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. While the WPIAL had been down to just 5 teams in 6A during the previous cycle, Norwin and Hempfield have moved back up this year to give the WPIAL 7 teams in the top classification. Butler had some discussions about returning from their District 10 schedule but ultimately did not rejoin the WPIAL.
Similar to the prior cycle, the top four teams will qualify for the postseason. The WPIAL Champion will enter the PIAA playoffs at the quarterfinal stage. With 7 teams in 6A, there will be more conference games this season than the last two years. North Allegheny is the two-time defending WPIAL Champions while Central Catholic has been to the WPIAL finals in five straight seasons. 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.
Central Catholic
2023 Result: 9-1, 6A Runners-Up, Won 6A Tri-County Five Conference title
All-Time: 585-330-44 (13th in wins, 12th in Win%)
Championship Pedigree: 8 WPIAL Championships (2003, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020), 4 State Championships (1988, 2004, 2007, 2015)
The Vikings have been to the WPIAL Championship Game in five straight seasons and in 10 of the last 11 years, dating back to the four classification era. However, Central came up short each of the last three seasons. Leading rushers Elijah Faulkner (1426 yards, 19 TDs) and Amari Shields (224 yards, 1 TD) will return to the Vikings backfield. Faulkner has offers from a number of FCS and MAC schools. The Vikings will have to work in a slew of new receivers as their top four from last season all graduated. Central is loaded with talent on the defensive side of the ball, led by their linebacker corps of Bradley Gompers (a Duke-commit) and Colsen Gatten (with offers from Pitt, Penn State, WVU, Notre Dame, and Michigan) and Roman Thompson (a sophomore who already has an Akron offer). Dynamic corner and kick returner Xxavier Thomas (a Penn State-commit) is a threat to score any time he touches the ball. In the trenches, Jimmy Kalis has offers from Pitt, WVU, and some other ACC schools while Sam Brackney has committed to Brown.
North Allegheny
2023 Result: 9-1, WPIAL Champions, lost to St. Joe’s Prep in State Championship Game
All-Time: 461-258-14 (32nd in wins, 11th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 5 WPIAL Championships (2010, 2011, 2012, 2022, 2023), State Championships
The Tigers are the two-time defending WPIAL Champions. Last year, they made a run to the State Championship before ultimately falling to the New Jersey-Maryland-Delaware All-Star Team. While most of last year’s team graduated, the Tigers do have some D1 talent on the roster. Junior Jackson Failla figures to take over as the Tigers dual-threat quarterback after seeing some time as a backup last year. Nate Orlando (180 yards, 2 TDs) and Liam Flaherty (146 yards, 4 TDs) are the top returning rushers. Princeton-commit Jack Yatchenko anchors the lines. Tight end James Donaldson is the top returning receiver but watch out for the tandem of Nicholas Humphries and Korry Pitts – two-way players who both had D1 offers. The biggest star on the team might be kicker Peter Notaro who has committed to Alabama.
Mt. Lebanon
2023 Result: 5-5,Lost to Central Catholic in WPIAL semifinals
All-Time: 625-296-30 (12th in wins, 6th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 8 WPIAL Championships (1966, 1970, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 2000, 2021), 1 State Championships (2021)
Replacing a legendary coach is never easy, and after Bob Palko left Mt. Lebanon, Mike Collodi resigned after one season. Former Keystone Oaks and Seton LaSalle coach Greg Perry now takes the helm for a Blue Devils team that won just one conference game last year, but it was enough to get them into the playoffs. Rising junior Patrick Smith saw some time at quarterback and figures to take the helm this year. He is also the team’s top returning rusher (251 yards, 2 TDs). Leading receiver Noah Schaerli (233 yards, 4 TDs) and senior RB Jimmy Green (112 yards, 3 TDs) will also be back. The Blue Devils will need to get more on the offensive end to be a contender this season after they averaged just 17 points per game last year.
Seneca Valley
2023 Result: 3-7, Missed playoffs in 6A
All-Time: 272-313-11 (97th in wins, 76th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL Championship
While Seneca Valley missed the playoffs for the second straight season, it was just a 3-point loss to Mt. Lebanon that kept the Raiders out. Their primary starters from last season have all graduated, but the Raiders have some talent waiting in the wings. Senior DB/WR Jayden Price has offers from a number of MAC schools. Seneca Valley may have the best tandem of pass rushers in 6A with juniors Cayden Parker and TE/DE Adam Gehm. Both have offers from MAC schools while Gehm also has offers from Wisconsin and Syracuse. With the three D1 players on defense, Seneca Valley should be able to improve upon their defense which allowed over 30 points per game, the worst mark in 6A last season.
Norwin
2023 Result: 3-7, Missed playoffs in 5A
All-Time: 399-342-36 (89th in wins, 72nd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Knights finished in the middle of the Big East pack in 5A and move back up to 6A this season where they will look to challenge for a playoff spot. Junior QB Tristyn Tavares lit up the WPIAL last season, throwing for 2459 yards and 25 TDs. While his top two receivers have graduated, fellow junior Jake Knight (421 yards, 1 TD) will lead the receiving corps. Tavares was also a threat with his legs, running for 192 yards and 6 TDs alongside Christian Shogan (200 yards, 1 TD) in the backfield. Norwin has plenty of talent returning at the skill positions to be able to compete for a playoff spot, even with the move up in classification.
Canon-McMillian
2023 Result: 6-4, Lost to North Allegheny in WPIAL semifinals
All-Time: 398-542-43 (51st in wins, 96th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL Championship
Canon Mac is coming off their best season in decades. The Big Macs 6-4 record was their best regular season since 2008. The biggest question for Canon Mac will be replacing a stellar senior class. Sophomore QB Ty Jansma saw some spot duty as a backup last year as a freshman and may step in to the starting role. Fellow sophomore Troy Stimpson is the top returning rusher. Senior lineman Matt McMahon has committed to Navy. On the defensive side of the ball, keep an eye out for TE/DE TJ Sabatucci and DL Daisean Lacks who lit it up during offseason camps.
Hempfield
2023 Result: 1-9, Missed playoffs in 5A
All-Time: 305-342-13 (89th in wins, 72nd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Spartans went just 1-9 in 5A last year and now have to move up to 6A. Junior Dominic Detruf threw for over 1000 yards and 9 TDs last season but was sidelined this summer due to a medical condition. Hopes are that he will be cleared to return for the regular season and coaches have raved about his leadership from the sidelines during camps and workouts. Hempfield returns leading receiver Mitchell Bitar (295 yards) along with Reddick Katchur (199 yards, 2 TDs) and Nicholas Marquis (127 yards, 2 TDs). Second-leading rusher Rogan Katchur (275 yards, 4 TDs) also returns for Hempfield. In the trenches, DE Brock Heisler has an offer from Penn. If the Spartans want to challenge for a playoff spot, they will need to improve a defense that allowed over 35 points per game last year.
