Best in Show: PUP high school football rankings (Sept. 17)

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 (4-0)

2. North Allegheny (4-0)

3. Mt. Lebanon (3-1)

4. Canon-McMillan (3-1)

5. Seneca Valley (0-4)

The skinny: No movement this week, but will that change after North Allegheny hosts Central Catholic in their big showdown Friday? There could be lots of offensive fireworks. Central Catholic (50.2 ppg) has the No. 1 scoring offense in the WPIAL, and North Allegheny (48.7 ppg) is No. 3. In the only conference matchup last week, Central Catholic thumped Mt. Lebanon, 49-0.

Class 5A

1. Peters Township (4-0)

2. Pine-Richland (2-2)

3. Penn Hills (3-1)

4. Shaler (4-0)

5. Upper St. Clair (4-0)

The skinny: Welcome to the top spot, Peters Township! We have a new No. 1 in this class for the third time this season, this after then-undefeated Penn Hills was stunned by then-winless Moon. Gateway was No. 1 to begin the season. Meanwhile, Peters Township continued to impress by blowing out South Fayette, 35-0. The Indians have now outscored opponents, 152-14. They host Upper St. Clair on Friday. Shaler is 4-0 for the first time since 2009. 

Class 4A

1. Aliquippa (3-0)

2. Thomas Jefferson (4-0)

3. McKeesport (3-1)

4. Central Valley (3-1)

5. Montour (3-1)

The skinny: This list remains the same for the second week in a row. Aliquippa registered a 42-18 win against Montour. Thomas Jefferson travels to former conference rival and Class 3A No. 1 Belle Vernon for a big one on Friday. Belle Vernon topped Thomas Jefferson, 21-7, last season. Central Valley has produced back-to-back shutouts following its loss to Avonworth.

Class 3A

1. Belle Vernon (3-0)

2. Avonworth (4-0)

3. Elizabeth Forward (4-0)

4. Beaver (4-0)

5. Seton LaSalle (3-1)

The skinny: Beaver and Seton LaSalle make the rankings for the first time. Beaver rolled to a 49-23 win at then-No. 5 South Park, and Seton LaSalle won its third in a row by defeating Quaker Valley, 49-0. Elizabeth Forward is flying a bit under the radar. The Warriors have given up only 36 points, but they have a big test on their hands Friday when they host Knoch (4-0).

Class 2A

1. Washington (4-0)

2. Steel Valley (2-1)

3. Neshannock (3-1)

4. Mohawk (3-1)

5. Waynesburg (4-0)

The skinny: When was the last time Waynesburg was ranked by any publication? Despite their many struggles over the years, the Raiders look like a different team and last week topped Keystone Oaks, 12-0, for their second shutout. They get McGuffey (2-2) and Washington next. Neshannock and Mohawk, along with Ellwood City, are all 3-1 teams from the Midwestern Conference.

Class 1A

1. Bishop Canevin (3-0)

2. Fort Cherry (4-0)

3. Rochester (3-0)

4. Cornell (4-0)

5. South Side (4-0)

The skinny: South Side keeps moving north in this class, and this week the Rams make their rankings debut. The top four teams had absolutely no trouble last week, outscoring their opponents, 169-6. Fort Cherry (49.2 ppg) boasts the No. 1 offense in the class and Canevin (4.3 ppg) the No. 1 defense. 

City League

1. Westinghouse (3-0)

2. University Prep (2-2)

3. Perry (1-3)

The skinny: Westinghouse all but wrapped up a second consecutive regular-season title after defeating University Prep, 34-18. There’s a good chance those teams meet again in the championship. Perry enters the rankings following its 14-8 win against then-No. 3 Allderdice.