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 aforementioned move-up of Belle Vernon leaves a void at the top of the Interstate Conference. The mantle of favorites figures to pass to Elizabeth Forward who were the top challenger to Belle Vernon the last two years. Belle Vernon went unbeaten in Interstate Conference play, but both years had a showdown in Week 9 with an unbeaten Elizabeth Forward to secure the conference crown. Derry and Yough both move up from 2A to join the conference, replacing Belle Vernon and South Allegheny who moved down to 2A. 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.
Elizabeth Forward
2023 Result: 10-2, lost to Avonworth in 3A semifinals
All-Time: 448-508-36 (39th in wins, 74th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Warriors raced out to a 9-0 start to the 2023 season but lost the finale against Belle Vernon for the conference title. In the playoffs, EF shook off the ghosts of 2022’s quarterfinal upset, handily beating West Mifflin before falling to Avonworth in the semifinals. The Warriors had the second-best offense (34.7 PPG) in 3A, trailing only conference rival and eventual State Champion Belle Vernon. With BVA moving up to 4A this season, the Interstate Conference is EF’s for the taking. Junior QB Ryan Messina threw for 1745 yards and 15 TDs last season. The electric Charlie Nigut (859 rushing yards, 338 receiving yards, 23 total TDs) returns for his senior season. In addition to Nigut and Messina, Jace Brown (505 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and AJ Grese (184 receiving yards, 144 rushing yards, 4 total TDs) also return for the Warriors. On top of all the skill position talent, lineman Christopher Climes is a Buffalo-commit. EF should cruise through the Interstate Conference and rightfully should have their sights set on a run at their first WPIAL Championship in school history.
Mt. Pleasant
2023 Result: 6-5, lost to West Mifflin in 3A first round
All-Time: 353-287-9 (70th in wins, 39th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2 WPIAL Championships (1983, 1986), predecessor schools Hurst won 3 WPIAL titles (1931, 1938, 1942) and Ramsay win 1 WPIAL title (1933)
The Vikings have made the playoffs in five straight seasons but have only won one in that timespan. Last year’s team ran out to a 5-1 start but struggled against the top competition in the conference once the calendar flipped to October. The Vikings went just 1-4 down the stretch, including a playoff loss to West Mifflin. Senior QB Cole Chatfield threw for 1280 yards and 14 TDs last season, but his top three receivers have all graduated. The good news for Mt. Pleasant is they have plenty of talent returning in the backfield. Junior Brody Hutter (487 yards, 6 TDs) and senior Garrett Eicher (425 yards, 7 TDs) both averaged around 5 yards per carry last season. This teams should be solidly in the mix for the playoffs once again.
Southmoreland
2023 Result: 6-5, lost to Deer Lakes in 3A first round
All-Time: 197-368-12 (112th in wins, 117th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
Since breaking their 40-year playoff drought in 2019, the Scotties have been a mainstay in the postseason. The only time they did not qualify in the last five years was the COVID-restricted season of 2020. The next step for the Scotties is to claim their first playoff victory in school history. Junior QB Caden Matthews saw some time as a backup last year and threw for 241 yards and 1 TD. Just one of the Scotties top four receivers returns – senior Elliot Premus (236 yards). They will also need to find a new lead back after three of their top for rushers graduated. Southmoreland had a season of ups and downs, scoring 30+ in 5 of their 6 wins but being held under 20 in 4 of their 5 losses, including in the playoffs against Deer Lakes.
Greensburg Salem
2023 Result: 2-8, missed playoffs in 3A
All-Time: 711-414-39 (7th in wins, 16th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Lions went just 2-8 last season, but finished strong with a resounding victory over South Allegheny. A lot of young players saw the field last year, laying the foundation for the future. At quarterback, rising sophomore Brody Chismar (643 passing yards, 5 TDs, 111 rushing yards, 1 TD) took over down the stretch and was the most successful of the three that saw the field. Senior Peyton Chismar (423 passing yards, 2 TDs, 2 rushing TDs) played the middle of the season before Brody took the reigns. The Lions top three rushers all return this year. In addition to Brody Chismar, Brady Smith (503 yards, 6 TDs) and Kai Brunot (237 yards, 2 TDs) are back. Keegan Young (252 yards, 1 TD) is the top returning receiver. G-S will look to take the next step with this young and experienced group, looking to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2019. In order to make a run at the postseason, the Lions will need to improve an offense that averaged just 16 points per game (the third-lowest in 3A).
Derry
2023 Result: 5-6, lost to McGuffey in 2A first round
All-Time: 375-380-12 (60th in wins, 63rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: WPIAL Champions
The Trojans were one of the best bounce-back stories in the WPIAL last year. After consecutive winless seasons, Derry turned it around and made the playoffs with a 5-5 record last season. They got off the schnide with a Week 1 victory over Greensburg Salem then won 2 of their next 3 games. After a 3-game losing streak against the top competition in the 2A Allegheny Conference, Derry won their final two outings to qualify for the playoffs. Derry now moves up to 3A but should have a much easier travel schedule in the Interstate Conference. Damauri Robinson is the top returning player after he ran for 236 yards, led the team with 273 receiving yards and scored 4 times.Justin Papuga (114 yards) is the only other of Derry’s top five rushers to return. At quarterback, Anthony Sacco saw a handful of snaps as a backup last season and will vie for the starting role this year.
Yough
2023 Result: 2-8, missed playoffs in 2A
All-Time: 167-354-11 (116th in wins, 120th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Cougars finished last in the 2A Allegheny Conference last season and now move up to 3A. Dual-threat QB Raidon Kuroda threw for 688 yards and 2 TDs and ran for 689 yards and 7 TDs last year as a junior. While Kuroda is the only one of Yough’s top 5 rushers to return, he does get junior WR Ryan Sarver (201 yards, 1 TD) back on the outside. Overall, Yough is in a tough spot moving up to a higher classification after a 2-8 season. That said, the travel schedule should improve with the move up in classification as they will be playing more opponents with geographic proximity.
