Allentown Central Catholic still alive
Vikings move up to No. 3 in 4A but must face No. 1 on Friday
Just 24 teams are still playing high school football in Pennsylvania, and for the Lehigh Valley just one remains.
That’s Allentown Central Catholic, which has won two PIAA playoff games and needs to win two more to become state champs for the fourth time in program history.
The Vikings are ranked No. 3 — up from No. 6 — in the latest state rankings produced by Eric Epler of Pennlive.com. Aliquippa, Central’s opponent Friday night at Bald Eagle Area High School in Centre County, is No. 1.
District 12’s St. Joe’s Prep, the team that eliminated District 11 champ Parkland in Saturday’s quarterfinals, is ranked No. 1 in 6A. Imhotep Charter, another District 12 school and the team that eliminated Whitehall, is No. 2 in 5A.
In Class 3A NeumannGoretti, yet another District 12 member and the team that ended Northwestern Lehigh’s season, is ranked fourth.
In Class 2A Trinity from District 3, which eliminated Executive Education, is ranked third and Steelton-Highspire, the District 3 team that ended Northern Lehigh’s season, is ranked No. 2 in Class A.
All six District 11 champs remain in the top 10s of their respective classes. Here’s a complete look at the latest rankings:
CLASS 6A Rank — Team — District — Record — Previous
1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12) — 10-1— 1
2. Garnet Valley (1) — 13-0— 2
3. State College (6) — 13-0— 3
4. Harrisburg (3) — 10-2— 5
5. North Allegheny (7) — 11-2— 4
6. Parkland (11) — 9-5— 6
7. Bethlehem Freedom (11) — 10-3— 10
8. Manheim Township (3) — 9-4— 7
9. Central Bucks West (1) — 9-5— 8
10. Perkiomen Valley (1) — 11-2— 9 Honorable mention: Central York (3) 10-2, Coatesville (1) 8-2, Downingtown East (1) 9-4, Emmaus (11) 10-2, Hempfield (3) 9-3. McDowell (10) 10-3.
CLASS 5A
Rank — Team — District — Record — Previous
1. Upper Dublin (1) — 14-0— 1
2. Imhotep Charter (12) — 9-2— 3
3. Pine-Richland (7) — 11-3— 5
4. Cocalico (3) — 10-4— 7
5. Exeter Township (3) — 12-1— 2
6. Cathedral Prep (10) — 8-3— 4
7. West Chester Rustin (1) — 11-2— 6
8. Strath Haven (1) — 12-1— 8
9. Roman Catholic (12) — 8-3— 9
10. Solanco (3) — 11-1— NR
Honorable mention: Bethel Park (7) 10-2, Gettysburg (3) 8-3, Northern York (3) 8-5, Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1) 10-3, Upper St. Clair (7) 10-3.
CLASS 4A
Rank — Team — District — Record — Previous
1. Aliquippa (7) — 12-0— 1
2. Bishop McDevitt (3) — 11-1— 2
3. Allentown C.C. (11) — 9-5— 6
4. Crestwood (2) — 13-1— 9
5. Jersey Shore (4) — 12-1— 8
6. Central Valley (7) — 11-2— 4
7. Meadville (10) — 12-2— 3
8. McKeesport (7) — 11-2— 10
9. Manheim Central (3) — 11-2— 5
10. Bonner-Prendergast (12) — 11-2— 7 Honorable mention: Armstrong (7) 10-2, Interboro (1) 10-3, Juniata (6) 8-4, Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 9-3, Thomas Jefferson
(7) 8-4.
CLASS 3A
Rank — Team — District — Record — Previous
1. Wyomissing (3) — 13-0— 1
2. Belle Vernon (7) — 10-2— 3
3. Central Martinsburg (6) — 12-2— 6
4. Neumann-Goretti (12) — 9-3— 9
5. Danville (4) — 12-1— 2
6. Avonworth (7) — 11-2— 4
7. Northwestern Lehigh (11) — 11-3— 5
8. Loyalsock (4) — 11-2— 8
9. North Schuylkill (11) — 10-3— 10
10. Notre Dame-GP (11) — 9-3— NR Honorable mention: Clearfield (9) 8-4, Freeport (7) 10-2, Grove City (10) 9-4, West Perry (3) 11-2, Penn Cambria (6) 9-2. CLASS 2A
Rank — Team — District — Record — Previous
1. Steel Valley (7) — 12-0— 2
2. Westinghouse (8) — 13-0— 4
3. Trinity (3) — 10-4— 5
4. Southern Columbia (4) — 11-3— 6
5. Farrell (10) — 10-2— 1
6. Beaver Falls (7) — 11-2— 3
7. Mount Carmel (4) — 12-1— 9
8. Lakeland (2) — 12-1— 10
9. Bishop Guilfoyle (6) — 10-4— 7
10. Executive Education (11) — 8-4— 8 Honorable mention: Central Clarion (9) 10-2, Neshannock (7) 11-2, Penns Valley
(6) 10-3,
Richland (6) 11-1, Sharpsville (10) 9-3, Sto-Rox (7) 9-3.
CLASS 1A
Rank — Team — District — Record — Previous
1. Canton (4) — 12-1— 1
2. Steelton-Highspire (3) — 12-1— 2
3. Union Area (7) — 11-3— 9
4. Port Allegany (9) — 12-1— 6
5. Northern Lehigh (11) — 12-2— 5
6. Eisenhower (10) — 11-1— 8
7. Bishop Canevin (7) — 12-2— 3
8. Reynolds (10) — 11-2— 4
9. Muncy (4) — 10-1— NR
10. Northern Cambria (6) — 10-4— 7 Honorable mention: Brockway (9) 8-5, Penns Manor (6), Rochester (7) 7-5, South Side Area (7) 11-2, Windber (5) 11-2.
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