Here's my shot at a statewide top 10. I don't regularly get to watch teams outside of D11 and to some extent D1 and D12, so take with the appropriate grain of salt.
1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (11-2): District 7 Finals
Simply put, this is the most talented team in Pennsylvania. On paper, it’s the best defense since the 2004 PCC squad that is often lauded as the best of the state playoff era. Every starter on defense has been offered a Division I scholarship, and Rashad Wheeler, Damar Hamlin, David Adams, Ron George, Ronnie Jones, Kurt Hinish, and Bricen Garner are all legitimate All State candidates on that side of the football. Also have a huge, talented offensive line that some FCS programs would be jealous of, anchored by Rivals250 junior CJ Thorpe. Need to figure out who their major weapons are with the football, but football is about blocking and tackling, and they’ll do that better than anybody.
2. St. Joseph’s Prep (11-3): PIAA 4A Champions, District 12 Champion, PCL Champion
The king stay the king. Obviously take huge graduation losses, but it helps when you bring back arguably the best high school running back in America in D’Andre Swift. Also have a loaded group of sophomores/juniors to step in and I think people will be shocked with how smooth the transition is on the offensive and defensive lines and at receiver. Huge up front on both offense and defense. There will be a quarterback battle in camp with a number of good options, and whoever gets the job will have a plethora of weapons at his disposal with Swift, Benny Walls, and budding star Darryle Simmons. Coach Gabe Infante has this program clicking to the point where state championships are the expectation.
4. Central Dauphin: (11-3) District 3 Runner Up, Mid-Penn League Champion
The second best defense in Pennsylvania, with possibly the best defensive player in the state in sophomore DE Micah Parsons, who led the state with 18.5 sacks. Al in all they return six players who made at least 50 tackles last year,, plus welcome in transfer AJ Perez, who had 66 tackles and 10 sacks last year for CD East. That group combined for 41.5 sacks last year, a mind boggling total to return on a defense. Returning running back Raleigh Sirb and quarterback David Payton combined to rush for 1,969 yards and 27 touchdowns last season and have a couple of 290 pound linemen to run behind. Payton’s development as a passer could really put them over the top.
4. Woodland Hills (8-3): Southeastern Conference Champion
This is the best backfield in the state. Miles Sanders averaged over 10 yards per carry last year and is the only other Pennsylvania running back in Swift’s class. If both offenses would give these backs 250+ carries, it would be an unbelievable dual for the state rushing title. Joining Sanders in the backfield are a pair of FBS prospects in Jo-El Shaw and Jerimiah Jones, and all three will run behind an offensive line with the lightest player at 265 pounds. The Wolverines churn out Division I talent, and this year is no exception. One of the few teams with the athletes to go with PCC.
5. Parkland (11-3) District 11 Champion
Unlike other teams in the top 5, Parkland will air it out on offense. The best quarterback in my top 10 is Devante Cross, who threw for 2,700 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. He’s half of the best QB/WR combo in 4A with Kenny Yeboah his primary target. Like the rest of the top five, they’ll be big up front, but need to find a consistent running game beyond Cross scrambles. Defensively, they’ll be anchored by DL Noel Brouse and have waves of big bodies up front, but will need to find a way to replace a majority of their back seven.
6. Penn-Trafford (11-1) District 7 Semifinals, Foothills Conference Champions
The Warriors are another fun ‘n gun offense, and return 2,000 yard passer Brent Laffoon and 1,000 yard receiver Tim Vecchio, whose 1,022 receiving yards are the second most returning in 4A. They also average 272 pounds across the offensive line and throws in a 255 pound tight end with FBS offers for good measure. It is very likely this is the best offense in the classification. Defensively, they gave up just 9.0 points per game until they were bombarded for half a hundred by PCC in the WPIAL semis. They take some hits up front, particularly replacing DE Trey Blanford, but they’ll be right in the thick of things again.
7. Wilson West Lawn (14-1) District 3 Champion, Lancaster Lebanon-Champion
The most consistent program in the state will be back again. Headlining the offense is running back Shane Danzler, who ran for 1,659 yards and averaged close to seven yards per carry as a junior They also return their top three receivers in Danzler, Jake Gehman, and John Fox, who teamed up to catch 23 touchdowns last fall. Defensively, only three starters return, but that includes All State middle linebacker Ike Schannauer and Fox, who was the Lancaster Lebanon Legaue’s Defensive Back of the Year in 2014. They haven’t been to State Finals since the Kerry Collins led 1989 squad, and came agonizingly close last year.
8. LaSalle (8-3) PCL Finals
Reports of LaSalle’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Yes, the Gordon’s are gone. Kyle Schurmer, Jimmy Herron, and Jordan Meachum have all graduated and take with them most of last year’s offensive production. But if transfer rumors are correct, this team could be dynamic, if different, on offense. If Syaire Madden and Isaiah Jones are in the LaSalle backfield (neither is currently on the roster at LaSalle’s website) that’s 2,269 yards and 18 touchdowns added to their backfield. Those two, plus all purpose back Nick Rinella, running behind a massive offensive line that could go 260-250-270-320-255 across and features All State candidate Michael McDermott, could be a very potent running game. If Jones winds up at quarterback, that will present an entirely different dynamic than previous LaSalle offenses predicated on drop back passers. Or he could stay at a skill spot and 6’4 220 pound senior Chris Ferguson will get snaps. And while much of the offensive staff is gone, this is still a John Steinmetz defense, which has been a successful formula for a long time.
9. Cedar Cliff (8-3)
Fabulous skill players. The Colts have the leading returning rusher in 4A in Jayden Demmy. They also bring back quarterback Grant Brennemann, who threw for 2,400 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore and although favorite target Noah Malone has graduated, Maryland bound Mike Viti does return after a 41 catch junior year. Viti doubles as one of the best safeties in the state. Brennemann is a budding star and this ranking is largely hinged on his continued development as a passer and leader. They’ll need to vasty improve on defense, where they gave up 24.8 points per game last season despite their 8-3 record.
10. McKeesport (10-2): District 7 Semifinals
Kind of throwing darts at the end, but I’m a sucker for the triple option and they have one of my favorite players to watch in Khaleke Hudson. Hudson and quarterback/linebacker Tymar Sutton combined for 2,074 yards and 30 touchdowns last year. The triple-option is an unconventional look to prepare for, made all the most difficult with the dynamic athletes they have running the football They’re each FBS level defenders too, and offer one of the best duos in the classification.
