The 2023 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 25. We are also thrilled to announce that the WPIAL Blitz Show will be back on the YouTube airwaves this season. Subscribe to the Sports Stream Premium channel with new shows dropping each Tuesday during the season!
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The playoff format in 2A is straightforward. Five teams from the Allegheny and Midwestern conferences make the playoffs while four teams from the Century qualify for the postseason. The Allegheny Conference has produced the last two WPIAL Champions – Steel Valley and Serra Catholic. Steel Valley is the defending WPIAL Champions and have been an absolute force since the move to six classifications. The Ironmen have won 3 of the 7 WPIAL titles and appeared in 4 Championship games. The middle of the pack in this conference is fascinating as a lot of teams return talented players which should make for good games every week.
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.
Steel Valley
For the third time in the six classification era, the Ironmen won the WPIAL title. After starting the season with a hard-fought 3-point win over a Sto-Rox team that was widely considered another top contender, the Ironmen annihilated the rest of their regular season schedule. They scored 40+ in their next 8 outings before beating Serra for the conference title 28-0 in Week 9. In the playoffs, Steel Valley scored 31+ in every game and won every game by double digits. They ran into a buzz saw in the State semifinals against an outstanding Westinghouse team. The Barksdale brothers will take the helm of Steel Valley’s run-heavy offensive attack. Junior RB Donald Barksdale (924 yards, 16 TDs) was their second-leading rusher last season. Sophomore Da’ron Barksdale ran for 293 yards, added 97 receiving yards, and scored 5 times. Da’Ron also attempted a few passes, but rising senior Antonio Brey is also in the mix at QB after throwing for 259 yards and 2 TDs as a backup last year. While Steel Valley doesn’t throw much, Del Shields (138 yards, 1 TD) is the top returning receiver. Quaron Pierce (614 yards, 3 TDs) also returns to the stable of talented runners in Steel Valley’s backfield. Last season, with the speed in the backfield and power up front, Steel Valley’s top five rushers all averaged more than 10 yards per carry. Mike Crist will anchor the line this season.
Serra Catholic
After winning the WPIAL title in 2021, Serra returned a number of key contributors. They bounced back from a Week 0 loss to 4A North Catholic and behind an offensive explosion rattled off 7 straight wins. But there were some close calls, including a 1-point win over Washington. A Week 8 overtime loss to Apollo-Ridge did not harm their playoff hopes but they lost a Week 9 showdown to Steel Valley with the conference title on the line. In the playoffs, the eagles drew a rematch with Washington and fell to the Prexies by 28, their third loss in a row to end the season. Quadir Stribling split time at QB last year as a sophomore and threw for 1435 yards and 12 TDs. Stribling returns third-leading receiver Jesere Young (349 yards, 3 TDs) and the explosive Jaden Banks (115 yards, 2 TDs). The Eagles top three rushers all graduated so look for sophomore Zion Ward to take on a bigger role. Serra’s passing game will still have plenty of firepower to help the Eagles contend this year, but will need to tighten up a defense that allowed 24 points per game in order to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Imani Christian
Last year was the first season at the helm for LaRoi Johnson, who had previously had great success as Sto-Rox’s head coach. Johnson took over one of the smallest rosters in the WPIAL and put together a 4-win season. That was as many wins as Imani had in the three previous seasons combined. In early October, after beating Apollo Ridge and Derry, it looked like Imani was in position to contend for a playoff spot. But they lost their last two games to Ligonier Valley and Yough and came up just short. David Davis turned heads as a freshman running back, scoring 17 times and earning a Penn State offer. Junior QB/DB Dayshaun Burnett also has a number of D1 offers including Penn State, Pitt, and WVU. Senior WRs Isaiah Arrington and Che’von Allen both scored 3 times last year. Imani has the athleticism and talent to be a contender, but with such a small roster the question will be health. If they are able to avoid injuries, the Saints should in the playoff mix this season.
Burrell
The Bucs got off to a strong 5-1 start to the season, but won just one game after the calendar flipped to October. The opportunities were in front of them to contend with the top teams in the conference, but despite losing 3 of 4 down the stretch, Burrell made the playoffs for the second straight year. Leading rusher Devin Beattie returns after running for 1441 yards and 16 TDs. Mason Jones (560 yards, 4 TDs) and Tristan Brothers (306 yards, 1 TD) both return to the Bucs backfield. Burrell’s returning experience and run-heavy attack should enable the Bucs to be solidly in the playoffs and contend for a home playoff game.
Ligonier Valley
Since joining the WPIAL from District 6 in 2020, Ligonier Valley made the playoffs the last two seasons. Last year they won their first WPIAL playoff game in school history, defeating Western Beaver. The Rams run-heavy offense will lean on junior John Jablunovsky (748 yards, 8 TDs) who averaged 11 yards per carry last year. Fellow junior Duncan Foust (285 yards, 1 TD) also returns to the Rams backfield. Ligonier Valley averaged over 31 points per game last season and if they can keep up that level of offensive production should be right in the thick of the playoff race once again.
Apollo-Ridge
After consecutive losses to Steel Valley and Imani Christian, Apollo-Ridge’s 2022 campaign was on life support. But the Vikings turned it around by beating Yough, topping Serra Catholic in overtime, then beating AK Valley rival Burrell in the season finale to clinch a playoff spot. Most of the Vikings key starters graduated. Karter Schrock figures to step in at quarterback after throwing 2 TDs in backup duty last year. Alex Wurmb is the top returning skill position player after he ran for 187 yards, added 62 receiving yards, and scored 3 times. Wurmb averaged over 9 yards per carry and Schrock averaged 10 yards per carry in limited action. If those two can keep up that level of explosiveness in increased roles, Apollo-Ridge should be in the mix for a playoff spot once again.
Yough
The Cougars have not made the playoffs since 2013. They struggled offensively last season and the 15 points they scored in the season finale against Imani was their high-water mark. But Yough’s defense stepped up when it mattered and the Cougars did win 3 games last year, including that finale against Imani which kept the Saints out of the playoffs. Yough’s two main playmakers graduated, leaving Raidon Kuroda and Antonio Marra to take on the offensive play-making.
Derry
The Trojans had a mostly forgettable 2022, their second straight winless season. Derry struggled on both sides of the ball, averaging just 9 points per game while giving up over 39 per game. Their 3-point loss to Yough and 9-point loss to Greensburg Salem were the only games closer than 14 points. Derry gave up over 43 points in 6 of their 10 outings. Blake Revoir started at quarterback as a sophomore, throwing for 393 yards and 4 TDs and leading the team with 296 rushing yards and another touchdown. His leading receiver Damauri Robinson (174 yards, 4 TDs) is also a rising junior and lead back Ahmad Ward (220 yards, 1 TD) will return for his senior season. Derry brings some players back and could get off the schnide and snap their losing streak this season.
