The WPIAL football season has passed the mid-point and entered the stretch run. With the amended 6A playoff structure this season there are 62 available playoff spots. Last week, North Allegheny became the first team to lock up a postseason berth. This week 16 more teams have the opportunity to lock up a playoff spot. Additionally, one team has the chance to clinch their Conference Title. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our WPIAL Standings Page for an accurate look at where everyone sits in the playoff race. This season, our WPIAL coverage here at Steel City Blitz is sponsored by the fine folks at Taps n’at in Derry.

Class 6A

Playoff Structure: The top 6 teams make the playoffs. The top 2 teams get first round byes.

North Allegheny has clinched a playoff spot.

Pine-Richland clinches a playoff spot with a win over Canon-McMillan.

Seneca Valley clinches a playoff spot with a win over Hempfield AND a Canon-McMillan loss.

Class 5A

Playoff Structure: The top 5 teams in each of the three conferences make the playoffs. One of the three 6th place teams earns a “wild card.” The top two teams in each conference plus 2 of the 3 third place teams get home playoff games in the first round.

Allegheny Eight Conference
West Allegheny clinches a playoff spot with a win over Baldwin.

Big East Conference
Gateway clinches a playoff spot with a win over Franklin Regional and losses by Latrobe and Albert Gallatin.
Franklin Regional clinches a playoff spot with a win over Gateway and losses by Latrobe and Albert Gallatin.
Penn-Trafford clinches a playoff spot with a win over Latrobe.
McKeesport plays a non-conference game but can clinch a playoff spot with a Latrobe loss.

Northern Conference
Penn Hills clinches a playoff spot with a win over Hampton.

Class 4A

Playoff Structure: The top 4 teams from each of the two conferences make the playoffs. The top two teams in each conference will get home playoff games in the first round.

Northwest Eight Conference
Blackhawk clinches a playoff spot with a win over New Castle.

Big Eight Conference
No clinching scenarios this week because of potential 3-way tie situations.

Class 3A

Playoff Structure: The top 4 teams from each of the two conferences make the playoffs. The top two teams in each conference will get home playoff games in the first round.

Big East Conference
Elizabeth Forward clinches a playoff spot with a win over North Catholic AND losses by Deer Lakes and Mt Pleasant

Tri-County West Conference
No clinching scenarios this week.

Class 2A

Playoff Structure: The top 4 teams from each of the four conferences make the playoffs. The top two teams in each conference will get home playoff games in the first round.

Allegheny Conference
Shady Side Academy clinches a playoff spot with a win over Summit Academy.

Interstate Conference
McGuffey clinches a playoff spot with a win over Brownsville

Midwestern Conference
No clinching scenarios this week.

Three Rivers Conference
Burgettstown clinches a playoff spot with a win over Carlynton AND a South Side Beaver loss.

Class 1A

Playoff Structure: The top 2 teams in each of the three conferences make the playoffs. Two of the three 3rd place teams earns a “wild card.” The three conference champions plus 1 of the 3 second place teams get home playoff games in the first round.

Big Seven Conference
OLSH plays a non-conference game but can clinch a playoff spot with a Cornell loss.

Eastern Conference
Clairton clinches a playoff spot with a win over Imani

Tri-County West Conference
West Greene clinches a playoff spot and the Conference Title with a win over California