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 Midwestern Conference has been headlined by Beaver Falls the last two years since the Tigers moved down from 3A. Beaver Falls won the conference title and WPIAL title in 2020. Last year, the Tigers came in second in the conference behind Laurel, but made a run to the WPIAL Championship game where they fell to Serra Catholic. Defending conference champions Laurel dropped down to 1A and were replaced by Western Beaver moving over from the Three Rivers Conference. That is the only change to the Midwestern Conference since last cycle. With eight teams in the Midwestern Conference, the top five 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.
Beaver Falls
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 2
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 52
2021 Results: 9-4, lost to Serra Catholic in WPIAL Championship Game
The Tigers got off to a rough start in 2021, losing their first three games. But they showed tenacity and turned their season around, winning the next 9 games to reach the WPIAL Championship Game for the second straight year. Beaver Falls fell to Serra Catholic, but only graduated a handful of seniors and look like one of the teams to beat in 2A. Jaren Brickner was one of the top quarterbacks in the entire WPIAL last year, throwing for 2579 yards and 25 TDs. Brickner returns for his senior season, along with leading receiver Trey Singleton (876 yards, 12 TDs) and leading rusher Isaiah Aeschbacher (809 yards, 12 TDs). Brickner also contributed with 428 yards and 8 TDs on the ground. All in all, Beaver Falls has been the dominant force in 2A since moving down last cycle and looks primed for another run at a WPIAL title.
Neshannock
WPIAL ELO Rank (2A): 11
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 71
2021 Results: 7-4, lost to Serra Catholic in first round
The Lancers put together a strong season last year, getting off to a 7-1 start that had them in line to contend for the conference title. But they lost their last two games of the regular season before falling to Serra Catholic in the first round. Jonny Huff saw a handful of snaps in backup QB duty last season and figures to take over the starting role after throwing 2 TD passes. Huff also spent time at receiver (191 yards) and ran for 186 yards and found the end zone 6 times. Leading rusher Peyton Weaver (650 yards, 11 TDs) also returns for his senior season to give the Lancers a formidable tandem in the backfield that both averaged over 8 yards per carry. Leading receiver Luciano DeLillo (191 yards, 2 TDs) also returns for his senior year.
Western Beaver
WPIAL ELO Rank (2A): 19
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 87
2021 Results: 7-4, lost to Beaver Falls in first round
For the second straight season, the Golden Beavers made the playoffs only to fall to Beaver Falls in the opening round. Western Beaver put together a strong 6-game winning streak in the middle of last season to assert themselves as playoff contenders. Senior QB Xander LeFebvre returns after throwing for 1012 yards and 15 TDs and adding 218 yards and 5 TDs on the ground. Second-leading rusher Tyson Florence (287 yards, 4 TDs) was only a sophomore and averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season. Leading receivers Dorian McGhee (459 yards, 7 TDs) and Levi Gray (271 yards, 3 TDs) also return. Western Beaver should be right in the mix for a playoff spot once again this season.
Mohawk
WPIAL ELO Rank (2A): 20
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 90
2021 Results: 6-6, lost to Sto-Rox in quarterfinals
The Warriors made the playoffs for the third time in five years last year, defeating Chartiers-Houston in the opening round before falling to Sto-Rox in the quarterfinals. Junior QB Jay Wrona saw some time as a backup last year and figures to step into the starting role in Mohawk’s pass-heavy offense. Last year the Warriors spread the ball around and had 6 players with at least 100 receiving yards. Four of them graduated, leaving junior WR Duante Retort (181 yards, 1 TD) and senior TE Jimmy Guerrieri (131 yards, 4 TDs). The top returning rushers are Junior Micco (295 yards, 1 TD) and Justin Boston (246 yards, 1 TD). Mohawk has the talent to compete in the middle of the pack to get back to the playoffs this year.
New Brighton
WPIAL ELO Rank (2A): 13
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 76
2021 Results: 5-7, lost to Beaver Falls in quarterfinals
The Lions bounced back from a four-game losing streak to win their final two regular season games, including a casket match with Freedom, and make the playoffs. In the postseason, they upset unbeaten Washington in the opening round before falling to rival Beaver Falls in the quarterfinals. Senior RB Kevin Williams averaged 4 yards per carry last season and scored once. Brian Taylor saw a few snaps as a backup QB last season and figures to step into the starting role this year.
Freedom
WPIAL ELO Rank (2A): 12
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 73
2021 Results: 4-6, missed playoffs
The Bulldogs had an up-and-down season last year but were in position to make the playoffs in a Week 9 casket match against New Brighton. Freedom lost that game but returns most of their offensive line this season. Senior RB Damian Grunnagle (154 yards, 2 TDs) is the top returning rusher. Cooper Young attempted a handful of passes as a freshman backup last year and could step into the starting role. Freedom’s top four receivers all graduated. If the Bulldogs are going to compete for a playoff spot, they will need to improve an offense that averaged 17 points per game, the third lowest mark in the conference.
Riverside
WPIAL ELO Rank (2A): 18
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 86
2021 Results: 1-8, missed playoffs
After going to the semifinals three times in four years, Riverside has struggled the last two seasons. The Panthers have won just 3 games over the last two seasons. Last year their only victory came over archrival Ellwood City. In conference play, Riverside was shut out in 5 of their 7 outings and averaged just 6 points per game on the season – the second-lowest mark in 2A. Only 6 seniors graduated from last year’s team which gives Riverside a solid group of returning starters, let by QB Sam Hughes, that will continue to build experience this season.
Ellwood City
WPIAL ELO Rank (2A): 22
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 104
2021 Results: 0-8, missed playoffs
The Wolverines enter 2022 with the longest active losing streak in the WPIAL at 25 games. They also have the second-longest conference losing streak at 23 games. The last time they claimed victory was in 2018. Last season Ellwood City was the lowest-scoring team in 2A, averaging just 5 points per game. They also allowed the second-most points at 40 per game. Archrival Riverside was the only team they held under 33 points and was the only game closer than 20. More than half of their roster last season was freshmen, and the hope is that core group can develop the Wolverines back into a contender. Declan Gray and Chris Smiley both took snaps at quarterback and Elijah McCane was the team’s second-leading rusher. Dayntae Pierce averaged 5 yards per carry in limited work. One of the biggest changes for Ellwood City will be on the sidelines where former OLSH coach Dan Bradley (who won a WPIAL title in 2018 and took the Chargers to the title game last year) takes over as head coach.
