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 5A 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. Pine-Richland is the defending WPIAL Champions and return a loaded roster. The Rams have reached the WPIAL finals in 7 of the last 8 years and once again have their eyes set not just on a WPIAL title but pursuing the statewide crown. Penn Hills once again figures to be their top challenger in conference play. 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.
Pine-Richland
2024 Result: 8-1, Northeast Conference Champions, WPIAL Champions
All-Time: 417-293-13 (47th in wins, 30st in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 6 WPIAL Championships (2003, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022), Richland HS won 2 WPIAL Championships (1969 & 1970), 3 State Championships (2017, 2020, 2022)
The Rams are the defending WPIAL Champions and return a number of players that makes them the top contender for the WPIAL crown. Pine-Richland has reached the WPIAL final in 7 of the last 8 years, winning 5 titles in that span. Dual-threat junior QB Aaron “Oobi” Strader burst onto the scene as a freshman and led the team to the PIAA semis last year, throwing for 1755 yards and 20 TDs while adding 385 yards and 4 TDs on the ground. Strader has offers from Syracuse and numerous MAC schools and is ranked as one of the top junior QBs in Pennsylvania. Senior RB Maclane Miller (1303 yards, 15 TDs) returns to lead the backfield. The Rams will have a plethora of athleticism and talent on the outside. Senior WR/CB Lawrence “Jay” Timmons (son of former Steeler Lawrence Timmons) led the team with 755 receiving yards and 8 TDs while snagging 4 INTs (returning 2 for TDs along with 2 fumble return TDs). Timmons has committed to Florida State, following in his father’s footsteps. Pine-Richland also added Seton LaSalle transfer Khalil Taylor who led the Rebels with 932 receiving yards and 22 total TDs. Senior WRs Jalen Neals (301 yards, 5 TDs) and Dajuan Webb (164 yards, 3 TDs) will also boleter the Rams passing attack. The Rams will be strong in the trenches with seniors Braylen Price (a William & Mary-commit) and John Curran III (who has offers from numerous MAC schools) and junior Dajour Webb who has offers from Akron and some FCS schools. With all of their returning top-end talent on both sides of the ball, Pine-Richland is absolutely a contender for not only the WPIAL title but also to make a run at a fourth state championship.
Penn Hills
2024 Result: 6-4, Lost to Upper St Clair in quarterfinals
All-Time: 552-320-22 (18th in wins, 13th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 6 WPIAL Championships (1976, 1977t, 1978, 1979, 1995, 2018), 2 State Championships (1995, 2018)
The Indians rebounded after a slow start in 2024 to win 6 of their last 7 games with the only loss coming to conference champion Pine-Richland. That streak also included wins over Aliquippa and Mt. Lebanon. Penn Hills won a thrilling playoff shootout against Moon before falling in the quarterfinals to Upper St Clair. Senior QB Devin Harris split time at the position last year and threw for 886 yards and 3 TDs. Harris has offers from a few Ivy League schools including Penn and Princeton. The Indians lost their leading rusher and receiver but have an incredibly talented junior receiver in Carter Bonner (436 yards, 6 TDs). Bonner’s future is likely on the defensive side of the ball, keeping up the strong Penn Hills tradition of producing talented defensive backs. He has offers from Penn State, WVU, Pitt, Kentucky, and Michigan State. Senior RB Jeremy Paolino is the top returning rusher but he only saw a handful of carries in rotational duty last season.
North Hills
2024 Result: 8-2, lost to Franklin Regional in first round
All-Time: 524-332-27 (20th in wins, 23rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 4 WPIAL Championships (1982, 1985t, 1987, 1993), 1993 State Champions
The Indians have made the playoffs in 5 of the last 7 seasons but have not won a playoff game since a run to the semifinals in 2010. That streak almost came to an end last season but Franklin Regional mounted a game-winning fourth quarter drive to beat North Hills 17-16 in the opening round. The Indians played tight, stingy defense last season, holding opponents to just 12 points per game and losing to eventual WPIAL Champs Pine-Richland by only 5 points. Senior QB Kelly McCarthy threw for 1074 yards and 12 TDs and is the top returning rusher with 257 yards and 5 TDs. Fellow senior Israel Armstead (133 yards) figures to take on a bigger role this season after averaging over 5 yards per carry. Leading receivers Josiah Mathis (248 yards, 3 TDs) and junior Johnell Edison (174 yards, 2 TDs) both return to give the Indians a well-rounded set of offensive skill position players. If they can continue their stingy defense, they should be right in the mix with Penn Hills for second place in the conference and will have a chance to break their postseason drought.
Shaler
2024 Result: 3-7, missed playoffs
All-Time: 276-457-30 (96th in wins, 112th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
After a 2023 season where Shaler had a 5-5 campaign, one of their best teams in school history, the Titans struggled to replace a large graduating class and couldn’t get much traction in 2024. The Titans did win 2 of their first three games, including their Route 8 Rivalry matchup with Hampton. But after that victory, the Titans lost 6 of their last 7 games, scoring more than 7 points just twice in that span. Shaler does have some returning talent this season in QBs Aaron Aversa (475 yards, 3 TDs) and Max Wiley (186 yards, 2 TD) who split time at the position last year. Aversa was also Shaler’s leading rusher (415 yards, 2 TDs). Junior Sami Tapu also returns to the backfield after running for 332 yards and 3 TDs. On the outside, Shaler’s top three receivers also return. Troy Cignetti (188 yards, 1 TD) and Jonathan Saban (140 yards, 1 TD) are rising seniors while Braedyn Witkowski (181 yards, 2 TDs) is a rising junior. Coming off last year’s rebuilding campaign where numerous young players got significant playing time, Shaler hopes to see the results on the field this season.
Plum
2024 Result: 2-8, missed playoffs
All-Time: 348-449-25 (73rd in wins, 92nd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1983 WPIAL Champions
The Mustangs moved over from the Big East to the Northeast conference this season and never found their footing. Plum was potentially in the discussion for a wild card before a Week 8 1-point loss to fellow contender Kiski ended those chances. Due to injuries and inconsistent play, Plum had four different players see time at quarterback last season. Two of them – junior John Nonnenberg (566 yards, 6 TDs) and senior Antonio Hanzlik (216 yards, 1 TD) return this season. The Mustangs top three rushers graduated with Nonnenberg as the top returning rusher. Junior RB CJ Hart will likely see his workload increase after averaging nearly 5 yards per carry and picking up an Akron offer for his work at linebacker. On the outside, leading receiver Sloan Humphries (536 yards, 4 TDs) is back for his senior season.
Fox Chapel
2024 Result: 2-7, missed playoffs
All-Time: 228-391-8 (107th in wins, 114th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
When is a 2-win season a success? When you haven’t won a game in over two years. Fox Chapel entered the 2024 season riding a 21-game losing streak. The Foxes snapped that skid in Week 1 with a win over Baldwin. Senior QB Joey Geller returns after throwing for 575 yards and 4 TDs and running for two more last year. Fellow rising seniors Max Melocchi and Nathan Johnson also attempted some passes in rotational duties. Fox Chapel’s top three rushers graduated and they will need to lean on junior Sully Slater (141 yards, 1 TD) who averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Fox Chapel does have an absolute weapon in the third phase of the game in kicker Harran Zureikat, a Georgia-commit who converted four field goals last year.
