As we are now officially in the second half of the regular season, St. Joseph’s Prep, which has played only three regular season games, remains firmly in-control of the top spot in the High School Football America Pennsylvania Top 25 that is created with our proprietary algorithm. About the only challenge that remains on the Hawks’ schedule is its game in two weeks against No. 4 Archbishop Wood.
Related: High School Football America 100
No. 2 Coatesville is entering the toughest part of its regular season schedule with big Ches-Mont National games against unbeaten Downingtown West, which is just outside of the Top 25, this week and No. 15 Downingtown East in the regular season finale on October 26.
No. 3 Pine-Richland made its case for the best in the west with a 42-21 victory over former No. 13 Pittsburgh Central Catholic. The toughest hurdle on the Rams’ regular season schedule is probably its October 26 showdown with No. 7 North Allegheny.
In the central part of the state, No. 8 State College puts its undefeated record on the line against No. 16 Harrisburg in a Mid-Penn Commonwealth showdown. The following week, the Little Lions will face No. 22 Central Dauphin, which lost to Harrisburg over the weekend. Central Dauphin’s team is dealing with the death of Harrison Fenstemaker, who was killed by a drunk driver in an accident in the middle of September.
The middle of this week’s rankings are changed thanks to PCC’s loss to Pine-Richland and Wilson’s (West Lawn) upset of former No. 15 Manheim Township.
Garnet Valley climbs five spots to No. 13 after beating previously unbeaten Springfield-Delco 6-0. Freedom (Bethlehem) is up two spots this week to No. 15.
High School Football America Pennsylvania Top 25
No. 1 St. Joseph’s Prep (3-0), LW: #1
No. 2 Coatesville (6-0), LW: #2
No. 3 Pine-Richland (5-1), LW: #3
No. 4 Archbishop Wood (3-2), LW: #4
No. 5 Imhotep Charter (3-2), LW: #5
No. 6 North Penn (6-0), LW: #6
No. 7 North Allegheny (6-0), LW: #7
No. 8 State College (6-0), LW: #8
No. 9 Manheim Central (6-0), LW: #9
No. 10 Malvern Prep (5-0), LW: #10
No. 11 Penn Hills (6-0), LW: #11
No. 12 Gateway (6-0), LW: #12
No. 13 Garnet Valley (6-0), LW: #18
No. 14 Freedom (Bethlehem) (6-0), LW: #16
No. 15 Downingtown East (6-0), LW: #17
No. 16 Harrisburg (5-1), LW: #25
No. 17 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (4-2), LW: #13
No. 18 Thomas Jefferson (5-0), LW: #15
No. 19 Springfield-Delco (5-1), LW: #20
No. 20 Manheim Township (5-1), LW: #14
No. 21 Cathedral Prep (4-2), LW: #19
No. 22 Central Dauphin (4-2), LW: #21
No. 23 Cocalico (4-2), #22
No. 24 Cedar Cliff (4-2), #23
No. 25 Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) (5-1), LW: #24
Honorable Mention (alphabetical): Aliquippa, Berks Catholic, Downingtown East, Emmaus, Pottsgrove, Seneca Valley, Southern Columbia, Upper St. Clair, Valley View, Warwick, West Allegheny Wilson (West Lawn)
Editor’s Note: The High School Football America national, regional and state rankings are developed using our proprietary algorithm.