No team has dominated the six-classification era like Steel Valley. The Ironmen won the 2016 WPIAL and PIAA Championship by enacting the mercy rule against every team. They completed an undefeated regular season in 2017 but fell to Washington in the WPIAL final. Last year, after an early-season loss to Shady Side Academy, Steel Valley would win the WPIAL crown once again. The 2018 season was a bit odd in 2A as the teams that reached the Championship Game (Steel Valley and South Side Beaver) both finished second in their respective conferences. After a number of star players from last year’s top teams graduated, this year’s race in the Allegheny Conference figures to be wide open
The playoff format in 2A is the same as last year. The playoffs will consist of 16 teams with the Championship Game played on Saturday, November 23 at Joe Walton Stadium at Robert Morris University. The top 4 teams from each of the four conferences will make the playoffs. The top two teams from each conference will receive home playoff games in the first round. Both semifinal games will be played at neutral sites. Be sure to check out our new WPIAL Football ELO Rankings and the rest of our WPIAL Season Previews. Teams are listed in their predicted order of finish.
Avonworth
ELO Rating: 1374
2A Rank: 15
WPIAL Rank: 80
Twitter: @AvonworthFB, @AHSFanSection
The Lopes had a shot to split the conference title last year but came up short against Shady Side Academy in Week 9. From there, they fell by a field goal 24-21 to Freedom in the first round of the playoffs. Avonworth has reached the postseason in 11 straight years thanks to an offensive attack that routinely produces prolific passers. Senior QB Park Penrod saw some time in backup duty last year and figures to step in under center. Leading rusher Jax Miller (950 yards, 23 TDs) also returns for his senior season. On the outside, Ethan Syam (575 yards, 2 TDs) and junior Drew Harper (534 yards, 4 TDs) are the top returning receivers. The Lopes also get a boost on defense from Central Catholic transfer Kyros Thorpe who has D1 offers as a cornerback. Avonworth averaged over 30 points per game last year and has the offensive talent to put up big numbers again this year and challenge Steel Valley for the conference title.
Steel Valley
ELO Rating: 1753
2A Rank: 1
WPIAL Rank: 49
Twitter: @SV_ironmen, @section_sv, @svironmaniacs
The Ironmen have been one of the most successful WPIAL teams of the 6-classification era. In 2016 they completed a perfect season where they enacted the Mercy Rule on every opponent. Their unbeaten run continued up until the 2017 WPIAL Championship Game where they fell to Washington. Last year, despite an early-season loss to Shady Side Academy, they rode a strong running game and defense to their second WPIAL title in three seasons. Last year’s run ended with a loss to Wilmington in the PIAA semifinals. Eight seniors graduated and head coach Rod Steele left for neighboring West Mifflin, but the Ironmen return four starters on the offensive line and should be tenacious in the trenches once again. QB Ronnell Lawrence returns for his junior year after throwing for 1054 yards and 12 TDs last year. Fellow rising junior Eshawn Carter put up 491 receiving yards and 162 rushing yards and scored 8 TDs last year. Look for sophomore Romar Watts to take on a bigger role in the running game. Even though Steel Valley lost a lot of talent to graduation, they are still good enough to be right at the top of the Allegheny Conference.
Apollo-Ridge
ELO Rating: 1408
2A Rank: 11
WPIAL Rank: 75
Twitter: @ApolloRidgeFB, @AR_HighSchool, @ApolloRidge
After two years of playing up in 3A in order to have a more favorable travel schedule, Apollo-Ridge moved back down to their natural classification in 2A last year. After a 2-1 start, the Vikings stumbled to 7 straight losses to end the season. The good news is that a number of underclassmen saw significant playing time so this is an experienced group returning for 2019. Rising juniors Jake Fello and Klay Fitzroy split time at quarterback and wide receiver last season. Fello led the way in passing with 664 yards and 8 TDs and added 118 rushing yards and 115 receiving yards and 2 more TDs. Fitzroy threw for 662 yards and 5 TDs while rushing for 183 yards and adding 228 receiving yards. Fitzroy and fellow junior RB Logan Harmon (400 yards) tied for the team lead with 6 TDs. Leading receiver Keighton Reese (311 yards, 2 TDs) is also only a junior. That is a lot of talent at offensive skill positions returning for the Vikings. If they can shore up a defense that allowed 35 points per game last year, Apollo-Ridge can make a run at the playoffs.
East Allegheny
ELO Rating: 1386
2A Rank: 13
WPIAL Rank: 78
Twitter: @eahsfootball
After an 0-2 start to the season, the Wildcats bounced back to win 5 in a row and put themselves in position to make the playoffs for a third straight year. It took a Week 9 Casket Match victory over Valley to secure their spot in the postseason where they ultimately fell to Burgettstown in the first round. The Wildcats saw 1 seniors graduate. Leading receiver Tyler Padezan scored 6 TDs last year and is their top returning skill position player and has offers from a few FCS schools. Rising junior WR Kiyon Delts scored 2 TDs last year. If East Allegheny can find a quarterback to get Padezan and Delts the ball, they can challenge for a playoff spot.
Shady Side Academy
ELO Rating: 1546
2A Rank: 3
WPIAL Rank: 60
Twitter: @shady_side, @SSA_ESPN8the8
The Indians stormed to an undefeated record through the regular season, with dual-threat QB Skyy Moore becoming the first player in WPIAL history to post TWO seasons with 1000 passing and 1000 rushing yards. But Moore was injured in the first round of the playoffs and the Indians barely beat Serra Catholic. From there, they lost to South Side Beaver in the quarterfinals and saw Moore and star receiver Dino Tomlin graduate. Now they will have to restock their skill positions, likely with Mason Tomlin taking on a bigger role in the offensive attack. Mason has an offer from his father’s alma mater William & Mary.
Valley
ELO Rating: 1426
2A Rank: 10
WPIAL Rank: 74
Twitter: @ValleyVikings3, @ZooKenAnimals
After a victory over rival Burrell in Week 0, the Vikings did not post another victory until the calendar flipped to October. Valley did manage a 2-2 finish and set themselves up for a Casket Match in Week 9 for a shot to make the playoffs. Leading receiver Vaun Ross scored 3 TDs last year as a junior for the offensively-challenged Vikings. Valley averaged just 16 points per game and saw 14 seniors graduate. They do have a deep roster and will need to quickly work in new starters if they are going to compete for a playoff spot.
Summit Academy
ELO Rating: 962
2A Rank: 29
WPIAL Rank: 108
Twitter:
The Knights are one of the most difficult teams to predict in a given year. Summit Academy is a school in rural Butler County for adjudicated youth. As such, they see complete roster turnover every season. Summit Academy has made the playoffs twice in the last 6 years, falling in the first round in both 2013 and 2017. Last year’s iteration of the Summit Academy team went winless but that has no bearing on the players that come out for this year’s squad.
