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. Woodland Hills returned to the top last season, winning their first conference title since 2015. The new playoff format did give the Committee some cause for deliberation as Gateway, Latrobe, and Kiski tied for forth place. Woodland Hills is the favorites once again but the rest of the pack should be tight as all of the other teams lost key contributors to graduation. 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.
Woodland Hills
2024 Result: 8-2, Big East Conference Champions, lost in quarterfinals to Bethel Park
All-Time: 294-150-0 (95th in wins, 7th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 5 WPIAL Championships (1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2009)
The Wolverines return an immensely talented senior class after winning the conference title last season and are the clear favorites once again. Unfortunately, their 2024 season ended with an early playoff exit after star QB Cam Walter (1133 yards, 12 TDs) suffered a late-season injury that knocked him out for the playoffs. With Walter back at the helm, the Wolverines have the talent to make a deep push this season. Walter’s favorite target, Scoop Smith (630 receiving yards, 352 rushing yards, 15 total TDs) returns for his senior season after committing to Miami (OH) this summer. Smith is the fastest player in the WPIAL and is a multi-sport star with WPIAL titles in track events. Junior receiver Malik McCloud (307 yards, 4 TDs) has offers from a few MAC schools. Other than Smith, who is used all over the offense, junior Nico Mager (203 yards, 3 TDs) is the top returning rusher after averaging 8 yards per carry last season. On defense, NC State-commit Zykir Moore is a punishing linebacker.
Gateway
2024 Result: 3-7, missed playoffs
All-Time: 464-238-13 (35th in wins, 8th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 7 WPIAL Championships (1969, 1972, 1974(t), 1985(t), 1986, 2017, 2019)
The Gators were an absolute force in 5A at the beginning of the six classification era, reaching the semifinals in five straight seasons and winning two WPIAL titles. However, they missed the playoffs last year after three straight one-and-done postseasons. Gateway had a young roster last season and return a number of experienced players that should enable them to compete for the playoffs this year. Sophomore QB Elvis Koutsakis (1577 yards, 14 TDs) took the helm in Week 5 last season, a rare freshman starter for Gateway. Leading receiver Shawn Moorefield (701 yards, 4 TDs) returns for his senior season to give Gateway some stability on the outside. Koutsakis is the team’s top returning rusher (178 yards, 2 TDs) as Gateway will need to find a complement to him in the ground game. Maine-commit Carlos Diggs is a star at cornerback and may see his role on offense increase this season with his play-making abilities. Watch out for junior WR/DB Jayden Stammer who already has an Akron offer as well as junior TE Kacy Carter (195 yards, 5 TDs) who is the top returning scorer. Two-way lineman Kaiyen Mbandi has some FCS offers.
Penn-Trafford
2024 Result: 8-2, Lost to Peters Twp in the quarterfinals
All-Time: 341-209-10 (75th in wins, 18th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2021 WPIAL and State Champions
The Warriors put together a strong season that included a 7-game winning streak spanning from Week 4 through the first round of the playoffs where they ran all over South Fayette. After a slow offensive start, Penn-Trafford averaged 33 points per game during their winning streak. The Warriors lost a number of key starters to graduation and will need to find replacements across the roster. A pair of rising juniors are the top returning players for Penn-Trafford. Ben Grabowski scored 10 TDs as a freshman but saw less time last season, running for 110 yards. He should become a focal point of the offense this season, along with junior receiver Nico Ponko (165 yards, 2 TDs).
Franklin Regional
2024 Result: 7-3, Lost to Pine-Richland in the quarterfinals
All-Time: 332-373-17 (81st in wins, 74th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2005 WPIAL and PIAA Champions
The Panthers have made the playoffs in 20 of the last 21 years with the only miss coming in the truncated 2020 campaign. They will need to replace a number of starters in order to continue that streak this season. The Panthers lost their quarterback, top four rushers, and top five receivers to graduation. Sophomore Dominic Devola saw some time as the backup QB last season and may step into the starting role this year. Senior DB Jaymier Austin is an absolute force on the back end of the defense and has already garnered offers from Purdue, California, and some MAC schools. He is also one of hte top returning receivers and will likely see an increased role in the offense. Junior Jet Taylor is the top returning rusher but only saw a handful of carries last season.
Armstrong
2024 Result: 2-8, missed playoffs
All-Time: 56-47 (119th in wins, 43rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Armstrong, along with predecessor schools Kittanning, and Ford City, has never won a WPIAL title
The Riverhawks moved up from 4A to 5A last season and were never able to find their rhythm. Junior QB Jaydon Oliver took over halfway through his freshman year and has racked up over 3000 career yards, throwing for 1763 yards and 15 TDs last year while adding 579 yards and 6 TDs on the ground. His backfield counterpart Costa Couknas (469 yards, 4 TDs) also returns. Armstrong will need to develop a receiving corps for their pass-heavy offense after their top three graduated. Senior Max Zablocki (105, 1 TD) is the top returning receiver.
Latrobe
2024 Result: 5-5, lost to Bethel Park in the first round
All-Time: 480-562-38 (28th in wins, 81st in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1968 WPIAL Champions
The Wildcats have burst onto the scene recently, but will be challenged by the move up in classification from 4A to 5A. In 2022 they won their first playoff game since 1968 by defeating Highlands in overtime. Latrobe’s high hopes for last season resulted in their third straight playoff appearance, but a midseason injury to star Alex Tatsch made for a gritty up-and-down campaign. Latrobe played a number of close games including a 3-point loss to Franklin Regional and a 1-point win over Gateway in Week 8 that solidified their playoff spot. The Wildcats top returning player is Alex’s younger brother Andy Tatsch, a Lehigh-commit, who plays both wide receiver and safety. Andy led the Wildcats with 435 receiving yards and 3 TDs and is the only returning skill position starter for Latrobe.
Kiski
2024 Result: 4-6, missed playoffs
All-Time: 320-309-7 (84th in wins, 56th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1971 WPIAL Champions
Kiski moved up from 4A to 5A last season and finished in a 3-way tie with Latrobe and Gateway for 4th place in the conference. The WPIAL selection committee selected Latrobe from that group for the playoffs, ending Kiski’s first season in 5A. The Cavaliers did finish strong, winning 3 of their last 4 games (including wins over Latrobe and fellow Wild Card hopeful Plum). Kiski will have to replace their entire backfield this season, including their school-record setting quarterback. Leading receivers Aven Shirley (764 yards, 10 TDs) and Andrew Finney (333 yards, 2 TDs) both return. Shirley was listed on the roster as a quarterback last season and may get a chance to compete for the job with sophomore Landyn Artman who saw some time as a backup last year. Sophomore lineman Nick Anderson has offers from Virginia Tech and some FCS schools.
