Thomas Jefferson didn’t play a game on the first weekend of the high school football season. But the idle Jaguars still moved into the top spot in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette state rankings.
Thomas Jefferson is the new No. 1 team in Class 4A of the state. Bishop McDevitt of Harrisburg was No. 1, but Bishop McDevitt was shut out at home, 21-0, by La Salle College of Philadelphia. The loss dropped Bishop McDevitt to No. 3 and Thomas Jefferson took over the top spot. Belle Vernon, who also didn’t play this weekend, moved from No. 3 to No. 2.
Thomas Jefferson’s No. 1 ranking in the state adds a little more luster to its opener Friday at Gateway. The Gators are ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 5A. Thomas Jefferson is the two-time defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A champ.
The rest of the state rankings remained relatively unchanged. Central Catholic stayed No. 2 in Class 6A after a 12-6 loss to Imhotep Charter, the No. 2 team in Class 5A.
The only other team that was in the state rankings last week and lost was Muncy, which was No. 5 in Class 1A before losing to Northern Lehigh, 21-10. Muncy dropped out of the top five and Tri-Valley took over the fifth spot.
The Post-Gazette rankings in the WPIAL underwent some changes. Pine-Richland dropped from No. 2 in Class 5A to No. 4 after a 26-21 loss to Harrisburg. Penn-Trafford moved up to No. 2 and Moon to No. 3.
Chartiers Valley moved into the No. 5 spot in Class 4A after Plum lost.
McGuffey was ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, but dropped out of the top five after its surprising, 47-22 loss to Southmoreland. Beaver Falls moved from No. 3 to No. 2 in Class 2A, despite its loss to 4A Blackhawk. Laurel moved into the No. 5 spot in Class 2A.
In Class 1A, Bishop Canevin and Springdale both moved into the top five and Shenango and Jeannette dropped out after losses.
Here are the new Post-Gazette rankings:
WPIAL
CLASS 6A
1. Central Catholic 0-1
2. North Allegheny 1-0
3. Mt. Lebanon 1-0
4. Seneca Valley 0-1
5. Canon-McMillan 1-0
CLASS 5A
1. Gateway 1-0
2. Penn-Trafford 1-0
3. Moon 1-0
4. Pine-Richland 0-1
5. Peters Township 1-0
CLASS 4A
1. Thomas Jefferson 0-0
2. Belle Vernon 0-0
3. Aliquippa 0-0
4. McKeesport 1-0
5. Chartiers Valley 4-0
CLASS 3A
1. Central Valley 1-0
2. Elizabeth Forward 1-0
3. North Catholic 1-0
4. Avonworth 1-0
5. East Allegheny 1-0
CLASS 2A
1. Sto-Rox 1-0
2. Beaver Falls 0-1
3. Serra 1-0
4. Washington 1-0
5. Laurel 1-0
CLASS 1A
1. Clairton 0-0
2. Rochester 0-0
3. O.L.S.H. 1-0
4. Bishop Canevin 1-0
5. Springdale 1-0
CITY LEAGUE
1. Westinghouse 1-0
2. Allderdice 0-1
3. University Prep 0-1
STATE
CLASS 6A
1. St. Joseph’s 0-0
2. Central Catholic 0-1
3. LaSalle College 1-0
4. Central York 1-0
5. Archbishop Wood 1-0
CLASS 5A
1. Governonr Mifflin 1-0
2. Imhotep Charter 1-0
3. Gateway 1-0
4. Cathedral Prep 1-0
5. Upper Dublin 1-0
CLASS 4A
1. Thomas Jefferson 0-0
2. Belle Vernon 0-0
3. Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) 0-1
4. Jersey Shore 1-0
5. Aliquippa 0-0
CLASS 3A
1. Central Valley 1-0
2. North Schuylkill 1-0
3. Neumann-Goretti 1-0
4. Wyomissing 1-0
5. Scranton Prep 1-0
CLASS 2A
1. Southern Columbia 1-0
2. Farrell 1-0
3. South Williamsport 1-0
4. Richland 1-0
5. Sto-Rox 1-0
CLASS 1A
1. Steelton-Highspire 1-0
2. Old Forge 1-0
3. Bishop Guilfoyle 1-0
4. Clairton 0-0
5. Tri-Valley 1-0
Mike White: mwhite@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mwhiteburgh.
First Published: August 29, 2021, 7:47 p.m.
