Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - Aug. 25

Pennsylvania kicked off its 2025 high school football season last week, as many of the top programs in the Keystone State were in action. Plenty of interesting results followed. La Salle College controlled its matchup against Central Catholic, while St. Joseph’s Prep and Bishop McDevitt suffered surprising defeats.

Another jam-packed slate is on deck as teams continue their quests for a state title. Below are the top 25 Pennsylvania high school football teams, according to the Massey Ratings, as of Aug. 25.

1. La Salle College (1-0)

The Explorers left no doubt who was the better team Friday in their matchup against No. 4 Central Catholic, dispatching the Vikings 23-6. La Salle College quarterback Gavin Sidward, who is committed to play for Missouri, completed 22-of-30 passes and threw two touchdowns in the win. The challenges continue this week as the Explorers will take on No. 3 Malvern Prep.

2. St. Joseph’s Prep School (0-1)

The Hawks blew a 28-point lead in the second half and fell to American Heritage 31-28 in Fort Lauderdale on Friday. That must have been a long plane ride home. St. Joseph’s can’t dwell on the loss for too long because the team will face DeMatha Catholic, one of the top teams in Maryland, on Saturday night.

3. Malvern Prep (0-0)

The Friars will open their season on Friday against No. 1 La Salle College. These two teams met last August with the Explorers edging Malvern Prep 21-17. These two teams appear to be fairly evenly matched, so it may be up to four-star edge rushers Jackson Ford and George Parkinson to create enough chaos in the backfield to tilt the game in the Friars’ favor.

4. Central Catholic (0-1)

The Vikings struggled to establish much of a rhythm on offense in last week’s 23-6 loss to No. 1 La Salle College. Central Catholic punted on its first five drives as first-year starter Owen Herrick struggled to find his footing. The team will look to snap a three-game losing streak to No. 6 Pine-Richland on Friday.

5. Harrisburg (1-0)

Penn State running back commit Messiah Mickens rushed for 171 yards and scored four touchdowns in Harrisburg‘s 40-26 win over Imhotep Institute on Friday. The Cougars will look to keep that momentum going into this week’s Pennsylvania high school football game against No. 8 Bishop McDevitt.

6. Pine-Richland (1-0)

The Rams did exactly what they were supposed to do on Friday, demolishing Findlay 38-7. Pine-Richland’s defense was dominant in the opener, holding the Trojans to just 32 yards of offense, one first down and zero points in the first half. They’ll have a much tougher time this week against No. 4 Central Catholic.

7. Monsignor Bonner (1-0)

The Friars weren’t really challenged last week against Simon Gratz and, if recent history is any indication, Archbishop Ryan probably won’t put up too much of a fight on Saturday either. Monsignor Bonner has won its last six games against the Raiders by an average of nearly 20 points.

8. Bishop McDevitt (0-1)

The Crusaders were upset last week by Clarkson Football North at the York Rose Bowl Classic, 27-7. It was a surprising performance for the reigning 5A Pennsylvania high school football champions, to say the least. Bishop McDevitt will look to rebound this week against No. 5 Harrisburg but it won’t be easy.

9. Roman Catholic (0-1)

The Cahillite have to feel as if they let one get away on Friday night. Roman Catholic led North Carolina’s Providence Day 28-23 entering the fourth quarter but gave up a go-ahead score with just four minutes to go and lost 29-28. The team will take on another out-of-state opponent this weekend and travel to Florida to face the Cardinal Newman Crusaders.

10. Peters Township (1-0)

The Indians took care of business last week, routing Canon-McMillan 42-14. They’ll have a tougher time this week. Next up for Peters Township is a matchup against No. 21 McKeesport and its five-star junior running back, Kemon Spell, who rushed for 295 yards and four touchdowns in the team’s opener.

Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings: Nos. 11 – 25

11. Downingtown West Whippets (1-0)
12. Upper Saint Clair Panthers (1-0)
13. State College Area Little Lions (1-0)
14. Thomas Jefferson Jaguars (1-0)
15. North Allegheny Tigers (1-0)

16. Bethel Park Black Hawks (1-0)
17. Easton Area Rovers (1-0)
18. North Penn Knights (1-0)
19. Haverford School Fords (0-0)
20. Coatesville Area Red Raiders (1-0)

21. McKeesport Tigers (1-0)
22. Manheim Township Blue Streaks (1-0)
23. Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Blue Devils (0-0)
24. Central York Panthers (1-0)
25. Springfield Cougars (1-0)

Dropped out of the Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings: Parkland (1-0)