The Hawks finished 12th in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Rankings last season, won their third state title in four years and first in Class AAAAAA with a convincing 42-7 win over Pittsburgh Central Catholic. The Prep's previous two state titles came in Class AAAA. The Hawks open at No. 19 in this year's Xcellent 25.
Senior receiver
Darryle Simmons, one of the state's top 20 prospects according to 247Sports.com, has committed to Virginia Tech. Other standouts include senior quarterback
Marquez McCray, sophomore running back
Kobe Burrell, junior receiver
Johnny Freeman and senior defensive tackle
Ryan Bryce (Army commit).
St. Joseph's Prep is tops in Pennsylvania and No. 19 nationally.
Photo by Catalina Fragoso
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Head coach: Steve Devlin
The Vikings put together their seventh straight double-digit win season and captured the program's fourth state title in six years last season with a 37-10 win over Harrisburg in the Class AAAAA final. All four titles have come under Devlin.
Wood enters the season ranked No. 92 in the MaxPreps Preseason Top 100. Senior tight end
Kyle Pitts has committed to Florida.
See the MaxPreps Pennsylvania football stat leaders3. Pine-Richland (Gibsonia)2016 record: 7-5
Head coach: Eric Kasperowicz
The Rams open the season ranked No. 48 in the MaxPreps Preseason Top 100.
Senior quarterback and Notre Dame commit
Phil Jurkovec returns after suffering a season-ending injury against Central Catholic in Week 6 last year. Jurkovec is the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the country according to 247Sports. He's the No. 2 prospect overall in Pennsylvania.
The Rams face a tough test against Ohio big school power Wayne on Aug. 27.
See the MaxPreps Pennsylvania football playoff brackets4. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh)2016 record: 14-2
Head coach: Terry Totten
The Vikings sandwiched 14 wins between season opening and ending losses last year to St. John's (Washington, D.C.) and St. Joseph's Prep.
Senior quarterback
Troy Fisher is one of the state's Top 50 prospects according to 247Sports and holds offers from Boston College, Toledo and Temple.
The defense will feature standout seniors
David Green (defensive end) and
Khalil Weathers (defensive back). Green holds offers from West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, Temple, Iowa State and Bowling Green.
Over the last seven seasons, Central Catholic has gone 85-11 (with one state title in 2015).
See the MaxPreps Pennsylvania football photo galleries5. Cathedral Prep (Erie)2016 record: 14-0
Head coach: Michael Mischler
Expectations are high again after the Ramblers won the program's third state title last season and with the return of several key players from an offense that averaged 45 points per game last year.
Senior quarterback
Joe Mischler (2,924 yards passing, 38 touchdowns) has committed to Ohio, while senior receiver
Tyler Oedekoven (1,193 yards receiving, 17 touchdowns) recently received an offer from
Albany. Also back are senior receivers
Adam Malesiewski (six touchdowns) and
Henry Fessler (seven touchdowns).
The ground game will feature senior running back
Matthew Lupo (877 yards rushing, 17 touchdowns) and junior
Billy Lucas (791 yards rushing, 11 touchdowns), Lucas is a top junior prospect. Senior offensive lineman
Fredrick "Juice" Scruggs committed to Penn State over Ohio State in early August.
The defense will feature senior defensive back
Terry Roberts and senior linebacker
Matthew Bauer. Roberts, who has committed to Iowa, is one of the state's Top 50 prospects according to 247Sports. Bauer had a team-high 114 tackles last year.
