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.
Only eight teams qualify for the 4A playoffs. The top two teams from each of the three conferences are guaranteed playoff spots. The final two wild card spots are decided by the WPIAL selection committee, rather than by a formula as was the case in prior cycles. Thomas Jefferson is the defending WPIAL Champions, claiming their 11th title in school history. Trinity has a budding star in dual-threat quarterback Jonah Williamson who led the Hillers to the postseason in two straight seasons. Belle Vernon was awarded a wild card last season after playing one of the toughest non-conference slates in the WPIAL. 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.
Thomas Jefferson
2024 Result: 10-0, Big Six Conference Champions, WPIAL Champions
All-Time: 519-215-7 (22nd in wins, 3rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 11 WPIAL Championships (1980, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2024), 5 State Championships (2004, 2007, 2008, 2019, 2020)
The year after TJ’s streak of 11 straight semifinal appearances came to an end when, the Jaguars went on a revenge tour and bulldozed WPIAL competition en route to their 11th title. Thomas Jefferson has made the playoffs every year since 1994, and has the talent to be a challenger for the WPIAL title once again. Leading rusher Tyler Eber (2276 yards, 33 TDs) was only a sophomore last season. If the WPIAL playoffs last season, Eber went on an incredible run where he had 123 carries, 601 yards, and 4 TDs in three games. Senior RB Emmit Forte (206 yards, 4 TDs) also returns to the backfield. Second-leading receiver Kane Eggerton (283 yards 5 TDs) is the only one of TJ’s receiving corps to return this year. The biggest question will be at quarterback where Jeffrey Raible and rising sophomore Harrison Kolling both appeared in backup duty last season.
Trinity
2024 Result: 5-5, Lost in first round to Aliquippa
All-Time: 393-537-37 (52nd in wins, 96th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1948 WPIAL Champions
Trinity followed up on their breakout 2023 campaign with another playoff appearance in 2024. This was the first time Trinity made consecutive playoff appearances since 2009 and 2010. Dual-threat senior QB Jonah Williamson threw for 1059 yards and 6 TDs and ran for 814 yards and 12 scores. He has committed to Harvard to play linebacker. Fellow linebacker Anthony Giorgi is also a D-1 commit, heading to Navy. Giorgi will also see some time as a receiver (176 yards, 1 TD). The Hillers have a strong class of juniors coming up as well. Chase Kostelnik (274 yards, 3 TDs) and Braden Berdar (191 yards) were Williamson’s top two receivers last season. In the backfield, Owen Gardner (346 yards, 4 TDs) should become the complementary piece to Williamson after averaging 8 yards per carry last season. With two D1 recruits on the roster, this figures to be one of the most talented Trinity teams in years and they will look to challenge defending WPIAL Champs Thomas Jefferson atop the conference.
Belle Vernon
2024 Result: 4-4, Lost to McKeesport in first round
All-Time: 370-246-7 (64th in wins, 27th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2 WPIAL Championships (2022, 2023), 2 State Championships (2022, 2023)
The Leopards moved back up to 4A last season after winning back-to-back 3A State Championships. The biggest news heading into this season at Belle Vernon is at head coach where Matt Humbert stepped away from coaching but is still involved with the program as the athletic director. Scott Bryer now steps in to lead the Leopards on the sideline. Senior QB Curtis Wade was the catalyst of the offense last year, throwing for 1039 yards and 12 TDs and running for 365 yards and 3 scores. Rising junior Chance Petrosky (110 yards, 2 TDs) and sophomores Ean Tartar and Jace Gedekoh saw a handful of carries each as backup running backs and should take on bigger roles in the backfield. Three of Belle Vernon’s top four receivers graduated with Deaubre Lightfoot (222 yards, 2 TDs) the only one returning. Belle Vernon has a brutal slate of games to start the season which will provide some immediate measuring sticks for how they stack up against top competition including Aliquippa and McKeesport.
Chartiers Valley
2024 Result: 3-6, Missed playoffs
All-Time: 251-377-5 (100th in wins, 107th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
When the calendar flipped to October, Chartiers Valley was in position to potentially be a contender for postseason consideration. The Colts were coming off a convincing win over Laurel Highlands and sat at 3-2 overall. However, their defense struggled down the stretch, allowing an average of 50 points per game over their final four outings, which were all losses. Rising seniors Luke Miranda and Michael Lawrence split time at quarterback last season. The Colts have a large class of rising seniors who made up their key skill position players last season. In addition to the two quarterbacks, leading rusher Tayshaun Lewis (922 yards, 11 TDs) and leading receiver Julius Best (210 yards, 4 TDs) both return for their senior seasons.
Laurel Highlands
2024 Result: 4-5, Missed playoffs
All-Time: 211-370-7 (111th in wins, 115th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
Laurel Highlands had a strong 4-2 start to the 2024 season, but when the competition got tough over the last three weeks they came up short offensively, scoring just 20 total points over the final three games against the three playoff teams from the Big Six Conference. In the offseason, head coach Rick Kolesar, who had historic success as the head of the program including the Mustangs first conference title and first playoff victory, was replaced by Aaron Raffle. Senior QB Noah Lion (635 yards, 8 TDs) will helm the offense for the third straight season. Lion is also the Mustangs’ top returning rusher (151 yards, 2 TDs). Junior RB Gio Guerriere (111 yards, 2 TDs) should see an increased role in the running game while second-leading receiver Scotty McClay (128 yards, 2 TDs) returns for his senior season.
Ringgold
2024 Result: 2-8, Missed playoffs
All-Time: 250-304-12 (101st in wins, 85th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1982 WPIAL Champions
The biggest news for Ringgold in 2024 was the Rams ending the longest losing streak in the WPIAL, which dated back to Week 4 of 2021. After a Week 1 loss in overtime to Indiana, the Rams topped Yough 21-19 in thrilling fashion to break a 24-game drought. Ringgold would also end the season on a high note with a 10-point victory over Chartiers Valley, ending a 44-game conference drought that stretched back to 2018. Junior Amoni Ward and senior Ty Anderson both saw time in backup quarterback duties last season. Junior WR/DB Demetri Lowe has an Akron offer after putting up 327 yards and 3 TDs last season.
