The 2024 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 23. 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 and watch our live broadcasts on Monday nights or on replay any time.
This is a realignment season but some statewide changes have caused some shakeups in the WPIAL. Beginning with this two-year cycle, the PIAA changed the way students who attend charter or homeschools are counted. This enabled a lot of private schools to slide down in classifications while increasing the enrollment numbers for nearly every public school. North Catholic was a beneficiary, being able to move down from 4A to 3A. Two-time defending 3A State Champs Belle Vernon moved up to 4A while Central Valley, who won the 3A state title in 2020 and 2021, move back down to 3A. All in all, a WPIAL team has won 7 of the 8 3A state titles during the six classification era. Twelve teams will make the 3A playoffs once again this season. The top three from each conference are guaranteed a playoff spot and the final three spots will be given to wild cards selected by the WPIAL Committee.
The Allegheny Seven adds Highlands (moving down from 4A) who will get to face off with some of their traditional cross-river rivals in Burrell and Valley, along with neighboring Freeport. Additionally, Imani Christian voluntarily opted to play up in 3A given the roster loaded with D1 talent that they bring into the season. East Allegheny is the defending conference champions, their first conference crown since 2000. 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.
Imani Christian
2023 Result: 8-3, lost in 2A quarterfinals to Mohawk
All-Time: 45-56 (121st in wins, 87th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
Imani opted to play up in 3A this cycle after a strong showing in 2A last year. They are one of the smallest schools in the WPIAL but have a team loaded with talent, so they will not shy away from the higher-level competition. Imani stormed through their 2A schedule last year with their only losses coming in Week 0 to 1A State Champs Steelton Highspire and in a tight battle against Steel Valley. In the postseason, Imani blew out Waynesburg for their first playoff victory since 2017 before falling to Mohawk. This year’s squad has five players with D1 offers, only one of whom is a senior. Dual-treat QB Steve Vandiver threw for 1229 yards and 14 TDs and ran for a team-high 475 yards and 8 scores. Vandiver has offers from Miami (OH) and Bowling Green for his play as a defensive back. Senior Dayshaun Burnett is a Penn State-commit at linebacker and did a bit of everything offensively for Imani. Burnett threw for 229 yards and 6 TDs, ran for 296 yards, had 218 receiving yards, and scored a team-high 11 times. David Davis (who has offers as a defensive back from Penn State, Pitt, WVU, Kentucky, Tennessee, and others) battled some injuries last year but still scored 8 times. Sophomore Gabe Jenkins also has a litany of offers including Penn St, Pitt, WVU, Kentucky, and a handful of MAC schools. Jenkins was Imani’s second-leading rusher (469 yards, 7 TDs). Also returning is junior lineman Will Gorman who has offers from UNLV, Troy, and a few MAC schools. All in all, this Imani team is stacked with talented players but the biggest question will be depth. They are certainly a contender for the conference title and potentially could make a run for the WPIAL crown.
Highlands
2023 Result: 6-5, lost to Central Valley in 4A playoffs
All-Time: 291-260-7 (92nd in wins, 48th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Rams move down from 4A to 3A this season with their sights set on contending for a conference crown. Highlands won a 3-way tie with Kiski and Hampton to get into the playoffs last season. Unfortunately the Rams had a first round exit for the third straight year. Highlands employed mostly a wildcat offense last season but saw four of their top five rushers graduate. Senior QB Menage Lucas showed some dual-threat abilities, throwing for 217 yards and 1 TD and running for 298 yards and 4 scores. Fellow rising senior Aiden Burford (237 yards, 5 TDs) was the Rams leading receiver last year. Montrell Johnson (142 yards) also returns on the outside.
East Allegheny
2023 Result: 9-3, Allegheny Six Conference Champions, lost to Belle Vernon in 3A semifinals
All-Time: 339-264-22 (76th in wins, 38th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1992 WPIAL Champions
The Wildcats won their first conference title since 2000 last season and made an impressive run to the semifinals. East Allegheny will have to replace their leading passer, rusher, and receiver this season. The team has experience and depth in the trenches. Senior RB Kam Marshall is the top returning skill position player after scoring twice last year. Junior RB Aumar Everett, senior WR Raemar Sims, and junior WR Chris Portis also found the end zone last season. Portis landed an early offer from UNLV and is definitely a rising star to watch over the next few seasons.
Deer Lakes
2023 Result: 8-4, won first playoff game in school history, lost to Belle Vernon in 3A quarterfinals
All-Time: 187-331-11 (114th in wins, 114th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The 2023 season was a historic campaign for the Lancers that culminated with their first playoff victory in school history. While last year’s team was based around the passing attack, the focus this year will likely shift to the running game and senior Zier Williams (1148 yards, 12 TDs). Deer Lakes will have to find a new signal-caller as well as new receivers after two of the top three graduated. Zach Grant (523 yards, 8 TDs) is the top returning receiver. Deer Lakes has youth and size in the trenches and should be right in the mix for a playoff spot once again.
Freeport
2023 Result: 3-7, missed playoffs in 3A
All-Time: 582-354-46 (14th in wins, 19th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
In 2023 the Yellow Jackets missed the playoffs for just the second time in the last seven seasons. After a 2-1 start to the season, the Jackets lost five in a row then fell to Deer Lakes in a casket match in the season finale. Freeport played a lot of underclassmen last season and will have some experience to build upon for this year. Dual-threat QB Drew Ross thew for 1259 yards and 13 TDs and ran for 294 yards and 3 scores as a sophomore. Fellow rising junior Madden Wisniewski (268 yards, 1 TD) is the top returning receiver. In order to contend for a playoff spot, Freeport will need to find a way to put more points on the board. The Jackets averaged just 20 per game last year, the 6th lowest mark in 3A.
Burrell
2023 Result: 4-7, lost to Mohawk in first round of 2A playoffs
All-Time: 301-281-9 (91st in wins, 53rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 4 WPIAL Championships (1967, 1968, 1986, 1995)
The Bucs have made the playoffs in three straight seasons and now move back up to 3A. Burrell lost their final four games of the 2023 season (including the playoff loss to Mohawk). Senior QB Stephen Hasson threw for 349 yards and 3 TDs and ran for 218 yards and 3 scores. Burrell’s offense is based heavily in their ground game but the Bucs saw five of their top six rushers graduate. Hasson is the only player returning player who scored a touchdown last season. Junior Liam Kasavage and sophomore Trey Coury both got a handful of carries and senior WR Dylan Ridley had a few catches.
Valley
2023 Result: 2-8, missed playoffs in 3A
All-Time: 268-277-9 (98th in wins, 64th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Vikings have fallen on hard times and are one of five teams in the WPIAL to not make a playoff appearance during the 8 years of the 6-classification era. Valley won just 3 total games over the last two seasons and have not won more than 2 games in a single season since 2018. Valley was the second-lowest scoring team in all of 3A last year (12 points per game). Senior QB Mason Simmons threw for 4 TDs last year but most of their other top skill position players graduated.
