Best in Show: PUP high school football rankings (Aug. 27)

Each week the Pittsburgh Union Progress will issue its high school football rankings throughout the season, with all rankings voted on by the PUP sports staff.

Class 6A

1. Central Catholic (1-0)

2. North Allegheny (1-0)

3. Mt. Lebanon (1-0)

4. Canon-McMillan (1-0)

5. Seneca Valley (0-1)

The skinny: No changes here, as the top four teams claimed Week 0 wins and Seneca Valley lost at Penn Hills. Those top four teams were dominant, too, outscoring their opponents, 146-14. North Allegheny (Allderdice) and Canon-McMillan (at Penn-Trafford) shut out their foes, while Central Catholic (at Woodland Hills) and Mt. Lebanon (Gateway) surrendered only seven points.

Class 5A

1. Penn Hills (1-0)

2. Pine-Richland (0-1)

3. Gateway (0-1)

4. Peters Township (1-0)

5. Shaler (1-0)

The skinny: Penn Hills is the only new No. 1 team this week, this after the Indians topped Class 6A Seneca Valley, 33-20. Meanwhile, Gateway (then No. 1) and Pine-Richland (then No. 2) both suffered opening-game losses — Gateway (28-7 at Mt. Lebanon) and Pine-Richland (35-14 at Pickerington North, Ohio). And welcome to the rankings Shaler, which slots in at No. 5 and replaces Woodland Hills following a 38-7 drubbing of Butler.

Class 4A

1. Aliquippa (0-0)

2. Thomas Jefferson (1-0)

3. McKeesport (1-0)

4. Central Valley (1-0)

5. North Catholic (1-0)

The skinny: These five remain the same. Aliquippa doesn’t begin its season until Friday (the Quips host Armstrong in the first game at their newly-renovated stadium), while the other four teams claimed Week 0 wins. Central Valley and North Catholic scored wild victories. Central Valley used a last-minute touchdown and 2-point conversion to win at Austintown Fitch, Ohio, 36-35, and North Catholic beat Serra Catholic, 49-42, in the night’s highest-scoring game.

Class 3A

1. Belle Vernon (0-0)

2. Avonworth (1-0)

3. Elizabeth Forward (1-0)

4. Southmoreland (1-0)

5. Shady Side Academy (1-0)

The skinny: The top three teams remain unchanged (Belle Vernon travels to Laurel Highlands for its opener Friday), but we have a pair of first timers in Southmoreland and Shady Side Academy. The Scotties and Bulldogs replace East Allegheny (at South Park) and West Mifflin (at McKeesport), both of which were handed Week 0 defeats. Southmoreland and Shady Side Academy rolled to wins. Avonworth hosts Central Valley in one of the top Week 1 games.

Class 2A

1. Steel Valley (0-0)

2. Beaver Falls (1-0)

3. Washington (1-0)

4. Keystone Oaks (1-0)

5. Imani Christian (0-1)

The skinny: There is no movement here, either. Steel Valley was the only one of the teams that didn’t have a Week 0 game (the Ironmen host Sto-Rox this week). Keystone Oaks produced only one score in its opener, but it was enough for the Golden Eagles to slip past host Deer Lakes, 7-6. Imani Christian stays in despite a 42-27 loss to defending PIAA Class 1A champion Steelton-Highspire. Imani rallied from a 21-0 deficit to draw even at 27-27 before the Steamrollers pulled away late.

Class 1A

1. Bishop Canevin (0-0)

2. Union (1-0)

3. Greensburg C.C. (1-0)

4. Fort Cherry (1-0)

5. OLSH (1-0)

The skinny: Bishop Canevin was yet another No. 1 team that was idle in Week 0, and the Crusaders have a big opening test on their hands Friday when they travel to No. 3 Greensburg Central Catholic. Union held off Mohawk’s upset bid by defeating the Warriors, 40-37. OLSH takes the place of Clairton, which was dealt a 28-0 home loss by Westinghouse. OLSH, which plays in the Black Hills Conference alongside Canevin and Fort Cherry, defeated Shenango, 32-10.

City League

1. Westinghouse (1-0)

2. University Prep (1-0)

3. Allderdice (0-1)

The skinny: Westinghouse wasn’t the only City League team to capture an impressive Week 0 road win. University Prep actually went two overtimes to top WPIAL Class 4A foe New Castle, 26-20. Allderdice was hammered, 61-0, but there’s no shame in it considering it came at Class 6A No. 2 North Allegheny.