When it comes to PIAA Class 6A football, there’s a Philly-first mentality.
A Philadelphia Catholic League power has won seven of the nine 6A titles since the PIAA expanded to six classifications in 2016.
And, St. Joseph’s Prep, which had won 4A titles in 2012 and 2013 when that was the highest classification, was a 6A state runner-up twice since 2016.
But Prep has lost three games and plays Catholic League rival La Salle College on Saturday at historic Franklin Field. La Salle was knocked from the No. 1 rankings in the state in 6A after a 39-36 loss to Romain Catholic, another Philly powerhouse.
That La Salle loss opened the door for Harrisburg to move into the top spot in 6A. The Cougars are a perennial District 3 powerhouse, but have never won a state championship. They are 0-3 in finals appearances, losing to St. Joe’s Prep twice and Archbishop Wood in a 5A final in 2016. They have lost in the state semis the past two years – falling to North Allegheny in 2023 and Pittsburgh Central Catholic last year
Harrisburg is 6-0 so far and has wins over Imhotep Charter, Bishop McDevitt and State College on its resume. The Cougars have also scored 40 points or more in five of their six games and find themselves as the new No. 1 in the latest state rankings compiled by Eric Epler of Pennlive.com.
The Lehigh Valley teams in the rankings remain in the same position.
In 6A, Parkland is still No. 3 and Easton remains at No.10. In 4A, Southern Lehigh remains No. 1, just ahead of last year’s state champs, Bonner-Prendergast. In 3A, Northwestern Lehigh and Notre Dame-Green Pond remain No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, while District 11 member Schuylkill Haven remains No. 2 in Class 2A.
Here’s a complete look at the rankings:
CLASS 6A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Harrisburg (3); 6-0; 2
2.; La Salle College HS (12); 4-1; 1
3.; Parkland (11); 6-0; 3
4.; Pittsburgh CC (7); 5-1; 4
5.; St. Joseph’s Prep (12); 2-3; 6
6.; State College (6); 5-1; 7
7.; Central York (3); 6-0; 8
8.; Coatesville (1); 6-0; 9
9.; North Allegheny (7); 5-1; 5
10.; Easton Area (11); 6-0; 10
Teams to watch: Manheim Township (3) 5-1, Neshaminy (1) 5-1, Pennridge (1) 6-0, Wilson-West Lawn (3) 5-1.
CLASS 5A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Pine-Richland (7); 5-1; 1
2.; Roman Catholic (12); 3-2; 3
3.; Peters Township (7); 6-0; 2
4.; Chester (1); 6-0; 4
5.; Exeter Township (3); 6-0; 5
6.; Springfield-Delco (1); 6-0; 7
7.; Bishop McDevitt (3); 4-2; 8
8.; Upper St. Clair (7); 5-1; 6
9.; Woodland Hills (7); 4-2; 9
10.; Hollidaysburg (6); 6-0; NR
Teams to watch: Conestoga Valley (3) 6-0, Muhlenberg (3) 6-0, Penn-Trafford (7) 5-1, Strath Haven (1) 5-1, Wissahickon (1) 6-0.
CLASS 4A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Southern Lehigh (11); 6-0; 1
2.; Bonner-Prendergast (12); 4-1; 3
3.; Wyomissing (3); 6-0; 4
4.; Shamokin (4); 6-0; 5
5.; Twin Valley (3); 6-0; 6
6.; Thomas Jefferson (7); 5-1; 7
7.; Jersey Shore (4); 5-1; 8
8.; Susquehanna Twp. (3); 6-0; 9
9.; Pope John Paul II (1); 5-1; 2
10.; Bishop Shanahan (1); 5-1; 10
Teams to watch: Bethlehem Catholic (11) 5-1, Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 5-1, North Pocono (2) 6-0, West York (3) 6-0.
CLASS 3A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Avonworth (7); 6-0; 1
2.; Northwestern Lehigh (11); 6-0; 2
3.; ND-Green Pond (11); 6-0; 4
4.; Imani Christian (7); 6-0; 5
5.; Hickory (10); 5-1; 3
6.; Berwick (2); 6-0; 8
7.; Mifflinburg (4); 5-1; 10
8.; Elizabeth-Forward (7); 5-1; NR
9.; North Catholic (7); 5-1; 6
10.; Penn Cambria (6); 5-1; NR
Teams to watch: Huntingdon (6) 5-1, Montoursville (4) 5-1, Southmoreland (7) 6-0, Wyoming Area (2) 5-1.
CLASS 2A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Schuylkill Haven (11); 6-0; 1
2.; Troy (4); 5-1; 2
3.; Farrell (10); 5-1; 4
4.; Bishop McCort (6); 6-0; 5
5.; Southern Columbia (4); 5-1; 6
6.; Williams Valley (11); 5-1; 3
7.; South Allegheny (7); 6-0; 7
8.; Western Beaver (7); 6-0; 9
9.; Richland (6); 5-1; 10
10.; Seton-LaSalle (7); 5-1; NR
Teams to watch: Lakeland (2), 5-1, Minersville (11) 4-2, Riverside (2) 5-1, Steelton-Highspire (3) 3-2, Washington (7) 5-1.
CLASS 1A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Fort Cherry (7); 6-0; 1
2.; Clairton (7); 5-1; 2
3.; Line Mountain (4); 6-0; 3
4.; Bishop Guilfoyle (6); 5-1; 4
5.; Port Allegany (9); 6-0; 6
6.; Westinghouse (8); 5-1; 7
7.; Lackawanna Trail (2); 5-1; 8
8.; Wilmington (10); 4-2; 5
9.; Greenville (10); 5-1; 9
10.; Bishop Canevin (7); 4-2; NR
Teams to watch: Marian Catholic (11) 5-1, Meyersdale (5) 5-1, Neshannock (7) 4-1, Windber (5) 4-1.
