Final - Philly Top Teams

The only two teams from District 12 who are still playing are West Catholic (AA) and Archbishop Wood (AAA). Neither of their outcomes will influence this list, so we are making this the final list for 2008. Heck basketball is starting as we have to re-tool our brains for that by Saturday.

1. West Catholic (2) 13-1* Last Week: Beat Dunmore 49-21 (State AA Quarter-Final)
The Burrs have hung around the top of this poll all season. With the AAAA division imploding on to themselves, we had no choice but to move them to the top of the list. West has a legitimate shot at winning the state AA title. And, if they do, they will have earned it, with half of their games being playoff games.
Next Week: Lancaster Catholic (AA State Semi-Final)

2. George Washington (6) 10-2 Last Week : Lost to Bethlehem-Liberty 30-13 (State AAAA Quarter-Final)
The Eagles may not have shocked the world with their upset win against LaSalle in the District Championship, but they sure did shock most people in the city, including me. Winning the district title, in my humble opinion, is a good thing for the new and improved district 12. Let's hope that all of the AAAA district championships in the future are competitive.
Next Week: Season completed

3. LaSalle (1) 9-3
LaSalle was poised to end the season at the top of this poll. But, choking in the Distict Championship means they'll have to wait another year.
Next Week: Season completed

4. Father Judge (4) 9-4 Last Week: Beat Lincoln 42-6
The Crusaders lost to LaSalle in the PCL AAAA championship and ended their year with a huge win against neighborhood rival, Lincoln, on Thanksgiving morning. This is one of the
best finishes for Judge in years. Watch out, as the Crusaders could be back in mid-1980's form in the coming years.
Next Week: Season completed

5. Archbishop Wood (5) 11-2 * Last Week: Beat Bayard-Rustin 37-7 (State AAA Quarter-Final)Wood is, without a doubt, the class of the AAA division in SE Pennsylvania. Their only slip ups this season were a triple OT loss to Pennridge in week 1 and a loss to #1, West
Catholic. Wood has just as much a shot at a state title as any of the other 3 teams remaining at AAA.
Next Week: Selinsgrove (AAA State Semi-Final)

6. St Joe Prep (3) 8-4 Last Week: Lost to Malvern LaSalle 34-27
For the third consecutive season, Prep has lost the last game of their season to another city team. This year, it was Malvern, last year it was Roman, in 2006 it was LaSalle. Has Prep slowed a step or two or has the rest of the teams in the area finally caught up. We not quite sure, but we definitely like the recent parity in the city.
Next Week: Season completed

7. Northeast (7) 7-5 Last Week: Beat Central 38-0
I'll have to be honest, the only reason the Vikings are in the top ten is because of their 3-0 upset of Frankford in the Pub semi-final game and the near miss against Washington in the Pub championship. But, they earned their way into the top ten and in the top ten is where they will finish.
Next Week: Season completed

8. Conwell-Egan (9) 8-4 Last Week: Beat Truman 35-28
The Eagles seemed to come out of nowhere and ended up in the PCL AAA. After getting off to a 1-2 start in 2008, Conwell-Egan made a mad dash to the finish line, only losing two
more games (both to Wood) before wrapping up their year with a Thanksgiving Day win against town rival Truman.
Next Week: Season completed

9. Cardinal O’Hara (8) 7-4
The Lions roared early in the year, starting off at 7-0, mostly aided by playing a lot of sub-par teams early on in the season. But, even when they were undefeated, we didn't have a lot of confidence that they'd stay there. Even with their D1 prospects, we just didn't think this team would live up to the hype. Guess we were right.
Next Week: Season completed

10. Frankford (NR) 9-3 Last Week: Beat Northeast Catholic 14-6
Frankford was knocked out of the top 10 a few weeks ago, mainly due to their loss to Northeast in the Pub semi-finals. They may have been caught looking ahead, we're not sure. But, a couple of post-season (non-league) wins and a win on Thanksgiving against PCL AAA team, Northeast Catholic, finds the Pioneers finishing the season back in the poll.
Next Week : Season completed

AAAA - Top 5 (Final)
1. Washington (10-2)
2. LaSalle (9-3)
3. Father Judge (9-4)
4. St Joseph Prep (8-4)
5. Northeast (7-5)

AAA - Top 5 (Final)
1. Archbishop Wood (11-2 *)
2. Conwell-Egan (8-4)
3. Dobbins (8-4)
4. Northeast Catholic (6-5)
5. Mastbaum (8-4)

AA - Top 5 (Final)
1. West Catholic (13-1 *)
2. Bok (10-1)
3. Franklin (7-5)
4. Archbishop Carroll (4-8)
5. Bishop McDevitt (4-5)

* - Still competing in State playoffs