In 2016 the PIAA underwent a massive reform and realigned football throughout the State of Pennsylvania from four to six classifications. The addition of two more classifications altered the playoff formats and made the WPIAL playoffs much more dependent on where teams entered the State Tournament. Previously, 16 teams had made the playoffs in all four classes from 2000-2015.
In the 2016-17 cycle, there were 8 playoff teams in 6A, 5A, 4A, and 3A. This led to some controversy, especially in 3A where the Champion received a bye the following week and did not enter the state playoffs until the semifinals. During that cycle there were 16 playoff teams in 2A and 1A but those two classes had their Championship Games at Robert Morris University and not at Heinz Field. In the 2018-19 cycle, there was only one conference in 6A so only 6 teams made the playoffs. In 4A, 3A, and 1A there were 8 playoff teams while 5A and 2A had 16 playoff teams. During this cycle, the 6A, 4A, 3A, and 1A Championship Games were held at Heinz Field while 5A and 2A found alternate locations.
Here is a look at the Championship Game History during the six-classification era. For Championship Game History for prior eras of football, links are provided at the bottom of the page.
Year | Class 6A | Class 5A | Class 4A | Class 3A | Class 2A | Class 1A |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | ![]() Seneca Valley 7 |
![]() McKeesport 37 (OT) |
![]() New Castle 0 |
![]() Aliquippa 22 |
![]() Neshannock 14 |
![]() Jeannette 6 |
2017 | ![]() Central Catholic 7 |
![]() Penn-Trafford 16 |
![]() Montour 0 |
![]() Aliquippa 0 |
![]() Steel Valley 10 |
![]() Imani Christian 34 |
2018 | ![]() Seneca Valley 7 |
![]() West Allegheny 18 |
![]() Thomas Jefferson 24 |
![]() Derry 19 |
![]() South Side Beaver 6 |
![]() Rochester 6 |
2019 | ![]() Pine-Richland 7 |
![]() Peters Twp 20 |
![]() Belle Vernon 7 |
![]() Aliquippa 12 (OT) |
![]() Washington 6 |
![]() Sto-Rox 19 |
2020 | ![]() North Allegheny 24 |
![]() Peters Twp 0 |
![]() Aliquippa 28 (OT) |
![]() Elizabeth Forward 0 |
![]() Sto-Rox 30 |
![]() Clairton 14 |
2021 | ![]() Central Catholic 7 |
![]() Moon 21 |
![]() Belle Vernon 13 |
![]() North Catholic 15 |
![]() Beaver Falls 12 |
![]() OLSH 7 |
2022 | ![]() Central Catholic 21 |
![]() Upper St Clair 3 |
![]() Central Valley 7 |
![]() Avonworth 7 |
![]() Beaver Falls 14 |
![]() Bishop Canevin 0 |
2023 | ![]() Central Catholic 41 |
![]() Pine-Richland 17 |
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