Preseason rankings: Philadelphia teams reign

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Over the past four seasons, teams from the Philadelphia Catholic or Public League have won six PIAA championships. If preseason rankings can be a barometer, look for the trendto continue this season.

In the Post-Gazette preseason state rankings, two Philadelphia Catholic League teams are ranked No. 1 while one Public League team also is ranked No. 1. Since the Philadelphia leagues joined the PIAA in 2007, they have never had more than twostate champions in a year.

The No. 1-ranked teams from Philadelphiathis season are no strangers tosuccess. They are perennial Catholic powers St. Joseph’s Prep (Class 6A)and Archbishop Wood (5A) along with an Imhotep Charter team in 4A that has become strong in the past fewyears.

The only WPIAL ranked No. 1 in the preseason is Aliquippa in Class 3A.

Here is a look at some of the top teamsaround the state.

Class 6A

No. 1-ranked St. Joseph’s Prep has been in the PIAA final four of the past five years and won three times. This year’s team is reputed to be better than last year’s that lost to PineRichlandin the title game. A number of players return for the Hawks, and they got even better with the additionof the son of a former NFL great.

Marvin Harrison Jr., whose father is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, transferred from La Salle to St. Joseph’s. The younger Harrison is a 6-foot-4 junior who caught 20 passes last season for La Salle. He already has offers from Florida and Syracuse.

St. Joseph’s quarterback is Kyle McCord, who has to be one of the top sophomore quarterbacks in the eastern part of the country. He already has offers from Penn State, Michigan, Syracuse and West Virginia. Also returning is Kolbe Burrell, rated one of the top junior running backsin the state.

Pine-Richland is ranked No. 2 this season. No. 3 Coatesville is a District 1 team near Philadelphia that lost to St. Joseph’s, 53-49, in the PIAA semifinals last season. Coatesville running back Aaron Young rushed for 1,700 yards last season while quarterback Rick Ortega threw for 3,291