Classic powers scatter Southeastern PA high school football rankings for Week 2

Right now, familiarity feels good. One year after a pandemic-shortened season Pennsylvania high school football season – one of the most bizarre seasons in area history – classic powers scatter our top 10 for Southeastern Pa.

This week’s NBC Sports Philadelphia High School Power Rankings feel almost like catching up with old friends. Yes, St. Joseph’s Prep is still St. Joseph’s Prep. North Penn can still push teams around a field. Quakertown has beaten two teams by the exact same score: 42-7.

Thus far, there haven’t been too many major surprises with our top 10 teams, and for right now, that feels like a good thing.

Check our updated rankings every Sunday morning to see if it stays that way. (Hint: it definitely won’t.)

1. St. Joseph’s Prep (1-0)

The Hawks opened their season Saturday night with a 40-0 trouncing of Maryland’s St. Mary’s Ryken. Yes, St. Joe’s entered this year with some big shoes to fill. But it’s looking like another year of St. Joe’s being St. Joe’s. The Hawks graduated a star-studded senior class. But stars go out, stars come in.

2. Imhotep Charter (2-0)

The Panthers have allowed just 16 combined points through two wins over out-of-area powers Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) and DeMatha (Maryland). This is a surprise to no one. Defensive ends Enai White and Keon Wylie – both among the top recruits in the country – are anchors of what might be the state’s top defense.

MORE: NBC Sports Philadelphia's South Jersey high school football rankings after Week 2

3. La Salle (2-0)

After an impressive 21-0 blanking of Bishop McDevitt on opening night, La Salle edged Malvern Prep 10-7 on Friday night. Santiago Sturla’s 35-yard field goal in the third quarter was the difference in the game. Another big test for the Explorers comes up this week when Imhotep visits for a must-see game.

4. North Penn (2-0)

Khalani Eaton rushed for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 12 carries in North Penn’s 58-8 rout of Abington on Friday night. Eaton, a senior, already has 363 rushing yards and six touchdowns for a team that’s breezed through its first two contests.

5. Archbishop Wood (2-0)

Archbishop Wood followed a 37-0 win over Neshaminy on opening day with a big 28-6 win over Neumann-Goretti on Saturday afternoon. Wide receiver/defensive back Andrew McHugh has been a menace on both sides of the ball for Wood.

6. Garnet Valley (2-0)

The Jaguars put up 55 points in a lopsided win over Central League rival Conestoga on Friday night. Garnet Valley has 96 points through its first two games. Senior quarterback Max Busenkell has already thrown for six touchdowns, including three on Friday night. 

7. Malvern Prep (0-1)

Call it a moral victory. The Friars lost to La Salle 10-7 on Friday night, but the showing was enough to cement Malvern Prep in the conversation with the area’s best teams. The Friars are talented on both sides of the ball and will look to bounce back this week against West Catholic.

8. Downingtown East (2-0)

The Cougars followed an impressive 14-7 win over Pennridge last week with a 42-21 victory over State College on Friday night. Downingtown East has flashed its typical smash mouth style on the ground and junior quarterback Jamy Jenkins looks poised for a special season.

9. Quakertown (2-0)

Quakertown, a veteran team, led by senior quarterback Will Steich, beat Council Rock North, 42-7, on Saturday afternoon, a consistent follow-up to the team’s 42-7 trouncing of Southern Lehigh to open the season.

10. Neumann-Goretti (1-1)

Despite a setback on Saturday afternoon against Archbishop Wood, Neumann-Goretti is one of the area’s most talented teams, and will look to bounce back against Archbishop Ryan.

Check back every Sunday morning for NBC Sports Philadelphia's Southeastern Pennsylvania High School Power Rankings. For more, check out our High School Football hub page. For comments or questions, or if you have a high school sports story that needs to be told, email Chris Melchiorre at cmelchiorre11@yahoo.com.