PRE-SEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS

Liberty will begin the 2009 season where it ended 2008 -- atop the state rankings.

In the Pennsylvania Football News preseason rankings, the Hurricanes are rated No. 1 in 4A. North Penn, the team Liberty defeated in the state semis last year and who will host Liberty in a much anticipated season-opener a week from Friday (Sept. 4) is ranked third.

Easton and Parkland on the "teams to watch" list.

In Class 3A, Wilson Area is ranked fifth. Central Catholic is listed among the others to watch.

In 2A, Panther Valley is ranked ninth and Palisades is on the "others" list.

In 1A, no Lehigh Valley-area team is ranked, but five District 11 squads (Schuylkill Haven, Jim Thorpe, Marian, Tri-Valley and Williams Valley) are at least recognized.

Here is the complete listings courtesy of our friends at the Pennsylvania Football News:

Rank - School- District

Class AAAA:

1. Bethlehem Liberty (11)

2. McKeesport Area (7)

3. North Penn (1)

4. State College (6)

5. Bishop McDevitt (3)

6. LaSalle College (12)

7. Woodland Hills (7)

8. Wilson (West Lawn) (3)

9. Neshaminy (1)

10. Penn Hills (7)

Others to Watch:

Abington (1)

Central Dauphin (3)

Cumberland Valley (3)

Downingtown West (1)

Easton Area (11)

Garnet Valley (1)

Gateway (7)

George Washington (12)

Governor Mifflin (3)

Hazleton (2)

Hempfield (3)

Parkland (11)

Pennsbury (1)

Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7)

Ridley (1)

St. Joseph's Prep (12)

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Rank - School- District

Class AAA:

1. Thomas Jefferson (7)

2. Manheim Central (3)

3. Selinsgrove (4)

4. Archbishop Wood (12)

5. Wilson Area (11)

6. Strong Vincent (10)

7. Hopewell (7)

8. Berwick Area (2)

9. Cathedral Prep (10)

10. West York (3)

Others to Watch:

Abington Heights (2)

Allentown Central Catholic (11)

Bayard Rustin (12)

Blackhawk (7)

Brashear (8)

Clearfield Area (9)

East Pennsboro (3)

ELCO (3)

Hershey (3)

Hollidaysburg (6)

Lampeter-Strasburg (3)

Owen J. Roberts (1)

Northern York (3)

Pottsgrove (1)

Pottsville (11)

Susquehanna Township (3)

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Rank - School- District

Class AA:

1. Wilmington (10)

2. Lancaster Catholic (3)

3. Aliquippa (7)

4. West Catholic (12)

5. Greensburg Central Catholic (7)

6. Dunmore (2)

7. Beaver Falls (7)

8. Jeannette (7)

9. Panther Valley (11)

10. Tyrone Area (6)

Others to Watch:

Burrell (7)

Center (7)

Central (Martinsburg) (6)

Elmer L. Meyers (2)

Fairview (10)

Forest Hills (6)

Greenville (10)

Karns City (9)

Lakeland (2)

Middletown (3)

Moniteau (9)

Montoursville (4)

Mount Carmel Area (4)

Palisades (11)

Seton-LaSalle (7)

Shady Side Academy (7)

Towanda (4)

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Rank - School- District

Class A:

1. Clairton (7)

2. Steelton-Highspire (3)

3. Farrell (10)

4. Southern Columbia (4)

5. Rochester Area (7)

6. Bishop McCort (6)

7. Schuylkill Haven (11)

8. Riverside (2)

9. Springdale (7)

10. Portage Area (6)

Others to Watch:

Bellwood-Antis (6)

Bethlehem-Center (7)

Bloomsburg (4)

Cameron County (9)

Curwensville (9)

Jim Thorpe (11)

Line Mountain (4)

Linesville (10)

Marian Catholic (11)

Mercer Area (10)

Mercyhurst Prep (10)

North Catholic (7)

Serra Catholic (7)

South Side Area (7)

Tri Valley (11)

Williams Valley (11)