The 2026 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.
This cycle will see a bit of a shakeup in 5A. Peters Twp and Pine-Richland have faced off in the last three 5A Championship Games. Three teams departed 5A in realignment – Kiski, Shaler, and South Fayette. Additionally, Baldwin moved to playing an independent schedule. The bigger story is who moved up from 4A – perennial powerhouse Thomas Jefferson, defending conference champions Trinity, West Allegheny with legendary coach Bob Palko back at the helm, and Connellsville re-joining the WPIAL from an independent schedule. The WPIAL has not yet announced the playoff structure for 5A but since the WPIAL Champion enters the state bracket in the semifinals, it is likely that 12 teams will once again make the playoffs.
The Allegheny Six Conference has had a team reach the WPIAL Championship Game in 8 straight seasons. Peters Twp is the defending WPIAL Champions and has won two of the last three titles. The Allegheny Six now has the best roster of coaches in the WPIAL. Both Thomas Jefferson and West Allegheny have joined the conference, adding Bill Cherpak’s 10 WPIAL titles and Bob Palko’s 9 rings to the conference. The pedigree of the conference is unmatched. Across all six teams they have combined for 30 WPIAL titles and 8 State Championships. This year’s Allegheny Six Conference will be the WPIAL equivalent of playing an SEC schedule and it will be a wide open race for the playoffs. 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.
Upper St Clair
2025 Result: 8-2, lost in semifinals to Peters Twp
All-Time: 515-203-8 (24th in wins, 2nd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 7 WPIAL Championships (1974, 1975, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2006), 2 State Championships (1989, 2006)
The 2024 season was a revenge tour for Upper St Clair. A year after going 8-2 but missing the playoffs on a 3-way tiebreaker, USC dominated their opponents en route to an undefeated regular season but ran into a brick wall in Peters Twp in the semifinals. Last year was a similar story with tight regular season losses to Peters Twp and Moon (in OT). The Panthers stormed past Woodland Hills in the quarterfinals but once again saw their season come to an end against Peters Twp in the semis. Hopes are high this year as key pieces from an offense that averaged 38 points per game (the 2nd highest in 5A) return for USC. The Panthers will likely lean on their rushing game where a number of contributors return and they have Penn State-commit Ryan Robbins in the trenches to plow the road. In the backfield, John Banbury (415 rushing yards, 147 receiving yds, 10 total TDs), Luca Coury (262 yards, 2 TDs), and Max Ligier (155 yards, 2 TDs) all return. The top returning passer is Josh Snyder who was used all over the field last season and compiled 179 rushing yards, 217 receiving yards, and 6 total TDs. Upper St Clair could deploy Snyder anywhere on the field and find a mis-match.
Thomas Jefferson
2025 Result: 8-2, lost to McKeesport in 4A semifinals
All-Time: 528-218-7 (20th in wins, 3rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 11 WPIAL Championships (1980, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2024), 5 State Championships (2004, 2007, 2008, 2019, 2020)
One of the biggest storylines of the WPIAL this season is Thomas Jefferson, the perennial contenders in 4A, moving up to 5A. Thomas Jefferson has made the playoffs every year since 1994, and has been to at least the semifinals in 26 of the last 28 years. But the gauntlet of 5A will prove a new challenge for Bill Cherpak’s Jaguars. Leading rusher Tyler Eber (1885 yards, 29 TDs) returns for his senior season as the workhorse of TJ’s offense. In addition to Eber, Harrison Kolling (935 yards, 9 TDs) started at quarterback last season as only a sophomore. The Jaguars also return their leading receiver Kane Eggerton (322 yards, 6 TDs). Thomas Jefferson has a well-rounded offense with plenty of returning talent to once again be competitive. The biggest question for Thomas Jefferson will be the step up in strength of schedule. Last season the only team they played above 4A was winless Baldwin. The Jaguars certainly have the talent and coaching prowess to compete for the playoffs and potentially the conference title.
Peters Twp
2025 Result: 10-0, WPIAL Champions
All-Time: 308-339-16 (90th in wins, 70th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2023 & 2025 WPIAL Champions
The Indians have become one of the dominant forces in 5A football. They have reached the title game in three straight seasons, facing Pine-Richland all three times, and winning in 2023 and 2025. Peters had the stingiest defense in 5A, allowing just 9.5 points per game. After 19 seniors graduated from their championship-winning squad, Peters Twp will need to restock most of their starting lineup this season. Junior QB Talen Stauffer threw 2 TD passes in backup duty last season and figures to step in as the starter. Junior Tim Aspinall is the top returning rusher after averaging 5.8 yards per carry in limited work last year. The Indians also had their top six receivers graduate, but keep an eye out for junior Dane McMillon, the younger brother of Donovan McMillon.
Bethel Park
2025 Result: 6-4, Lost to Peters Twp in the 5A quarterfinals
All-Time: 499-409-31 (26th in wins, 38th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2008 WPIAL Champions
The Black Hawks have made the playoffs in five straight seasons and reached the semifinals in two of the last four years. Bethel had an offense that averaged 34 points per game last year, but just could not find a way to solve the Peters Twp defense, scoring just 14 points in 2 games against the Indians. Enzo Centofanti threw 2 TD passes last year as a freshman in backup duty and may be given the reins of the offense this season. Leading receiver Santino Nowozeniuk (839 yards, 7 TDs) along with offensive weapon Will Sabatos (439 receiving yards, 108 rushing yards, 6 total TDs) are both rising seniors. Second-leading rusher Tyler Miller (338 yards, 3 TDs) is also among a strong senior class that will look to challenge for the conference title. Linebacker Will Sabatos is a Maryland-commit.
West Allegheny
2025 Result: 4-5, missed playoffs
All-Time: 389-380-14 (58th in wins, 58th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 8 WPIAL Championships (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016), 2001 State Champions
The big news for West Allegheny is the return of legendary head coach Bob Palko who led the Indians to eight WPIAL titles during his tenure. Palko added another, along with a State title, at Mt. Lebanon in 2021. West Allegheny missed the playoffs by the thinnest of margins last year and now is taking the step up to 5A. After beating New Castle in Week 7, the Indians were tied for the conference lead heading into the season finale against rival Montour. But West Allegheny lost, dropping them into a tie with Aliquippa for third place. The Quips had beaten West A 19-7 in Week 6, which dropped them to 4th place. The WPIAL committee ultimately chose Chartiers Valley (who had beaten West A 29-28 in OT in Week 1) for the final playoff spot ahead of the Indians. West A leaned on a number of underclassmen playmakers last season, which gives them a strong core of talent heading into 2026. The star of the team is RB Brodie Cornell who led the Indians in rushing (674 yards), receiving (190 yards) and scoring (14 total TDs). Fellow seniors Roman Perella (213 yards, 3 TDs) and Austin Probert (172 yards, 2 TDs) also return to the Indians backfield. While they didn’t throw much last year, Palko’s offenses are known for being more wide open, which could put more weight on the shoulders of junior Donovan O’Connor who threw for 528 yards and 6 TDs last year.
Trinity
2025 Result: 6-4, 4A Big Six Conference Champions, Lost in first round of 4A playoffs to Aliquippa
All-Time: 399-542-37 (52nd in wins, 96th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1948 WPIAL Champions
Trinity followed up on their breakout 2023 campaign with a playoff appearance in 2024 then capturing the conference title in 2025. That was their first conference title since 1986. Now Trinity will move up to 5A and while having to replace star QB Jonah Williamson. A few underclassmen including junior Jake Schreyer attempted some passes last season so the cupboard is not bare for the Hillers. They will likely lean on leading rusher Owen Gardner (1204 yards, 7 TDs) who averaged 7.5 yards per carry. The good news for Trinity is their top receivers all return, led by a trio of rising seniors – Ayvari Chandler (364 yards, 2 TDs), Braden Berdar (300 yards, 7 TDs), and Daniel Glass (206 yards). Junior Owen Smogala (214 yards, 2 TDs) also featured in the passing game last season, giving Trinity’s new quarterback a talented and experienced group of skill position players around him.
