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. With Belle Vernon moving back up to 4A, Elizabeth Forward took over as the dominant force in the conference. The Interstate had one of the most exciting Week 9s last season of any conference, resulting in Greensburg Salem, Southmoreland, and Mt Pleasant finishing in a 3-way tie for second. 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.
Elizabeth Forward
2024 Result: 7-3, Interstate Conference Champions, lost to Central Valley in semifinals
All-Time: 456-512-36 (38th in wins, 73rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
Elizabeth Forward reached the semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons and are once again the favorites in the Interstate Conference. The Warriors lost their first two outings of 2024 on the final play of the game – a blocked extra point against West Mifflin and a 2-point conversion in 3OT against Highlands. But they bounced back and cruised through conference play winning all five games by at least 30 points. Dual-threat quarterback Ryan Messina (2244 passing yards, 21 TDs; 595 rushing yards, 8 TDs) returns for his senior season to lead the offense. Messina is the only returning starter at the skill positions after 14 seniors graduated. Brendan Stroschein (237 yards, 2 TDs) is the top returning receiver and the only one of the top five that did not graduate. Other than Messina, the top returning rushers are junior Travis Dusi and sophomore Niko Mrkonja who both only got a handful of carries in backup duty last season.
Greensburg Salem
2024 Result: 7-3, lost to Avonworth in the first round
All-Time: 718-418-39 (7th in wins, 15th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Lions rebounded from a 2-8 campaign in 2023 to go 7-3, capping off the season with a 28-21 victory over Southmoreland that forced a 3-way tie for second place and earned them a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. That was Greensburg Salem’s first playoff appearance since 2019 and they will look to build on it this season. Junior dual threat QB Brody Chismar returns after throwing for 1000 yards and 15 TDs and running for 621 yards and 3 scores. He is the only one of the top five rushers to return and also lost five of his top six receivers. Seniors Maxim Topper (270 yards, 6 TDs) is the only returning target while Akheim McCreary and Jackson Hostetler both saw time as backup RBs and averaged over 6 yards per carry. Greensburg Salem boasted the top defense in the conference last season, holding opponents to 19 points per game. With Chismar as the anchor of the offense, the Lions could emerge as the top challenger to Elizabeth Forward in the Interstate.
Mt. Pleasant
2024 Result: 5-5, lost to Freeport in first round
All-Time: 358-293-9 (70th in wins, 39th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2 WPIAL Championships (1983, 1986), predecessor schools Hurst won 3 WPIAL titles (1931, 1938, 1942) and Ramsay win 1 WPIAL title (1933)
The Vikings have made the playoffs in six straight seasons but have only won one in that timespan. Last year’s team bounced back from a 2-3 start (where 2 games went to overtime and another they lost by a single point) to win 3 of their first 4 in conference play. This set up a showdown in Week 9 with Elizabeth Forward for the conference title. The Vikings came up short then fell to Freeport in the opening round of the playoffs. The good news for Mt. Pleasant is that only five seniors graduated from last year’s team, so a large number of contributors return. Mt. Pleasant is a ground-and-pound team that will run multiple backs out of an option offense. Last year five players finished with over 200 rushing yards. Of those, leading rusher Brody Hutter (471 yards, 8 TDs) and Steven Predejna (383 yards, 5 TDs) will be back in the fold this year. Dante Firmstone (167 yards, 2 TDs) saw some time as the backup quarterback, getting the start in Week 9 against Elizabeth Forward. On the outside, Jonah Townsend (221 yards, 1 TD) is the top returning receiver. Given the amount of experience the Vikings have returning, including all five linemen, they should be a solid playoff contender once again.
Southmoreland
2024 Result: 7-3, lost to Highlands in first round
All-Time: 204-372-12 (112th in wins, 116th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
Since breaking their 40-year playoff drought in 2019, the Scotties have been a mainstay in the postseason. The only time they did not qualify in the last six years was the COVID-restricted season of 2020. The next step for the Scotties is to claim their first playoff victory in school history. Last year, they were in position to contend for the conference title with a 7-1 record heading into Week 8 but dropped their final two games and injuries left them shorthanded in the playoffs against Highlands. The Scotties lost their starting quarterback to transfer, leaving the spot open to competition. Makel Darnell was used all over the field last year (384 receiving yards, 138 rushing yards, 5 total TDs) including attempting a few passes. Sophomore WR Jackson Mickens (485 yards, 6 TDs) is the top returning player on the outside, along with Darnell and Ty Whoric (208 yards). Mickens is also a star on the defensive side of the ball and has landed D1 offers from Akron and Miami (OH). Southmoreland should be competitive for a playoff spot once again, but have to find answers at several positions in their starting lineup.
Derry
2024 Result: 3-7, missed playoffs
All-Time: 378-387-12 (62th in wins, 64rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: WPIAL Champions
The Trojans moved up from 2A to 3A last season and saw some early-season success with wins over Freeport and Burrell but dropped their last five games to finish at the bottom of the Interstate Conference. A number of young players saw time, including Anthony Sacco who started at quarterback as a sophomore and threw for 609 yards and 4 TDs. Two of the Trojans top three rushers return in Justin Papuga (423 yards, 4 TDs) and junior Max Doherty (331 yards, 2 TDs). On the outside, the top five receivers were all underclassmen which should enable Sacco to open up the passing game a bit more this season. Doherty (142 yards, 1 TD) led the way with rising sophomore Karsen Weiers (119 yards, 1 TD) and seniors Ricky Daniels (102 yards) and Brayden Robinson (101 yards) also contributing. Derry has an experienced group returning and should be more competitive in the Interstate Conference this season.
Yough
2024 Result: 3-7, missed playoffs
All-Time: 170-361-11 (116th in wins, 120th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Cougars moved up from 2A to 3A and bookended their season with victories. Yough topped Brentwood and Charleroi to start the season and earned a conference victory with a blowout of Derry in the final week. They also had two tight losses to Ringgold and Mt. Pleasant on their slate. However, Yough lost their star quarterback and top rushers to graduation which will leave a large hole to fill heading into 2025. The only returning players at the offensive skill positions are leading receivers Aidan Shaffer (501 yards, 5 TDs) and Ryan Sarver (397 yards, 7 TDs). This may be a bit of a rebuilding campaign for Yough who will need to replace the 12 seniors that graduated.
