We’re down to the final days of preparation for the 2019 high school football season. Now the rubber meets the road. The state’s first Friday night of football is here.
Below are PennLive’s preseason football rankings in all six classification. PennLive will publish updated rankings each Tuesday morning through the PIAA Championships in December. All champions will be crowned Dec. 6-8 at Hersheypark Stadium.
Teams are listed with district, 2018 record and final ranking. NR-Not ranked. HM-Honorable mention
Class 6A
1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12) – 13-0 – 1
2. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) – 7-4 – NR
3. Coatesville (1) – 14-1 – 3
4. North Penn (1) – 13-1 – 6
5. Pine-Richland (7) – 11-3 – 4
6. Bethlehem Freedom (11) – 12-2 – 7
7. Manheim Twp. (3) – 10-2 – HM
8. State College (6) – 12-2 – 5
9. Downingtown West (1) – 11-2 – HM
10. Harrisburg (3) – 13-2 – 2
Teams to watch: Central Dauphin (3) 9-4, Delaware Valley (2) 9-4, North Allegheny (7) 10-1, Parkland (11) 7-5, Spring-Ford (1) 8-3.
Class 5A
1. Gateway (7) – 12-1 – 5
2. Manheim Central (3) – 14-1 – 2
3. Archbishop Wood (12) – 9-4 – 3
4. Penn-Trafford (7) – 9-3 – NR
5. Upper Dublin (1) – 13-2 – 6
6. Peters Twp. (7) – 10-3 – 10
7. Academy Park (1) – 9-3 – NR
8. Cocalico (3) – 10-3 – 7
9. Penn Hills (7) – 16-0 – 1
10. East Stroudsburg South (11) – 8-4 – NR
Teams to watch: Archbishop Ryan (12) 8-4, Governor Mifflin (3) 7-5, Springfield-Delco (1) 7-4, Warwick (3) 9-3, West Allegheny (7) 10-3.
Class 4A
1. Cathedral Prep (10) – 13-3 – 1
2. Thomas Jefferson (7) – 11-1 – 8
3. Imhotep Charter (12) – 11-3 – 2
4. Bethlehem Catholic (11) – 11-4 – 5
5. Bishop McDevitt (3) – 13-2 – 4
6. South Fayette (7) – 12-2 – 7
7. Valley View (2) – 13-1 – 3
8. Berks Catholic (3) – 10-3 – 6
9. Dallas (2) – 11-2 – HM
10. Northwestern Lehigh (11) – 9-3 – NR
Teams to watch: Belle Vernon (7) 9-2, Berwick (2) 9-3, Blackhawk (7) 10-2, Clearfield (9) 12-1, Pottsville (11) 7-5.
Class 3A
1. Aliquippa (7) – 14-1 – 1
2. North Catholic (7) – 10-2 – HM
3. Bald Eagle Area (6) – 11-3 – 7
4. Middletown (3) – 13-2 – 2
5. Scranton Prep (2) – 13-2 – 3
6. Sharon (10) – 10-4 – 5
7. North Schuylkill (11) – 11-2 – 8
8. Montoursville (4) – 11-3 – HM
9. Derry (7) – 11-2 – 9
10. Conwell-Egan (12) – 14-1 – 4
Teams to watch: Danville (4) 10-3, Lakeland (2) 9-4, Lancaster Catholic (3) 10-1, Wyoming Area (2) 11-1, Wyomissing (3) 9-3.
Class 2A
1. Southern Columbia (4) – 16-0 – 1
2. Washington (7) – 10-2 – NR
3. Ligonier Valley (6) – 11-1 – 7
4. West Catholic (12) – 12-3 – 3
5. Chestnut Ridge (5) – 10-3 – 10
6. Bishop McDevitt (12) – 8-4 – NR
7. Richland (6) – 13-1 – 5
8. Wilmington (10) – 13-2 – 2
9. Delone Catholic (3) – 10-2 – HM
10. Ridgway (9) – 11-2 – HM
Teams to watch: Berlin Brothersvalley (5) 4-7, Dunmore (2) 9-4, Steel-High (3) 4-7, Steel Valley (7) 12-2, Upper Dauphin (3) 9-2.
Class 1A
1. Farrell (10) – 15-0 – 1
2. Clairton (7) – 9-3 – 5
3. Old Forge (2) – 8-3 – HM
4. Lackawanna Trail (2) – 14-2 – 2
5. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (7) – 13-2 -- 3
6. Portage (6) – 7-4 – NR
7. Bishop Guilfoyle (6) – 8-4 – NR
8. Rochester (7) – 11-3 – 8
9. Coudersport (9) – 9-5 – HM
10. Tri-Valley (11) – 9-4 -- HM
Teams to watch: Jeannette (7) 11-1, Juniata Valley (6) 11-3, Marian Catholic (11) 4-7, South Williamsport (4) 5-6, Williams Valley (11) 9-3.