The 2025 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 22. 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.
Thirteen teams qualify for the 2A playoffs. The top three teams from each of the three conferences are guaranteed playoff spots. The final four wild card spots are decided by the WPIAL selection committee, rather than by a formula as was the case in prior cycles. Last year the Allegheny Conference produced WPIAL Champions South Park and semifinalists Steel Valley. Additionally, South Allegheny made for one of the best turnaround stories, going from 1-9 to 8-2 and a narrow quarterfinal loss to Ellwood City. 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.
Steel Valley
2024 Result: 7-3, Lost to Seton LaSalle in 2A semifinals
All-Time: 336-221-12 (79th in wins, 25th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 6 WPIAL Championships (1982, 1988, 1989, 2016, 2018, 2022), 2016 State Champions
The Ironmen have been one of the best 2A squads during the six classification era. They have won three WPIAL titles and been to five Championship Games, including 2022 and 2023. Last year they fell to Seton LaSalle in the semifinals, marking the 4th straight year they made it to the semis. Pitt-commit Da’Ron Barksdale, who missed most of his sophomore year as well as a few games last year recovering from injury, will be the focal point of the offense. Barksdale was used all over the field by the Ironmen, throwing for 275 yards and 4 TDs, rushing for 905 yards, and 19 TDs and adding 110 receiving yards and another score. Fellow senior Tyson Barron played a few games at quarterback last season. Rising junior Terec Seibles (182 yards, 1 TD) figures to take on a bigger role in the rushing attack after averaging 7 yards per carry last season. Steel Valley doesn’t throw the ball much, but a name to watch is Samir Smoot who scored on both of his receptions last season. All told, Steel Valley has an electric playmaker in Barksdale but their ultimate success will come down to their ability to control the trenches on both sides of the ball.
South Park
2024 Result: 9-1, Allegheny Conference Champions, WPIAL Champions, lost to Central Clarion in PIAA semifinals
All-Time: 430-378-27 (45th in wins, 46th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 3 WPIAL Championships (1997, 2005, 2024), 2 State Championships (1997, 2005)
The Eagles won their third WPIAL title in school history after moving down from 3A to 2A. The Eagles rode a stout offensive line and rushing attack to the WPIAL title but will have to work in some new starters after 11 seniors graduated as Champions. South Park was able to win in multiple ways last season. They won a defensive struggle 7-0 over Steel Valley on week then topped South Allegheny in a 48-38 shootout the following week. Senior QB Robert Lenzi threw for 649 yards and 6 TDs wile running for 921 yards and 14 TDs. South Park is a run-heavy team and will lean on Lenzi and rising juniors Colsen Heynes (276 yards, 4 TDs, 9.5 yards per carry) and Quintin Napper (158 yards, 3 TDs, 12 yards per carry) to lead their offensive attack. South Park’s ability to contend for another WPIAL title will hinge on replacing their talented linemen up front.
South Allegheny
2024 Result: 8-2, lost to Ellwood City in quarterfinals
All-Time: 199-375-5 (113th in wins, 119th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1977 WPIAL Champions
The Gladiators were one of the best turnaround stories in the WPIAL last season. They struggled mightily in 3A with consecutive 1-9 seasons, but moved down to 2A and put together an 8-win campaign that culminated in their first playoff win since 1986. South A came up just short in the quarterfinals in a 13-12 loss to Ellwood City. Many of their key players graduated and the Gladiators will need to replace their starting quarterback and three of their top four rushers. Senior WR Drew Cook (1490 yards, 17 TDs), led the WPIAL in receiving last season and has offers from Akron, Duquesne, and some other FCS schools. Rising junior Malakai Myers was the backup quarterback last season and saw some time there as a freshman as well. Myers did run for 110 yards last season and is one of three returning players who should factor into South A’s ground game. The top returning rusher is junior Derrick Pace (165 yards, 2 TDs) and senior Joe Gamert (115 yards, 2 TDs) who averaged over 10 yards per carry last season. South Allegheny was the highest-scoring team in the conference (37 points per game) and the second-highest in all of 2A. If they can continue that trend on offense the Gladiators can put themselves right in the mix to contend for the conference title.
Apollo-Ridge
2024 Result: 1-8, missed playoffs
All-Time: 237-303-9 (106th in wins, 91st in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Vikings ended 2024 on a high note, beating Ligonier Valley by 3 to forego a losing season and finish in a 3-way tie with Shady Side Academy. Apollo-Ridge had to play a number of young players last season and is hoping that experience pays off. Senior QB Alex Clawson threw for 1762 yards and 12 TDs and ran for 213 yards and 2 scores. Rising junior Logen Schrock led the team in receiving (327 yards, 1 TD) and was the second-leading rusher (463 yards). Fellow junior Gage Wingard had 338 rushing yards, 304 receiving yards, and scored once. The Vikings used a lot of players on offense and graduated just 7 seniors. If they can shore up a defense that allowed 36 points per game (3rd most in 2A) they could contend for a playoff spot this season.
OLSH
2024 Result: 5-4, lost to Riverside in first round
All-Time: 79-74-0 (118th in wins, 52nd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2018 WPIAL Champions
OLSH’s co-op agreements with Eden Christian and Propel Montour moved them up to 2A last season. The Chargers won their final two games over Shady Side and Keystone Oaks to earn a wild card spot. The win over Keystone Oaks, the second-place team from the Century Conference, was a decisive result in the eyes of the selection committee. Junior TyTy Hawkins did a little bit of everything for the Chargers last season. He accounted for 146 rushing yards, 220 receiving yards, 1 TD and threw a few passes. Sophomore RB DeMar Chatfield (109 yards, 2 TDs) also returns to the OLSH backfield. Watch out for sophomore athlete Isaiah Jackson who has a Robert Morris offer to be a key contributor this season. In order to make a bigger push towards the top of the conference this season, OLSH will need to find ways to put more points on the board. Last year’s squad only averaged 16 points per game, the lowest total in the conference.
Shady Side Academy
2024 Result: 2-8, missed playoffs
All-Time: 555-460-46 (17th in wins, 41st in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1998 WPIAL Champions
The Bulldogs returned to 2A last year after spending the prior two seasons in 3A. After two years of playoff appearances, Shady Side struggled to find consistency. They got a late September conference win over Apollo Ridge, but lost their final five outings to fall into a three-way tie at the bottom of the league. Senior QB Cam Mallory returns after throwing for 541 yards and 10 TDs and rushing for 434 yards and 5 scores. The offense should run through Mallory this season. In order to contend for a playoff spot, the Bulldogs will need to improve on a defense that allowed a 2A-high 43 points per game last season.
Ligonier Valley
2024 Result: 3-7, missed playoffs
All-Time: 477-510-40 (29th in wins, 67th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title (played in District 6 from until 2020, won D6 titles in 2016 & 2017)
The Rams started 2024 with a win over neighboring rival Derry then got a win over Shady Side Academy at the outset of conference play. They were hovering around the fringes of the wild card conversation before a Week 9 loss to Apollo-Ridge dropped them into a three-way tie at the bottom of the conference. Ligonier Valley is a run-heavy team that lost their top three rushers to graduation. The top returning back is Bryce Vida (162 yards, 1 TD). At quarterback, Bowie Schreyer (747 yards, 7 TDs) enters his third year as the starter. Cameron Kunkle (202 yards, 1 TD) is the top returning receiver for the Rams. Ligonier Valley averaged just 19 points per game last season, the second-lowest total in the conference. They will need to find ways to put more points on the board this year in order to vie for a playoff spot.
