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 3A is straightforward. Four teams from each of the three conferences make the playoffs. Last year the Allegheny Six had two teams reach the semifinals – Freeport and Shady Side Academy. Deer Lakes also snapped a 6-year playoff drought, making the postseason for the 3rd time 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.
Freeport
The Yellow Jackets are coming off a successful season that saw them claim the Allegheny Six Conference title and go 9-1 overall, with their only loss coming against 4A Armstrong. They scored a big win in the opening round of the playoffs over West Mifflin before falling to eventual State Champions Belle Vernon in the quarterfinals. A large senior class graduated, but Freeport used a lot of different offensive alignments and should have plenty of talent waiting in the wings. Drew Ross saw a handful of snaps as a backup quarterback last year as a freshman and could step into the starting role this year. Fellow sophomore Madden Wisniewski was a big-play hitter last year, totalling 105 rushing yards and a TD on just 5 carries. Senior Brady Sullivan (200 yards, 3 TDs) is the top returning receiver for the Jackets. Keep an eye out for Dawson Gaillot who averaged 6 yards per carry in limited work last year as a freshman. Freeport’s defense held opponents to just 12 points per game last season and will need to continue the strong tradition on that side of the ball to contend for the conference title once again.
East Allegheny
The Wildcats ran out to a 5-1 start to the season with their only loss coming against Elizabeth Forward who was considered a top contender in 3A. Unfortunately, October losses to Freeport and SSA cost East A a home playoff game. They did make the most of their 7th consecutive playoff appearance, beating Mt. Pleasant in a wild 42-39 shootout in the opening round. That marked the third straight season the Wildcats reached the quarterfinals. Dual-threat QB Michael Cahill returns after throwing for 1874 yards and 16 TDs and running for 917 yards and 9 TDs. Cahill is certainly a contender for the elite 1000/1000 club this season. Leading receivers Brennen Rutledge (743 yards, 3 TDs) and Steve Yusko (475 yards, 6 TDs) both return for their senior seasons. A tandem of senior running backs Amir Rollins (450 yards, 3 TDs) and Lorenzo Fancher (241 yards, 2 TDs) both return to the backfield along with Cahill. With all of this returning talent, expectations are high for East Allegheny to contend for a conference title and make a playoff run.
Shady Side Academy
The Bulldogs had an up-and-down regular season that saw them rebound from a 1-4 start to beat East Allegheny in the season finale to clinch a home playoff game. After topping South Park in the opening round of the playoffs, they pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 3A season and defeated Elizabeth Forward in the quarterfinals. Shady Side’s run came to an end in the semis against Avonworth, the first time they reached the semis since 2008. Second-leading rusher Darren Hayes returns for his junior season after scoring 4 times last year. The Bulldogs strength last season was on the defensive side of the ball where they held opponents to just 12 points per game. It was their defense that carried them through the quarterfinal matchup against the explosive Elizabeth Forward squad. Senior linebacker Grant Dickey will be the key to SSA’s defense this season.
Deer Lakes
The Lancers entered last season on a 6-year playoff drought. After a 1-3 start to the season in non-conference play, Deer Lakes started their turnaround with a 9-0 win over Southmoreland. They started conference play with a thrilling 37-36 victory over neighboring rival Knoch. With a playoff spot on the line the following week, they topped Valley in another one-score game 7-2. Those two victories were enough to earn Deer Lakes a 4th place finish and an end to their playoff drought. Senior QB Derek Burk returns after a strong junior campaign where he threw for 1426 yards and 9 TDs and ran for 504 yards and 6 TDs. The Lancers also return leading rusher Zier Williams (504 yards, 2 TDs). Leading receivers Wayne Love (469 yards, 4 TDs) and Ryan Cochran (414 yards, 2 TDs) are both rising seniors. With returning starters at every offensive skill position, Deer Lakes now has the opportunity to make a run at their first playoff victory in school history.
Knoch
The Knights moved down from 4A to 3A last season, making it the first time since 1979 they did not compete in the “Greater Allegheny Conference.” Unfortunately, the move down to to 3A did not pan out for the Knights. They lost their first 9 outings before topping Valley in the season finale. Knoch did play several close games, losing by just one point to both Indiana and Deer Lakes. Four of their nine losses came by ten points or fewer. The issue for the Knights was often on defense where they allowed a conference-high 35 points per game. The good news for Knoch is they have a number of talented young players returning. Codi Mullen started at quarterback as a sophomore and threw for 1660 yards and 10 TDs and ran for 428 yards and 3 TDs. Two of Mullen’s top three receivers return in sophomore Jackson Bauman (437 yards, 3 TDs) and senior Exzavier Johnson (373 yards, 3 TDs). Second-leading rusher Sam Skura (315 yards, 3 TDs) will be a junior this season. Knoch endured some growing pains last year but with the amount of returning experience they have, the Knights could contend for a playoff spot if they can tighten up defensively.
Valley
The Vikings won just one game last season, a 7-point victory over Uniontown who played an independent schedule. Other than that victory and a 7-2 loss to Deer Lakes, Valley gave up 30+ points to their other 8 opponents. Junior QB Tristin Goodwin returns under center. Valley did not score much last season, averaging just 14 points per game. They don’t return any players who scored multiple touchdowns last season. Darnell Coaston, Chuck Perkins, and Zayaan Ferron all return after scoring once last year. The Vikings will need to improve on both sides of the ball in order to contend for a playoff spot this season.
