Best in Show: PUP high school football rankings (Oct. 20)

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 (7-2)

2. North Allegheny (8-1)

3. Seneca Valley (3-5)

4. Canon-McMillan (3-6)

5. Mt. Lebanon (2-7)

The skinny: The jockeying for playoff spots continues in Class 6A. Four teams (Seneca Valley, Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon and Hempfield) remain in contention for the final two berths behind Central Catholic and North Allegheny. After starting the season 0-5, Mt. Lebanon jumps into the rankings after winning two of its last three conference games, the latest being a 42-20 win at then-No. 4 Hempfield. The Blue Devils get Norwin next, and are likely in with a win.

Class 5A

1. Upper St. Clair (9-0)

2. Pine-Richland (7-1)

3. Peters Township (8-1)

4. Bethel Park (8-1)

5. Woodland Hills (7-2)

The skinny: Upper St. Clair continued to make its case for the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL playoffs by thumping Moon, 35-7. The Panthers have not given up more than 14 points in any of their last eight games, and are a win against winless Baldwin away from finishing the regular season unbeaten for the first time since 2013. Woodland Hills returns to the rankings after claiming its sixth straight win, 27-17 at Franklin Regional. Then-No. 5 North Hills lost to Penn Hills, 27-10.

Class 4A

1. Montour (8-0)

2. Thomas Jefferson (9-0)

3. Aliquippa (5-2)

4. McKeesport (5-4)

5. West Allegheny (3-3)

The skinny: Welcome to the top spot, Montour! The Spartans shook up the rankings courtesy of their dramatic 36-35 win against three-time defending WPIAL champion Aliquippa, which had been No. 1 since the preseason. It will be interesting to see who the WPIAL seeds No. 1 in the playoffs. If Montour (vs. West Allegheny) and Thomas Jefferson (at Laurel Highlands) both win this week, it will create a difficult decision for the committee. 

Class 3A

1. Imani Christian (9-0)

2. Avonworth (7-2)

3. Central Valley (5-4)

4. Beaver (7-2)

5. Elizabeth Forward (6-3)

The skinny: The top four teams all rolled to wins of at least 20 points last week. Imani Christian has won its last three games by scores of 71-0, 48-0 and 60-6. Avonworth has won five games in a row and can finish as unbeaten Western Hills Conference champions if it wins at Beaver this week. Elizabeth Forward replaces Southmoreland in the fifth spot following its 31-3 win against the Scotties. The Warriors have now won five games in a row, all by at least 28 points.

Class 2A

1. Seton LaSalle (8-0)

2. South Park (8-1)

3. Ellwood City (8-0)

4. South Allegheny (8-1)

5. Steel Valley (6-3)

The skinny: Give it up for Class 2A and the consistency of its top teams. For the fifth week in a row, these five teams, and in this exact order, find their way into the rankings. Seton LaSalle hasn’t played in a competitive game since August. Each of its last six wins has been by at least 35 points. Steel Valley hosts South Allegheny in Allegheny Conference play this week. Steel Valley, a WPIAL finalist the last two seasons, has won five straight since a 1-3 start.

Class 1A

1. Fort Cherry (9-0)

2. Clairton (9-0)

3. Bishop Canevin (6-2)

4. Neshannock (8-1)

5. Monessen (7-2)

The skinny: Bishop Canevin rebounded from its loss to Fort Cherry by blowing past Monessen, 56-20. Things don’t get a ton easier for Monessen, which must travel to Cornell (7-2) next. Clairton tied a school record by scoring 84 points in its shutout of Riverview. The Bears held a 76-0 halftime lead and have outscored opponents, 387-14, this season. Neshannock and Laurel (5-4) will play for the Big 7 Conference title this week. Both are 5-0 in conference play.

City League

1. Westinghouse (7-1)

2. Allderdice (5-4)

3. University Prep (3-5)

The skinny: It was a memorable City League semifinal win for Westinghouse, which throttled Perry, 68-0, despite playing with only 11 players. That means that Westinghouse and Allderdice will meet in the final for the third time in four seasons. Allderdice beat Westinghouse to win the 2021 title, and the Bulldogs have not lost a game to a City League opponent since. The Bulldogs hammered Allderdice, 50-6, back on Sept. 26.