The skinny: Only two quarterfinal tilts were what we like to call “engaging battles,” and top-seeded Pittsburgh Central Catholic didn't make the list. The Vikings stretched to 14-0 by bouncing McDowell 48-7 at Veterans Stadium in Erie. The victory set up a semifinal clash with District 3 champion and sixth-ranked Lower Dauphin, a 24-21 winner over ninth-ranked Cumberland Valley. … Fifth-ranked Neshaminy blasted North Penn for the right to meet second-ranked St. Joseph's Prep in this week's Eastern final at Northeast High.
STATE PREP FOOTBALL RANKINGS
CLASS AAAA – Record – Previous rank
1. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) 14-0 – 1
2. St. Joseph's Prep (12) 10-3 – 2
3. Woodland Hills (7) 10-3 – 3
4. Upper St. Clair (7) 11-1 – 4
5. Neshaminy (1) 13-1 – 6
6. Lower Dauphin (3) 13-1 – 8
7. Parkland (11) 12-2 – 5
8. McKeesport (7) 10-1 – 7
9. Cumberland Valley (3) 11-3 – 9
10. La Salle College HS (12) 8-3 – NR
Honorable mention: Abington (1) 10-4, Garnet Valley (1) 11-1, North Penn (1) 10-4, Whitehall (11) 10-2, Wilson-West Lawn (3) 12-1.
*-2012 PIAA champion. Number in parentheses is PIAA district. NR-not ranked. Produced by Eric Epler and Andrew Shay.
Epler on Twitter: @threejacker
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