{"id":276984,"date":"2026-09-02T02:28:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T02:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/276984\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T02:28:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T02:28:10","slug":"pennsylvania-high-school-football-top-25-state-rankings-september-1-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/276984\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania High School Football Top 25 State Rankings: September 1, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

While many of Pennsylvania<\/a>\u2019s top prep schools were waiting to kick off their football<\/a> seasons until this week, Central Catholic<\/a> of Pittsburgh wasted no time getting its year off on the right foot with a big win over a perennial powerhouse.<\/p>\n

The Vikings hosted Bergen Catholic of New Jersey at The Wolvarena, and the two-time WPIAL Class 6A champions rode a strong performance from junior running back Chrys Black to pull out a 45-30 victory.<\/p>\n

Black carried the ball 17 times for 153 yards, including three second-half touchdowns \u2014 the final two coming after the Crusaders closed to within 31-23 with 4:38 left in the third quarter.<\/p>\n

Central Catholic, which lost to La Salle College Prep in last year\u2019s PIAA 6A final<\/a>, takes the No. 1 spot in this week\u2019s High School On SI Pennsylvania Top 25 Football State Rankings.<\/p>\n

1. Central Catholic (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Vikings overcame a big night from Bergen Catholic QB Trey Tagliaferri<\/a>, who threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns.<\/p>\n

2. St. Joseph\u2019s Prep (0-0)<\/p>\n

The Hawks kick off their season with a national showcase game at Brentwood Academy in Tennessee.<\/p>\n

3. Malvern Prep (0-0)<\/p>\n

The Friars open against one of their long-time rivals in La Salle College Prep.\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. La Salle College Prep (0-1)<\/p>\n

The Explorers dropped out of the national Power 25 rankings with an opening 35-14 loss to Paramus Catholic of New Jersey.<\/p>\n

5. Pine-Richard (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Rams knocked off two-time Ohio Division II state champion Avon 48-18 to open their season as Aaron Strader ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns and Nico Aiello intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown.<\/p>\n

6. Roman Catholic (0-1)<\/p>\n

The Cahillite trailed St. John Bosco, ranked No. 8 in this week\u2019s High School On SI Power 25 National High School Football Rankings<\/a>, 31-0 at halftime in an eventual 45-25 defeat.<\/p>\n

7. Canon-McMillan (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Big Macs nearly pitched a shutout in their season opener, beating a solid Peters Township squad 19-3 as brothers Bryce and Brayden Collins each had three tackles for loss at linebacker.<\/p>\n

8. Harrisburg (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Cougars pulled away in the second half as Kayden Stephens threw for 334 yards and four touchdowns while Princeton Dent ran for 133 yards and two scores.<\/p>\n

9. Bishop McDevitt (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Crusaders knocked off Our Lady of Good Counsel, No. 4 in High School On SI\u2019s Maryland Top 25 rankings<\/a>, 35-21 behind five touchdown passes from Sebastian Willams, including two to freshman Kaedyn Walker.<\/p>\n

10. Upper St. Clair (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Panthers blanked Mt. Lebanon 35-0 to open their season.<\/p>\n

11. State College (1-0)<\/p>\n

Senior Rowan Walker ran for a career-high 183 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-28 win over Central York.<\/p>\n

12. Imhotep Charter (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Panthers trailed Camden 8-7 at halftime but took control in the second half for a 29-8 victory.<\/p>\n

13. North Penn (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Knights held Lower Dauphin to 31 yards through the air and 209 total in a 41-7 rout.<\/p>\n

14. Episcopal Academy (0-0)<\/p>\n

The Churchmen travel to Lawrenceville School in New Jersey this week to open their season.<\/p>\n

15. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (0-0)<\/p>\n

The Blue Devils face Salesianum, one of Delaware\u2019s top teams, in the Blue Hen State on Thursday.<\/p>\n

16. Chester (1-0)<\/p>\n

It was quite the debut for freshman Samhad Williams, who ran for 187 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-10 win over Strath Haven.<\/p>\n

17. Peters Township (0-1)<\/p>\n

The Indians shut down Canon-McMillan\u2019s run game, holding the Big Macs to 14 yards on 16 carries, but last year\u2019s WPIAL 5A champions couldn\u2019t win a fourth straight of their rivals.<\/p>\n

18. Southern Lehigh (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Spartans scored 42 points in the second quarter to build a 49-0 halftime lead en route to a 55-0 win over Quakerton.<\/p>\n

19. Springfield-Delco (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Cougars picked off Perkiomen Valley junior Aiden Messatzzia three times in a 27-7 season-opening win.<\/p>\n

20. Haverford School (0-0)<\/p>\n

The Fords scrimmaged Bayard Rustin last week in anticipation for this week\u2019s season opener against McDonogh.<\/p>\n

21. West Chester Bayard Rustin (0-0)<\/p>\n

The Knights open their season at home against Phoenixville.<\/p>\n

22. Hopewell (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Vikings pulled away from a 14-14 halftime tie to beat Avonworth 34-14.<\/p>\n

23. Central Bucks West (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Bucks pulled off one of the more impressive upsets of the opening week, knocking off Easton Area 36-7.<\/p>\n

24. Exeter Township (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Eagles beat Norristown Area 28-6 as Joshua Jackson ran for 147 yards and a touchdown.<\/p>\n

25. Twin Valley (1-0)<\/p>\n

The Raiders picked up where they left off after losing in last year\u2019s state final, thumping Middletown 42-0 in their opener.<\/p>\n

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