National rankings released; no WPIAL teams included
By Mike White | Monday, Aug. 31, 9:21 p.m.
Want to know who the top teams in the country are? Below are the latest rankings in the National Prep Poll, which has been in existence since 1987. The rankings are compiled by Jamie DeMoney. Listed after the national rankings are the Northeast rankings.
No WPIAL team is in the national rankings. McKeesport is ranked No. 7 in the Northeast rankings. The only Pennsylvania team in the national rankings is Bethlehem Liberty, the defending PIAA Class AAA champion.
Before the rankings, two quick notes. I'll be doing a Live Blog Saturday from the Rally in the Valley in Wheeling, W.Va. Three WPIAL teams are playing top teams outside the area. McKeesport is playing St. Joseph's Prep, Woodland Hills is playing Steubenville and Central Catholic is playing Youngstown Ursuline.
Also, starting tomorrow the Post-Gazette is starting a premium web site PG+. It will have many features. I'll have high school analysis, insight, notes, news and even some interviews throughout the week. The web address will be www.post-gazette.com/plus.
NATIONAL PREP POLL
#1. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Aquinas (1-0-0), routed Upper Arlington, Ohio, 52-7, on ESPN
#2. Duncan, S.C., Byrnes (1-0-0), beat Ga. foe Central Gwinnett, 43-7
#3. Miami, Northwestern (0-0-0), scored 31 first-half points in preseason game
#4. Katy, Texas (1-0-0), ended North Shore’s 78-game regular season win streak
#5. Valdosta, Ga., Lowndes (1-0-0), opened with 75-14 laugher
#6. Chesapeake, Va., Smith (1-0-0), topped Venice, Fla., 27-13, on ESPNU
#7. Cincinnati, Elder (1-0-0), beat regionally ranked East St. Louis, 49-28
#8. Bellevue, Wash. (0-0-0), plays at No. 4 Katy Sept. 12
#9. Sammamish, Wash., Skyline (0-0-0), faces Ore. power Jesuit Saturday
#10. Cedar Hill, Texas (1-0-0), outgunned DeSoto, 44-41, on ESPN
#11. Cleveland, St. Ignatius (1-0-0), defeated then-No. 5 Glenville, 14-13
#12. Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco (0-0-0), hosts No. 15 De La Salle Sept. 12
#13. Westlake Village, Calif., Oaks Christian (0-0-0), six seniors have Division I offers
#14. Lakeland, Fla. (0-0-0), QB Jarred Haggins headed to Florida St.
#15. Concord, Calif., De La Salle (0-0-0), 30-year coach Bob Ladouceur has won 93 percent of his games
#16. Loganville, Ga., Grayson (1-0-0), beat defending 5A champ Camden County in opener
#17. Bethlehem, Pa., Liberty (0-0-0), reigning 4A titlist
#18. Peoria, Ariz., Centennial (1-0-0), three-time defending 5A/II champ
#19. Dallas, Skyline (0-0-0), nine seniors are Division I commits
#20. Anaheim, Calif., Servite (0-0-0), OT Matt Jakubiec is Arizona-bound
#21. Jenks, Okla. (0-0-0), six state titles this decade
#22. Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha (0-0-0), RB Marcus Coker headed to Iowa
#23. River Ridge, La., John Curtis (0-0-0), 23 state crowns in 34 years
#24. Charlotte, N.C., Independence (2-0-0), plays regionally ranked South Pointe Friday
#25. Wheaton, Ill., Wheaton Warrenville South (1-0-0), beat state-ranked Hinsdale Central, 34-26
<
^Northeast=
#1. Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco, 0-0-0
#2. Bethlehem, Pa., Liberty, 0-0-0
#3. Harrisburg, Pa., McDevitt, 0-0-0
#4. Montvale, N.J., St. Joseph’s, 0-0-0
#5. Oradell, N.J., Bergen Catholic, 0-0-0
#6. State College, Pa., 0-0-0
#7. McKeesport, Pa., 0-0-0
#8. Wayne, N.J., Wayne Hills, 0-0-0
#9. Lansdale, Pa., North Penn, 0-0-0
#10. Central Valley, N.Y., Monroe-Woodbury, 0-0-0