After a pandemic-shortened 2020 high school football season, we are back for a full campaign in 2021. There were a number of changes that the WPIAL had planned to institute from both a scheduling and a playoff format standpoint in 2020 that were delayed until 2021. All of the schedules are now back-loaded with conference game and the WPIAL attempted to schedule intriguing matchups and historical rivalries in the first few weeks before conference play begins.
This year, our WPIAL coverage is sponsored by the Sports Stream Premium Network and PA Mortgage Protection and Life Insurance. The Sports Stream Premium Network enables schools to turn their livestreamed events into pay-per-view events where schools receive 100% of the revenue generated.
Last year the Eastern Conference produced both WPIAL finalists – Clairton and Jeannette. Eastern Conference teams have been the dominant force in 1A for over a decade. Clairton has won 7 of the last 11 WPIAL titles and Jeannette has won two in that timespan. Since moving down from AA to Class A in 2014, Jeannette 73-3 against all WPIAL opponents not named Clairton (but just 3-8 against the Bears, including the victory in last year’s Championship Game). This season, with the WPIAL’s full scheduling and playoff plan back in effect, 15 teams will make the 1A playoffs. The top FIVE teams in all three 1A conferences will qualify for the playoffs with the top overall seed receiving a first round bye. This gives an additional opportunity to Leechburg to snap their 32-year playoff drought, the longest in the WPIAL.
Be sure to keep tabs on our WPIAL Standings Page throughout the season and follow our WPIAL Twitter account @WPIAL_Blitz. Teams are listed in their predicted order of finish.
Clairton
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Last year was another year of Clairton doing Clairton things. The Bears stormed through the regular season and had the top seed in the playoffs. They reached the semifinals for the 15th straight season and made the title game for the 11th time in that timespan. However, an early injury to star RB Dontae Sanders, coupled with numerous turnovers, derailed their championship aspirations. Clairton saw their top three rushers graduate but the stable is full of talent. Greg Lee (222 yards, 2 TDs) and Capone Jones (143 yards, 3 TDs) both averaged over 11 yards per carry last season. Leading receiver Brooklyn Cannon (560 yards, 12 TDs) also returns to give Clairton a dynamic threat on the outside. Clairton was the highest-scoring team in 1A last season, averaging nearly 50 points per game. The Bears have the talent to carry on the strong tradition of excellence and make another run at a WPIAL title.
Springdale
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After missing out on the postseason for two years, Springdale returned to the playoffs last year. The Dynamos got off to a 4-0 start to the season before dropping 3 of their last 4 games, though all 3 of those losses came against eventual semifinalists. Springdale nearly pulled an upset over eventual WPIAL Champions Jeannette, letting a halftime lead slip away in the second half. Springdale returns a number of their top skill position players and should make some noise in the Eastern Conference this year. Quarterback Legend Ausk (762 yards, 12 TDs) returns for his senior season. Offensive talisman Logan Dexter will be the focal point of Springdale’s attack after rushing for 523 yards and leading the team with 447 receiving yards and scoring 13 times. John Utiss is also a multi-faceted threat after putting up 149 rushing yards, 216 receiving yards, and 5 TDs last season. Springdale has not made it past the quarterfinals since 2010, but the Dynamos have the talent to make a deep playoff run this season.
Jeannette
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Jeannette won their 10th WPIAL title in school history last season, enacting the mercy rule on Clairton in the Championship Game. The Jayhawks made it all the way to the State Championship game where they fell to Steelton-Highspire. After that great run, the Jayhawks looked poised for another run at a state title before suffering through one of the toughest offseasons in recent memory. A slew of players transferred, including star freshman quarterback Brad Birch and his older brother Brett. On top of that, head coach Roy Hall announced this would be his last season and a number of assistants took jobs elsewhere. Sophomore Payton Molter saw some time as a backup quarterback and will compete for the starting job with senior Tyler Horn. The top returning rusher is Basil Wilson (105 yards, 1 TD) who averaged over 8 yards per carry. This Jeannette team is certainly not the powerhouse we are used to, but you have to believe Roy Hall will piece enough together for one last playoff run before he retires.
Leechburg
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Leechburg enters the 2021 season carrying the longest postseason drought in the WPIAL at 32 years. The Blue Devils last made the playoffs in 1988. But that very well may change this season. After 5-5 campaigns in 2018 and 2019, Leechburg was 3-4 last season but averaged 34 points per game, the third most in the conference. What kept them out of contention was a defense that allowed 38 points per game, ahead of only to Riverview in all of 1A. If they can tighten up defensively, the Blue Devils return all but three seniors from last year’s team. One of those was dual-threat QB Dylan Cook who graduated, but offensive firecracker Braylan Lovelace who ran for 983 yards, had 325 receiving yards, and scored 13 TDs will be a junior. Tight end Eli Rich (370 yards, 9 TDs), who was Leechburg’s leading receiver, returns for his senior campaign. This is still a relatively young Leechburg team that has built off the last three years of improvement and has the opportunity to break their playoff drought this season.
Bishop Canevin
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After two down seasons where the Crusaders won just one conference game in 2018 and 2019, they bounced back last season for a solid middle-of-the-pack finish. Only 5 seniors graduated from last year’s team, giving Bishop Canevin a solid core to contend for a playoff berth this season. Due to injuries, three different players took snaps at quarterback last season and all three return this year. Senior Willie Banks-Hicks (558 yards, 5 TDs) was the most successful, followed by rising sophomore Jason Cross (254 yards, 2 TDs) and junior Adante Berrien (103 yards, 1 TD). Leading rushers Jaiden Torres (607 yards, 4 TDs) and Keshawn Harris (208 yards, 4 TDs) both return for their senior seasons. On the outside, Xavier Nelson (513 yards, 6 TDs) was only a sophomore last season. If the Crusaders are going to make a run at a playoff spot this season they will need to improve an offense that averaged fewer than 20 points per game.
Greensburg Central Catholic
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Prior to the move to six classifications, GCC had made the playoffs in 13 straight seasons. However, the Centurions have only made the postseason once in the last five years. GCC handily beat Imani Christian and Riverview last year but their only loss that was closer than 18 points was a 2-point loss to Bishop Canevin. GCC had two underclassmen sharing backup QB duties last season and the job will likely come down to either sophomore Tyree Turner or junior Nate Dlugos. Leading rusher Danny Dlugos (474 yards, 8 TDs) and leading receiver Joe Blahovec (222 yards, 3 TDs), a Youngstown State-commit, both return for their senior seasons. The Centurions offense will also get a boost from Jaydin Canady who transferred from Jeannette after rushing for 317 yards and 6 TDs.
Imani Christian
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Imani Christian reached the playoffs in the first three seasons of the six classification era, capped with a run to the WPIAL Championship game in 2017. The Saints have missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons, following a winless 2019 with a 2-win season in 2020. Imani capped off the 2020 campaign with a narrow victory over Leechburg, building momentum into the offseason. Only two seniors graduated from last year’s team so most of their starters will be back. Steve Jenkins (529 yards, 5 TDs) started at quarterback as a freshman. Raysaun Jackson ran for 509 yards and added 104 receiving yards and scored 7 times to lead the offensive attack. Jackson and leading receiver Malik Shannon (248 yards, 2 TDs), who has an offer from Toledo, both return for their senior seasons. Imani was the second-lowest scoring team in the conference last year, averaging fewer than 14 points per game. The Saints will need to find the end zone more often this season if they are going to compete for a playoff spot.
Riverview
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Riverview went winless in 2020 and enters this season with a 11-game losing streak. The Raiders were the lowest-scoring team in the conference (12 points per game) while also allowing the most points (51 per game) of any team in the 1A classification. In fact, Riverview was the only team in the entire WPIAL to allow more than 50 per game. Bishop Canevin was the only squad they held under 40 points and their closest game was a 21-point loss to GCC. Leading rusher Dean Cecere (765 yards, 5 TDs) returns for his senior season.
