Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - Nov. 18

The Pennsylvania high school football has fully turned to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) playoffs as conference/district championships have concluded.

La Salle College had a couple weeks off after beating St. Joseph’s Prep School in the district tournament and looked like they hadn’t missed a beat in a 31-16 win over Imhotep Institute in the opening round of the PIAA postseason. Which other Pennsylvania high school football teams make the list in our latest set of Top 25 rankings as the postseason heads into the second round of play around the Keystone State?

The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

Here is the latest Pennsylvania high school football Top 25 rankings, according to Massey as of Nov. 18.

1. La Salle College Explorers (10-1)

The La Salle College Explorers (10-1) has effectively avenged a 2024 Class 6A state championship loss to St. Joseph’s Prep School by defeating the Hawks, 24-14, ending their 2025 season.

The Explorers has bounced back nicely after Sep. 26’s loss to Roman Catholic, 39-36, now having won six games in a row after a 31-16 win over Imhotep Institute in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

Senior quarterback Gavin Sidwar, a Missouri commit, 20 of 34 for 324 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-20 win over No. 4 St. Joseph’s Prep School back on Oct. 4.

Next up for the Explorers is a home matchup against Easton Area (13-0) in the second round.

2. Central Catholic Vikings (12-1)

Make it twelve-straight victories for the Vikings, with the team rolling to a 42-7 win over
North Allegheny in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. Central Catholic (12-1) has been one of the state’s hottest teams as they’ve now won twelve consecutive wins since losing to La Salle College at the beginning of the season.

Vikings’ sophomore quarterback Owen Herrick, who completed 124 of 222 passes for 1,984 yards and 16 touchdowns. Another player that has had a strong season for Central Catholic is junior running back Roman Thompson, who has rushed for 789 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Next up for Central Catholic in the postseason is a matchup with No. 13 State College Area.

3. Peters Township Indians (12-0)

The Peters Township Indians (12-0) continued on their momentum from the regular season right into the PIAA Class 5A postseason as they are undefeated and averaging 34.6 points per game on offense.

The Indians feature multiple Division I recruits on the team, including seniors Reston Lehman (Pittsburgh commit) and Lucas Shanafelt (Stanford commit).

Peters Township started the 5A playoffs with No. 10 ranked Upper Saint Clair (9-3), winning 31-6 in the opening round. On Saturday might be one of the best high school football games in the Northeast when Peters Township and Pine-Richland square off.

4. St. Joseph’s Prep School Hawks (5-5)

The St. Joseph’s Prep School Hawks won’t be repeating as Class 6A state champions as their season ended at the hands of La Salle College, 24-14.

Playing a national schedule certainly has impacted the overall win/loss record for the team, but make no mistake that this is still one of Pennsylvania’s top high school football teams.

St. Joseph’s Prep (5-5) won the Class 6A state championship last year, but won’t get a chance to repeat.

5. Harrisburg Cougars (12-0)

Rounding out the Pennsylvania Top 5 of the rankings is Harrisburg Cougars (12-0), which is coming off an impressive 34-7 win over Manheim Township in the first round of the 6A playoffs.

The Cougars’ offense has been bolstered by the return of Penn State commitment Messiah Mickens, who has rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games.

Next up for Harrisburg is a second round showdown with Central York at home.

Pennsylvania High School Football Rankings: Nos. 11 – 25

6. Malvern Prep Friars (8-2)
7. Pine-Richland Rams (11-1)
8. Bishop McDevitt Crusaders (10-2)
9. Roman Catholic Cahillite (9-3)
10. Easton Area Rovers (13-0)

11. Avonworth Antelopes (12-0)
12. Upper Saint Clair Panthers (9-4)
13. State College Area Little Lions (10-2)
14. Central York Panthers (11-1)
15. Chester Clippers (11-0)

16. Imani Christian Academy Saints (12-0)
17. Episcopal Academy Churchmen (9-1)
18. Northwestern Lehigh Tigers (12-0)
19. Springfield Cougars (12-1)
20. Pennridge Rams (12-1)

21. North Allegheny Tigers (8-4)
22. North Penn Knights (11-2)
23. Moon Area Tigers (9-4)
24. Twin Valley Raiders (12-0)
25. Hollidaysburg Area Golden Tigers (13-0)

How to Follow Pennsylvania High School Football

For Pennsylvania high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Keystone State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Pennsylvania high school football.