The 2022 WPIAL football season is nearly upon us! Over the last few weeks we have been working our way through previewing all 17 conferences in preparation for kickoff on August 26. We are also thrilled to announce that the WPIAL Blitz Show will be back on the YouTube airwaves this season. Follow the Sports Stream Premium channel with new shows dropping each Tuesday during the season!
This year, our WPIAL coverage is proudly presented by Sports Solutions Marketing. The Sports Solutions network provides pay per view hosting and broadcasting for high school sporting events. More information is available via EasternPAFootball.com.
The 2022 season is a realignment year in Pennsylvania. New classification and conference alignments were announced back in the spring. Class 1A was the only one in the WPIAL to increase in size. In total, six teams were added to bring the total to 30 1A teams. With that many teams, it also meant the addition of a fourth conference to the alignment. This cycle, 16 teams will make the 1A playoffs with four from each conference qualifying. The eventual WPIAL Champions will enter the state playoffs at the semifinals.
The newly-formed Black Hills Conference is a throwback to the mid-2000s when Single-A had four conferences and many of these teams played against each other. Three semifinalists from last year headline the league, starting with defending WPIAL Champs Bishop Canevin. OLSH was the runner-up last season and Cornell has reached the semis in 2 of the last 3 years. Moving down from 2A are Chartiers-Houston and Carlynton (who has the longest playoff drought of any WPIAL school). Fort Cherry and Burgettstown join from the Big Seven Conference while Avella moves from the Tri-County South into a conference that is a better geographic fit but not a better competitive fit. The top four teams from this eight-team league will make the playoffs.
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.
Bishop Canevin
WPIAL ELO Rank (1A): 3
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 78
2021 Results: 13-2, won WPIAL Championship, lost to Redbank Valley in PIAA semis
The Crusaders rebound story is one of the best in the WPIAL. Just three years ago they won only 1 game. But they have turned things around in a big way. After a .500 season in 2020 they went 9-1 during the 2021 regular season, pitching 5 shutouts, and went on to win their first WPIAL title since 1990. Bishop Canevin fell to Redbank Valley in the state semifinals, but that does not diminish the amazing season the Crusaders put together. With only 4 seniors graduating from last year’s squad, they enter 2022 as the presumed favorites to not only reclaim the WPIAL title but also as the top-ranked team in the state. At quarterback, Jason Cross (1633 passing yards, 18 TDs, 491 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and Kole Olszewski (745 yards, 11 TDs) will split time again this season. Leading rusher Marquis Carter (580 yards, 5 TDs) returns for his junior season. The Crusaders also boast the best WR tandem in the WPIAL in Xavier Nelson (945 yards, 15 TDs) and Lasae Lacks (930 yards, 14 TDs). Both of players are threats to score every time they touch the ball – on offense, defense, or special teams. Canevin also returns 4 of their 5 starting linemen and are clearly the team to beat in the WPIAL.
OLSH
WPIAL ELO Rank (1A): 8
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 92
2021 Results: 9-4, lost to Bishop Canevin in WPIAL Championship Game
The Chargers roared out of the gate in 2021, winning their first four outings. But a tumultuous loss to Rochester started a run of 3 losses in 4 weeks that put thier playoff hopes on the brink. OLSH rebounded to beat conference champions Cornell by a point in the season finale – the start of a great run for OLSH’s defense that carried them into the playoffs and all the way to the WPIAL Championship. In the semifinals, OLSH got revenge on the Rochester team that had throttled them earlier in the year. OLSH had just 7 seniors graduate and return nearly all of their offensive skill position players, but also must replace most of their line. Quarterback Nehemiah Azeem (1776 yards, 14 passing TDs, 7 rushing TDs) returns for his senior season to lead the Chargers attack. He gets all of his top receivers back including Ziggy McIntosh (668 yards, 6 TDs), Dereon Greer (356 yards, 3 TDs), and Dorrien Tate (261 yards, 4 TDs). OLSH’s backfield will be bolstered by transfer Shawn Curry who led Carlynton’s offense with 1057 yards and 7 TDs last year. Additionally, the explosive BJ Vaughn (387 yards, 2 TDs) averaged over 8 yards per carry and should split the workload with junior Brandon Brazell (306 rushing yards, 128 receiving yards, 4 total TDs). All in all, OLSH reached the WPIAL finals last season and if they can find a young offensive line that can gel, is certainly talented enough to make a deep run again this year.
Cornell
WPIAL ELO Rank (1A): 14
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 100
2021 Results: 9-3, lost to Bishop Canevin in semis
The Raiders won their first conference title since 1983 and put together another strong playoff run that resulted in their second semifinal appearance in three seasons. EJ Dawson played all over the field last year, throwing for 126 yards and 1 TD, running for 184 yards, adding 57 receiving yards, and finding the end zone 6 times. Dawson will step into the QB role this season as well as being an outstanding defensive end. Electric playmaker Raequan Troutman returns after leading the team in rushing with 985 yards (averaging nearly 12 yards per carry), was third in receiving (164 yards), and second in scoring (12 TDs). Junior receiver Drevon Newton (172 yards, 1 TD) will take on a bigger role in the receiving corps. Cornell should be right in the mix with Canevin and OLSH for the conference title.
Chartiers-Houston
WPIAL ELO Rank (1A): 9
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 94
2021 Results: 7-2, lost to Mohawk in 2A first round
The Bucs move down from 2A to 1A after making the playoffs last seaon. In the six-classification era, Char-Houston has pinballed between 1A and 2A each cycle. It could be a storybook season for the father-son tandem of head coach Terry Fetsko and senior QB Terry Fetsko Jr (872 yards, 5 TDs). Leading receiver Jake Mele (339 yards, 5 TDs) also returns as Fetsko’s primary weapon. The top five rushers all graduated for the Bucs, so they will need to find someone to step into that role. All in all, Char-Houston should be right in the mix for a playoff spot once again this season.
Fort Cherry
WPIAL ELO Rank (1A): 20
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 107
2021 Results: 5-5, missed playoffs
The Rangers had a strong start to 2021, winning 3 of their first 4 games. But they stumbled down the stretched and missed out on the playoffs when they lost a Week 9 casket match to Burgettstown. Nate Heirendt (203 yards, 2 TDs) was their second-leading rusher as a freshman last year and figures to step into the lead back role. Most of the other starting skill position players graduated and Fort Cherry has a small senior class this year, which should allow for plenty of underclassmen to gain valuable experience. Look for sophomore Shane Cornali to take on a bigger role in the offense this year after snagging 9 interceptions (and scoring 4 TDs) on defense last season.
Burgettstown
WPIAL ELO Rank (1A): 7
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 92
2021 Results: 5-5, lost to Bishop Canevin in the first round
The Blue Devils season was on the ropes after losing their first four conference games, but they rebounded to win their final three outings and make the playoffs for the 6th time in 7 years. Burgettstown has 6 starters returning, including WR Caleb Russell who scored 3 times last year and running back Corbin Harrison. Up front, Burgettstown returns 4 starters on the line which should pave the way for their ground-and-pound offensive attack. The Blue Devils will look to improve an offense that averaged 17 points per game, the second-lowest in their conference last season.
Carlynton
WPIAL ELO Rank (1A): 21
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 108
2021 Results: 2-8, missed playoffs in 2A
With Brownsville making the move to play an independent schedule, Carlynton enters 2022 with the longest playoff drought in the WPIAL at 20 years. The Cougars last made the playoffs in 2001. The good news is that their move from 2A down to 1A should help them be more competitive this season. They did face a few 1A teams last year in a 2-win campaign. Devonte Dean (300 yards, 2 TDs) started at quarterback as a freshman last year and returns his top receiver Jaydin McKnight (171 yards, 1 TD).
Avella
WPIAL ELO Rank (1A): 28
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 117
2021 Results: 1-9, missed playoffs
After making the playoffs in 2020, the Eagles struggled mightily last season. They lost their first 7 games, all by at least 28 points. The lone bright spot was a 30-21 victory over Bentworth in Week 7. Avella also nearly derailed Monessen’s playoff hopes but were edged out 14-6 in the final game of the season. After graduating 8 seniors from one of the smallest rosters in the WPIAL and having just 4 rising seniors this year, Avella will look to a number of young players to take on bigger roles. Cole Jaworowski (252 yards, 1 TD) saw some time at quarterback last season and will be the leader of the team. The other challenge for Avella is the move from the Tri-County South, which was comprised of other districts that were small and rural like theirs, to the Black Hills Conference and a challenging slate that features three semifinalists from last season.
