A few items from the high school sports world.
The newest state football rankings have been released from a few publications.
Here are the Post-Gazette's top five in each class:
CLASS AAAA - 1. North Allegheny 1-0. 2. Central Dauphin 1-0. 3. La Salle College 1-0. 4. Easton 1-0. 5. Gateway 1-0
CLASS AAA - 1. Bishop McDevitt 1-0. 2. Archbishop Wood 1-0. 3. Cathedral Prep 1-0. 4. Central Valley 1-0. 5. Montour 1-0
CLASS AA - 1. Aliquippa 1-0. 2. Mount Carmel 1-0. 3. Wyomissing 1-0. 4. South Fayette 1-0. 5. Imhotep Charter 1-0
CLASS A - 1. Clairton 1-0. 2. Southern Columbia 1-0. 3. Dunmore 1-0. 4. Rochester 1-0. 5. Sto-Rox 1-0.
The Pennsylvania Football News state rankings also are out for this week.
Running back gains 442
The best individual performance in the state on the first weekend of the season was definnitely by Lancasther Catholic running back Roman Clay. A 5-foot-10, 210-pound senior, Clay rushed for 442 yards on 22 attempts and scored six touchdowns against Dallastown. And he didn't run for all those yards in a blowout. Lancaster Catholic, which moved up from Class AA to AAA this year, defeated Dallastown by only 41-33.
Clay said a few weeks ago that his finalists for college were Kent State, Old Dominion and Massachusetts. But things could change with Clay, who has said Pitt has been showing interest.
Game of the week?
The best game in the WPIAL this week is most certainly Montour at Central Valley. But that's on Thursday night. The best Friday game? You tell me. At the Post-Gazette we're having trouble coming up with the "Game of the Week" from Friday's schedule. Best bets are West Mifflin at Belle Vernon, North Hills vs. Central Catholic, Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley, Monessen at Brentwood and North Catholic at Springdale. What do you think?
Deion's school
Deion Sanders has opened a charter school in the Dallas area. Maybe they should put a tent around the school's football program because it has been a circus.
First, the name of the school. Prime Prep. Remember, Deion was nicknamed "Prime Time." But how about the school nickname? Tigers, Lions, Panthers? Huh. How about "Winning." Yes, the school is Prime Prep Winning.
But the district committee (Dallas' version of the WPIAL) where Prime Prep was supposed to play voted recently to ban the team from competing in all sports this year. Most of Prime Prep's football players have been ruled ineligible for transferring improperly from outside the district.
But there is more to this story. If you have a minute check out a news report and video of what happened last week when a TV reporter from WFFA in Dallas/Fort Worth showed up to film Prime Prep's practice at a "public park" last week. An assistant coach tried to block the reporter from filming and then the whole team comes at the reporter. Surreal. But with Deion Sanders involved, what do you expect?