By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 12:09 AM
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Pine-Richland quarterback Oobi Strader carries against Central Catholic on Aug. 29.
The “Stretch Run” is nearly complete with one week left in the regular season, and while the mercury is starting to drop, the top football teams across Pennsylvania are heating up.
The 30 teams that last week were ranked in the Trib HSSN state Top 5 were a combined 29-1 with the only loss coming in a head-to-head battle in District 12 with Class 5A Roman Catholic disposing of 4A Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast.
The loss was not enough to boot the Friars from this week’s rankings, thus no teams exited and no new teams entered.
However, there was one change at the top in Class 5A as Pine-Richland and Peters Township flip-flopped following the Rams’ dismantling of one of the top teams in the WPIAL in Class 6A power North Allegheny last week.
The other five classifications remained unchanged at the top with LaSalle College in 6A, Southern Lehigh in 4A, Northwestern Lehigh in 3A, Troy in 2A and Fort Cherry in A.
The final week of the regular season features two head-to-head battles between ranked teams.
In District 12, the gauntlet of a three-week schedule concludes for Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast. Following losses to Class 6A state powers LaSalle College and St. Joe’s Prep, the Friars now face Class 5A No. 3 Roman Catholic.
Also in District 4, it’s a showdown between top-ranked teams when Class 3A No. 1 Northwestern Lehigh hosts Class 4A top-ranked Southern Lehigh.
Here are the latest Trib HSSN Top 5 rankings in each of the six classifications. Teams are listed with overall record, last week’s ranking and district.
Class 6A
1. LaSalle College (7-1) (1) (D-12): The Explorers defeated Cardinal O’Hara, 54-17, in Week 8. They visit Father Judge on Friday.
2. Harrisburg (9-0) (2) (D-3): The Cougars defeated Central Dauphin, 27-0, in Week 8. They host Central Dauphin East on Saturday.
3. Central Catholic (8-1) (3) (D-7): The Vikings defeated Seneca Valley, 48-6, in Week 8. They visit Canon-McMillan on Friday on Trib HSSN.
4. St. Joseph’s Prep (4-4) (4) (D-12): The defending PIAA 6A champion Hawks defeated 4A No. 2 Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast, 56-14, in Week 8. They host Cardinal O’Hara on Friday.
5. Parkland (9-0) (5) (D-11): The Trojans defeated Whitehall, 53-7, in Week 8. They host Emmaus on Friday.
Out: None
Class 5A
1. Pine-Richland (8-1) (2) (D-7): The Rams defeated North Allegheny, 67-0, in Week 8. They visit Shaler on Friday.
2. Peters Township (9-0) (1) (D-7): The Indians defeated Baldwin, 61-0, in Week 8. They visit Bethel Park on Friday.
3. Roman Catholic (5-3) (3) (D-12): The Cahillites defeated Father Judge, 56-7, in Week 8. They host 4A No. 4 Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast on Friday.
4. Bishop McDevitt (7-2) (4) (D-3): The defending PIAA 5A champion Crusaders defeated Central Dauphin East, 49-7, in Week 8. They host State College on Friday.
5. Chester (9-0) (5) (D-1): The Clippers defeated Penn Wood, 45-0, in Week 8. They visit Quakertown Community on Friday.
Out: None
Class 4A
1. Southern Lehigh (9-0) (1) (D-11): The Spartans defeated Saucon Valley, 56-20, in Week 8. They visit 3A No. 1 Northwestern Lehigh on Friday.
2. Pope John Paul II (8-1) (3) (D-1): The Golden Panthers defeated Upper Marion, 42-20, in Week 8. They visit Owen J. Roberts on Friday.
3. Susquehanna Township (9-0) (4) (D-3): The Indians defeated Camp Hill Trinity, 24-14, in Week 8. They visit Milton Hershey on Saturday.
4. Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast (5-3) (2) (D-12): The defending PIAA 4A champion Friars lost to 6A No. 4 St. Joseph Prep, 56-14, in Week 8. They visit 5A No. 3 Roman Catholic on Friday.
5. Twin Valley (9-0) (5) (D-3): The Raiders defeated Lampeter-Strasburg, 42-7, in Week 8. They host Daniel Boone on Friday.
Out: None
Class 3A
1. Northwestern Lehigh (9-0) (1) (D-11): The defending PIAA 3A champion Tigers defeated Tamaqua, 56-16, in Week 8. They host 4A No. 1 Southern Lehigh on Friday.
2. Avonworth (9-0) (2) (D-7): The Antelopes defeated North Catholic, 42-10, in Week 8. They host Beaver on Friday.
3. Notre Dame-Green Pond (9-0) (3) (D-11): The Crusaders defeated Palmerton, 56-0, in Week 8. They host Wilson Area on Friday.
4. Imani Christian (9-0) (4) (D-7): The Saints defeated Burrell, 53-7, in Week 8. They host Freeport on Friday on Trib HSSN.
5. Hickory (8-1) (5) (D-10): The Hornets defeated Slippery Rock, 42-14, in Week 8. They visit General McLane on Thursday.
Out: None
Class 2A
1. Troy (8-1) (1) (D-4): The defending PIAA 2A champion Trojans defeated Central Mountain, 70-29, in Week 8. They visit Canton Area on Friday.
2. Southern Columbia (8-1) (2) (D-4): The Tigers defeated Bloomsburg, 61-0, in Week 8. They visit Shikellamy on Friday.
3. Schuylkill Haven (9-0) (3) (D-11): The Hurricanes defeated Nativity BVM, 57-0, in Week 8. They host Tri-Valley on Friday.
4. Farrell (7-2) (4) (D-10): The Steelers defeated Reynolds, 74-0, in Week 8. They host Cathedral Prep on Friday.
5. Richland (8-1) (5) (D-6): The Rams defeated Bedford, 42-14, in Week 8. They host Huntingdon on Friday.
Out: None
Class A
1. Fort Cherry (9-0) (1) (D-7): The Rangers defeated Shenango, 42-0, in Week 8. They host Serra Catholic on Friday.
2. Bishop Guilfoyle Academy (8-1) (2) (D-6): The defending PIAA A champion Marauders defeated Clearfield, 20-13, in Week 8. They play Bishop McCort on Friday.
3. Port Allegany (9-0) (3) (D-9): The Gators defeated Union-AC Valley, 35-7, in Week 8. They visit Brockway on Thursday.
4. Clairton (7-1) (4) (D-7): The Bears defeated Riverview, 66-0, in Week 8. They visit Brentwood on Friday.
5. Line Mountain (9-0) (5) (D-4): The Eagles defeated Camp Hill, 49-13, in Week 8. They visit Susquenita on Friday.
Out: None