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. The Greater Allegheny Conference was shaken up this year with two teams traditionally part of the Big Seven Conference (McKeesport and West Mifflin) moving to join the teams from north of the rivers. Knoch returns to the GAC after two years in 3A
The biggest changes in 4A happened at the state level. To start, the PIAA moved the WPIAL Champions back from entering the state bracket in the semifinals to entering in the quarterfinals. This means that there will only be three weeks available for the WPIAL playoffs which has two significant impacts. First, only 8 teams will make the WPIAL playoffs in 4A (much like in 5A the last two years). Second, the 4A Championship will not be held at Acrisure Stadium since it will be a week earlier than the other four classifications who get to enter the state bracket in the semifinals. 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.
McKeesport
2023 Result: 11-2, Big Seven Conference Champions, lost to Aliquippa in 4A Championship Game
All-Time: 718-416-48 (6th in wins, 15th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 4 WPIAL Championships (1932, 1938, 1994, 2005), 2 State Championships (1994, 2005)
Since moving down from 5A to 4A in 2020, McKeesport has played in the Big Seven conference and developed a strong Mon Valley rivalry with the likes of Thomas Jefferson and Belle Vernon. However, the WPIAL moved the Tigers over to the Greater Allegheny Conference this season where they will have three conference road games over an hour away in Hampton, Mars, and Knoch. McKeesport has reached the semifinals each of the last three seasons, culminating in a trip to the WPIAL finals last year where they lost to eventual State Champions Aliquippa. Star RB Anthony Boyd (1314 yards, 13 TDs) returns for his senior season to lead the Tigers triple-option backfield. Speedy slot back Kemon Spell burst onto the scene as a freshman, racking up 517 yards and 12 total TDs. Spell recently committed to Penn State. Fellow sophomore WR/DB Jaivien Robinson has a Duquesne offer. McKeesport doesn’t throw the ball much out of their triple option, and the top returning receiver is Valdez Stuvaints (son of former Steeler Russell Stuvaints).
Mars
2023 Result: 10-3, Greater Allegheny Conference Champions, lost to Aliquippa in 4A semifinals
All-Time: 442-535-31 (40th in wins, 84th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL Championship
The Fighting Planets bounced back in a big way in the second year of Eric Kasperowicz’s tenure. Mars has undergone a full transition from a ground-and-pound offense to a downfield passing team. Senior QB Luke Goodworth was one of the top passers in the WPIAL, throwing for 2168 yards and 22 TDs. Goodworth spread the ball around with 5 receivers finishing over 100 yards. Three of them graduated but the Planets return junior Gabe Hein (774 yards, 8 TDs) and senior Liam Hein (217 yards, 1 TD). Out of the backfield, Ayden Yocum (218 yards, 3 TDs) and Eric Kasperowicz Jr (104 yards, 3 TDs) are the top returning rushers. Mars has always been known for strong line play, and this year’s squad will be anchored by junior Sean Franklin who has an offer from Miami (OH). After capturing their first conference crown in 8 years and making a run to the semifinals, Mars will look to take the next step in a loaded 4A classification. The showdown with McKeesport in Week 7 will not only have conference title implications but also be a fascinating matchup of McKeesport’s triple-option against Mars’ aerial assault.
West Mifflin
2023 Result: 7-5, lost to Elizabeth Forward in 3A quarterfinals
All-Time: 311-312-12 (86th in wins, 61st in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL Championship
The Titans move up from 3A to 4A this season after consecutive trips to the 3A quarterfinals. The Titans bounced back from an 0-3 start to 2022 to win 6 of their last 7 regular season games then pound Mt. Pleasant in the playoff opener. West Mifflin garnered headlines after the breakout performances of freshman RB Armand Hill who ran for 1528 yards and 15 TDs. Hill’s breakout season landed him offers from Michigan, Penn State, Pitt, WVU, Maryland, and a number of MAC schools. He will be running behind a powerful Titans line led by Jaiden Brown-Demery who has offers from Pitt, WVU, Duke, and some MAC schools. The move back up in competition will be a test, but the Titans are talented enough to contend in the middle of the GAC pack for a potential wild card spot.
Knoch
2023 Result: 8-3, lost to South Park in 3A first round
All-Time: 315-329-13 (85th in wins, 65th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1978 WPIAL Champions
In one of the most impressive turnarounds in WPIAL history, Knoch went from 1-9 in 2022 to 8-2 last season. The Knights lost in overtime to East Allegheny in Week 8 with the conference title on the line, then were upset by South Park in the opening round of the playoffs. Like Mars, Knoch is another team that has reinvented itself from a run-heavy outfit to an open passing attack. The move up from 3A to 4A will be a challenge, but Knoch has the returning players to be competitive in the GAC. Senior dual-threat QB Codi Mullen threw for 1791 yards and 18 TDs while running for 526 yards and 5 scores. Mullen’s top two receivers also return in senior Kaden Spencer (605 yards, 6 TDs) and junior Jackson Bauman (564 yards, 6 TDs). Knoch also added junior QB Colt Sprankle who threw for 761 yards and 11 TDs last year at Armstrong. Sprakle’s family owns a grocery store near Knoch High School and moved into the district to be closer to their business.
Hampton
2023 Result: 3-7, missed playoffs in 4A
All-Time: 336-395-21 (77th in wins, 81st in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL Championship
The Talbots looked primed to make a run at a playoff spot after beating Kiski and Armstrong midseason, but they lost 4 of their last 5 to lose out on a 3-way tie for the final playoff spot. Hampton returns a number of players who saw significant time last season. At quarterback, senior Porter Kelly (828 yards, 8 TDs) and junior Jack Saunessey (396 yards, 3 TDs) both have starting experience. Whoever is under center for the Talbots will get two of the top three receivers back in Willy Haselrig (442 yards, 4 TDs) and Ray Kirsopp (200 yards, 2 TDs). After losing their 1000-yard rusher to graduation, junior Evan McAneny (158 yards, 2 TDs) is the top returning back after averaging 6.5 yards per carry. In order to contend for a playoff spot, Hampton will need to tighten up a defense that allowed over 34 points per game, the most in the Greater Allegheny Conference last season.
Indiana
2023 Result: 2-8, missed playoffs in 4A
All-Time: 453-448-36 (37th in wins, 59th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL Championship
The Little Indians started the year 2-1 but then the bottom fell out and they tumbled through a 7-game losing streak. Indiana did not score more than 7 points in any of their final 6 games and will look to get back on the right foot offensively. Indiana’s top three rushers all graduated, leaving Levi Porter (244 rushing yards, 151 receiving yards, 4 total TDs) as the top returning back. Quinn Lipniskis figures to take over at quarterback after seeing a handful of snaps as a backup last year. In limited work, he did flash some dual-threat abilities, rushing for nearly 7 yards per carry.
