Harrisburg continues its ascension in the High School Football America Pennsylvania Top 25 that is created with our proprietary algorithm. The Cougars, who now lead the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division, move up six spots this week to crack the Top 10 at No. 10 after knocking-off previously unbeaten and No. 8 State College 32-17. Harrisburg’s only loss this year is to No. 2 Coatesville.
Related: Pennsylvania high school football scores
Speaking of Coatesville, the Red Raiders handed previously unbeaten Downingtown West its first loss of the season Friday. Look for Coatesville should run-the-table until its season finale against No. 15 Downingtown East, which will be for the Ches-Mont National Division title.
At the top of the Top 25 is St. Joseph’s Prep, which will play its annual Philadelphia Catholic League showdown against No. 4 Archbishop Wood on Saturday. Both are 2-0 in the Red Division. The Vikings, who are in their first year under new head coach Kyle Adkins who replaced Steve Devlin, have won four straight since starting 0-2, which included a loss to nationally-ranked Bergen Catholic from New Jersey.
Another head-to-head in the Top 25 this week is in the middle part of the state where State College will try to rebound from its loss to Harrisburg when the Little Lions play No. 20 Central Dauphin in a Mid-Penn Commonwealth clash.
We mentioned Coatesville’s season finale earlier…let’s not forget the season finale out west that pits defending 6A champ No. 3 Pine-Richland against No. 7 North Allegheny.
The only new team in the Top 25 is Wilson (West Lawn) at No. 19. The Bulldogs who sit atop the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1, own a victory over No. 19 Manheim Township, but a loss to Central Dauphin. This week, the Bulldogs can wrap-up at least a piece of the Section 1 title by beating Warwick, which enters with a 3-1 league record. Wilson is 3-0.
And, this Lehigh Valley native can’t forget the unbeaten showdown between No. 14 Freedom (Bethlehem) and Emmaus, which is just outside of the Top 25. The winner captures the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South Division title.
High School Football America Pennsylvania Top 25
No. 1 St. Joseph’s Prep (4-0), LW: #1
No. 2 Coatesville (7-0), LW: #2
No. 3 Pine-Richland (6-1), LW: #3
No. 4 Archbishop Wood (4-2), LW: #4
No. 5 Imhotep Charter (4-2), LW: #5
No. 6 North Penn (7-0), LW: #6
No. 7 North Allegheny (7-0), LW: #7
No. 8 Manheim Central (7-0), LW: #9
No. 9 Malvern Prep (6-0), LW: #10
No. 10 Harrisburg (6-1), LW: #16
No. 11 Penn Hills (7-0), LW: #11
No. 12 Gateway (7-0), LW: #12
No. 13 Garnet Valley (7-0), LW: #13
No. 14 Freedom (Bethlehem) (7-0), LW: #14
No. 15 Downingtown East (7-0), LW: #15
No. 16 State College (6-1), LW: #8
No. 17 Pittsburgh Central Catholic (5-2), LW: #17
No. 18 Thomas Jefferson (6-0), LW: #18
No. 19 Manheim Township (6-1), LW: #20
No. 20 Central Dauphin (5-2), LW: #22
No. 21 Wilson (West Lawn) (5-2), LW: NR
No. 22 Cocalico (5-2), #23
No. 23 Cedar Cliff (5-2), #24
No. 24 Cathedral Prep (5-2), LW: #21
No. 25 Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) (6-1), LW: #25
Dropped-out: No. 19 Springfield-Delco
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)
