The 2022 WPIAL football season is nearly upon us! Over the next few weeks we will be 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 2A lost four teams in the realignment cycle, going from 27 to 23 teams. With fewer teams, the conferences have consolidated from four down to three. With fewer teams this cycle, 14 2A teams will make the WPIAL playoffs with the top two seeds receiving byes. The eventual WPIAL Champions will enter the state playoffs at the semifinals.
The Century Conference got swept out of the playoffs last season, but is realigned this season. Perennial powerhouse Washington has been challenged recently by McGuffey and both return. They are joined by Sto-Rox who has reached at least the semifinals in three straight seasons. Waynesburg and Charleroi also return from last year’s Century Conference while Brentwood joins Sto-Rox in moving over from the now-defunct Three Rivers Conference. The newcomer to 2A is Keystone Oaks who moves down from 3A after a run to the quarterfinals. With seven teams in the Century Conference, the top four will qualify for 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.
Sto-Rox
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 6
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 58
2021 Results: 12-1, lost to Serra Catholic in semifinals
The Vikings have had their last three seasons end at the hands of WPIAL Champions. In 2019 they lost to Clairton in the 1A Championship Game then reached the 2A title game in 2020 and lost to Beaver Falls. Last season, Sto-Rox was the presumptive favorites for most of the season but ran into the buzz saw of Serra Catholic’s defense in the semifinals. This year, Sto-Rox returns a loaded group of offensive starters and has the talent to claim their first WPIAL title since 1987. Marvin Mills, who coaches the Vikings basketball team, will step in as football coach this season. Do-it-all QB Josh Jenkins should be able to focus on that role full-time this season after spending time the last two years at both QB and WR. Jenkins is an outstanding passer, throwing for 1471 yards and 21 TDs last year, and could be in contention for the WPIAL passing title if he spends the full year at quarterback. Sto-Rox also brings back the best receiving corps in the WPIAL. All four of their big-play receivers return – Zay Davis (645 receiving yards, 122 rushing yards, 11 total TDs), Terry Booth (563 yards, 2 TDs), Jaymont Green-Miller (536 yards, 7 TDs), and Drevon Miller-Ross (380 yards, 8 TDs). Jenkins has an offer from VMI and Miller-Ross has offers from a few MAC and FCS schools. The one replacement Sto-Rox will need to find is at running back where Jenkins and Davis are the top returning rushers, though Davis was more of a slot back last season. Sto-Rox averaged nearly 43 points per game last season and is likely to be the highest-scoring team in the WPIAL this season. With their loaded lineup, Sto-Rox are the favorites to claim the WPIAL title.
Washington
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 5
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 57
2021 Results: 9-1, lost to New Brighton in first round
The Prexies cruised through the start of the 2021 season, easily winning their first 5 outings. But the second half got choppy as they had a game postponed and two others won by forfeit. As such, Washington played just one game in first the 4 weeks of October before edging out McGuffey in thrilling fashion to win the conference title. In the playoffs, the Prexies just couldn’t find their rhythm and were upset by New Brighton in the opening round. The dynamic Davoun Fuse returns at quarterback after throwing for 713 yards and 11 TDs and running for 294 yards and 14 TDs, averaging 9.4 yards per carry. Carlos Harper led the Prexies in receiving with 165 yards, added 230 rushing yards, and scored 5 times last season. Junior WR Rueben Gordon is a rising star to watch after 127 yards and 3 TDs last season. Davoun Fuse enters the season with offers from Pitt, Rutgers and some MAC schools and could be a contender for the elite 1000/1000 club. Sophomore lineman Semaj Fuse has already attracted D1 attention with an offer from Akron.
McGuffey
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 8
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 68
2021 Results: 5-6, lost to Laurel in first round
The Highlanders have been neck-in-neck with Washington for the Century Conference crown the last few seasons. In 2020 they topped their long-time nemesis by a point to claim the conference title. Last year, McGuffey staged a valiant comeback only to be upstaged in the closing seconds by Washington. The Highlanders fell to Laurel in the opening round of the playoffs but graduated just 5 seniors and return a lot of talent to their roster. McGuffey operates a run-heavy triple-option offense. Philip McCuen and Logan Carlisle split time under center last year. McCuen threw for 452 yards and 6 TDs and ran for 571 yards and 4 scores. Carlisle, just a freshman, threw for 223 yards and 1 TD and ran for 103 yards and 2 TDs. McCuen and fellow rising senior Kyle Brookman (707 yards, 14 TDs) both averaged over 7 yards per carry and will be the centerpieces of McGuffey’s backfield. Ethan Dietrich (387 yards, 4 TDs) also returns for the Highlanders who return a number of starters in the trenches and look poised to make a deep run this season.
Keystone Oaks
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 3
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 53
2021 Results: 6-6, lost to North Catholic in 3A quarterfinals
The Golden Eagles move down from 3A to 2A with high hopes of contending for a conference title. Last season they rebounded from a 5-game losing streak to win their final 3 games in decisive fashion and make the playoffs. KO went on to reach the quarterfinals where they gave North Catholic all they could handle in a thrilling 48-41 back-and-forth showdown. Starting QB Nick Buckley returns for his senior season after throwing for 1916 yards and 16 TDs, including an incredible 334-yard 5-TD performance against North Catholic in the playoffs. Buckley’s top three receivers all graduated but Keystone Oaks is deep at the position. Tight End Alex Samarin (275 yards, 2 TDs) is the top returning receiver. Samarin is 6’2″ and will be joined in the passing attack by 6’2″ senior Hayden Kenny and 6’1″ junior Clinton Robinson, giving KO a decisive size advantage in the passing game. In the backfield, second-leading rusher Shawn Reick (622 rushing yards, 167 receiving yards, 3 total TDs) figures to take on the lead back role.
Waynesburg
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 21
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 95
2021 Results: 2-7, missed playoffs
The Raiders have not made the playoffs since 2014, but did show some progress last year. Waynesburg’s Week 6 win over Frazier was their first conference victory since 2017. The Raiders were a relatievly young team last year and return a lot of starters to continue building into this season. Braydon Woods ran for 1367 yards and 10 TDs as a sophomore. QB Jacob Stephenson was just a freshman and threw for 797 yards and 8 TDs and added 209 yards and 4 scores on the ground. Leading receiver Trent Zupper (257 yards, 3 TDs) is a rising junior and Nate Jones (255 yards, 3 TDs) will be one of just 6 seniors on this year’s roster. All in all, the arrow is pointing up for a Waynesburg team to continue building towards contending for a playoff spot in the future. The biggest issue will be addressing a defense that gave up nearly 37 points per game, the 4th most in 2A.
Charleroi
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 17
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 85
2021 Results: 2-7, missed playoffs
The Cougars have struggled the last few seasons after a run to the semifinals in 2018. Last year they won just two games, but ended the season on a high note with a decisive win over Frazier. Charleroi struggled on both sides of the ball, averaging under 14 points per game (8th-lowest in 2A) and allowing over 32 points per game (6th-most in 2A). TE Cole Marucci is the only returning player who found the end zone last year.
Brentwood
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 15
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 83
2021 Results: 1-9, missed playoffs
The Spartans won just one game last season, finishing at the bottom of the Three Rivers Conference. Tavian Miller saw some time at QB in a backup role last year and figures to take over the starting role. Miller is also the team’s top returning rusher (147 yards, 2 TDs). Senior Anthony Herisko and sophomore Forrest Betz are the top returning skill position players. Brentwood struggled defensively last season. They will need to improve on a defense that allowed over 30 points per game.
