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.
Twelve teams qualify for the 3A playoffs. The top three teams from each of the three conferences are guaranteed playoff spots. The final three wild card spots are decided by the WPIAL selection committee, rather than by a formula as was the case in prior cycles. Imani Christian opted to play up in 3A and ran through the regular season with an unbeaten record. The Saints were awarded the top seed in the playoffs but were upset in the semifinals by eventual WPIAL Champions Avonworth. Imani returns a load of D1-caliber talent and is the favorites once again. Highlands and Freeport both won first round games and will look to build towards deeper playoff runs this season. 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.
Imani Christian
2024 Result: 10-0, Allegheny Seven Conference Champions, lost in semifinals to Avonworth
All-Time: 56-57 (119th in wins, 63rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
Imani opted to play up in 3A this cycle after and proved they absolutely belonged at this level. The Saints went undefeated in the regular season and earned the top seed in the playoffs. After a tough battle against conference foe Highlands, they fell in the semis to eventual WPIAL Champions Avonworth. Imani returns a loaded squad, including 5 players with D1 offers, and should be right in the mix to contend for the title again this season. The Junior Gabe Jenkins has over 20 D1 offers, including Penn State, Pitt, WVU, Kentucky, and Michigan State. Jenkins led the team in rushing (1283 yards) caught a handful of passes (221 yards) and was the leading scorer (18 total TDs). Saints should have one of the best defenses in the classification this season, with D1 talent at all three levels. Senior DB David Davis is a Penn State-commit while Edge rusher Will Gorman has committed to Youngstown State. Davis is also used out of the slot offensively and had 297 rushing yards, 266 receiving yards, and 10 TDs last season. Junior EDGE Da’Juan Craighead has offers from WVU and Duke while lineman Quamir Battles has an Akron offer. Craighead also saw some time on offense last season, putting up 177 receiving yards and scoring 5 TDs. The biggest question for the Saints is at quarterback. Sophomore Neo Yakimura saw a few snaps as a backup last year. Whoever steps in at quarterback will also get second-leading receiver Robert Torres-Johnson (289 yards, 3 TDs) back in the fold.
Freeport
2024 Result: 7-3, lost to Central Valley in quarterfinals
All-Time: 590-358-46 (14th in wins, 19th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
In 2023 the Yellow Jackets missed the playoffs for just the second time in the last seven seasons, but they turned things around last season with a 7-3 record and first round playoff win over Mount Pleasant. Dual-threat QB Drew Ross enters his third year as a starter after throwing for 1372 yards and 12 TDs and running for 529 yards and 13 scores. The Yellow Jackets have a strong class of rising seniors. In addition to Ross, leading rusher Amos Glenn (1354 yards, 15 TDs) also returns to the backfield. On the outside, Madden Wisniewski (249 yards, 4 TDs), Danny King (242 yards, 1 TD), and Owen Neistein (223 yards, 1 TD) all return to give Ross a plethora of targets. Freeport has the returning talent to position themselves as the top challenger to Imani in the conference.
Highlands
2024 Result: 5-4, lost to Imani Christian in quarterfinals
All-Time: 297-265-7 (92nd in wins, 48th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Rams moved down from 4A to 3A and had one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory. They kicked off with an overtime loss to Armstrong followed by a 3OT win over Elizabeth Forward. Highlands gave Imani all they could handle in a narrow 2-point loss which they followed with a 1-point loss to Deer Lakes. The Rams turned it on at the end of the season and breezed through their final three games to earn a Wild Card spot. After knocking off Southmoreland in the first round, they were once again locked in a tight battle with Imani which slipped away in the final few minutes. Senior Jamarkus Prager figures to step in at quarterback after seeing some time as a backup last year. Second-leading receiver Jahmar Wright (515 yards, 7 TDs) is an explosive target who averaged over 25 yards per catch last season. With their top three rushers graduating, Highlands’ top returning back is sophomore Tevin Owen-Cratsenbery who averaged 6.5 yards per carry. The Rams played in so many close games last season the returning players are a battle tested bunch and should be right in the mix for the playoffs again.
East Allegheny
2024 Result: 1-9, missed playoffs
All-Time: 340-273-22 (76th in wins, 36th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1992 WPIAL Champions
IN 2023, the Wildcats won their first conference title since 2000 last season and made an impressive run to the semifinals. Unfortunately, the 2024 iteration was unable to overcome the large graduating class and their only victory came against conference bottom-feeder Valley. A number of key players return this season, giving the Wildcats hope of getting back into the mix for a playoff spot. Senior QB Curtis Mack Jr threw for 2082 yards and 21 TDs and ran for 224 yards and 1 TD last season. He is the top returning rusher for the Wildcats whose offense takes more of a pass-heavy approach. The good news is that Mack’s top three receivers all return. Seniors Damarje Warren (928 yards, 14 TDs) and Chris Portis (455 yards, 3 TDs) along with junior Ronte Lawrence (350 yards, 3 TDs) make a formidable trio that will be tough for any defense to handle. Portis has an offer from UNLV. The biggest question for East A is on the defensive side of the ball where they need to improve a unit that allowed 41 points per game, the second-most in 3A.
Deer Lakes
2024 Result: 8-2, lost to North Catholic in first round
All-Time: 195-334-11 (114th in wins, 113th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
A year after winning the first playoff game in school history, Deer Lakes got off to a roaring start, winning their first 6 outings. However, the offense dried up against Beaver and Imani before coming back to life in the final two weeks. The Lancers fell in the opening round to North Catholic, but the season marked their 3rd straight playoff appearance. That accomplishment should not be overlooked considering Deer Lakes only had two playoff appearances in school history prior to this recent run. With 12 players graduating from last year’s squad, the Lancers will need to find new starters at the key offensive skill positions, building behind some returning talent in the trenches. Rising junior Dante Mangieri got a few snaps as the backup quarterback last season and figures to step in to the starting role. The top three rushers and top three receivers all graduated, leaving Ryan Love (156 yards, 1 TD) as the top returning back. On the outside senior Dom Sciubba (113 yards, 1 TD) and sophomore Evan Moore (105 yards) are the top returning receivers.
Burrell
2024 Result: 2-8, missed playoffs
All-Time: 303-289-9 (91st in wins, 53rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 4 WPIAL Championships (1967, 1968, 1986, 1995)
The Bucs moved back up to 3A after qualifying for the playoffs in three consecutive seasons in 2A. The move up did not prove beneficial as Burrell struggled offensively, averaging just 8 points per game (the lowest mark in all of 3A). Other than their two midseason victories over East Allegheny and rival Valley, Burell was held under 13 points in all 8 of their losses. Offensive talisman Trey Coury returns for his junior year after leading the team in rushing (1143 yards), receiving (164 yards), and scoring (7 total TDs). Liam Kasavage (122 yards, 1 TD) also returns to the backfield in Burrell’s run-heavy offense.
Valley
2024 Result: 0-10, missed playoffs
All-Time: 268-287-9 (99th in wins, 68th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Vikings have fallen on hard times and are one of five teams in the WPIAL to not make a playoff appearance during the 9 years of the 6-classification era. Valley won just 3 total games over the last three seasons and have not won more than 2 games in a single season since 2018. Valley allowed over 40 points per game, the third-highest mark in 3A last season. Antonio Perkins split time at quarterback last year as a freshman and may take on the starting role this year. Valley did play a few close games last season and will look to snap their 15-game losing streak early in 2025.
