Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams — Oct. 7

The Pennsylvania high school football rankings have updated after a fairly tame weekend in the Keystone State.

LaSalle College takes over the No. 1 spot after beating previously top-ranked St. Joseph’s Prep in a thrilling 35-34 battle. However, the remainder of the Pennsylvania top 25 stayed clear from any upset bids.

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

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Below are the updated top 25 teams in the Pennsylvania On3 Massey Ratings, as of Oct. 7.

1. LaSalle College (+1)

LaSalle remained perfect over the weekend with a win in what was perhaps the game of the year in Pennsylvania. The Explorers took down then-No. 1 St. Joseph’s Prep 35-34 on Saturday, launching LaSalle to No. 1 in the commonwealth. LaSalle has the No. 3 offense and No. 3 defense in Pennsylvania and is 7-0 heading into a road test at No. 21 Monsignor Bonner on Friday.

2. St. Joseph’s Prep School (-1)

St. Joseph’s dropped its second game of the season in its 35-34 loss to LaSalle College on Friday. The Hawks had rattled off three consecutive wins prior to the LaSalle game — Father Judge, Good Counsel (Md.) and Erasmus Hall (N.Y.) — after falling to St. Edward (Ohio) in week one. St. Joseph’s has the No. 1 offense and No. 2 defense in the commonwealth — led by Ohio State defensive line commit Maxwell Roy, Penn State and Notre Dame linebacker pledges Cam Smith and Anthony Sacca, and Ohio State running back commit Isaiah West. Next up is Cardinal O’Hara on Friday.

3. Pine-Richland (+1)

Pine-Richland stayed undefeated with a 31-21 win over Penn Hills last Friday. In the last three weeks, the Rams have won by a combined 145-28. The highlight of Pine-Richaldn’s resume is an early-season 22-17 win over No. 5 Central Catholic. Up next is a road game at Aliquippa, which sits just outside of the commonwealth top 25.

4. Malvern Prep (-1)

Two weeks ago, Malvern knocked off Gonzaga — Washington, D.C.’s No. 1 team — 13-7. The Friars were off last weekend but will take on Episcopal Academy this Friday. While the Friars rank just No. 18 on offense, the commonwealth’s top-ranked defense is led by junior four-star defensive lineman Cameron Brickle.

5. Central Catholic

The Vikings improved to 5-2 on the season with a 56-7 win over Shaler Area. Ranking in the top 5 in both offense and defense, Central Catholic is led by a pair of Power 4 commits in Duke four-star athlete pledge Bradley Gompers and Penn State cornerback commit Xxavier Thomas. On deck is a road game at Norwin.

6. Upper Saint Clair (+1)

After upsetting then-No. 4 Peters Township 21-7 two weeks ago, Upper Saint Clair jumped five spots into the top 10 of the Pennsylvania high school football rankings. The Panthers are 6-0 this year with wins over Mt. Lebanon, Canon-McMillan, Franklin Regional, Hampton and McKeesport in addition to Peters Township. After sitting idle over the weekend USC will take on undefeated No. 12 Bethel Park this Friday.

7. Manheim Township (-1)

Manheim’s defense has not allowed a single point in two of the last three weeks. Last Friday, the Blue Streaks took down Cedar Crest by a 38-13 final score. Reading, 2-4 on the year, is next on the schedule this week.

8. Freedom

The Patriots have scored at least 38 points in four of their last five games and have a top-20 offense and defense in the commonwealth. They are fresh off of a 24-3 win against Bethlehem Catholic and will take on No. 24 Easton Area on Oct. 18 after resting this week.

9. North Allegheny (+2)

North Allegheny beat Mt. Lebanon 28-21 last Friday to improve to 5-1 on the season — its only loss coming the week before to No. 5 Central Catholic. The Tigers have wins over Gateway, Penn Hills, Hempfield Area and Norwin, and boast a top-10 offense and defense. They are big favorites over Canon-McMillan this week.

10. Peters Township

Peters Township bounced back from its upset loss to Upper Saint Clair with a 23-14 win over Moon Area last Friday. The Indians held strong at No. 10 in the commonwealth rankings heading into the bye week.

Teams 11-25 in latest Pennsylvania High School Rankings

11. Harrisburg (-2)
12. Bethel Park
13. Central Bucks South (+4)
14. Imhotep Institute (+1)
15. Parkland (-1)

16. Roman Catholic (-3)
17. Thomas Jefferson (+1)
18. Downingtown West (-2)
19. Bishop McDevitt
20. State College Area (+1)

21. Monsignor Bonner (+3)
22. Strath Haven (+1)
23. Nazareth (+2)
24. Easton Area (NR)
25. Central York (-3)

Dropped from rankings: North Penn