Preseason State Rankings out

[Eaglealum]

Well, they came out; and Clearfield/Johnstown got no love which surprises me a bit, and I really thought the Rangers would make the top ten. I thought several other locals would be at least a team to watch. Not arguing with our own personal ranking. Alot back, more speed than a meth lab, but we haven't won a dist. title since 04. Looks like the seniors need to put us on the map again.
http://www.pafootballnews.com/Rankings_11.htm

[GreenMachine]

I see they have Ligonier Valley as a Single A team one to watch. They dropped down a class only after one year of consolidation ???

[jack daniel]

BC who lost basically everything, and Ligonier who plays in a bad conference get others to watch in A and McCort doesn't? Interesting.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Carroll has 4 Linemen back plus their QB, not quite everything.

[dragonfootball2001]

The AA and A PFN Rankings list is skewed by District. This is very obvious in the rankings of Tyrone and Forest Hills in AA, which both deserve better. Both of these schools could handle the entire "Others" list without much problem, and compete and beat at least five of the Top 10. District Six doesn't get much respect, and as such, takes a back seat in these rankings.

I know such a list is difficult in A because of the size of the schools and their depth, but Others list for A is ludicrous. Sto-Rox gets a free pass into the Top 10 without any substantive play or talent due to their inclusion in District 7. Are the top teams in the WPIAL that good? Yes, Clairton and Rochester are heads above the rest of PIAA A, but Sto-Rox is not in this class. I can name four teams in the ICC that can can handle the "Others" list very well, not including BA, so that makes five.

Its nice to see North Star get the nod in the A "Others" list, but again, this isn't fair to the rest of D5/ICC. There are a number of teams in D5/ICC that are just as good as North Star, and North Star will struggle to compete with a few of those teams this season. Again, Avonworth and Bishop Canevin get a pass because of the WPIAL. If Avonworth and Bishop Canevin faced the top five teams in the ICC, they'd both finish with losing records.

Finally, Johnstown gets completely disrespected in AAA. Their issue isn't talent, which should afford them a higher ranking, but their SOS. As stated on BC in the past, Johnstown plays a poor AA/A schedule and will have to be prepared for a higher level of play come playoff time. I completely agree that this season, a Johnstown team in the Keystone would finish at 8-1 or 7-2 easily.

[Crimson's Ghost]

--Tyrone can be ranked if the field a team of 11. Just because they won the State Championship in '99. Forest Hills is 36-4 over the past 3 seasons, with 2 wins over Tyrone. But Tyrone gets the automatic D6 AA Top Ten spot no matter what, based off of past accomplishments. Its fact, Tyrone is always preseason top 10, warranted or not. But to say Forest Hills and Tyrone can handle every team on the others list, is based off of what? Wilmington is a great program. GCC and Beaver Falls can play, too.


--Sto Rox, no talent? Seriously?
Deaysean Rippy, 4 Star Linebacker/Tight Ends with offers from Alabama, Auburn,Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon and USC. Thats basically the AP Top ten.
Marzett Geter WR/CB is going to Pitt and Dontez Ford S is going to Syracuse. So they are ranked for good reason. Thats 3 players going to BCS level teams on 1 A team.

--What teams from the ICC can handle these WPIAL teams, because i've never seen a good ICC team outside of Bellwood-Antis? Not saying they can't compete, but basically your saying Canevin and Avonworth would get swept away by the ICC? Hardly. McCort and Carroll are comparable to top level WPIAL A teams, and neither one of the teams would lose to an ICC team with the exception of Bellwood being able to beat them.

I agree I think Johnstown could play in that league, and do fairly well. But again, stick them in some other WPIAL AAA leagues, its a different story. There is easily 10 AAA teams from the WPIAL better than Johnstown. And I agree, it has nothing to do with their talent, but the fact those teams are AAA schools, that know how to play other AAA schools.


But the thing with HS State Rankings, you have to understand that the preseason is basically taking a glance over the top teams, than they stick the rest of the rankings with teams with good records from the year before or in the past. Its not ESPN where they take an in-depth look at every single team. That would take too long, for something so meaningless. D6/D5 will always get the short end of things, its just how it is. Its not a disrespect thing, but they have nothing to base that this area has some good Football.

[Eaglealum]

If you were fishing Casper, I'm not biting. I agree Tyrone hasn't won "the big one" at mansion since 04, so actually I wouldn't have even ranked 'em. That's the nice thing with the preseason rankings, you got 15 weeks to prove em wrong. I do believe with what's back in "thugrone" they will be higher in December than they are now, but the last time I checked, trophies were made from more metal than paper. So I guess we'll all watch and see this fall.....8 days to kickoff!!!

[Crimson's Ghost]

Was not fishing at all, I know you know state rankings mean nothing.

[jack daniel]

Carroll has 4 Linemen back plus their QB, not quite everything.

I knew Barzdo was back but didn't realize they returned that much of the line, but after losing Woo it still could be a struggle for Sponsky and the boys this year. Week 2 at the Point should be a good test as to who, along with Bellwood, will be the top dog in D6 A with the Crushers hosting the Huskies.

[jack daniel]

.....8 days to kickoff!!!

I see you share my excitement!