The latest batch of state football rankings has been released by Eric Epler of Pennlive.com, and while the Lehigh Valley-area teams have kept their positions — most notably Northwestern Lehigh at No. 1 in 3A — the most noticeable thing is that St. Joe’s Prep is not No. 1 in 6A.
In fact, the Hawks aren’t No. 2 either. A 0-2 start has them ranked third in 6A, just ahead of Parkland.
St. Joe’s Prep is, of course, the perennial powerhouse that has won three state championships in a row and six in the last seven years. They have been in the state title game 10 times in 11 years.
The Prep has gone through the District 11 champion 10 times since 2013 en route to the state finals, including Parkland last year.
St. Joe’s Prep has lost to American Heritage from Plantation, Florida, and DeMatha Catholic from the Washington, D.C., area this year.
In addition to Parkland, Easton is considered a “team to watch” in 6A.
In 4A, Southern Lehigh holds steady at No. 2, and in 3A, three of the top six teams are from District 11. Behind No. 1 Northwestern Lehigh is Notre Dame-Green Pond at No. 4 and North Schuylkill at No. 6.
Here’s a complete look at the rankings:
CLASS 6A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; La Salle College HS (12); 2-0; 1
2.; Harrisburg (3); 2-0; 3
3.; St. Joseph’s Prep (12); 0-2; 2
4.; Parkland (11); 2-0; 4
5.; Pittsburgh CC (7); 1-1; 5
6.; State College (6); 2-0; 6
7.; North Allegheny (7); 2-0; 7
8.; Central York (3); 2-0; 8
9.; Imhotep Charter (12); 1-1; 10
10.; Coatesville (1); 2-0; NR
Teams to watch: Downingtown West (1) 1-1, Easton Area (11) 2-0, Manheim Township (3) 1-1, Neshaminy (1) 2-0, North Penn (1) 2-0.
CLASS 5A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Roman Catholic (12); 1-1; 2
2.; Pine-Richland (7); 1-1; 1
3.; Peters Township (7); 2-0; 3
4.; Chester (1); 2-0; 4
5.; Exeter Township (3); 2-0; 5
6.; Upper St. Clair (7); 2-0; 7
7.; Springfield-Delco (1); 2-0; 8
8.; Bishop McDevitt (3); 0-2; 6
9.; Woodland Hills (7); 1-1; 9
10.; Cathedral Prep (10); 2-0; 10
Teams to watch: Conrad Weiser (3) 2-0, Mechanicsburg (3) 2-0, Moon (7) 2-0, West Chester Rustin (1) 2-0.
CLASS 4A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Bonner-Prendergast (12); 2-0; 1
2.; Southern Lehigh (11); 2-0; 2
3.; Pope John Paul II (1); 2-0; 4
4.; Wyomissing (3); 2-0; 5
5.; Thomas Jefferson (7); 2-0; 6
6.; Shamokin (4); 2-0; 7
7.; McKeesport (7); 1-1; 3
8.; Aliquippa (7); 1-0; 9
9.; Jersey Shore (4); 2-0; 10
10. Twin Valley (3); 2-0; NR
Teams to watch: Bishop Shanahan (1) 2-0, Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 1-1, Mars (7) 2-0, Susquehanna Township (3) 2-0, Valley View (2) 2-0.
CLASS 3A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Northwestern Lehigh (11); 2-0; 1
2.; Avonworth (7); 2-0; 2
3.; Hickory (10); 2-0; 3
4.; ND-Green Pond (11); 2-0; 4
5.; Imani Christian (7); 2-0; 5
6.; North Schuylkill (11); 2-0; 6
7. Penn Cambria (6); 2-0; 8
8. Sharon (10); 1-1; 7
9. Elizabeth-Forward (7); 2-0; 10
10.; North Catholic (7); 2-0; NR
Teams to watch: Conwell-Egan (12) 2-0, Hopewell (7) 2-0, Mifflinburg (4) 2-0, Neumann-Goretti (12) 1-1.
CLASS 2A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Schuylkill Haven (11); 2-0; 1
2.; Riverside (2); 2-0; 2
3.; Troy (4); 1-1; 3
4.; South Park (7); 2-0; 4
5.; Williams Valley (11); 2-0; 5
6.; Farrell (10); 1-1; 6
7.; Bishop McCort (6); 2-0; 7
8.; Southern Columbia (4); 1-1; 8
9.; Steelton-Highspire (3); 1-0; 9
10.; Lancaster Catholic (3); 2-0; 10
Teams to watch: Central Clarion (9) 1-1, Karns City (9) 2-0, Minersville (11) 2-0, Richland (6) 2-0.
CLASS 1A
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1.; Fort Cherry (7); 2-0; 1
2.; Lackawanna Trail (2); 2-0; 2
3.; Clairton (7); 1-1; 3
4.; Line Mountain (4); 2-0; 6
5.; Bishop Guilfoyle (6); 1-1; 4
6.; Wilmington (10); 1-1; 5
7.; Port Allegany (9); 2-0; 7
8.; Westinghouse (8); 2-0; 8
9.; Windber (5); 2-0; 9
10.; Laurel (7); 2-0; NR
Teams to watch: Greenville (10) 1-1, Jeannette (7) 1-1, Meyersdale (5) 2-0, Neshannock (7) 1-1.
