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. Ellwood City won their first conference title since 1997 and had their first undefeated regular season since 1944. 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.
Mohawk
2024 Result: 6-3, lost to South Park in quarterfinals
All-Time: 383-489-41 (60th in wins, 89th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL Championship
A year after reaching the semifinals for the first time in school history, Mohawk returned to the playoffs for the fourth straight season and won another postseason outing. After tough games against Lawrence County foes in non-conference play, Mohawk lost their first conference game to Ellwood City, but bounced back to win five of their next six games and comfortably qualify for the playoffs where they beat Keystone Oaks in a first round shootout. Mohawk has one of the most exciting players in 2A in dual-threat QB Bobby Fadden who threw for 1682 yards and 18 TDs and ran for 618 yards and 7 TDs. Fadden will be joined in the backfield by rising junior Cash Stratton (489 yards, 8 TDs). Mohawk’s top two receivers graduated, leaving Joe Nail (110 yards, 2 TDs) as the top returning target.
Riverside
2024 Result: 5-5, lost to Seton LaSalle in quarterfinals
All-Time: 296-263-4 (93rd in wins, 47th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1985 WPIAL Champions
The Panthers made the playoffs for the second time in three seasons and rode a stingy defense to a first round victory. Coming off a 1-win season, Riverside being able to win a playoff game amounted to a tremendous success. Their only loss by more than two scores was against Seton LaSalle in the playoffs. Riverside held opponents to just 16 points per game, the 6th best mark in 2A. The Panthers turnaround came halfway through the year when freshman Aidan Gaydosz took over at quarterback. With only a partial year as a starter, he threw for 812 yards and 5 TDs and ran for 109 yards and 4 scores. Riverside’s leading rusher and leading receiver both graduated. Junior Mason Holler (112 yards, 2 TDs) is the top returning back while seniors Hunter Garcia (400 yards, 2 TDs) and Joe Chill (107 yards, 4 TDs) are the top returning receivers. If Riverside can keep up their defensive tenacity and expand an offense that averaged just 17 points per game they can potentially contend for the conference title.
Ellwood City
2024 Result: 9-0, Midwestern Conference Champions, lost to South Park in semifinals
All-Time: 448-587-44 (40th in wins, 94th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1925 WPIAL Champions
Ellwood City is coming off their best season since World War II. The Wolverines went unbeaten in the regular season, won the conference title, and reached the semifinals. Ellwood City’s 2025 senior class left a resounding legacy of ending a 12-year playoff drought, posting an undefeated season, and winning a conference title. They had a balanced offensive attack and a stingy defense that held opponents to just 11 points per game, the second-best mark in 2A. The Wolverines will need to replace their starting quarterback and top three rushers who all graduated. Senior Tyler Smiley was the backup quarterback last season and scored a rushing TD in spot duty. Ellwood City does return their top two receivers in rising seniors Dom Hogue (463 yards, 3 TDs) and Dailonn Currie (336 yards, 7 TDs). The top returning rushers are sophomore Giulian Frisk and senior Anthony Barberio who only saw a handful of carries.
Western Beaver
2024 Result: 7-2, lost to Steel Valley in quarterfinals
All-Time: 330-268-6 (82nd in wins, 38th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 3 WPIAL Championships (1976, 1983, 1994)
The Golden Beavers have made the playoffs in five straight seasons and lost to Steel Valley in the quarterfinals each of the last two years. This year’s Western Beaver team will look a little different after 9 seniors graduated and their star quarterback transferred to a private prep academy. Rising junior RBs Wyatt Sparbanie (429 rushing yards, 146 receiving yards, 9 total TDs) and Braedon Mayo (286 rushing yards, 155 receiving yards, 7 total TDs) are the top returning players. The Golden Beavers may shift to a more run-oriented approach with those two back in the fold. On the outside, junior Aidan Vula (368 yards, 4 TDs) is the only one of the top four receivers to return.
New Brighton
2024 Result: 4-6, missed playoffs
All-Time: 567-511-59 (16th in wins, 50th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 3 WPIAL Championships (1950, 1951, 1994)
After a quarterfinal appearance in 2021 where New Brighton upset Washington in the first round of the playoffs, the Lions did not win a game for two seasons. That 21-game losing streak came to an end in Week 0 last year in thrilling fashion against Shenango. New Brighton got a safety and returned the ensuing free kick for a touchdown then held on to a 9-7 victory the rest of the way. The Lions would get off to a 3-1 start to the season before losing 5 of their last 6 against tougher competition in conference play. The one bright spot in that tough stretch was winning the Jug from rivals Beaver Falls. All in all, a 4-6 campaign and coming up just shy of the playoffs (arguably their 7-point loss to Riverside was all that kept them out) was a tremendously successful season after two straight winless years. Sophomore Jaron King (639 yards, 6 TDs) split time at quarterback last year and should take over the starting role this season. Joining King in the backfield is the multi-talented JoJo Montanez who ran for 386 yards, had 172 receiving yards, and scored a team-high 5 TDs. Junior Heath Lewis (342 yards, 2 TDs) also returns to the backfield. On the outside, King gets back senior WR Jaxson Zahn (222 yards, 3 TDs). New Brighton will look to continue their upward trend and their returning talent should be enough to put them right in the middle of the pack for the playoff race.
Union
2024 Result: 3-6, missed playoffs
All-Time: 383-506-27 (60th in wins, 95th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2 WPIAL Championships (1959, 2022)
The Scotties moved up to 2A last season after a historically successful run in 1A. In 2022 they captured their first WPIAL title since 1959 and went on to the State Championship Game. Their foray into the higher classification got off to a rough start as the Scotties dropped their first 5 games. When they calendar flipped to October they did turn things around and won three of their last four games but it was not enough to qualify for the playoffs. Junior RB Gianni Million (358 yards, 3 TDs) is the top returning skill position player after averaging 5.6 yards per carry. The Scotties will need to fine a new quarterback but do have some returning experience at receiver with senior Jayden Townsell (142 yards, 1 TD) and junior TE Jordyn Kelley (125 yards). If Union can get off to a better start in 2026, they could be right in the mix for Wild Card consideration.
Beaver Falls
2024 Result: 0-10, missed playoffs
All-Time: 705-438-52 (8th in wins, 20th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 6 WPIAL Championships (1928, 1960, 1984, 2016, 2020, 2023)
Prior to last season, the Tigers had reached the WPIAL Championship Game in all four seasons since moving down from 3A to 2A in 2020. Beaver Falls suffered a dramatic falloff, going from the defending WPIAL Champions to a winless season. Beaver Falls struggled on both sides of the ball, averaging only 5 points per game on offense (the lowest in 2A) while allowing 35 points per game on defense (the fourth-most in 2A). The Tigers were shut out in 6 of their 10 games and the closest result was a 12-point loss to rivals New Brighton. Junior QB Austin Campbell thew for 623 yards and 2 TDs last year. Their leading rushers and receiver graduated, leaving junior Mar’Shaun Williams (181 yards) as the top returning back and Kenny Jewell (147 yards) as the top receiver.
Freedom
2024 Result: 2-6, missed playoffs
All-Time: 385-563-54 (56th in wins, 103rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Bulldogs missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season but managed shutout victories over Quaker Valley and Beaver Falls. Junior RB Kaiden Bailey led the team with 351 yards and 3 TDs and is the top returning skill position player. Senior Garrett Drutarosky ran for 100 yards and 2 TDs and also kicked 2 field goals. Rising sophomore Karter Brown was the backup quarterback last season and will likely step into the starting role as Freedom works to rebuild their program. The Bulldogs ended the season with four straight losses but should have some opportunities to right the ship early in the 2026 season.
