Last year the Tri-County South finished in a three-way tie at the top. West Greene, California, and Monessen swept the rest of the league then went 1-1 against each other with each game decided by more than 10 points. This resulted in a perfectly even tie that had to be settled by a coin flip at the WPIAL office to determine which team earned a home playoff game. After a number of ties, West Greene won the flip. The benefit of the three-way tie was that all three teams qualified for the playoffs. This year, West Greene returns a number of starters including RB Ben Jackson who is a threat to win the WPIAL rushing title. California returns three players who averaged over 9 yards per carry last year. This figures to be a run-heavy conference this season, but don’t sleep on one of these teams making a run in the WPIAL playoffs.
The playoff format in 1A is the same as last year. The playoffs will consist of 8 teams with the Championship Game played on Saturday, November 16 at Heinz Field. The top two teams from each of the three conferences will make the playoffs. Additionally, two of the three third place finishers will make the playoffs based on the Wild Card formula. Home playoff games in the first round will go to the three conference champions plus one second place team, based on the Wild Card. Both semifinal games will be played at neutral sites. Be sure to check out our new WPIAL Football ELO Rankings and the rest of our WPIAL Season Previews. Teams are listed in their predicted order of finish.
West Greene
ELO Rating: 1040
1A Rank: 10
WPIAL Rank: 102
Twitter:
The Pioneers have seen an historic run of success the last two years and are not done yet. In 2017 they made the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Last season they finished in a 3-way tie with Monessen and California for the conference title, winning a home playoff game on a coin flip. Rising senior RB Ben Jackson ran for 1541 yards and 26 TDs last season and is a good bet to not only lead 1A in rushing but possibly win the rushing crown for the entire WPIAL. The Pioneers backfield will be loaded with seniors next year. In addition to Jackson, QB Gavin Scott (603 yards, 4 TDs) and FB Kolin Walker (547 yards, 7 TDs) will also be seniors. Tight End Andrew Litton (136 yards) is the top returning receiver. West Greene averaged 30 points per game last season in the defensively-soft Tri-County South and could put up even more points this year. The Pioneers are absolutely a threat to win the conference title again this season.
California
ELO Rating: 1155
1A Rank: 6
WPIAL Rank: 95
Twitter:
After challenging Clairton’s WPIAL scoring record in 2017 but falling in the semifinals, California’s 2018 got off to a rocky 1-4 start. But the Trojans put it together, winning their last 5 outings (including a victory over West Greene that put them into a 3-way tie for first place). California made the playoffs for the third straight season but fell to Clairton in the first round. Cochise Ryan is the top returning skill player after rushing for 513 yards, leading the team in receiving with 198 yards, and scoring 11 times. California has a run-heavy offense and last year had 5 players with over 400 yards. Expect Ryan to lead the way this year, along with Lucas Qualk (503 yards, 6 TDs) and Jaeden Zuzak (412 yards, 7 TDs). Also, keep an eye out for rising sophomore Damonie Stafford. All three of those players averaged over 9.5 yards per carry last season. The Trojans lost 3 starters from their offensive line, but if they can find solid replacements there is no reason there offense can’t see similar success to when they led the conference in scoring at 35 points per game last year.
Monessen
ELO Rating: 1011
1A Rank: 12
WPIAL Rank: 105
Twitter:
A year after finishing near the bottom of the conference, Monessen bounced back to not only tie for the conference title but challenge defending champions Jeannette in the opening round. Monessen averaged 32 points per game last year, second-best in the conference while boasting the Tri-County South’s best defense (12 points allowed per game). There is some uncertainty this year for the Greyhounds after Devin Whitlock, who starred on the team as just a freshman, transferred to Belle Vernon. Monessen will now turn to junior WR Isaiah Beltram and 6’4″ senior WR Marquell Smith to lead the way. Beltram scored 5 times last year and Smith had 4 TDs. They will have senior QB Dawayen Howell returning but will have an early test with California in Week 1.
Bentworth
ELO Rating: 1113
1A Rank: 8
WPIAL Rank: 98
Twitter:
Bentworth moved down to 1A last year and finished in the middle of the pack in the Tri-County South. Junior Trent Cavanaugh was the Bearcats top player last year, rushing for 1182 yards, adding 137 receiving yards, and scoring 15 times. Cavanaugh also took over at quarterback in Week 7 and threw 2 TDs. Rising senior Shawn Dizak had started the season at quarterback and thrown for 761 yards and 7 TDs. Leading receiver Dylan Farkas (232 yards, 2 TDs) returns for his senior season. Additionally, Owen Petrisek was the second-leading rusher (460 yards) and added 198 receiving yards and scored 8 TDs. Bentworth has plenty of players back from last season and could challenge for third place if they can improve a defense that allowed 27 points per game.
Chartiers-Houston
ELO Rating: 1067
1A Rank: 9
WPIAL Rank: 101
Twitter:
After a winless 2017, Chartiers-Houston moved down to 1A and got back on the right track with a 3-4 conference record that landed the Bucs in the middle of the TCS pack. The Bucs want to play a wide open passing game, but turnovers slowed down their pace last season. Anthony Lento took over at QB in Week 7 and threw for 292 yards and 1 TD in just a few weeks of play. Leading receiver Tyler Blumen (355 yards, 5 TDs) will return for his senior season. Jimmy Sadler was a jack-of-all-trades for the Bucs as a sophomore, rushing for 192 yards and adding 114 receiving yards and scoring 4 times. After averaging nearly 10 yards per touch last season, expect Sadler to be a larger part of the offense this year. Leading rusher Sam Dewalt (215 yards, 2 TDs) also returns for his senior season. Chartiers-Houston has the returning talent to finish in the middle of the TCS pack once again.
Avella
ELO Rating: 793
1A Rank: 23
WPIAL Rank: 119
Twitter:
The Eagles only wins last season came against a depleated Mapletown team. Avella played Mapletown in a Week 0 game that did not count towards the conference standings then beat the Maples again in Week 8. Avella had only 5 seniors graduate, but that included their quarterback and top two rushers. The top returning skill player is WR Justin Dryer (209 yards, 1 TD). Junior receiver Ty Jaworski (116 yards, 2 TDs) should see his role increase. Junior Caden Unger and senior Anthony Georgetti are the team’s top returning rushers. Statistically, Avella averaged 12 points per game last year and gave up 36 per contest, similar numbers to Jefferson-Morgan and Chartiers-Houston.
Jefferson-Morgan
ELO Rating: 848
1A Rank: 21
WPIAL Rank: 117
Twitter:
The Rockets finished last season with the worst defense in the conference, allowing 37 points per game. Offensively, they failed to reach double-digits in 7 of their 10 outings, including each of their last 5 games. Look for the rockets to rely on underclassmen this season to carry the load. Leading rusher Jonathan Wolfe will be a junior after scoring 5 times. Sophomore Colt Fowler should take over at quarterback.
Mapletown
ELO Rating: 809
1A Rank: 22
WPIAL Rank: 118
Twitter:
After a large senior class graduated, Mapletown had to replace nearly all of their starters last season. The result was a winless campaign that included a Week 1 forfeit against Clairton to preserve their health for the conference schedule. Mapletown scored just 38 points all season while giving up over 40 per game. Max Vanata started at quarterback as a freshman last year and threw for 230 yards. Rising junior Lance Stevenson did a little bit of everything for the Maples as their leading receiver, second-leading rusher, and threw a handful of passes. All together, Stevenson scored 2 TDs and threw 2 more, accounting for 24 of Mapletown’s 38 points scored on the season. Leading rusher Zach Greene (324 yards, 1 TD) returns for his senior season. Mapletown has the second-longest losing streak in the WPIAL at 16 games, but will have 2 games against Avella plus a Week 1 contest against Trinity Christian from West Virginia to try to get off the schnide.
