
PFN WAY Too Early 2025 Pennsylvania State HS Football Rankings
Tagged under: News, Rankings
Billy Splain | July 21, 2025
The 2025 season begins in just a few weeks. The PFN rankings staff met up to talk a little football and came up with their first ever “way too early” state rankings! For a reminder of what happened last season, head over to our brackets page, now powered by CircleWSports.com and NFHSNetwork! This is where this teams ended the 2024 season: Final Rankings!
Our official rankings for the 2025 season will be released on August 18! Enjoy!
**Disclaimer: NO COMPUTERS OR AI WERE USED IN THESE PRESEASON PREDICTIONS, ALL HUMAN BRAINS***
(Well, maybe all but @PFN_Luxy , he’s our walking football computer)
6A
1 St. Joseph’s Prep
PIAA District 12
2024 Record: 11-2
The perennial powerhouse had a “down” year in 2024. They were young. They’re still young, but, they ARE SJP. And until someone decides to stop them, they’ll keep racking up titles.
2 LaSalle
PIAA District 12
2024 Record: 10-1
The Explorers return Gavin Sidwar, Joey O’Brien, John-Patrick Oates and more from a 2024 team that split with perennial power SJP, losing the playoff game by just one td. Is this the year they dethrone the champs?
3 Pittsburgh Central Catholic
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 10-2
4 Harrisburg
PIAA District 6
2024 Record: 11-3
Every year the Cougars battle for a chance at the title. Last year they came up just 5 points short in the semifinal against PCC. This year the Cougars reload with PSU commits Kevin Brown and Messiah Mickens along with Rutgers commit Elias Cody-Coke. Is it their year?
5 State College
PIAA District 6
2024 Record: 11-2
The Little Lions lose stars such as 2024 Mr. PA Football Ty Salazer and two-year starting quarterback Eddie Corkery, but are still well-positioned to earn another state quarterfinal berth. All eyes will be on the return of RB D’Antae Sheffey, who will be behind an offensive line bringing back four of five starters.
Contender or pretender?
Parkland
PIAA District 11
2024 Record: 11-3
Parkland is always in the mix but the EPC is a chore nobody enjoys Freedom, Liberty, Emmaus, Northampton….they’ll all take a shot but our Hollywood Ptashinski says go Trojans
5A
1 Roman Catholic
PIAA District 12
2024 Record: 11-5
Fresh off its first District 12 championship Roman cruised into the state title game where they came up just short against an talented & well coached McDevitt team. Gone are all-state LB Will Felder (Duke), LB Jaasai Simmons (Marshall), WR Rayshawn Scott (West Chester) & DL LaZaryus Toombs (Central Connecticut State). With a returning all-state QB Semaj Beals, who shattered city & league records as a passer, stud receiver/defensive back in Sr. Eyan Stead Jr., Sr. DB Justus Gaskin (Stony Brook) & Sr. DL Antwan Smithray Jr. (Akron) all back in the fold Roman looks to return to CHAP and claim the programs first ever state title.
2 Bishop McDevitt
PIAA District 3
2024 Record: 14-2
The Crusaders captured the 5A title in thrilling fashion last year in OT. Gone is superstar QB Stone Saunders, Dominic Diaz-Ellis and a few other stars but the Crusaders have a solid core returning with Jontai Quick, Nazir Jones-Davis and Maurice Jones. Look for the Crusaders to once again compete for the title.
3 Pine-Richland
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 11-2
The 2024 WPIAL champions look to return to the state championships since winning it all in 2022, losing last year’s west semifinal to eventual 5A champion Bishop McDevitt. Heavy hitters Jay Timmons, Oobi Strader, and John Curran return, but having only 3 home games in 2025 will test the Rams on their quest for redemption.
4 Peters Twp.
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 9-2
Despite losing in the WPIAL 5A Championship this past season, the Indians keep their star rising senior QB Nolan DiLucia. Peters went 9-2 last season including climbing over 5A’s #1 seeded Upper Saint Clair to make it to the WPIAL 5A Championship.
5 Chester
PIAA District 1
2024 Record: 10-2
This is the year Chester football has been building to since the now Seniors Jalen and Daron Harris bolted on to the District One scene as Freshman. The Clippers will spend the front end of their schedule battling Philadelphia teams before they begin their DelVal league games. Coach Dennis Shaw will need to get off to a fast start, after their disastrous playoff loss to WC Rustin.
Contender or pretender?
Mechanicsburg
PIAA District 3
2024 Record: 11-1
They’ll have to replace their quarterback, two solid running backs and their top receiver but the Wildcats have plenty left in the tank. They have two D1 recruits returning on the line. Will it be enough to help Josh Apple get comfortable behind center?
4A
1 Bonner Prendie
PIAA District 12
2024 Record: 12-2
The Friars return as the defending 4A champions, winning their 4 PIAA playoff games by an average score of 45-16. Gone are WR/DE Jahlil Hall (Purdue), OL Chaz Ingram (West Chester) & WR/DB Jeremiah Coleman (IUP). Jr. QB Noah Campbell, Sr. RB Saleem Frink, Sr. LB CJ Amobi (UMass) & Sr. DB Dylan Abrams (Temple) all return looking for another title.
2 Thomas Jefferson
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 14-1
The Jaguars not only secured the 4A WPIAL Championship last season, but are the second of two teams to make it to the state championship & represent the WPIAL and district 7. The Jaguars had a perfect 14-0 season until state playoffs where the team scored 27+ points in every game to that point.
3 Southern Lehigh
PIAA District 11
2024 Record: 12-3
The Spartans made a surprising run to the semi-finals but ran into the eventual state champs. They’ll have to replace Andrew Olesh but we feel the Spartans have the pieces to make another run at the title.
4 Shamokin
PIAA District 4
2024 Record: 12-1
2024 was a great year for the Indians. Logan Steele returns with his D1 offers to lead at QB. Shamokin returns their three top rushers. They’ll need to replace their four top receivers and All State lineman Blake Hockenbroch but they have plenty of experience returning.
5 McKeesport
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 8-5
Don’t let last years record fool you. The Tigers had a super tough schedule. Their schedule included 4 games to teams with a combined 4 losses. They return a veteran line and the #1 running back in the country. This could be the year of the Tiger.
Contender or pretender? Pope John Paul II
PIAA District 1
2024 Record: 12-2
After making a deep run in last year’s PIAA 4A tournament PJPII will not only have to replace a talented record breaking Senior class, they will also have to replace Head Coach Scott Reed. Darrel Scott will take over the reigns of a team that has become a District One 4A powerhouse.
3A
1 NW Lehigh
PIAA District 11
2024 Record: 16-0
What a season for the Tigers! They return a veteran group from last year’s thrilling title game winners. Shane Leh and Shawn Hulmes should have the Tigers poised for another shot at greatness.
2 Hickory
PIAA District 10
2024 Record: 11-2
The 2-time defending District 10 champions will be locked and loaded again in 2025, looking to bring a state title to Hermitage for the first time since 1989. Hickory boasts an abundance of talent returning, starting with tailback Kelvin Morrison. The junior already holds offers from West Virginia, YSU, Missouri, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Florida, Toledo, Miami, Maryland, Liberty, and Ohio State. He rushed for 1439 yards and 21 touchdowns in 12 games last season. Christian Dungee, the son of head coach Bill Dungee, will look to step in at quarterback. The sophomore holds an offer from Akron and will lead the Hornets’ offense, taking over for Zander Telesz, who was one a few senior starters lost to graduation. Dungee had five total touchdowns as a freshman. Jamal Calhoun (Army, Michigan State), Dante Evans (Akron) also hold Division 1 offers.
3 Avonworth
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 12-4
The Antelopes secured their second WPIAL Championship of all time in the 2024 season and are looking to make it three this year. While Avonworth loses defensive lineman Mason Metz, who recorded 75 tackles and 20 sacks, the Antelopes return quarterback Carson Bellinger and Class 3A all-state player, Luca Neal. The team finished the season racing all the way to the PIAA Championship, but fell short 36-33 to Northwestern Lehigh.
4 Elizabeth Forward
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 8-4
The Warriors took a tough 31-15 loss in the WPIAL semifinals to end their season last year, but they’ll look to improve this year despite loosing top players like Charlie Nigut and defensive lineman Chris Climes. Quarterback Ryan Messina, who threw for 2,368 passing yards and 615 rushing yards, returns for Elizabeth Forward. Skilled TE/LB Brendan Stroschein will also be returning for his senior year.
5 Scranton Prep
PIAA District 2
2024 Record: 12-2
Prep graduated some great players from last year’s 12-2 run, but Coach Terry Gallagher’s squad had significant leads in many games last season which led to a lot of experience under the lights for their underclassmen. That experience should be very helpful this year, as will the return of Will McPartland who was fantastic on both sides of the ball last season. And watch out for the potential 1-2 punch of Anthony Prince and Brandon Farmer out of the backfield.
Contender or Pretender?
Notre Dame Green Pond
PIAA District 11
2024 Record: 9-2
With Matt Bodnar who threw for 4097 yds 37 TDs and a 70% competition rate including completing 37 of 49 for 604 yds and 7 TDs against Garden Spot at quarterback Coach Stambaugh and the Crusaders should be a factor in the race for the 3A Championship
2A
1 Troy
PIAA District 4
2024 Record: 16-0
Cinderella made it to the ball and the glass slipper fit. Can the fairy god mother keep the carriage together for another ride to the ball or does it turn into a pumpkin?
2 Farrell
PIAA District 10
2024 Record: 7-6
Farrell enters 2025 as one of the top contenders in Class AA. The Steelers have found themselves in a unique predicament over the last five seasons, as they have fallen in the playoffs to the eventual state runners-up since winning consecutive state titles in 2018 and 2019. Can 2025 be the year of the Steelers? Farrell’s offense will be led by second-year quarterback Aaron Pegues, the son of head coach Anthony Pegues. Aaron threw for 1621 yards, 16 touchdowns as a sophomore, and rushed for 320. Juelz Johnson led the Steelers with 1745 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns in 11 games as a junior, and will again be a focal point of Farrell’s attack. Johnson holds an offer from Akron. Carlao Lowe also returns with an Akron offer, while the Steelers’ Omario Boatwright, Jason Marshall Jr., and Dorean Cain each had over 100 tackles on defense.
3 Schuylkill Haven
PIAA District 11
2024 Record: 11-2
Almost everyone. The Hurricanes return nearly their entire team that mercy ruled almost every opponent. It was a record breaking season. They return 5,000 yards in rushing and a massive line. The question is can they get past Williams Valley, a team they struggled with in their first outing and lost to in the playoffs? Looks good for Haven this year.
4 Seton LaSalle
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 11-2
5 Richland
PIAA District 6
2024 Record: 10-3
Richland is coming off a season where they were the District 6 2A runner ups. They lost a handful of key skilled positions and lineman, yet return a strong core back, including junior receiver and safety Arnold Mugerwa. The 6’4″ star has three power five offers from Virginia Tech, Maryland, Duke, Rutgers, and Syracuse. He will be the main source of offense, alongside standout running back Joe McAneny and other receiver Jamere Christian. The Rams also return two quarterbacks that both exceeded 1,100 yards in 2024. They have one of the more favorable schedules in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference with some key games against the defending 1A state champions Bishop Guilfoyle and a crosstown rival Bishop McCort. This will be a very fun team to keep an eye on this season.
Contender or Pretender?
Southern Columbia
PIAA District 4
2024 Record: 7-5
Word on the street is the Tigers want their title back. Never count out Jim Roth coaches teams.
1A
1. Fort Cherry
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 14-1
Fort Cherry is coming into the 2025 season as the 1A WPIAL back-to-back defending champs as they defeated Clairton last year 21-20 in the finals. A multitude of big play makers are returning for the Rangers including QB Matt Sieg, who had over 1000 yards with 20 touchdowns last season. Other players returning are Evan Rogers, Ryan Huey and Blake Sweder.
2. Clairton
PIAA District 7
2024 Record: 13-1
Despite falling short last season in the WPIAL finals last season to Fort Cherry 21-20 Clairton has proved themselves to be a dangerous team. The Bears are returning key offensive players such as WR Taris Woodling, who had over 500 receiving yards last season, Donte’ Wright and Micheal Ruffin. On the defensive end Clairton returns sophormore Brandon Murphy Jr, who had nine sacks last year, Tahvaz Armstrong and Darren Pinson.
3. Port Allegany
PIAA District 9
2024 Record: 14-1
Port Allegany will be looking to get back to the state title game where they were runners-up to Bishop Guilfoyle last year. And they have a good reason to look ahead as PFN’s 1A offensive player of the year, Aiden Bliss, returns for his senior year. Bliss not only led the state in rushing yardage, touchdowns, and points scored but he was 4th in the country in rushing yardage, 2nd in touchdowns, and led the country in points scored. Oh by the way, virtually every skill position player returns in addition to Bliss. Port also returns 3 offensive linemen. On defense, the Gators return 8 starters. If Port can fill the void of losing two all-state linemen and can stay healthy, there is more than a good chance you will see them in the championship game again in 2025.
4. Wilmington
PIAA District 10
2024 Record: 8-3
The Greyhounds aim to build on a strong finish from 2024 into the new season. Wilmington graduated only a few players and returns around ten on each side of the football. Last season, they held a 14-8 second-quarter lead against District 9 champion Port Allegany, but couldn’t overcome the eventual state-runner-up Gators in a 38-20 loss. The Greyhounds return their entire offensive backfield. Leading rusher, Chase Mitcheltree, ran for 1068 yards and 16 touchdowns in only nine games last season. Jamie Miller ran for 836 yards and seven touchdowns, while Michael Mistretta and freshman Cael Kettering ran for 425 and 404 yards, respectively. Wilmington returns four of its five starting offensive linemen.
5. Lackawanna Trail
PIAA District 2
2024 Record: 11-2
While graduation took a few playmakers away from the Lions after their strong 11-2 campaign last year, Head Coach Steve Jervis runs a true program and knows how to reload. QB Tyler Jervis is the key player for the Lions as he knows how to run the deceptive Trail offensive plan, and RB Isaac Ryon is primed for a big season and may be the best RB in District 2. Lackawanna Trail may have a great opportunity to emerge from the East bracket and return to the state title game.
Contender or Pretender?
Bishop Guilfoyle
PIAA District 6
2024 Record: 15 – 1
Coming off a PIAA 1A State Championship in 2024, and a combined 31 – 10 record in their last 3 seasons, BG enters a pivotal year to cement themselves as an annual powerhouse. After losing stars, Hamilton Gates (WR) and Chase Kissell (QB), Head Coach Justin Wheeler will rely on his senior leaders, Jake Kissell (QB) and RB / LB Taurean Consiglio. Don’t count the Mauraders out, but Justin Wheeler will have a tall task ahead of him to reload his potent offense and return to the 1A Championship game.
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