Best in Show: PUP high school football rankings (Oct. 13)

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

Class 6A

1. Central Catholic (6-2)

2. North Allegheny (7-1)

3. Seneca Valley (3-4)

4. Hempfield (3-5)

5. Canon-McMillan (2-6)

The skinny: The top two spots remain unchanged, as Central Catholic cruised to a 59-13 win at Norwin while North Allegheny rolled to a 38-6 triumph at Canon-McMillan. Seneca Valley switched spots with Hempfield after beating the Spartans at home, 27-15, to take over sole possession of third place and all but lock up a playoff spot. Hempfield can go a long way toward clinching the fourth and final playoff berth in Class 6A with a win this week against Mt. Lebanon.

Class 5A

1. Upper St. Clair (8-0)

2. Pine-Richland (7-0)

3. Peters Township (7-1)

4. Bethel Park (7-1)

5. North Hills (7-1)

The skinny: Upper St. Clair used its suffocating defense to earn another marquee victory, knocking off an undefeated conference rival for the third week in a row with a 14-10 win at Bethel Park in the PUP game of the week. The Black Hawks came into the game averaging a WPIAL-leading 51 points per game. Pine-Richland kept pace with the Panthers in the race for the No. 1 seed in Class 5A by shutting out Latrobe, 42-0. Peters Township toppled South Fayette, 38-3, while North Hills defeated Shaler, 28-10.

Class 4A

1. Aliquippa (5-1)

2. Montour (7-0)

3. Thomas Jefferson (7-0)

4. McKeesport (4-4)

5. West Allegheny (2-3)

The skinny: The top two teams each took care of business to set up one of the biggest games of the year. Montour will play host Friday to three-time defending WPIAL champion Aliquippa, with the Parkway Conference crown up for grabs, after the Quips won at Blackhawk, 48-13, and the Spartans took home a 47-13 win at Ambridge. Thomas Jefferson had its game against Ringgold canceled Thursday due to an alleged incident involving some of the Rams players. Meanwhile, McKeesport flexed its muscles in a 28-7 win at Mars, and West Allegheny cracks the top five for the first time after a 32-8 win over New Castle.

Class 3A

1. Imani Christian (8-0)

2. Avonworth (6-2)

3. Central Valley (4-4)

4. Beaver (6-2)

5. Southmoreland (7-1)

The skinny: Imani Christian solidified its grasp on the No. 1 spot with a 61-0 rout of Deer Lakes, knocking out the Lancers from the top five after their second consecutive shutout loss. Avonworth defeated McGuffey, 41-13, Central Valley scored a 52-20 win at Quaker Valley and Beaver blew out North Catholic, 48-10. In place of Deer Lakes, Southmoreland makes its first appearance in the “Best in Show” after a 28-7 win at Mount Pleasant, setting up a massive showdown Friday at Elizabeth Forward for the Interstate Conference title.

Class 2A

1. Seton LaSalle (7-0)

2. South Park (7-1)

3. Ellwood City (7-0)

4. South Allegheny (7-1)

5. Steel Valley (5-3)

The skinny: Seton LaSalle got a head start on its competition Thursday with a 65-12 beatdown of Shady Side Academy. South Park shut out Ligonier Valley, 33-0, while Ellwood City improved to 7-0 for the first time in 80 years with a 13-9 comeback win at Riverside. South Allegheny held off an inspired effort from winless Apollo-Ridge in a 41-29 victory, and Steel Valley stormed past Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 42-7.

Class 1A

1. Fort Cherry (8-0)

2. Clairton (8-0)

3. Bishop Canevin (5-2)

4. Monessen (7-1)

5. Neshannock (7-1)

The skinny: Defending champion Fort Cherry received all it could handle from Bishop Canevin, but in the end, the Rangers prevailed on the road with a 49-34 triumph behind six touchdowns from Matt Sieg. Clairton gave up its first defensive touchdown of the season but still dominated Leechburg in a battle of unbeatens, 44-7. Monessen defeated Burgettstown, 34-17, to move up one spot in the rankings, and Neshannock returns in the No. 5 spot after a 21-19 comeback win at South Side.

City League

1. Westinghouse (6-1)

2. University Prep (3-4)

3. Allderdice (4-4)

The skinny: Westinghouse locked up the No. 1 seed for the City League playoffs with a 43-6 victory over University Prep, while Allderdice fell in a defensive slugfest against Butler, 7-0, setting up a matchup between the Dragons and Wildcats next week in the City League semifinals. The top-seeded Bulldogs will take on No. 4-seeded Perry for a spot in the championship, Oct. 26 at Cupples Stadium, South Side.