Top 20 most dominant Pennsylvania high school football programs of last decade

Powered by five state titles and two undefeated seasons, St. Joseph’s Prep is the most dominant high school football team from Pennsylvania over the last decade.

Based on MaxPreps methodology, the Hawks amassed 377 points from play over 2010 to 2019 to outdistance Archbishop Wood, which finished second with 314 points.  

St. Joseph’s Prep won championships in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019, the last three at the AAAAAA level. It went unbeaten in 2016 and 2018, earning national rankings.

Archbishop Wood also won five state crowns during the decade and placed second in 2012.

• Top 25 finishes in the MaxPreps state computer rankings (25 points awarded to the No. 1 team, 24 for No. 2 and so on).

• Top 25 finishes in the MaxPreps national computer rankings (50 points for No. 1, 49 for No. 2 and so on).

• State championships (20 points).

• State championship game appearances (10 points).

1. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) (377)
State championships: 2013 (4A), 2014 (4A), 2016 (6A), 2018 (6A), 2019 (6A)
State runner-up: 2017 (6A)
State Top 25: 2011 (18), 2012 (3), 2013 (1), 2014 (1), 2015 (6), 2016 (1), 2017 (2), 2018 (1), 2019 (1)
Nationally ranked: 2016 (13), 2018 (22)

2. Archbishop Wood (Warminster) (314)
State championships: 2011 (3A), 2013 (3A), 2014 (3A), 2016 (3A), 2017 (3A), 2019 (3A)
State runner-up: 2012 (3A)
State Top 25: 2010 (12), 2011 (1), 2012 (13), 2013 (2), 2014 (2), 2015 (8), 2016 (3), 2017 (4), 2018 (14), 2019 (17)
Nationally ranked: N/A

3. Cathedral Prep (Erie) (226)
State championships: 2012 (3A), 2016 (4A), 2017 (4A), 2018 (4A)
State runner-up: 2015 (3A)
State Top 25: 2012 (2), 2013 (9), 2015 (9), 2016 (6), 2017 (3), 2018 (2), 2019 (15)
Nationally ranked: N/A

4. North Allegheny (Wexford) (203)
State championships: 2010 (4A), 2012 (4A)
State runner-up: N/A
State Top 25: 2010 (1), 2011 (3), 2012 (1), 2015 (23), 2017 (15), 2018 (12), 2019 (11)
Nationally ranked: 2012 (4)

5. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) (202)
State championships: 2015 (4A)
State runner-up: 2013 (4A), 2016 (4A)
State Top 25: 2010 (5), 2011 (11), 2013 (3), 2014 (6), 2015 (2), 2016 (2), 2017 (13), 2019 (4)
Nationally ranked:  N/A

6. (tie) La Salle College (Wyndmoor) (170)
State championships: N/A
State runner-up: 2010 (4A)
State Top 25: 2010 (3), 2011 (4), 2012 (4), 2013 (7), 2014 (4), 2015 (4), 2016 (20), 2017 (14), 2018 (22), 2019 (18)
Nationally ranked: N/A

6. (tie) Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa) (170)
State championships: 2015 (2A), 2017 (2A), 2018 (2A), 2019 (2A)
State runner-up: 2011 (1A), 2016 (2A)
State Top 25: 2015 (20), 2017 (5), 2018 (7), 2019 (2)
Nationally ranked: N/A

8. Pine-Richland (Gibsonia) (166)
State championships: 2017 (6A)
State runner-up: 2014 (4A)
State Top 25: 2014 (3), 2015 (14), 2017 (1), 2018 (6), 2019 (5)
Nationally ranked: 2017 (16)

9. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) (150)
State championships: 2015 (3A)
State runner-up: 2013 (2A), 2016 (4A), 2017 (4A), 2018 (4A)
State Top 25: 2013 (11), 2014 (23), 2015 (1), 2016 (8), 2017 (12), 2018 (11)
Nationally ranked: N/A

10. Clairton (144)
State championships: 2010 (1A), 2011 (1A), 2012 (1A)
State runner-up: 2014 (1A), 2016 (1A)
State Top 25: 2010 (8), 2011 (7), 2012 (5), 2014 (20)
Nationally ranked: N/A

11. Central Dauphin (Harrisburg) (125)
State championships: 2011 (4A)
State runner-up: 2019 (6A)
State Top 25: 2010 (21), 2011 (2), 2014 (16), 2015 (15), 2016 (12), 2018 (15), 2019 (6)
Nationally ranked: N/A

12. Aliquippa (122)
State championships: 2018 (3A)
State runner-up: 2012 (2A), 2015 (2A)
State Top 25: 2010 (23), 2011 (23), 2012 (10), 2013 (14), 2014 (11), 2015 (25), 2017 (10), 2018 (10)
Nationally ranked: N/A

13. Parkland (Allentown) (121)
State championships: N/A
State runner-up: 2015 (4A)
State Top 25: 2012 (8), 2013 (5), 2014 (9), 2015 (3), 2016 (9), 2017 (11)
Nationally ranked: N/A

14. Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) (119)
State championships: N/A
State runner-up: 2010 (3A), 2011 (3A), 2013 (3A)
State Top 25: 2010 (11), 2011 (9), 2012 (14), 2013 (8), 2014 (12), 2015 (13)
Nationally ranked: N/A

15. South Fayette (McDonald) (110)
State championships: 2013 (2A), 2014 (2A)
State runner-up: 2010 (2A)
State Top 25: 2010 (9), 2013 (4), 2014 (5)
Nationally ranked: N/A

16. Coatesville (106)
State championships: N/A
State runner-up: 2012 (4A)
State Top 25: 2012 (6), 2014 (14), 2016 (13), 2017 (8), 2018 (3), 2019 (16)
Nationally ranked: N/A

17. Harrisburg (103)
State championships: N/A
State runner-up: 2016 (5A), 2018 (6A)
State Top 25: 2012 (20), 2016 (7), 2017 (7), 2018 (4), 2019 (9)
Nationally ranked: N/A
State championships: 2014 (1A), 2015 (1A), 2016 (1A)
State runner-up: 2019 (1A)
State Top 25: N/A
19. North Penn (Lansdale) (90)
State championships: N/A
State runner-up: 2011 (4A)
State Top 25: 2010 (6), 2011 (5), 2013 (19), 2015 (17), 2016 (5), 2018 (24)
Nationally ranked: N/A

20. Wilson (West Lawn) (79)
State championships: N/A
State runner-up: N/A
State Top 25: 2010 (20), 2011 (20), 2012 (9), 2013 (20), 2014 (7), 2016 (14), 2019 (13)
Nationally ranked: N/A