Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school football state rankings for Oct. 31, 2023

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 | 9:43 PM

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The high school football regular season is in the books and the district playoffs begin across the state this weekend.

There were only two changes from last week’s Trib HSSN PIAA football rankings as most teams stayed put or moved up.

There were two head-to-head matchups in Week 9 between ranked teams as Class 6A top-ranked St. Joe’s Prep defeated 5A No. 2 Roman Catholic in District 12 while in a District 6 showdown, 3A No. 3 Martinsburg Central handed 2A No. 4 Richland its first loss of the season.

Even with Farrell losing to 5A power Cathedral Prep in District 10, the No. 1 teams remained the same with St. Joe’s Prep in 6A, Imhotep Charter in 5A, Bishop McDevitt in 4A, Belle Vernon in 3A, Farrell in 2A and Steelton-Highspire in Class A still No. 1.

Because of the regular season success, many ranked teams are not in action in Week 10 with 13 teams receiving byes into next weekend while 17 teams hit the gridiron Friday or Saturday to kick off the district postseason.

Here is the latest Trib HSSN Top 5 in each of the six classifications. Teams are listed with overall record, last week’s ranking and district.

Class 6A

1. St. Joseph’s Prep (8-1) (1) (D-12): The defending PIAA champion Hawks defeated 5A No. 2 Roman Catholic in Week 9, 45-7. They have a District 12 quarterfinal bye this weekend.

2. Parkland (10-0) (2) (D-11): The Trojans defeated Emmaus in Week 9, 41-17. They host Williamsport in a District 11, 2, 4 quarterfinal Friday.

3. Manheim Township (10-0) (3) (D-3): The Blue Streaks defeated West Lawn Wilson in Week 9, 49-34. They have a District 3 first-round bye this weekend.

4. Central Catholic (9-1) (4) (D-7): The Vikings defeated Gateway in Week 9, 51-7. They have a WPIAL quarterfinal bye this weekend.

5. North Allegheny (9-1) (5) (D-7): The Tigers defeated Seneca Valley in Week 9, 49-14. They have a WPIAL quarterfinal bye this weekend.

Out: None

Class 5A

1. Imhotep Charter (9-0) (1) (D-12): The Panthers did not play in Week 9. They play Ben Franklin in a District 12 quarterfinal Friday.

2. Peters Township (10-0) (3) (D-7): The Indians defeated Bethel Park in Week 9, 68-28. They host Franklin Regional in a WPIAL quarterfinal Friday.

3. Chester (9-1) (5) (D-1): The Clippers defeated Academy Park in Week 9, 22-0. They host Upper Moreland in a District 1 first-round game Saturday.

4. Roman Catholic (7-2) (2) (D-12): The Cahillites lost to 6A No. 1 St. Joseph’s Prep in Week 9, 45-7. They have a District 12 quarterfinal bye this weekend.

5. New Oxford (9-1) (NR) (D-3): The Colonials defeated Eastern York in Week 9, 29-8. They have a District 3 first-round bye this weekend.

Out: Southern Lehigh (11)

Class 4A

1. Bishop McDevitt (10-0) (1) (D-3): The defending PIAA champion Crusaders defeated Lower Dauphin in Week 9, 61-10. They have a District 3 first-round bye this weekend.

2. Aliquippa (9-0) (2) (D-7): The Quips defeated Central Valley in Week 9, 27-17. They have a WPIAL first-round bye this weekend.

3. Pope John Paul II (10-0) (3) (D-1): The Golden Panthers defeated Spring-Ford in Week 9, 28-27. They host Pottstown in a District 1 semifinal Saturday.

4. Jersey Shore (9-0-1) (4) (D-4): The Bulldogs defeated Central Mountain in Week 9, 62-0. They host Milton in a District 4 semifinal Saturday.

5. Selinsgrove (9-0-1) (5) (D-4): The Seals defeated Midd-West in Week 9, 49-0. They host Shikellamy in a District 4 semifinal Saturday.

Out: None

Class 3A

1. Belle Vernon (8-1) (1) (D-7): The defending PIAA champion Leopards defeated Elizabeth Forward in Week 9, 49-28. They have a WPIAL first-round bye this weekend.

2. Neumann-Goretti (8-1) (2) (D-12): The Saints defeated Archbishop Ryan in Week 9, 23-14. They host Conwell-Egan Catholic in a District 12 semifinal Saturday.

3. Martinsburg Central (10-0) (3) (D-6): The Scarlet Dragons defeated 2A No. 4 Richland in Week 9, 43-15. They have a District 6, 5, 9 quarterfinal bye this weekend.

4. Danville (9-1) (4) (D-4): The Ironmen defeated Executive Education Academy in Week 9, 52-20. They host Athens in a District 4 quarterfinal Friday.

5. Northwestern Lehigh (10-0) (NR) (D-11): The Tigers defeated 5A No. 4 Southern Lehigh in Week 9, 42-14. They host Lehighton in a District 11 quarterfinal Friday.

Out: Wyomissing (3)

Class 2A

1. Farrell (9-1) (1) (D-10): The Steelers lost to Cathedral Prep in Week 9, 44-18. They have a District 10 quarterfinal bye this weekend.

2. Westinghouse (9-0) (2) (D-8): The Bulldogs defeated University Prep in Week 9, 42-14. They have a District 8, 5 semifinal bye this weekend.

3. Southern Columbia (9-1) (3) (D-4): The defending PIAA champion Tigers defeated Shikellamy in Week 9, 55-6. They host North Penn in a District 4 quarterfinal Saturday.

4. Central Clarion (10-0) (5) (D-9): The Wildcats defeated Redbank Valley in Week 9, 35-14. They have a District 9 semifinal bye this weekend.

5. Richland (9-1) (4) (D-6): The Rams lost to 3A No. 3 Martinsburg Central in Week 9, 43-15. They host Penns Valley in a District 6 quarterfinal Friday.

Out: None

Class A

1. Steelton-Highspire (10-0) (1) (D-3): The defending PIAA champion Steamrollers defeated West Perry in Week 9, 33-12. They host Halifax in a District 3, 12 semifinal Saturday.

2. Northern Bedford (10-0) (2) (D-5): The Panthers defeated Glendale in Week 9, 34-8. They host Meyersdale in a District 5 semifinal Friday.

3. Lackawanna Trail (10-0) (3) (D-2): The Lions defeated Susquehanna Community in Week 9, 46-0. They host Old Forge in a District 2, 1 semifinal Friday.

4. South Side (10-0) (4) (D-7): The Rams defeated Rochester in Week 9, 33-7. They host Monessen in a WPIAL first-round game Friday.

5. Fort Cherry (10-0) (5) (D-7): The Rangers defeated Burgettstown in Week 9, 55-22. They host Jefferson-Morgan in a WPIAL first-round game Friday.

Out: None