-0
2. Rochester 1-0
3. Steelton-Highspire 0-1
4. Southern Columbia 1-0
5. Springdale 1-0

Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings

CLASS AAAA

1. Pittsburgh Central. Cath. (7) 9-0 1
2. North Allegheny (7) 9-0 2
3. Gateway (7) 8-1 3
4. Parkland (11) 9-0 4
5. Central Bucks South (1) 9-0 5
6. McKeesport (7) 8-1 6
7. Liberty (11) 8-1 7
8. Ridley (1) 8-0 8
9. Neshaminy (1) 8-1 9
10. Harrisburg (3) 7-1 10

Honorable mention

Altoona (6) 7-2, Bethel Park (7) 6-3, Bishop McDevitt (3) 7-2, Brashear (8) 9-0, Cathedral Prep (10) 7-2, Central Dauphin (3) 6-3, Delaware Valley (2) 9-0, Downingtown East (1) 7-1, Downingtown West (1) 7-1, Freedom (11) 7-2, George Washington (12) 8-1, Gov. Mifflin (3) 8-1, Hazleton (2) 8-1, Henderson (1) 8-1, Manheim Twp. (3) 8-1, North Penn (1) 8-1, Norwin (7) 6-3, Souderton (1) 8-1, Wyoming Valley West (2) 8-1.

CLASS AAA

1. Thomas Jefferson (7) 9-0 1
2. Berwick (2) 8-1 2
3. West Scranton (2) 8-1 4
4. Montour (7) 9-0 5
5. Gettysburg (3) 8-1 10
6. Pine-Richland (7) 8-1 9
7. Titusville (10) 8-0 6
8. Unionville (1) 9-0 7
9. Chartiers Valley (7) 7-2 8
10. General McLane (10) 7-2 NR

Honorable mention

Bayard Rustin (1) 8-1, Benjamin Franklin (12) 8-1, Blackhawk (7) 7-2, Bok (12) 9-0, Bradford (9) 7-1, Elizabethtown (3) 9-0, Garnet Valley (1) 7-1, Hershey (3) 8-1, Hollidaysburg (6) 7-2, Knoch (7) 7-2, Northern (3) 9-0, Red Land (3) 8-1, Selinsgrove (4) 7-2, Strath Haven (1) 7-2, Strong Vincent (10) 7-2, West York (3) 8-1.

CLASS AA

1. Jeannette (7) 9-0 1
2. Dunmore (2) 9-0 2
3. Trinity (3) 9-0 4
4. Ford City (7) 9-0 3
5. Wilmington (10) 8-1 6
6. Tyrone (6) 9-0 7
7. Wyoming Area (2) 8-1 8
8. Lansdale Catholic (1) 8-1 NR
9. Lancaster Catholic (3) 8-1 NR
10. Steel Valley (7) 9-0 NR

Honorable mention

Aliquippa (7) 7-2, Beaver Area (7) 8-1, Beaver Falls (7) 8-1, Bishop McCort (6) 8-1, Fairview (10) 7-2, Greensburg Central Catholic (7) 7-2, Grove City (10) 7-2, Harbor Creek (10) 9-0, Jim Thorpe (11) 8-1, Karns City (9) 9-0, Loyalsock Twp. (4) 7-2, Mars (7) 8-1, Milton Hershey (3) 7-2, Montoursville (4) 7-2, Palisades (11) 7-2, Penns Valley (6) 8-1, Philipsburg-Osceola (6) 7-2, Riverside (2) 8-1, Riverside (7) 8-1, Shady Side Academy (7) 8-1, Towanda (4) 9-0, Wyomissing (3) 8-1.

CLASS A

1. Clairton (7) 8-1 1
2. Serra Catholic (7) 9-0 2
3. Bloomsburg (4) 8-1 3
4. Southern Columbia (4) 8-1 4
5. Cameron County (9) 9-0 5
6. Mercyhurst Prep (10) 9-0 6
7. Ligonier Valley (6) 9-0 7
8. Line Mountain (4) 9-0 8
9. Monessen (7) 9-0 10
10. Kane (9) 9-0 NR

Honorable mention

Camp Hill (3) 6-3, Mercer (10) 8-1, Millersburg (3) 8-1, Monaca (7) 7-2, Northern Bedford County (5) 8-1, Northwest Area (2) 8-1, Portage (6) 9-0, Rochester (7) 6-3, Saegertown (10) 8-1, Springdale (7) 8-1, Steelton-Highspire (3) 6-3, Western Beaver (7) 8-1.