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 4A added a team this cycle and will have 22 teams, including two defending state champs. Aliquippa won the 4A state title last season and two-time 3A State Champs Central Valley also moved up to 4A this cycle. Once again, 13 4A teams will make the WPIAL playoffs. The top three seeds will get first round byes and the eventual WPIAL Champions will enter the state playoffs at the semifinals.
Last year Belle Vernon won the Big Eight Conference, but the Leopards and West Mifflin both moved down to 3A this cycle. Those two were replaced by Latrobe and Connellsville who moved down from 5A this season. Thomas Jefferson, who won state titles in 2019 and 2020, along with 2021 WPIAL semifinalist McKeesport should battle atop the conference this year. Laurel Highlands is coming off a season where they won their first playoff game in school history. 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.
McKeesport
WPIAL ELO Rank (4A): 3
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 13
2021 Results: 9-3, lost to Aliquippa in double OT in WPIAL semifinals
McKeesport has made some noise since moving down to 4A last season. They have topped perennial powerhouse Thomas Jefferson twice and took eventual State Champs Aliquippa to double overtime in the semifinals last season. Despite losing 19 seniors to graduation, McKeesport should still be considered among the favorites to make a run at the 4A title. Bobbie Boyd returns for his senior season after running for 1545 yards and 16 TDs. In McKeesport’s run-heavy triple-option offense, Boyd may have a shot at winning the WPIAL rushing title this season and already has offers from Akron and a number of FCS schools. The Tigers had 6 players with at least 150 rushing yards last season but of those only Boyd and Jahmil Perryman (181 rushing yards, 101 receiving yards, 7 total TDs) return. Perryman has offers from a handful of FCS schools and military institutions. Aemond Knight only saw a handful of carries but was a big play threat, averaging 13 yards per carry. All in all, the Tigers are once again loaded in the backfield and have the talent to make a run at the WPIAL title with the combination of Boyd and Perryman leading the way.
Thomas Jefferson
WPIAL ELO Rank (4A): 1
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 9
2021 Results: 8-3, lost to Belle Vernon in WPIAL Semifinals
After winning the WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2020, Thomas Jefferson got off to a strong start in 2021 before falling to Belle Vernon on a walkoff touchdown. The Jaguars returned to form down the stretch, with their only loss coming to McKeesport, and cruised to the semifinals and a rematch with Belle Vernon. The Jaguars fell in the semis, marking the first time since 2014 that they did not reach the WPIAL finals. A trio of rising juniors all saw playing time last year and look to lead a return to glory for the Jaguars. Leading rusher Elias Lippencott (854 yards, 13 TDs) will be the focal point of the offense. Leading receiver Sean Sullivan (547 yards, 6 TDs) will provide a reliable target for Brody Evans who figures to take over at quarterback after seeing some backup duty last year. The senior leadership will come from TE/DE Jordan Mayer who has committed to Wisconsin.
Laurel Highlands
WPIAL ELO Rank (4A): 17
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 44
2021 Results: 8-4, lost to Aliquippa in WPIAL Quarterfinals
Last year was a historic season for the Mustangs, who got off to their first 5-0 start in school history then won their first playoff game ever, defeating Beaver in a 28-27 thriller. The Mustangs will look to take the next step this season and make a deeper push with one of the best athletes to ever come out of Fayette County, Rodney Gallagher. Last year Gallagher joined the elite 1000/1000 club, tallying 1365 passing yards and 12 TDs and 1130 rushing yards and 20 TDs. Leading receiver Keondre DeShields (374 yards, 7 TDs) who is a beast down the field, also returns with a St. Francis offer in hand. Rumor has it that Laurel Highlands may use Gallagher, as West Virginia commit, at receiver the year andput CJ Soltis at QB after he saw some time there in backup duty last season. Wherever he is on the field, Gallagher is certainly worth the price of admission and will look to carry forward the “Not Your Father’s Mustangs” mantra that the team adopted last season amidst their historic success.
Latrobe
WPIAL ELO Rank (4A): 8
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 29
2021 Results: 3-7, missed 5A playoffs
The Wildcats move down from 5A to 4A this cycle after narrowly missing the playoffs on a 1-point loss to Franklin Regional. Latrobe reached the playoffs in 2018 and 2019 but have not won a playoff game since 1968, one of the longest droughts in the WPIAL. Not counting the teams that have never won a playoff game, only Avella’s streak is longer than Latrobe’s. The Wildcats may have an option for a dual-threat QB this year as Corey Boerio saw some success through the air and on the ground last season as a backup.
Trinity
WPIAL ELO Rank (4A): 14
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 39
2021 Results: 3-7, missed playoffs
The Hillers narrowly missed the playoffs last season. All that kept them out was a dramatic Week 8 loss to Laurel Highlands by a 39-34 margin. Just 10 seniors graduated but most of them were the key starters at the offensive skill positions, so Trinity will need to get more contributions from players seeing an increased role this year. Sophomore Luke Lacock saw some backup duties at quarterback last year and could step into the starting role. Steven Stewart and Hunter Strickland both found the end zone once last year. Junior Landon Hendrix scored twice. If Trinity is going to contend for a playoff spot, they need to fix a porous defense that allowed 34 points per game, the most in 4A last season.
Ringgold
WPIAL ELO Rank (4A): 21
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 54
2021 Results: 3-7, missed playoffs
The Rams have fallen on hard times since runs to the semifinals in 2014 and 2016. They have not made the playoffs since and carry a 29-game conference losing streak into this season (the longest in the WPIAL). Their top three rushers all graduated, leaving just junior Maddox Sukel as the only player who scored more than once last season. Ringgold did finish in the middle of the pack defensively last year, but will need to find an offensive spart after averaging just 16 points per game, the fourth-worst in 4A.
Connellsville
WPIAL ELO Rank (4A): 18
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 44
2021 Results: 0-10, missed playoffs
It has been more than two seasons since the Falcons tasted victory. They enter 2022 on a 17-game losing streak, the second-longest in the WPIAL. Their streak against conference opponents dates back even farther to 2018 and is at 16 games. The good news for Connellsville is that they will move down from 5A to 4A this season. The Falcons are coming off a winless campaign where their only game closer than 30 points was a 17-point loss to Greensburg Salem. A group of young players will look to build towards Connellsville’s future. Junior QB Anthony Piasecki got starting experience as last year, along with sophomore receivers Austin Elstner and Xavier Malone who each scored a touchdown.
