The 2025 WPIAL playoffs began last week with first round games in 1A through 5A. In 3A, 12 teams made the playoffs with the top four earning byes. The champion will be crowned at Acrisure Stadium on November 22 and enter the State brackets the following week in the semifinals. The top four teams in the 3A bracket received first round byes. Defending Champion Avonworth is the top seed after their undefeated season. Imani Christian, last year’s top seed, also went unbeaten this year and received the #2 seed. The four teams with first round byes will have home games in the quarterfinals. In the opening round, Hopewell earned their first playoff victory since 2012.
Check out this week’s edition of the WPIAL Blitz Show where we broke down all of the playoff matchups!
1. Avonworth (10-0) vs 8. Freeport (8-3)
Avonworth is the defending WPIAL Champions and has reached the finals in three straight seasons. Freeport won a playoff game for the second straight season. The Antelopes have rolled through the regular season, outscoring opponents by an average of 31 points per game. Their balanced offense has been keyed by the play of QB Carson Bellinger (1723 yards, 24 TDs) and RB Dimitri Velisaris (1212 yards, 17 TDs). Dynamic slot back Luca Neal is the team’s leading receiver (758 yards), second-leading rusher (284 yards), and second-leading scorer (15 total TDs). Sophomore
WR Jaden Jones (539 yards, 7 TDs) has had a number of D1 visits lately including Ohio State and Florida State. Freeport has a dynamic tandem in dual-threat QB Drew Ross and RB Amos Glenn who scored the third-most touchdowns in the WPIAL this season with 30. Glenn compiled 1160 rushing yards, 208 receiving yards and had five return touchdowns (including a punt return last week). Ross played through injury this year and was still able to put up 728 passing yards and 9 TDs along with 213 rushing yards and 7 more TDs.
4. Elizabeth Forward (9-1) vs 5. North Catholic (7-3)
This is a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal shootout which Elizabeth Forward won on a last-second field goal. This will be the fourth playoff meeting between the two schools with EF winning the prior two. The Warriors have reached the semifinals in four of the last five years. This is a matchup of two of the three highest-scoring teams in 3A with North Catholic averaging 45 points per game and Elizabeth Forward just behind at 44.7 per game. This game also features two of the top quarterbacks in the WPIAL. For the second straight season, North Catholic QB Joey Felitsky (2870 yards 39 TDs) won the WPIAL passing title. In their opening round victory over Burrell, Felitsky had just one incompletion and threw for over 430 yards and 6 TDs. Elizabeth Forward’s Ryan Messina was third in the classification in passing (1951 yards, 23 TDs) and more of a dual-threat, also leading his team in rushing (682 yards, 10 TDs). Messina has six different receives with at least 200 yards, led by Landon Honick (615 yards, 11 TDs), Aaron Ulmer (300 yards, 3 TDs), and Anthony St. Angelo (285 yards, 6 TDs). Complementing Messina in the ground game is Rocco Thompson (450 yards, 11 TDs). For North Catholic, Felitsky has spread the ball around to 4 different receivers who all had over 300 yards. Leading receiver Preston Simko (927 yards, 17 TDs) had over 150 yards and a touchdown last week. Will Waskiewicz (740 yards, 12 TDs), Ryker Kennedy (586 yards, 4 TDs), and Tom Arth (335 yards, 9 TDs) also found the end zone last week. On the ground, Logan Schade (830 yards, 17 TDs) averaged 10 yards per carry to give the Trojans an explosive threat out of the backfield.
2. Imani Christian (10-0) vs 10. Hopewell (7-4)
Imani Christian was undefeated in the regular season for the second straight year. The Saints fell to eventual champions Avonworth in the semifinals last year. On the other side, Hopewell made the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and is playing football in November for the first time since 2009. This game is a matchup of two of the highest-scoring teams in 3A. Imani also boasts the stingiest defense in 3A which is loaded with D1 recruits including their dynamic duo of pass rushers – Youngstown State-commit Will Gorman and junior Da’Juan Craighead. Offensively, two former Penn State-commits who have re-opened their recruitment lead the way. Junior QB Gabe Jenkins joined the 1000/1000 club this year with 1547 passing yards and 27 TDs plus 1027 rushing yards and 11 TDs. Jenkins’ backfield counterpart Derrick Davis has 499 receiving yards, 246 rushing yards, and 14 total TDs. Imani has a strong rushing attack between Jenkins, Davis, and the duo of freshman Tyvon Sewell (478 yards, 7 TDs) and Anthony Portis (464 yards, 3 TDs). Hopewell has one of the most exciting sophomores in the WPIAL in James Armstrong who has thrown for 2107 yards and 30 TDs and run for 725 yards and 16 scores. Armstrong has been playing through an injury the last few weeks which has given more opportunities to explosive sophomore RB Nasir Wade (1260 rushing yards, 360 receiving yards, 17 total TDs). On the outside, Tre Cameron (522 yards, 5 TDs) and Avery Bokor (469 yards, 5 TDs) have been Armstrong’s favorite targets.
3. Central Valley (6-4) vs 6. Highlands (8-3)
This is the second playoff meeting between Central Valley and Highlands with Central Valley winning the prior matchup in 2023. The Warriors have reached the semifinals in 5 of the last 6 years in both 3A and 4A as they bounced between classifications. Highlands has not been to the semifinals since 2008. Both of these teams feature star running backs and this game will be decided in the trenches. Central Valley’s balanced offense starts with junior QB Braddock Ambrose (1371 yards, 13 TDs). Senior RB Ethan Shearer has been the feature back (976 yards, 17 TDs) with Ethan Bosco (312 yards, 4 TDs) playing a contributing role. Leading receiver Aaron Lawson (524 yards) has also contributed 214 rushing yards and scored 4 total TDs. For Highlands, sophomore Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg (1605 yards, 25 TDs) has burst onto the scene in a big way, averaging over yards per carry. Against Derry in the opening round, he ran for 171 yards and a touchdown. Highlands shutout of Derry was the cherry on top of a strong defensive season where the Rams held opponents under 18 points per game. They held conference champions Imani to their second-lowest point total of the season (27 points) and enter the quarterfinals having pitched back-to-back shutouts. Highlands also has a gotten quality play from QB Jamarkus Prager (1154 yards and 7 TDs), primarily targeting Jahmar Wright (628 yards, 7 TDs).
