Exeter inches higher in state rankings
Eleven months after winning its first district championship and ascending to as high as No. 3 in the state rankings for the first time Exeter has reached a new level: No. 2.
An impressive 44-22 win last week at Hempfield, which was 6-1, boosted the Eagles one notch higher in the PennLive.com Class 5A rankings.
Interestingly the Eagles moved past No. 2 Imhotep even though the Panthers pitched a shutout in a 35-0 win over Olney Charter, which was 4-2.
The unbeaten Eagles trail only Upper Dublin (8-0) of District 1. If the Cardinals lose this week to Souderton (7-1) and Exeter beats Conestoga Valley (4-4), the Eagles will likely enter the final week of the regular season ranked No. 1 in the state.
Wyomissing has enjoyed the top ranking in Class 3A since preseason No. 1 Belle Vernon lost in Week 3.
Wyomissing opened the season ranked No. 2; Exeter opened at No. 7.
In Class 6A, Harrisburg dropped three spots to No. 9 after losing to State College, which moves from No. 4 to No. 3. Central York, listed as a Team to Watch, is the only other District 3 team in the 6A rankings.
Exeter is ranked No. 2 in the District 3 Class 5A power ratings behind Solanco, which is also unbeaten and No. 7 in the state rankings.
Wyomissing is one of five unbeatens in the Class 3A Top 10, along with two other District 3 teams: No. 7 Lancaster Catholic and No. 8 West Perry.
CLASS 6A
Rank β Team β District β Record — Previous
1. St. Josephβs Prep (12) β 6-1 β 1
2. Garnet Valley (1) β 8-0 β 2
3. State College (6) β 8-0 β 4
4. Coatesville (1) — 7-0 β5
5. Nazareth (11) — 7-1 β 8
6. Emmaus (11) — 7-1 β 3
7. Downingtown East (1) — 7-1 β 7
8. North Allegheny (7) — 7-1 β 10
9. Harrisburg (3) β 5-2 β 6
10. Pennsbury (1) — 7-1 β NR
Teams to watch: Bethlehem Freedom (11) 6-2, Central York (3) 7-1, Downingtown West (1) 6-1, McDowell (10) 6-2, Northampton (11) 8-0.
CLASS 5A
Rank β Team β District β Record — Previous
1. Upper Dublin (1) β 8-0 β 1
2. Exeter (3)Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β β 8-0 β 3Β
3. Imhotep Charter (12) β 4-2 β 2
4. Strath Haven (1) — 8-0 β 4
5. Roman Catholic (12) — 6-1 β 5
6. Bethel Park (7) — 7-1 β 7
7. Solanco (3) — 8-0 β 8
8. Cathedral Prep (10) — 6-2 β 9
9. Chester (1) — 7-1 β 6
10. Southern Lehigh (11) — 7-1 β NR
Teams to watch: Elizabethtown (3) 7-1, Gateway (7) 6-2, Gettysburg (3) 6-2, Pine-Richland (7) 5-3, Upper St. Clair (7) 6-2.
CLASS 4A
Rank β Team β District β Record — Previous
1. Aliquippa (7) β 7-0 β 1
2. Bishop McDevitt (3) β 6-1 β 2
3. Jersey Shore (4) β 8-0 β 3
4. Central Valley (7) β 8-0 β 4
5. McKeesport (7) β 8-0 β 5
6. Manheim Central (3) — 8-0 β 6
7. Pope John Paul II (1) — 8-0 β 7
8. Lampeter-Strasburg (3) — 7-1 β 8
9. Meadville (10) — 7-1 β 9
10. Armstrong (7) — 7-1 β 10
Teams to watch: Bonner-Prendergast (12) 6-1, Dallas (2) 7-1, Highlands (7) 8-0), West Allegheny (7) 7-1.
CLASS 3A
Rank β Team β District β Record — Previous
1. Wyomissing (3)Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β β 8-0 β 1Β
2. Danville (4) β 8-0 β 2
3. Elizabeth Forward (7) β 8-0 β 3
4. Belle Vernon (7) β 5-2 β 4
5. Loyalsock (4) — 7-1 β 5
6. Avonworth (7) — 7-1 β 6
7. Lancaster Catholic (3) — 8-0 β 8
8. West Perry (3) — 8-0 β 9
9. Penn Cambria (6) — 7-1 β 7
10. Freeport (7) — 7-1 β NR
Teams to watch: General McLane (10) 7-1, North Schuylkill (11) 6-2, Northwestern Lehigh (11) 6-2, Notre Dame-Green Pond (11) 6-2, Oil City (10) 6-2.
CLASS 2A
Rank β Team β District β Record — Previous
1. Farrell (10) β 7-1 β 1
2. Mount Carmel (4) β 8-0 β 2
3. Richland Township (6) β 8-0 β 3
4. Lakeland (2) β 8-0 β 4
5. Steel Valley (7) — 7-0 β 5
6. Berlin Brothersvalley (5) — 8-0 β 6
7. Beaver Falls (7) — 7-1 β 7
8. Serra Catholic (7) — 7-1 β 8
9. Troy Area (4) — 8-0 β 9
10. Westinghouse (8) — 7-0 β 10
Teams to watch: Bishop Guilfoyle (6) 6-2, Central Clarion (9) 8-0, Neshannock (7) 7-1, Sto-Rox (7) 5-2, Williams Valley (11) 6-2.
CLASS 1A
Rank β Team β District β Record — Previous
1. Canton (4) β 8-0 β 1
2. Steelton-Highspire (3) β 6-1 β 2
3. Bishop Canevin (7) β 7-1 β 3
4. Tri-Valley (11) — 8-0 β 4
5. Reynolds (10) β 7-1 β 5
6. Muncy (4) β 7-0 β 6
7. Penns Manor (6) — 8-0 β 8
8. Eisenhower (10) — 8-0 β 9
9. Northern Lehigh (11) — 7-1 β 10
10. Northern Bedford (5) — 8-0 β NR
Teams to watch: Laurel (7) 7-1, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (7) 7-1, Port Allegany (9) 7-1, Redbank Valley (9) 7-1, Windber (5) 7-1.