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 4A is relatively straightforward. Four teams from the Big Eight and Greater Allegheny Conferences make the playoffs and five from the Parkway Conference qualify. Last year the Parkway had the top two teams in the classification. Aliquippa was the defending WPIAL 4A Champions and Central Valley moved up to 4A after a three-peat of WPIAL 3A Championships. Both teams also ended last season as defending state champions and squared off in a much-anticipated Week 9 matchup. They met again in the WPIAL finals with Aliquippa winning both times. The Quips return a number of key players this season with their eyes set on another run at the State title while a number of other talented teams will battle it out in the middle of the conference.
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.
Aliquippa
The Quips are the two-time defending WPIAL Champions and have reached the state title game in both seasons. They defeated Bishop McDevitt in 2021 and lost the rematch last season. In total, Aliquippa has been to the WPIAL Championship game in an incredible 15 straight seasons. The Quips return the bulk of their title-winning roster and are the clear favorites to win the WPIAL title again this season. Senior QB Quentin Goode (1935 yards, 23 TDs) is entering his third year at the helm of the offense. Goode has a powerful tandem joining him in the backfield with junior RB Tiqwai Hayes (1981 yards, 33 TDs) and senior RB John Tracy (827 yards, 11 TDs). Hayes has garnered D1 attention since his freshman season and has offers from Penn State, Pitt, Michigan, and Ohio State. On the outside, Brandon Banks (398 yards, 6 TDs) returns after committing to Yale as a defensive back. Banks’ commitment is noteworthy for being the first Aliquippa player to go to an Ivy League school since the 1980s. Arison Walker (147 yards, 1 TD) and DeMarkus Walker (116 yards) should both see their roles increase in the passing attack. Defensively, the Quips held opponents to just 9 points per game last season and were the best unit in 4A. The anchor in the middle, Cameron Lindsey, returns after committing to Pitt. Lindsey also ran for 214 yards and scored 5 times on offense. While the Quips are absolutely loaded with play-makers all over the field on offense and defense, it all starts up front with the “Trench Dawgs.” Aliquippa will be returning to The Pit this season after having to play their home games at Freedom last year due to the construction project to rennovate their aging home facility. The new stadium, now “Heinz Field” after a donation by the Kraft-Heinz Corporation, will be a community asset and a destination for years to come.
Central Valley
The Warriors moved up from 3A to 4A last season after winning three straight WPIAL titles and two State Championships. Their winning streak continued until Week 9 when they faced defending 4A State Champs Aliquippa in a showdown for the ages. The Quips came out on top in that game and in the rematch in the WPIAL Championship. After graduating 22 seniors, they will need to restock nearly their entire starting lineup this season. Junior QB Steven Rutherford saw some time in backup duty last season and threw one touchdown pass and ran for two more scores. Brandon Singleton should take over the lead back role after running for 420 yards and 4 scoes, averaging 9 yards per carry. Fellow rising juniors Mason Dixon and Miykel Steals should also see increased roles in the Warriors rushing attack. Central Valley averaged 45 points per game, the most in 4A, last year. The Warriors have been to four straight WPIAL finals and are certainly a contender to make a deep run again this season.
Montour
The Spartans had an exciting conclusion to their 2022 season. With the opportunity to host a home playoff game, they defeated West Allegheny 21-20 in Week 9. The following week, after injuries decimated their quarterback position and they were on a 3rd stringer, they topped Hampton in a thrilling 34-33 shootout. Montour’s season came to an end in the quarterfinals against Aliquippa, but that should not take away the excitement heading into this year. Dual-threat QB Jake Wolfe (1473 passing yards, 17 TDs, 350 rushing yards, 4 TDs) returns for his senior season. Wolfe also gets back his top three receivers in Daniel Batch (653 yards, 11 TDs), Keino Fitzpatrick (358 yards, 3 TDs), and James Bundridge (273 yards, 1 TD). Tight end Kaleb Platz, who led the thrilling playoff victory at quarterback, also returns. With so many starters returning, Montour’s passing game should be a force this season. They will need to find a new lead back, though Wolfe has dual-threat abilities and sophomore Caden Halajcio saw some work last year as a freshman. The Spartans should be right in the mix for a home playoff game again this season.
West Allegheny
The Indians got off to an impressive start in 2022. They ran out to a 7-1 record with their only loss by just 3 points to reigning 4A state champs Aliquippa. However, injuries started to catch up with them later in the season and the wheels came off as the Indians lost their last three outings. They fell to Central Valley and Montour (the later costing them a home playoff game). In the postseason, they lost their first round contest against Laurel Highlands. This year’s team will likely rely heavily on junior RB Brock Cornell who led the team with 772 yards and 16 TDs last year. Cornell’s play as a defensive back has already attracted some interest from FCS schools. H-back Roman Police returns after rushing for 168 yards, adding 150 receiving yards, and scoring 3 times. The biggest question for West Allegheny will be who takes the helm at quarterback. West A averaged 32 points per game last year and will need to keep up that production in order to contend for a home playoff game this year.
Blackhawk
The Cougars returned to the playoffs after a two year hiatus last season. After starting a number of underclassmen last season they have the opportunity to compete in the middle of the pack this season. Stephen Knallay (596 yards, 4 TDs) started at quarterback as a sophomore. He also ran for a team-high 2 TDs. On the outside, Tyler Heckathorn (113 yards, 1 TD) and Dontae Campagna (108 receiving yards, 172 rushing yards, 2 total TDs) Leading rusher Maurice Watson-Trent (428 yards, 1 TD) reurns for his senior season. Blackhawk will use a number of different players in their ground game. Last season 6 different backs ran for at least 100 total yards, including FB Connor McGraw (189 yards, 2 TDs). With so many players returning, Blackhawk hopes to improve upon their 14 points per game output from last season. They will need to score more in order to compete in the middle of the pack for a home playoff game. That said, Blackhawk certainly has enough talent to get back into the playoffs again this season.
Ambridge
A year after snapping their lengthy playoff drought, Ambridge came up just short last season. The Bridgers did win two games, which is still an accomplishment for a program that had one of the longest losing streaks in the WPIAL a few years ago. The good news for the Bridgers is tha their top two players from last season both return. The receiving tandem of Adam Fernandez and Gramt Uvodich both found the end zone 6 times last season. If Ambridge can manufacture ways to get the ball in their hands consistently, they could be able to compete for a playoff spot. Ambridge averaged just 18 points per game last year while allowing nearly 34 per game.
New Castle
The 2022 campaign was a disappointing one for New Castle who went winless in conference play and won just one game overall. The Red Hurricanes only victory came in the season opener against lowly Summit Academy. The good news for New Castle is that they bring back a number of players who got starting experience last season. QB Kyrell Harris (564 yards, 7 TDs) returns after starting as a sophomore. Malik Jefferson should be the key to the offensive attack. Last season Jefferson led the team in rushing (200 yards, averaging 7.7 per carry), was second in receptions (9 for 61 yards) and scored 3 times. The Canes should do whatever they can to get the ball in Jefferson’s hands this season. Kaevon Gardner (122 yards, 1 TD) also returns in the backfield. The Canes averaged just 13 points per game last season, the third-lowest mark in 4A. On the other side of the ball things were just as bad, allowing 41 points per game – the most of any 4A squad.
Chartiers Valley
The Colts got off to a slow start in 2022 and never really recovered. They won just twice, defeating conference foes New Castle and Ambridge (in a thrilling 43-39 game in Week 9). A number of key starters graduated but leading rusher Austin Efthimiades (621 rushing yards, 182 receiving yards, 7 total TDs) does return for his senior season. He will likely be the focal point of the offensive attack. Chase Schofield is the only returning player to have attempted a pass last season. Efthimiades is the top returning receiver after the top two graduated. Rudy Morris (153 yards) will likely take on a bigger role in the Colts passing attack. Keep an eye out for sophomore RB Tayshaun Lewis (143 yards, 1 TD) who averaged 8 yards per carry as a freshman last season. If Char Valley is going to compete for a playoff spot this season, they will need to improve an offense that averaged just 15 points per game last season as well as tightening up a defense that allowed 37 per game.
