Ridicuolosly Early HS Football Power Rankings

[Crimson's Ghost]

AAAAAA

1. State College
2. Mifflin County

As it stands, only two local teams fall in the AAAAAA category. State College is coming off a good year as District champs before they lost to eventual state champion, Central Catholic in the state playoffs.  They have enough firepower returning to be a competitive team on a statewide level again this year. Mifflin County has struggled since becoming a school, including an 0-10 mark last season. 

[Crimson's Ghost]

AAAAA

1. Hollidaysburg
2. Central Mountain

Hollidaysburg and Central Mountain are the only teams that sit in the newly added "5 A" division.  Hollidaysburg has pulled themselves out of the WPIAL and will play an independent schedule next year. These two teams will likely find themselves in a "sub-region" of sorts for next season. Hollidaysburg had a nice season last year, but they felt snubbed in the seeding for the WPIAL AAA playoffs, part of the reason they pulled out of that district.  Central Mountain was always on the small side of AAAA, so the new six classification is definitely geared towards them and schools of that size.

[Crimson's Ghost]

AAAA

1.Dubois
2. Clearfield
3. University Prep
4. Johnstown
5. Somerset
6. Bellefonte
7. Bradford 
8. Carrick

I included the Districts 5, 8,and 9 in this ranking. This class most resembles the old AAA classification, and those four districts made up the playoffs the past few years.  

Dubois is a former AAAA school, and they bring a powerful offense to this group.  They had to deal with State College the past few years, but will go up against teams more like-sized this year and it could be the beginning of a powerful dynasty on the local level. Clearfield will be tough with athletes like Ryan Lezzer and Seth Caldwell leading their charge. University Prep has a talented group, and they always seem to light up the scoreboard. Kenny Robinson is a very talented athlete that has garnered a ton of Division One offers. Johnstown has a ton back, but they need to find a QB.  Exree Loe is one of the best athletes in the state, and will keep the Trojans in the mix, but they'll need to find a QB to replace Jeremy Updyke.  Somerset has to replace their three year starting QB (Dylan Barnes) and RB (Jake Heiple), and that will not an easy task. Still, they have built up a solid program of late, and should be able to remain a threat in the playoffs. 

[Crimson's Ghost]

AAA

1. Central
2. Karns City
3. Tyrone
4. Juniata
5. Saint Mary's
6. Punxsutawney
7. Huntingdon
8. Forest Hills
9. Bedford
10. Penn Cambria
11. Central Cambria
12. Bald Eagle Area
13. Philipsburg-Osceola
14. Perry Traditional Academy

**I added the three District 9 AAA schools, the one City League school along with Bedford  That's pure speculation - but it would make the most sense to just have one playoff for these 14 schools,  But then again the PIAA doesn't always make sense**


This will be a really competitive field.  Central, Tyrone, and Juniata were the top three teams in District Six last season, and they all return some quality pieces.  Hoenstine is a dynamic player for the Central offense, and they have a strong defense led by Cam Norris.  Tyrone has Weaver back at running back, and some talented receivers like Parker Mitchell.  Juniata loses Swantz, but they still have a very good core of players in place and they proved they are ready to compete at the top of this classifcation with a title game appearance last season.  NOW (potentially) throw in a 12-1 Karns City team with some returning talent....it's anyone's game in this race. That's a very strong top 4. Karns City is a very well regarded program that has been one of District 9's most consistent for some time now. 

Still wondering if an LHAC team could compete....Forest Hills and Central Cambria both have talented young QB's and they might be candidates to surprise some people.  Bedford loses A LOT, it will be interesting to see if they can find a way to stay in the hunt.  (Assuming they are with the District Six playoffs).  St. Mary's and Punxy were up and down last season, but they'll be tough outs in a playoff setting.

[Crimson's Ghost]

AA
1. Ligonier Valley
2. Chestnut Ridge
3. Mount Union
4. Bishop McCort
5. Bellwood-Antis
6. West Shamokin
7. Westmont
8. Richland
9. West Branch
10. Southern Huntingdon
11. Cambria Heights
12. Penns Valley
13. Everett
14. Marion Center 

This one is tricky to pick, a lot of parity here and not a lot seperating the top from middle of the pack. 

Ligonier has a very good player in Collin Smith, and he should lead them to a lot of wins. Eli Parrish is an all-state linebacker leading their defense.  Knowing Ligonier's playoff history - it's difficult picking them as the favorite  BUT this could be the year they take it to the next level. 

Chestnut Ridge is always a good team, and they have been very consistent in recent years. They'll absolutely be in the hunt here. 

Mount Union has been an upstart team of late, and they'll be a good team with a strong running game. Bellwood will challenge them for ICC supremacy.  The Blue Devils always reload and find themselves in the mix. 

McCort should take a significant step forward this season.  The Crushers have a lot of starters back, including offensive weapons Levi Cook, Anthony Walters, and Carnell Andrews. 

The wild card here is West Shamokin. They went 4-6 last year in an OK AA conference in the WPIAL and their top offensive player was a freshman.  They are the biggest AA school so I expect them to be in the mix. 

Westmont, Richland, West Branch all seem like teams that could replace some key guys and find themselves in the mix. 

[Crimson's Ghost]

D6 A

1. Bishop Guilfoyle
2. Homer Center
3. Portage
4. Moshannon Valley
5. Northern Cambria
6. Purchase Line
7. Blacklick Valley
8. Williamsburg
9. Claysburg-Kimmel
10. Penns Manor
11. Blairsville
12. United
13. Conemaugh Valley
14. Juniata Valley
15. Saltsburg
16. Glendale
17. Ferndale
18. Bishop Carroll
19. St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy



Bishop Guilfoyle is the easy choice here. They are not only the favorites in the LHAC and District Six, but they are the team to beat in the state. Evan Chadbourn is the reigning state player of the year, and he will have another big season.



After the Marauders, it gets murkier.

Homer Center has a lot coming back, but are they going to be the class A team that emerges from the Heritage? Northern Cambria is going to be tough, Purchase Line will surprise some people too. I can't count out Penns Manor, even though they are losing just aboiut everything. That group of teams is interesting to track, and we may know more about it closer to the season.

Portage always finds themselves towards the top, that won't change. Can Blacklick Valley give them a run for their money in the West Pac? I think they'll be better than usual.

Moshannon Valley had the big run last year and they lose their star player, but they have a good bit back beyond him. They won't take a big step back and should be able to compete.

Williamsburg and Claysburg are teams to watch as well. The Williamsburg offense has the makeup of a team that can score a lot of points.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Just having some fun with this, kinda got inspired by the college football writers doing ridiculously early top 25's for next season the day after the national championship game. Things can change, and I'll probably do a more formal preview in August. Just something to pass the time for now.

[Coach]

MV has a nice group of starters back and will have a solid team for sure. NBC opens with them next season in what should be a very good football game. It will be interesting to see how much CK progresses. I think they'll have a nice team. I don't know off hand who everyone plays in the ICC but the Gold and Silver divisions are gone. Week 1 is an ICC game for some teams but it will not count in the ICC standings (I think) as others play out of conference. I do believe this will be a really nice year for the conference. MV, NB, Bell, Mt Union, West Branch, CK, and Williamsburg all return a decent amount of guys.


Your list of AAA teams is rock solid!

[12HankQB]

How did Everett and Ridge make the list? I thought it was D6.

[Manfred]

I predict FH will be 7-3