Best in Show: PUP high school football rankings (Sept. 24)

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 (5-0)

2. North Allegheny (4-1)

3. Mt. Lebanon (4-1)

4. Canon-McMillan (4-1)

5. Seneca Valley (0-5)

The skinny: The top five in Class 6A remains unchanged since the beginning of the season, as Central Catholic proved it deserved to be ranked No. 1 all along over defending champion North Allegheny with a commanding 50-22 win at the Tigers’ Newman Stadium on Friday. Mt. Lebanon withstood a tough battle against Seneca Valley for a 17-14 win, and Canon-McMillan edged South Fayette, 14-7.

Class 5A

1. Peters Township (5-0)

2. Pine-Richland (3-2)

3. Penn Hills (4-1)

4. Woodland Hills (3-2)

5. Upper St. Clair (4-1)

The skinny: In its first week as the No. 1 team in Class 5A, Peters Township looked every bit like the WPIAL championship front-runner by hammering Upper St. Clair on homecoming night, 31-0. Pine-Richland throttled Fox Chapel, 50-0, while Penn Hills won at North Hills, 34-9, and Woodland Hills re-enters the rankings in place of Shaler at No. 4 after a 30-23 win against Norwin.

Class 4A

1. Aliquippa (4-0)

2. Thomas Jefferson (5-0)

3. McKeesport (4-1)

4. Central Valley (4-1)

5. Montour (4-1)

The skinny: Aliquippa avoided a major upset against West Allegheny for the second year in a row thanks to a last-second touchdown pass by senior quarterback Quentin Goode, and Thomas Jefferson beat archrival Belle Vernon for the first time since 2020, 24-19, to stay unbeaten. McKeesport trounced Trinity, 35-7, while Central Valley surged to a 43-12 win against New Castle and Montour manhandled Ambridge, 48-7.

Class 3A

1. Belle Vernon (3-1)

2. Avonworth (5-0)

3. Elizabeth Forward (5-0)

4. Seton LaSalle (4-1)

5. Deer Lakes (4-1)

The skinny: Belle Vernon holds onto the top spot here despite its first loss of the season in a back-and-forth battle against Thomas Jefferson, the No. 2 team in Class 4A. Avonworth and Elizabeth Forward remain hot on the Leopards’ heels after one-sided wins against quality foes in South Park and Knoch, respectively. Also, Seton LaSalle bumps up a spot to No. 4 after Beaver’s loss to West Mifflin, opening the door for Deer Lakes to make its debut at No. 5 following a 24-7 win at Southmoreland.

Class 2A

1. Washington (5-0)

2. Steel Valley (3-1)

3. Neshannock (4-1)

4. Mohawk (4-1)

5. McGuffey (3-2)

The skinny: Washington remains the only undefeated team in the class after picking up another lopsided victory against Brentwood, 47-6. Steel Valley shut out Ligonier Valley, 35-0, while Neshannock needed overtime to overcome Beaver Falls, 27-26, one week after beating Western Beaver by the same score. Mohawk cruised to a 42-6 win against New Brighton, and McGuffey replaces Waynesburg at No. 5 after handing the Raiders their first defeat, 26-7.

Class 1A

1. Bishop Canevin (4-0)

2. Fort Cherry (5-0)

3. Cornell (5-0)

4. South Side (5-0)

5. Union (4-1)

The skinny: Bishop Canevin won by forfeit against Avella to keep the top spot in the rankings, but Fort Cherry is making a convincing case for No. 1 after a resounding 42-0 rout against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Cornell also continues to impress, moving up to the No. 3 spot in place of Rochester with a 47-7 triumph at Carlynton. South Side also jumped up a spot to No. 4 after crushing Quaker Valley, 47-7, and defending champ Union slides back into the rankings following a 33-14 win at Laurel.

City League

1. Westinghouse (4-0)

2. University Prep (3-2)

3. Brashear (2-3)

The skinny: Westinghouse shut down Allderdice for a 20-2 win to stay undefeated, while University Prep earned an impressive out-of-state win at Wheeling C.C., W.Va., 36-19. Meanwhile, Brashear outlasted previously No. 3-ranked Perry in overtime, 26-24, to move into the rankings for the first time this season.