Defending Pennsylvania 4A state champ Pittsburgh Central Catholic is ranked No. 11 in the nation, according to the High School Football America Preseason National Top 25 released on Monday. The Vikings, who finished #24 in the final 2015 national rankings, are loaded with plenty of talent returning from last year’s state championship team that claimed the school’s fourth overall state title.
For those of you unfamiliar with our rankings, this is the fourth straight year that High School Football America will be using its proprietary algorithm to rank teams nationally, regionally and locally. What that means is, our computer does all the work, there’s no opinion involved. Over the past three seasons, our preseason poll included some opinion, but this year marks the first time that our algorithm is completely in-charge of determining our “mythical” national champ from start to finish.
High School Football America 2016 Preseason Top 25
#1 St. John Bosco Braves (Bellflower, California)
2015: 13-1
Final Ranking: #9
#2 IMG Academy Ascenders (Bradenton, Florida)
2015: 9-0
Final Ranking: #7
#3 Cedar Hill Longhorns (Texas)
2015: 9-2
Final Ranking: Not Ranked
#4 Mater Dei Monarchs (Santa Ana, California)
2015: 10-3
Final Ranking: #37
#5 Bishop Gorman Gaels (Las Vegas, Nevada)
2015: 15-0
Final Ranking: #4
#6 Katy Tigers (Texas)
2015: 16-0
Final Ranking: #3
#7 St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
2015: 13-1
Final Ranking: #12
#8 Grayson Rams (Loganville, Georgia)
2015: 13-1
Final Ranking: Not Ranked
#9 Cibolo Steele Knights (Texas)
2015: 14-1
Final Ranking: #31
#10 DeMatha Stags (Hyattsville, Maryland)
2015: 11-1
Final Ranking: #13
#11 Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (Pennsylvania)
2015: 15-1
Final Ranking: #24
#12 Miami Central Rockets (Florida)
2015: 12-2
Final Ranking: #22
#13 St. Joseph Regional Green Knights (Montvale, NJ)
2015: 7-4
Final Ranking: #35
#14 Allen Eagles (Texas)
2015: 14-1
Final Ranking: #9
#15 Roswell Hornets (Georgia)
2015: 14-1
Final Ranking: #40
#16 Don Bosco Prep Ironmen (Ramsey, New Jersey)
2015: 9-3
Final Ranking: #20
#17 Westlake Chaparrals (Austin, Texas)
2015: 12-2
Final Ranking: #30
#18 Mallard Creek (Charlotte, North Carolina)
2015: 14-2
Final Ranking: #26
#19 Northwestern Trojans (Rock Hill, South Carolina)
2015: 14-1
Final Ranking: #50
#20 Colerain Cardinals (Cincinnati, Ohio)
2015: 12-2
Final Ranking: #18
#21 Lake Travis Cavaliers (Austin, Texas)
2015: 15-1
Final Ranking: #29
#22 Center Grove Trojans (Greenwood, Indiana)
2015: 14-0
Final Ranking: #10
#23 Good Counsel Falcons (Olney, Maryland)
2015: 7-4
Final Ranking: Not Ranked
#24 McGill-Toolen Yellowjackets (Mobile, Alabama)
2015: 13-1
Final Ranking: Not Ranked
#25 Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors (Jacksonville, Florida)
2015: 14-0
Final Ranking: #49
