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High School Top 10: Imhotep Charter May Be The Best Team In PA

PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — Coaching change, player change, it doesn't matter. Imhotep Charter continues to win. The Panthers are 7-0 this season and no team seems to be able to stop them.

Imhotep is on a 23-game winning streak covering parts of three season. The last time Imhotep Charter lost was in the District 12 3A championship to Archbishop Wood, 42-34, back on Nov. 22, 2014. Since then, the Panthers went undefeated last year, going 15-0. This season, Imhotep is scorching teams by an average of 49.3 points a game.

The Panthers have scored 358 points, posted five shutouts and given up just 13 points, averaging 51.1 points a game and giving up an average of 1.8 points a game.

"We're just concentrating on what's immediately ahead of us, not behind, and not too far ahead," said Panthers' coach Mark Schmidt, the legendary Neshaminy coach who took over for Albie Crosby. "We have a bunch of guys who are committed, and it's something that I saw immediately after last year. The guys coming back want to win, and we did return a lot of key players.

"These are guys that know what it takes to win a state championship. Right after the Christmas holidays, we had guys coming back and working hard."

Imhotep made history last year as the first Philadelphia Public League team to win a state title in football. The Panthers easily dominating Erie Cathedral Prep in the Class AAA state championship, 40-3. Under Crosby, who left for personal health reasons though is remaining close to the program, Imhotep compiled a 53-6 record the last four years, was PIAA Class 2A state runner-up and last season won the Class 3A state championship.

The Panthers are a Class 4A school, playing up from 3A, in the PIAA's new school 6A classification system.

Meaning Imhotep continues to be the benchmark.

CBS Philly's Area Top 10 Power Ratings For Oct. 21, 2016
1. St. Joe's Prep (Record: 6-0)
2. Imhotep Charter (Record: 7-0)
3. North Penn (Record: 8-0)
4. Neshaminy (Record: 8-0)
5. St. Augustine (NJ) (Record: 6-0)
6. Timber Creek (NJ) (Record: 5-0)
7. Perkiomen Valley (Record: 8-0)
8. Archbishop Wood (Record: 4-2-1)
9. Lenape (NJ) (Record: 5-0)
10. Haverford School (Record: 5-1)

Southeastern PA Top 10 For Oct. 21, 2016
1. St. Joe's Prep (Record: 6-0)
2. Imhotep Charter (Record: 7-0)
3. North Penn (Record: 8-0)
4. Neshaminy (Record: 8-0)
5. Perkiomen Valley (Record: 8-0)
6. Archbishop Wood (Record: 4-2-1)
7. Haverford School (Record: 5-1)
8. Academy Park (Record: 8-0)
9. Coatesville (Record: 7-1)
10. La Salle (Record: 5-2)
—Joseph Santoliquito
@Jsantoliquito

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