The WPIAL football season kicked off last week with Week 0 games. Teams had the option to either play an extra self-scheduled game or play a second scrimmage. The Week 0 games do not count towards playoff qualification but do count towards overall records. Connellsville got off the shined and won a game for the first time since 2019, snapping the second-longest losing streak in the WPIAL. On this week’s episode of the WPIAL Blitz Show, we interviewed Woodland Hills Head Coach Tim Bostard following up on their victory in the Peach Bowl Showcase. We also broke down the Week 0 results and looked ahead to some of the Week 1 matchups as the regular season gets into full swing.
This year, our WPIAL coverage is proudly presented by Sports Solutions Marketing. The Sports Solutions network provides pay per view hosting and broadcasting for high school sporting events. More information is available via EasternPAFootball.com.
I will once again be doing a pregame spot on WMBS Radio. You can listen to the show here, starting at 6pm on Friday. This weekend, WMBS will be broadcasting Laurel Highlands taking on Belle Vernon in a non-conference showdown of teams who have built a strong rivalry on the football field and basketball court over the last decade. Check out the preview of the game below.
Be sure to keep tabs on our WPIAL Standings Page for updated standings and playoff clinchings and follow our WPIAL Twitter account @WPIAL_Blitz and check out our WPIAL Blitz Facebook Page.
6A Game of the Week
North Allegheny at Canon-McMillan
The only conference game of Week 1 is in 6A with North Allegheny taking on Canon-Mac. With only 5 teams in 6A and only 4 of them making the playoffs, every conference game has playoff implications. Last year, these two teams finished 4th and 5th in the conference and faced off in the opening round of the playoffs. North Allegheny pounded City League’s Allderdice in Week 0 while Canon-McMillan lost a close game to defending 5A State Champions Penn-Trafford. In the season-opener against Allderdice, Logan Kushner threw for 167 yards and 3 TDs while Tyree Alualu ran for 92 yards and 3 TDs. Khiryn Boyd didn’t find the end zone but he was the big-play maker of the offense, finishing the night with 105 receiving yards and 33 rushing yards. Canon-McMillan went toe-to-toe with Penn-Trafford thanks to their aerial attack. Mike Evans threw for 309 yards and 4 TDs with 150 yards and 3 TDs going to star receiver Austyn Winkleblech. On the ground, Jake Kasper averaged over 10 yards per carry, running for 171 yards in a losing effort.
5A Game of the Week
Woodland Hills at Gateway
Two former Quad East rivals get to renew their rivalry in non-conference play. These two teams played in a conference together the last two seasons but with realignment this year, Woodland Hills moved into the Northeast Conference while Gateway stayed in the Big East. Both teams are coming off Week 0 victories with Woody High beating William Penn York in the Chambersburg Peach Bowl Showcase and Gateway topping Mt. Lebanon. Woodland Hills has one of the best lines in the WPIAL and they came up with a big stop on the goal line to win the Peach Bowl Showcase. Senior lineman Kellen McDonough has local FCS offers from RMU and Duquesne while junior Pierce Cannon has an offer from Syracuse and a few MAC schools and junior Mejuan Rose has an Akron offer. Those three paved the way for Elijah Nesby who ran for 127 yards and 3 TDs. Gateway’s offense is built around their passing game. Junior QB Brad Birch led the WPIAL in passing last season and opened 2022 by throwing for 293 yards and 3 TDs in a win over Mt. Lebanon. Birch’s favorite receiver was Dallas Harper who had 8 catches for 108 yards and 2 TDs.
4A Game of the Week
Aliquippa at Armstrong
Aliquippa is the defending 4A State Champions while Armstrong is coming off a season where they won their first playoff game since the merger of Ford City and Kittanning. Aliquippa has one of the best defenses in the entire WPIAL with D1 recruits at linebacker and defensive back (Donovan Walker, Cam Lindsey, and Nate Lindsey). They will get a good early-season test from Armstrong’s offense which is led by senior QB Cadin Olsen. Olsen led the WPIAL in passing as a sophomore and finished second last year. His leading receiver Isaiah Brown returns from last season. In the season-opener against Valley, Olsen threw for 280 yards and 5 TDs and ran for another score. For Aliquippa, their stellar defense is complemented by offensive stars. Their ground game features sensational sophomore Tiqwai Hayes and junior Jon Tracy. Quarterback Quentin Goode has a slew of talented receivers to throw to, including Walker and Brandon Banks.
3A Game of the Week
Freeport at South Allegheny
There are only two games this week featuring a head-to-head matchup of 3A teams. This game features two teams that made the 3A playoffs last season AND is the opening of a new stadium for South Allegheny. The former Memorial Stadium in Glassport had been used for 71 years since 1950 and the district built a sparkling new multi-purpose facility. South Allegheny is led by RB/DE Dashawn Carter who has committed to Youngstown State. In the season-opener against Yough, Carter ran for 141 tards and 2 TDs. Eric Wehrer threw for 133 yards and another touchdown. Freeport opened the season with a 28-8 win over Indiana. Zach Clark had a hand in three touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets whose swarming defense smothered Indiana all game. Quarterback Ben Lane also added a rushing touchdown.
2A Game of the Week
Steel Valley at Sto-Rox
This could very well be a preview of the 2A Championship Game. These teams were the top two seeds in the 2A playoffs last year. Both teams held a scrimmage last week so this will be their first game of the season. Senior QB Cruce Brookins will be the focal point of Steel Valley’s ground-and-pound offense and already has offers from West Virginia, Akron, and Kent State. Last year Brookins ran for 1051 yards and 15 TDs. He had twice as many rushing attempts as passing attempts and threw for 323 yards and 4 TDs. Jesean Wright (111 rushing yards, 101 receiving yards, 3 total TDs) also returns to the backfield after averaging 8 yards per carry in backup duties. Two-way lineman Gregory Smith has offers from a number of MAC and FCS schools. Do-it-all Sto-Rox QB Josh Jenkins should be able to focus on that role full-time this season after spending time the last two years at both QB and WR. Jenkins is an outstanding passer, throwing for 1471 yards and 21 TDs last year, and could be in contention for the WPIAL passing title if he spends the full year at quarterback. Sto-Rox also brings back the best receiving corps in the WPIAL. All four of their big-play receivers return – Zay Davis (645 receiving yards, 122 rushing yards, 11 total TDs), Terry Booth (563 yards, 2 TDs), Jaymont Green-Miller (536 yards, 7 TDs), and Drevon Miller-Ross (380 yards, 8 TDs). Jenkins has an offer from VMI and Miller-Ross has offers from a few MAC and FCS schools.
1A Games of the Week
OLSH at Rochester
Former Big Seven Conference rivals now play in separate conferences because of the addition of the Black Hills Conference this cycle. This is also a rematch of last year’s semifinal that OLSH won, avenging a regular-season blowout. OLSH’s Nehemiah Azeem got off to an incredible start to the year, throwing for 445 yards and 5 TDs in the Week 0 win over Shenango. Dereon Greer led the way as an offensive playmaker, tallying 201 receiving yards, 73 rushing yards, and 3 total TDs. Dorrien Tate had 119 receiving yards and 2 TDs for the Chargers. Rochester did not play a Week 0 game. The Rams return QB Parker Lyons who missed most of last season with an injury. Leading receiver Jerome Mullins returns while Antonio Martin should see a bigger role in Rochester’s backfield.
GCC at Bishop Canevin
This Saturday showdown between two of the premier 1A programs is a great measuring stick game for both teams. Bishop Canevin and GCC were Eastern Conference foes the last few seasons but now have been separated into different sections. Bishop Canevin is the defending WPIAL 1A Champs and lost their season-opener in a hard-fought game against Steelton-Highspire, one of the best teams in the state. GCC got a big victory over 3A Mt. Pleasant in Week 0. Dual-threat QB Tyree Turner led the way for GCC last week, throwing for 127 yards and 2 TDs and rushing for 48 yards. Da’sjon Craggette ran for 118 yards and 2 TDs while Jaydin Canady ran for 77 yards and 2 scores. Bishop Canevin returns nearly all of their starters from the WPIAL Championship team last season, including the receiving tandem of Xavier Nelson (80 yards, 1 TD vs Steel High) and Lasae Lacks (60 yards). Marquis Carter continues to be a workhorse on the ground, running for 149 yards and a TD last week. Kole Olszewski spent most of the time at quarterback, throwing for 177 yards. All-around athlete Jason Cross, who just picked up an offer from Akron as a defensive back, played both QB and WR on offense.
Inter-Classification Games of the Week
McKeesport at Penn-Trafford
This is a fantastic matchup of former Quad East rivals that have designs on deep playoff runs in their respective classifications. Penn-Trafford is the defending 5A State Champions while McKeesport fell to eventual 4A State Champs Aliquippa in the semifinals last year in double overtime. McKeesport beat up on West Mifflin last week, led by the ground game tandem of Bobbie Boyd (130 yards, 2 TDs) and Jahmil Perryman (86 passing yards, 1 TD, 94 rushing yards, 1 TD). The rising star on the Tigers is Aemond Knight who had one carry and one catch but scored on both touches. Penn-Trafford had to replace most of their starting lineup that won the State title last year. Conlan Greene, a defensive line commit to Temple, stepped in at quarterback and had a monster game against Canon-Mac. Greene threw for 335 yards and 3 TDs and added another score on the ground. Daniel Tarabella (142 yards, 1 TD) and Jacob Otto (110 yards, 1 TD) have emerged as the top targets on the outside.
Laurel Highlands at Belle Vernon
Former 4A Big Eight Conference opponents take on each other in a non-conference game. Laurel Highlands is coming off a season where they won their first playoff game in school history. Belle Vernon moved down from 4A to 3A after reaching the WPIAL title game last year and are now one of the top-ranked 3A teams in the state. Both teams have a few question marks offensively – specifically who their starting quarterback will be – but also have some bona fide stars. Laurel Highlands is led by West Virginia-commit Rodney Gallagher who will play all over the field offensively and is a standout defensive back. Last week, Gallagher scored 5 times in the Mustangs win over Uniontown. Both John Duke and CJ Soltis saw time at QB in the opener and will likely both play in this game. The Mustangs have another star at receiver Keondre DeShields. This will be Belle Vernon’s first game of the year. The Leopards are led by junior RB Quinton Martin who is one of the top prospects in Pennsylvania with offers from nearly every major D1 school. Last year Martin piled up 902 rushing yards, 164 receiving yards, and 16 total TDs last season. When Martin missed a few games due to injury last year, Jake Gedekoh (501 yards, 8 TDs) stepped in and performed admirably. Belle Vernon is also working in a new quarterback and will likely try out a few different options in this measuring-stick game between former 4A rivals.
Laurel at Neshannock
These Lawrence County rivals both blew out their opponents in Week 0. They were formerly 2A Midwestern Conference foes, but with Laurel moving down to 1A this season, both look like strong playoff contenders. Laurel pounded New Brighton 63-7 with 240 yards and 8 TDs on the ground. Quarterback Chase Tinstman led the way with 3 rushing TDs and a passing touchdown. Luca Santini scored twice in the fourth quarter when the backups were in the game. Neshannock used a 21-point fourth quarter outburst to rout D-10 Sharon. The Lancers have a dual-threat QB of their own in Jonny Huff who ran for 265 yards and 2 TDs and threw for 76 yards and a score. This showdown between neighboring rivals will feature some of the best student section trash talk of the season.
