Nearly every team in the Midwestern Conference was hit hard by graduation after last season. This should make for a wide open field in 2019. Last year the conference featured a number of run-heavy teams along with some stout defensive units. The Midwestern Conference has produced a WPIAL semifinalist each of the last three seasons. Riverside fell to Steel Valley in the 2016 and 2017 semifinals. Last year it was Freedom who reached the semis but also lost to Steel Valley.
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.
Riverside
ELO Rating: 1433
2A Rank: 9
WPIAL Rank: 73
Twitter: @RiversidePN, @RollsideFball
The Panthers made the playoffs for the third straight season but fell in their opening game to Charleroi. Quarterback Ben Hughes has been starting since his sophomore year and returns after throwing for 944 yards and 14 TDs last year. The Panthers have experience on the outside with senior Nate Sciarro, who was the team’s leading receiver with 496 yards and 6 TDs. Fellow senior WR Josh Bishop (203 yards, 3 TDs) also returns. Junior RB Hunter Nulph figures to take over the lead back role after running for 489 yards and 7 TDs (both second on the team) last season. Riverside did not play a close game through the first 8 weeks last season, with every game decided by at least 14 points. This year, the Panthers have the experience to challenge once again for the conference title.
Freedom
ELO Rating: 1398
2A Rank: 12
WPIAL Rank: 77
Twitter: @FASDBulldogs, @2018_section
The Bulldogs put together a great season with their only regular season loss coming by 6 points to Mohawk. Freedom then toughed it out through two nailbiting playoff games, a 3-point win over Avonworth and a 1-point win over Burgettstown, to reach the semifinals for the 4th time in school history. There, they fell to eventual WPIAL Champions Steel Valley 40-0. Junior Cole Beck will likely take over the quarterback role and will have senior Max Ujhazy (311 rushing yards, 194 receiving yards, 3 TDs) back from last year’s squad. In addition to Ujhazy, junior Brandon Pratte is the top returning rusher after averaging 14 yards per carry in limited work. Last year’s Freedom team made a name for themselves on defense, allowing just 11 points per game – the second best mark in 2A.
New Brighton
ELO Rating: 1257
2A Rank: 22
WPIAL Rank: 91
Twitter: @NBVicePrincipal, @nbjunglegang
After a 2017 season where the Lions went winless in conference play, it looked like more of the same after a 1-4 start to 2018. However, a 42-21 win over Neshannock marked the turnaround point and New Brighton went 4-1 down the strech with the only loss coming by 2 points to Freedom. The Lions made the playoffs for the first time since 2015 and fell to Washington in the first round. Jacob Francona is the top returning offensive player after doing a little bit of everything for the Lions last year. Francona led the team in rushing with 308 yards, was second in receiving with 435 yards, scored 8 TDs, and even attempted a handful of passes, going 4 of 5 and throwing for a touchdown. Junior RB Nyasanu Green ran for 201 yards and 2 TDs last year as the third back in the rotation. With just 7 rising seniors on the roster, New Brighton is in position to gain valuable experience this year that could allow them to compete for a conference title next year.
Mohawk
ELO Rating: 1346
2A Rank: 17
WPIAL Rank: 82
Twitter: @MHSAthletics667, @Rowdy_Warriors
The Warriors won the Conference Title last year thanks to a Week 3 victory over Freedom. They went on to win just their second playoff game in school history, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 2005. Mohawk lost 2A’s leading rusher to graduation and will also have to replace an 1800-yard passer and their top two receivers. Sophomore Boden Leslie may step in at quarterback this season after seeing some backup duty last year. Rising junior Vincent Argiro is the top returning rusher after averaging 4.3 yards per carry in limited work. Fellow junior Jordan Mollenkopf (200 yards, 5 TDs) is the top returning reciver. Mohawk had 12 seniors graduate, but only two of them were offensive linemen so there should be some continuity this season for their run-heavy offense.
Western Beaver
ELO Rating: 959
2A Rank: 30
WPIAL Rank: 109
Twitter: @WesternBeaverFB
After a 2-1 start to the season, Western Beaver won just 1 of their final 7 outings. The biggest issue for the Golden Beavers was a lack of offense, averaging just 13 points per game. They did start a number of underclassmen last year, including Thaddeus Gray who threw for 648 yards and 4 TDs as a freshman. Gray missed a few weeks in hte middle of the season due to injury and fellow freshman Cam Irvine stepped in at quarterback, throwing for 235 yards and 3 TDs. Irvine is also the team’s top returning rusher after accounting for 249 yards and 7 TDs. Rising seniors Noah Gray and Zack Shank saw limited work in the running game but both averaged over 5 yards per carry. Gray was the team’s second-leading receiver with 300 yards and scored 3 times. Leading receiver Dakari Bradford (332 yards, 4 TDs) also returns for his junior year. The building blocks are in place for Western Beaver to work towards competing for the playoffs but they will have to stay healthy as they have a relatively short roster.
Neshannock
ELO Rating: 1374
2A Rank: 14
WPIAL Rank: 79
Twitter: @LancerLunatics1
The Lancers were a streaky team last year, with every loss coming in pairs. Despite scoring a convincing win over conference champions Mohawk, they missed the playoffs due to losses to Riverside and New Brighton. Senior Jason Nativio figures to step in at quarterback after seeing spot duty last year and also playing receiver (130 yards). The top 3 receivers all graduated, leaving Mike Bonner (156 yards) as the top returning target. Likewise, 3 of the team’s top 4 rushers graduated but senior DJ DiBlasio returns after running for 176 yards and 1 TD and averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Neshannock should be right in the mix for a playoff spot once again this season.
Ellwood City
ELO Rating: 1370
2A Rank: 16
WPIAL Rank: 81
Twitter: @EC_Wolverines, @betru2urschool
The Wolverines missed the playoffs for the 7th straight year, but played some competitive games and were not that far away. Their losses to Neshannock, Riverside, and Mohawk were all by 14 points or fewer. Junior QB Ryan Gibbons returns after throwing for 630 yards and 2 TDs. He is also the team’s top returning rusher but had just 110 yards and 1 TD on the ground. Graduation hit the backs and receivers hard as 6 of the top 7 receivers and 5 of the top 6 rushers are all gone. Sophomore Peyton O’Brien and senior TE Storm Chambers are the only returning players who caught passes last year. If Ellwood City can find a way to put more points on the board (after averaging just 16 per game last year), they can compete for a playoff spot.
Shenango
ELO Rating: 904
2A Rank: 31
WPIAL Rank: 113
Twitter: @ShenangoFootbal, @wildcat_wackos
The Wildcats went winless in conference play last year and a 1-point win over Serra Catholic in Week 3 was all that kept them from a winless season. The bright spot is that Serra was a playoff team in the Three Rivers Conference. Two underclassmen split time at quarterback last year. Santino Campoli threw for 832 yards and 7 TDs as a freshman and Reis Watkins threw for 469 yards and 4 TDs as a sophomore. Watkins was also the team’s leading rusher with 327 yards and 3 TDs. Rising senior Jason Kraner was Shenango’s top offensive weapon, accounting for 542 receiving yards, 179 rushing yards, and scoring 7 times. Shenango has the returning players to be more competitive this season, but will need to improve a defense that allowed 466 points, the most in 2A.
