Pennsylvania high school football rankings: St. Joseph’s Prep, Central Catholic headline preseason MaxPreps Top 25

Hawks looking to reach ninth state final in 10 years; Vikings after fifth state title and first since 2015.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Eric Frantz
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Aug 17, 2022, 9:45am
The high school football season in Pennsylvania kicks off next week with 277 games scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 26-27. After going 11-3 and reaching the Class 6A state championship for the sixth straight season, St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) headlines our look at this year's contenders in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25.
 
The Hawks, who have played in every 6A final since the classification’s inception (2016), have won six state titles and appeared in eight state finals in the last nine years.
 
Defense is one of the reasons SJP is No. 29 in our expanded top 100 national rankings. Senior linebacker Josiah Trotter (6-2, 230) is headed to West Virginia, while junior defensive back Omillio Agard (6-0, 170) is one of the country’s top 2024 prospects. Junior quarterback Samaj Jones (6-1, 200) holds offers from Penn State, Tennessee, Louisville, Boston College and Temple.
 
Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh) beat the Hawks 35-17 in last year’s state championship to cap a 15-0 season. It was the Blue Devils first appearance in the state final. Mt. Lebanon debuts at No. 5 in the preseason.
 
Mt. Lebanon’s state title last season coupled with championships by Penn-Trafford (Harrison City) (5A), Aliquippa (4A) and Central Valley (Monaca) (3A) provided the storied Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) with four titles in one season for the first time ever. Penn-Trafford (No. 7), Aliquippa (No. 8) and Central Valley (No. 12) all appear in the preseason rankings, as does WPIAL power Central Catholic (Pittsburgh), which opens at No. 2.
 
No. 3 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) features two of the state’s Top 10 senior prospects in linebacker Semaj Bridgeman (6-2, 230, Michigan commit) and defensive back Rahmir Stewart (6-0, 195, undecided).
 
Belle Vernon, ranked No. 4, owns the state’s top junior prospect in athlete Quinton Martin (6-2, 180). The state’s lone 2024 five-star owns 16 offers, including Ohio State, Texas, Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Florida State and Notre Dame.
 
The PIAA state finals will be held Dec. 8-10 at Cumberland Valley High School. The championships had been contested previously at Hersheypark Stadium since 1998. Read on for a complete look at Pennsylvania’s preseason top 25 for 2022.
SJP has played in every 6A final since the classification's inception (2016).
SJP has played in every 6A final since the classification's inception (2016).
Photo: Tim Kreider
Preseason Pennsylvania MaxPreps Top 25
 
1. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia), 11-3 record in 2021
2. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh), 9-3
3. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), 11-2
4. Belle Vernon, 10-1
5. Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh), 15-0
6. La Salle College (Wyndmoor), 9-2
7. Penn-Trafford (Harrison City), 13-2
8. Aliquippa, 13-1
9. Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa), 15-1
10. Cathedral Prep (Erie), 11-2
11. Gateway (Monroeville), 7-4
12. Central Valley (Monaca), 15-0
13. Harrisburg, 12-2
14. Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg), 12-2
15. North Allegheny (Wexford), 7-5
16. Moon Area (Moon Township), 12-1
17. Archbishop Wood (Warminster), 5-5
18. Central (Martinsburg), 14-1
19. Freedom (Bethlehem), 11-3
20. Jersey Shore, 14-1
21. Wyomissing, 15-1
22. Garnet Valley (Glen Mills), 14-1
23. Penn Hills (Pittsburgh), 8-4
24. Coatesville, 12-2
25. Seneca Valley (Harmony), 7-4

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