Pennsylvania is reaching the regional final stage for high school football playoffs, which means the annual extravaganza down at Heinz Field for the WPIAL's 6A, 5A, 4A, and 3A classifications and a lot of big match-ups throughout the state. I'll be breaking down the match-ups in the Heinz Field finals for those four classifications and the semi-finals for small school football. I'll post Ohio playoffs matchups and targets later today.
WPIAL 1A
The WPIAL's smallest classification has gone perfectly chalk so far and pretty much played out how everybody has expected. The top four seeds have won out and the semi-finals will be played this Saturday for the right to go to Robert Morris next weekend for the semi-finals. Five-star Lamont Wade is close to returning this week for Clairton and three-star Noah Hamlin, perhaps the most likely local candidate for a Pitt offer, has been excellent. They'll play Northgate at Chartiers-Houston while Rochester and Jeannette will play at Fox Chapel, both on Saturday.
WPIAL 2A
Just like their counterparts in 1A, 2A has gone entirely chalk. Rivals100 Pitt commit Paris Ford and his Steel Valley Ironmen are still rolling on one side of the bracket and Pitt tight end commit Tyler Sear and his Neshannock Lancers are doing the same on the other. The two may be headed for a date at Robert Morris if they continue playing out in the right way. Steel Valley gets a rematch against Riverside, a team they beat 41-7, while Neshannock draws Washington. SV plays at North Allegheny while Neshannock is at Moon. Both play on Saturday.
WPIAL 3A
With the return of 2018 Rivals250 ATH Kwantel Raines, Aliquippa continues to be the most dangerous team in the area at the 3A level. The Quips rolled an upstart Derry team (who should be incredibly proud of how they played this season, they came out of nowhere) by a score of 46-20. They play in Heinz Field at 11 AM on Friday, drawing a rematch against an opponent close to home in Beaver Falls. Beaver Falls' most prominent player is four-star DL Donovan Jeter, a Michigan commit. The Quips put a running clock on Beaver Falls last time they played, dominating them 44-13 in the opening week of the season for the Tigers' only loss. However, dynamic 2018 ATH Malik Shepherd will be playing this time after missing the first game with a foot injury. Should be a fun one.
WPIAL 4A
It's been a hell of a run for the New Castle (Pa.) Red Hurricane this postseason. The Canes have come out of the 7-seed to make a run all the way to the WPIAL finals, led largely by 2017 QB/FS/ATH Geno Stone and 2018 Rivals250 standout Marcus Hooker, who could be a DB or WR. Neither prospect has been offered by Pitt yet, but both have had frequent contact with the staff and visited campus multiple times. The Canes will have a very tough match-up in Thomas Jefferson, a team that has outscored their two playoff opponents 70-7 this season. The Jaguars' defense has pitched six shutouts this season while the offense has hung 50-plus points on their opponents just as frequently. 2017 LB Zane Zandier and 2018 DT Devin Danielson lead the team and they're a dangerous duo. This game will kick off at 5 PM and should be great to watch.
WPIAL 5A
West Allegheny has been dominant this season at the 5A level and there's no reason to believe that will stop. 2018 DB Kenny White has really emerged as a player to watch at cornerback this season and could be a Pitt offer candidate going forward. His teammate Brandon Lipford has done well as a WR/DB as well and is also in the class of 2018. The dynamic junior duo will face off against a McKeesport squad that beat Upper St. Clair and Gateway to make it this far. McKeesport is led by a pair of defensive linemen in seniors Curtis Harper and Antoine Cook. This match-up will take the 2 PM slot on Friday.
WPIAL 6A
The WPIAL's biggest classification is always a huge show in the Pittsburgh area and little about that has changed. Some things never change and Central Catholic will be playing in Heinz once again on their march to a state championship bid. Their team is stocked with Division I talent as per usual, including the following:
- 2017 PSU OL commit CJ Thorpe
- 2017 Notre Dame LB commit David Adams
- 2017 Notre Dame DT commit Kurt Hinish
- 2017 LB Tim Terry
- 2018 DT David Green
- 2018 QB Troy Fisher
- 2018 DB Khalil Weathers
- 2019 ATH Corey Thomas Jr
- And probably a dozen others
The Vikings will be loaded as always and could be the favorite to win a state championship, but they'll first have to get through Seneca Valley, the six-seed who won thrillers as the underdog over Mt Lebanon (49-43) and North Allegheny (28-27) to get this far. It won't be easy for the Raiders, but you never know.
WPIAL 1A
The WPIAL's smallest classification has gone perfectly chalk so far and pretty much played out how everybody has expected. The top four seeds have won out and the semi-finals will be played this Saturday for the right to go to Robert Morris next weekend for the semi-finals. Five-star Lamont Wade is close to returning this week for Clairton and three-star Noah Hamlin, perhaps the most likely local candidate for a Pitt offer, has been excellent. They'll play Northgate at Chartiers-Houston while Rochester and Jeannette will play at Fox Chapel, both on Saturday.
WPIAL 2A
Just like their counterparts in 1A, 2A has gone entirely chalk. Rivals100 Pitt commit Paris Ford and his Steel Valley Ironmen are still rolling on one side of the bracket and Pitt tight end commit Tyler Sear and his Neshannock Lancers are doing the same on the other. The two may be headed for a date at Robert Morris if they continue playing out in the right way. Steel Valley gets a rematch against Riverside, a team they beat 41-7, while Neshannock draws Washington. SV plays at North Allegheny while Neshannock is at Moon. Both play on Saturday.
WPIAL 3A
With the return of 2018 Rivals250 ATH Kwantel Raines, Aliquippa continues to be the most dangerous team in the area at the 3A level. The Quips rolled an upstart Derry team (who should be incredibly proud of how they played this season, they came out of nowhere) by a score of 46-20. They play in Heinz Field at 11 AM on Friday, drawing a rematch against an opponent close to home in Beaver Falls. Beaver Falls' most prominent player is four-star DL Donovan Jeter, a Michigan commit. The Quips put a running clock on Beaver Falls last time they played, dominating them 44-13 in the opening week of the season for the Tigers' only loss. However, dynamic 2018 ATH Malik Shepherd will be playing this time after missing the first game with a foot injury. Should be a fun one.
WPIAL 4A
It's been a hell of a run for the New Castle (Pa.) Red Hurricane this postseason. The Canes have come out of the 7-seed to make a run all the way to the WPIAL finals, led largely by 2017 QB/FS/ATH Geno Stone and 2018 Rivals250 standout Marcus Hooker, who could be a DB or WR. Neither prospect has been offered by Pitt yet, but both have had frequent contact with the staff and visited campus multiple times. The Canes will have a very tough match-up in Thomas Jefferson, a team that has outscored their two playoff opponents 70-7 this season. The Jaguars' defense has pitched six shutouts this season while the offense has hung 50-plus points on their opponents just as frequently. 2017 LB Zane Zandier and 2018 DT Devin Danielson lead the team and they're a dangerous duo. This game will kick off at 5 PM and should be great to watch.
WPIAL 5A
West Allegheny has been dominant this season at the 5A level and there's no reason to believe that will stop. 2018 DB Kenny White has really emerged as a player to watch at cornerback this season and could be a Pitt offer candidate going forward. His teammate Brandon Lipford has done well as a WR/DB as well and is also in the class of 2018. The dynamic junior duo will face off against a McKeesport squad that beat Upper St. Clair and Gateway to make it this far. McKeesport is led by a pair of defensive linemen in seniors Curtis Harper and Antoine Cook. This match-up will take the 2 PM slot on Friday.
WPIAL 6A
The WPIAL's biggest classification is always a huge show in the Pittsburgh area and little about that has changed. Some things never change and Central Catholic will be playing in Heinz once again on their march to a state championship bid. Their team is stocked with Division I talent as per usual, including the following:
- 2017 PSU OL commit CJ Thorpe
- 2017 Notre Dame LB commit David Adams
- 2017 Notre Dame DT commit Kurt Hinish
- 2017 LB Tim Terry
- 2018 DT David Green
- 2018 QB Troy Fisher
- 2018 DB Khalil Weathers
- 2019 ATH Corey Thomas Jr
- And probably a dozen others
The Vikings will be loaded as always and could be the favorite to win a state championship, but they'll first have to get through Seneca Valley, the six-seed who won thrillers as the underdog over Mt Lebanon (49-43) and North Allegheny (28-27) to get this far. It won't be easy for the Raiders, but you never know.
