Home WPIAL WPIAL 2019 2A Playoff Primer

WPIAL 2019 2A Playoff Primer

by Ian

The 2A playoff field is the most wide open of any classification. Three of the four teams in the WPIAL to complete an undefeated regular season were from 2A. Washington got the top seed after a dominant regular season where the Prexies outscored their opponents by an average of 35 points per game. Second-seeded Avonworth had 6 of their 10 wins come against playoff teams but will be without star receiver Kyros Thorpe due to the PIAA’s ridiculous new transfer rule. Burgettstown completed their second straight unbeaten regular season thanks to a dominant defense and rushing attack. Also of note, Southmoreland qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1979, breaking the longest playoff drought in the WPIAL.

Other WPIAL Playoff Primers: 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A

The Bracket

The Teams

Allegheny Conference

Avonworth Antelopes
Conference Record: 6-0 Overall Record: 10-0
How they got here: Avonworth was dominant on both sides of the ball. The Lopes had the 5th best offense (36 points per game) and second-best defense (11 points against per game) in 2A. Avonworth won all of their games by double-digit margins and had a 1400-yard passer (Park Penrod) and a 1300-yard rusher (Jax Miller). The Lopes will be without WR/DB Kyros Thorpe for the playoffs because of the PIAA’s asinine new transfer rule.
Recent History: Avonworth is making their 12th consecutive playoff appearance. They reached the Class A Championship Game in 2014. The Lopes lost in the first round to Freedom last year.
WPIAL Playoff Apperances: 19
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 12-17-1
Best Playoff Result: Tied Union 13-13 in the 1959 Class A Championship Game (no overtime). Lost to Clairton 46-14 in the 2014 WPIAL Class A Championship.

Apollo-RidgeApollo-Ridge Vikings
Conference Record:
4-2 Overall Record: 7-3
How they got here: Apollo-Ridge came out of the gate fast, winning their first 4 games. They were awarded a forfeit victory over Shady Side Academy which clinched a playoff spot for the Vikings. Logan Harmon led 2A in rushing with 1338 yards.
Recent History: 
Apollo-Ridge reached the playoffs in 5 straight seasons from 2012-2016 but have not been back since. Two of their three playoff victories came during that timespan.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 15
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 3-14
Best Playoff Result: Apollo-Ridge has never made it past the Quarterfinals. They reached the AA Quarterfinals in 2014 and the Single-A Quarterfinals in 2013 and 2007. Apollo High School lost in the WPIAL Class B (which later became Single-A) Final in 1962 and 1965.

East Allegheny Wildcats
Conference Record: 4-2 Overall Record: 7-3
How they got here: East Allegheny scored a statement victory over defending champions Steel Valley in Week 1. The Wildcats had the second-best defense in the conference, holding opponents under 17 points per game. They clinched a playoff spot with late-season wins over Shady Side Academy and Valley.
Recent History: East Allegheny is making their 4th straight playoff appearance. In 2017 they defeated Mohawk in the first round, which was their first playoff victory since 2000.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 18
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 5-16
Best Playoff Result: Won the 1992 WPIAL AA Championship, defeating Riverside 33-13. Lost in the 1992 PIAA Championship Game to Valley View 21-13.

Shady Side Academy Indians
Conference Record: 3-3 Overall Record: 5-4
How they got here: Shady Side won their first three games, including conference wins over Valley and Steel Valley. However after a loss to Neshannock they had to forfeit to Apollo-Ridge due to not having enough healthy players. The Indians came back to win their next two games with a healthy roster but lost to East Allegheny and Avonworth in the final two weeks, costing them a chance at their second straight conference title.
Recent History: Shady Side Academy reached the playoffs for the second straight season. Last year they got their first playoff victory since 2011 but fell in the second round to eventual runner-up South Side Beaver.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 14
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 
12-12
Best Playoff Result: Won the 1998 WPIAL AA Championship, defeating Washington 30-12. Lost to Mt. Carmel 44-7 in the 1998 PIAA AA Championship Game.

Interstate Conference

Washington Prexies
Conference Record: 7-0 Overall Record: 10-0
How they got here: No team in the WPIAL dominated the regular season like the Prexies. They won all of their games by at least 21 points, averaging a 2A-leading 48 points per game.
Recent History: Washington is making their 9th consecutive playoff appearance and 10th in the last 11 years. The Prexies won the WPIAL 2A Championship 37-10 over Steel Valley in 2017 then lost in the PIAA semifinals to Wilmington 49-42. Last year, they fell to Steel Valley in the quarterfinals.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 32
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 40-28-1
Best Playoff Result: Tied Johnstown 0-0 for the 1917 WPIAL AAA Championship. Won the 1920 and 1926 WPIAL AAA Championship. Declared the 1923 WPIAL AAA Champion. Won the 1993 and 2001 WPIAL AA Championship. Won the 2017 WPIAL 2A Championship. Won the 2001 PIAA Championship, defeating Pen Argyl 19-12.

McGuffey Highlanders
Conference Record: 6-1 Overall Record: 8-2
How they got here: McGuffey was the second-highest scoring team in the WPIAL at 40 points per game and won 8 straight games to start the season. The Highlanders enter the playoffs on a 2-game losing streak, but those losses came against the top two seeds – Washington and Avonworth.
Recent History: McGuffey made the playoffs last year but fell in the first round to South Side Beaver. Their last playoff victory came in 1994 when they won the WPIAL AAA Championship. This is just their 6th playoff appearance since that title.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 10
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 
6-8
Best Playoff Result: Defeated Blackhawk 12-6 in the 1994 AAA Championship after losing to Blackhawk in the title game the year prior. Lost to Sharon 14-7 in the 1994 PIAA semifinals.

Charleroi Cougars
Conference Record: 5-2 Overall Record: 7-2
How they got here: Charleroi graduated most of their starters from last year’s team that reached the semifinals but bounced back from a Week 1 loss to Washington to win their next 5 games. The Cougars have the 3rd-highest scoring team in 2A at 39 points per game and were the second-best defense in the conference, holding opponents under 15 points per game.
Recent History: Charleroi is making their third straight playoff appearance. The Cougars rebounded from a first round upset in 2017 to make a run to the WPIAL semifinals last year.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 11
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 6-10
Best Playoff Result: Charleroi was awarded the 1936 WPIAL AAA Championship on Gardner Points and defeated Aliquippa 13-12 in the 1959 Championship Game.

Southmoreland Scotties
Conference Record:
4-3 Overall Record: 5-5
How they got here: Southmoreland got off to a 5-0 start with big wins over the bottom half of the conference. The Scotties averaged 51 points per game over that span, but their offense slowed down in the second half when they had to face stiffer competition. Southmoreland enters the playoffs on a 5-game losing streak where they averaged just 18 points per game. They do have 2A’s leading passer in Zach Cernuto (1752 yards, 15 TDs).
Recent History: 
Southmoreland entered the season with the WPIAL’s longest playoff drought and is making their first postseason appearance since 1979.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 2
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 0-1
Best Playoff Result: This is just the second playoff appearance in Southmoreland’s history. The Scotties other playoff game was in 1979 when they lost to Penn Hills in the first round of the AAA playoffs.

Midwestern Conference

NeshannockNeshannock Lancers
Conference Record:
6-1 Overall Record: 8-2
How they got here: Not many predicted that the Week 0 game between Neshannock and Avonworth would be a matchup of eventual conference champions. The Lancers came out hot, winning their first four conference games by 20+ points before falling to New Brighton. They bounced back to get a Week 7 victory over Freedom and clinched the Conference Title with a Week 9 win over Shenango.
Recent History:
The Lancers missed the playoffs last season, ending a 6-year run of playoff appearances. In that span, they reached the semifinals 4 times and the WPIAL final once, losing to Steel Valley in the inaugural 2A Championship.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 11
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 10-10
Best Playoff Result: Lost to Steel Valley in the 2016 WPIAL 2A Championship Game.

Freedom Bulldogs
Conference Record: 5-2 Overall Record: 7-3
How they got here: The Bulldogs looked strong after winning their first 7 games but struggled after losing to Neshannock in Week 7. Freedom lost a non-conference game to Apollo-Ridge then fell to Western Beaver in the season finale.
Recent History: This is Freedom’s 4th straight playoff appearance, the first time that has happened in school history.  Their victory over East Allegheny in 2017 was their first playoff win since 2003. Last year they matched the best finish in school history, reaching the semifinals where they fell to eventual 2A Champion Steel Valley.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 10
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 6-9
Best Playoff Result: Freedom has made it to the WPIAL semifinals 4 times in school history. They lost to Union in 1973, Laurel in 1977, Aliquippa in 2003, and Steel Valley in 2018.

New Brighton Lions
Conference Record: 5-2 Overall Record: 7-3
How they got here: New Brighton had one of the best QB-WR tandems in 2A this season with 1600-yard passer Jackson Hall and 900-yard receiver Jake Francona. The Lions were able to rebound from back-to-back losses to Freedom and Western Beaver to beat Shenango and Riverside in the last two weeks and clinch a playoff spot.
Recent History: New Brighton is making their second straight playoff appearance. The Lions have not won a playoff game since a run to the semifinals in 2001.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 17
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 
10-13-1
Best Playoff Result: Tied Canonsburg for the 1950 Class A (became AA) WPIAL Championship (no overtime). Defeated Ramsey 33-0 in the 1951 WPIAL Class A Championship. Defeated Jeannette 35-6 in the 1994 WPIAL AA Championship. Lost to Forest Hills in the 1994 PIAA semifinals.

Riverside Panthers
Conference Record: 4-3 Overall Record: 6-3
How they got here: Riverside’s regular season was bookended with losses but the Panthers won 6 in a row between Weeks 3 and 8. The Panthers had 2A’s third-leading passer (Ben Hughes, 1687 yards and 25 TDs) and leading receiver in Nate Sciarro (985 yards, 15 TDs).
Recent History: This is their 5th playoff appearance in the last 6 years. Riverside lost to Steel Valley in the semifinals in 2016 and 2017. Last year the Panthers fell in the first round to Charleroi.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 19
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 20-17
Best Playoff Result: Reached the WPIAL AA Championship 5 times in a 10-year span between 1984 and 1993. Won the 1985 AA title, defeating Swissvale 21-15.

Three Rivers Conference

Burgettstown Blue Devils
Conference Record: 7-0 Overall Record: 9-0
How they got here: Statistically, Burgettstown had the second-best scoring margin in 2A, outscoring their opponents by 29 points per game. The Blue Devils averaged 37 points per game while giving up just 8 per game – the best mark in 2A. Burgettstown clinched their second straight Three Rivers Conference title with a Week 8 win over Brentwood where kicker Seth Phillis booted the game-winner with just a few minutes to go and the defense got two late turnovers. Phillis led the WPIAL in kicking with 9 field goals.
Recent History: Burgettstown is making their 5th consecutive playoff appearance. Their 2017 first round victory over Neshannock was their first playoff win since 1977. Last year, Burgettstown fell by 1 point to Freedom in the quarterfinals.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 16
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 5-13
Best Playoff Result: Awarded the 1929 WPIAL Class B (became Single-A) Championship based on Gardner Points (no Championship Game). Won the 1941 WPIAL AA Championship Game 34-7 over Crafton.

BrentwoodBrentwood Spartans
Conference Record: 6-1 Overall Record: 8-2
How they got here: Brentwood’s only loss to a 2A opponent htis season came in Week 8 against Burgettstown. The Spartans were a strong defensive squad, holding opponents under 10 points per game – the second-best unit in 2A. Brentwood pitched 4 shutouts over the last 7 weeks of the season.
Recent History: 
Brentwood missed the playoffs last year but has reached the postseason in 10 of the last 12 years. They have not made it past the quarterfinals in any of those seasons.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 24
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 13-23
Best Playoff Result: Brentwood has reached the WPIAL Championship game twice. They lost the 1976 AA Championship to Farrell 14-8 and the 1985 Class A Championship Game, losing to Monaca 21-13.

South Side Beaver Rams
Conference Record: 
5-2 Overall Record: 7-3
How they got here: South Side’s ground game was not as dominant as last season when they made a run to the WPIAL final. However, they were able to score key victories in conference play, including a 3-point win in Week 2 over Serra Catholic. After a Week 7 loss to Seton LaSalle, they shut out Fort Cherry to clinch a playoff spot.
Recent History: South Side Beaver is making their 5th playoff appearance in the last 6 years. Last year they went on a huge run to reach the WPIAL Championship Game but lost to Steel Valley 48-6.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 17
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 17-14
Best Playoff Result: Won 1970 and 1999 WPIAL Class A Championships. Won 1999 PIAA Class A Championship, defeating Southern Columbia 27-21.

Serra Catholic Eagles
Conference Record: 4-3 Overall Record: 6-4
How they got here: Serra had the second-best offense in the conference, averaging 27 points per game. The Eagles closed the season on a 3-game winning streak over South Allegheny, Seton LaSalle and Fort Cherry, which wound up being the deciding factors in making the playoffs.
Recent History: This is Serra’s 4rd straight playoff appearance after a 6-year drought. Their first round victory in 2017 was the Eagles’ first playoff win since they won the 2007 WPIAL title.
WPIAL Playoff Appearances: 12
All-Time WPIAL Playoff Record: 8-9
Best Playoff Result: Won two WPIAL Class A Championships, defeating Clairton 12-0 in 1981 and defeating Springdale 10-6 in 2007. Lost to Steelton-Highspire 34-15 in the 2007 PIAA Class A Championship.

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