The Tri-County West should change their name to the Conference of Champions. Since the move to six classifications, a Tri-County West team has won both the WPIAL and State Championship every year. In 2016 Beaver Falls topped rival Aliquippa at Heinz Field and rolled to the State title. The following year it was Quaker Valley winning a 2-0 WPIAL title game over the Quips en route to the PIAA Championship. Last year, the Quips finally were victorious at Heinz and cruised to the State Championships on the back of the Air Warfield offense under first-year coach Mike Warfield.
The playoff format in 3A is the same as last year. The playoffs will consist of 8 teams with the Championship Game played on Saturday, November 16 at Heinz Field. The top 4 teams from each of the two 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.
Aliquippa
ELO Rating: 1984
3A Rank: 1
WPIAL Rank: 33
Twitter: @EverythingQuip, @quip_nation
The first year of the Air Warfield offense paid dividends with the Quips winning their 17th WPIAL title and cruising to a second state championship. In his first year as head coach, the former Quip quarterback opened up the passing game and Aliquippa stormed to put up over 700 points on the season, averaging 47 per game. Their traditionally-stout defense held opponents under a touchdown per game en route to the State title, the third team from the Tri-County West Conference to win the State title in three years. The Quips graduated 14 seniors but still have a loaded team capable of claiming another WPIAL crown. Zuriah Fisher plays linebacker and tight end and has offers from a number of Big Ten and ACC schools along with Kentucky and Texas A&M from the SEC. Junior Vaughn Morris saw some backup time at quarterback last season and should step in as the starter this year. The top four rushers graduated, making junior Vernon Redd (157 yards, 5 TDs) the top returning back. Five of the top seven receivers also graduated. Soloman Chinua (182 yards, 3 TDs) who has a Bowling Green offer and Zuriah Fisher (106 yards, 1 TD) are the top returning receivers.
Central Valley
ELO Rating: 1630
3A Rank: 6
WPIAL Rank: 56
Twitter: @CentralValleySD, @CVHSWarriors
The Warriors were the only team to beat Aliquippa last year in an incredible defensive performance that resulted in a 14-8 Warriors victory. They salvaged their season after an 0-4 start by beating Keystone Oaks by 1 point in Week 4. Central Valley went on to win 5 of their last 6 before falling to Derry in the first round of the playoffs. Junior Ameer Dudley threw for 1018 yards and 5 TDs last year and led the team with 358 rushing yards and 6 TDs. Senior RB Jaylen Guy is the top returning back after running for 286 yards and 4 TDs and averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Jawon Hall (179 yards, 3 TDs) is the top returning receiver. If the Warriors can recapture their second half magic from last year, they are capable of challenging for the conference title.
Beaver Falls
ELO Rating: 1717
3A Rank: 4
WPIAL Rank: 52
Twitter:
The Tigers bounced back from an injury-plagued 2017 season to finish in a tie for the regular season conference title. Beaver Falls’ only losses against 3A opponents were to rival Aliquippa in Week 4 and in the semifinals. Beaver Falls will have to find a new quarterback this season. Mekhi Clark, Noah Vaughn and Shileak Livingston all saw time in backup duty last year. Second-leading rusher Josh Hough ran for 818 yards and 12 TDs last year as a sophomore. The top returning receiver is senior AJ Harper (132 yards, 2 TDs). The aforementioned Shileak Livingston ran for 149 yards and 2 scores.
Keystone Oaks
ELO Rating: 1678
3A Rank: 5
WPIAL Rank: 53
Twitter: @koeagle_fb, @ko_goldeneagles, @KOGoldenEagles, @KoKrazies
The Golden Eagles got off to a hot 4-0 start last season, but stumbled down the stretch, losing 4 of their last 6 and missed the playoffs for the third straight season. They did not miss the playoffs by much as they lost by just 1 to Central Valley and by 7 to Quaker Valley in consecutive weeks. Keystone Oaks saw 14 seniors graduate but return dual-threat QB Logan Shrubb who nearly joined the exclusive 1000/1000 club last year as a sophomore. Shrubb threw for 1532 yards and 14 TDs and ran for 956 yards and 10 TDs and is absolutely a threat to join the club this year. His top two receivers graduated so look for Tyler Hrivnak (205 yards) to take on the primary role in the passing game. Keystone Oaks had the third-best offense in 3A last season, averaging 38 points per game, and is absolutely a threat to make the playoffs this year.
Quaker Valley
ELO Rating: 1747
3A Rank: 3
WPIAL Rank: 51
Twitter: @QuakersQv, @QVAthletics, @quakervalley, @QVstudents19
The Quakers won the 2017 WPIAL title and made an historic run that culminated with claiming the state title as well. Last year got off to a slow 1-3 start as they broke in new starters but the Quakers closed strong with a 4-1 finish to make the playoffs. Quaker Valley fell to North Catholic in the first round. Junior QB Dylan Moore figures to step in after older brother Ethan Moore led the team in passing and rushing last year. The Quakers lost their top 4 rushers and receivers from last season and will need to find a new slate of contributors this season if they want to make a run at a third straight playoff berth.
South Park
ELO Rating: 1534
3A Rank: 10
WPIAL Rank: 61
Twitter: @Southparkpride, @SPBLUECREW
The Eagles struggled on the defensive side of the ball last year, giving up at least 27 points in all but 1 of their 7 losses. The good news is that just 5 seniors graduated so South Park has plenty of experienced players returning. Senior QB Stephen Kmonk threw for 702 yards and 8 TDs last year, but loses his top two receivers. Fellow rising senior Rudy Mihoces was the team’s top rusher with 647 yards and 9 TDs. Four starters return for the Eagles on their offensive line.
Waynesburg
ELO Rating: 1342
3A Rank: 17
WPIAL Rank: 83
Twitter: @WBG_Raiders
The Raiders went winless in conference play last year but won two non-conference games, including a hard-faught 21-20 Week 8 win against Burrell that could serve as a building-block for this season. A lot of underclassmen saw playing time last year for Waynesburg in a run-heavy offensive attack. Rising junior Nate Stephenson led the team in rushing with 817 yards and 8 TDs. Senior Caleb Shriver started the year at quarterback and threw for 227 yards and 2 TDs but also ran for 364 yards and 2 scores. Fellow rising senior Luke Robinson ran for 296 yards and 6 scores. With their top three rushers (with Shriver at quarterback) and leading receiver Avery McConville (147 yards, 1 TD) all returning, Waynesburg has the experience on the roster to put together a few more victories this season. With Waynesburg’s run-heavy attack, they will need to keep games close in order to have a chance to win, which will require improving a defense that allowed 33 points per game last year.
Hopewell
ELO Rating: 1495
3A Rank: 12
WPIAL Rank: 64
Twitter: @HHS_Athletic, @Hopewell_Viking, @hh_sstudents, @HHSVikings2020
The Vikings have fallen on hard times lately and have not made the playoffs since 2012. Hopewell won just two games last year, a narrow 2-point victory over Mount Pleasant and a 5-point win over Waynesburg. They struggled offensively and topped 20 points just once all season, averaging a 3A-worst 9 points per game. Senior QB Jay’Von Jeter returns after throwing for 757 yards and 2 TDs as a junior. Leading receivers Alex Obeldobel (242 yards, 1 TD) and Jacob McGovern (164 yards, 1 TD) also return for their senior years. Micah Kimbrough was the team’s second-leading rusher as a freshman last year and should take over the lead back role for the Vikings.
