Home WPIAL Championship Game History 2016-Present

WPIAL Championship Game History 2016-Present

by Ian

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 Central Catholic 42,
Seneca Valley 7
West Allegheny 38,
McKeesport 37 (OT)
Thomas Jefferson 42,
New Castle 0
Beaver Falls 35,
Aliquippa 22
Steel Valley 49,
Neshannock 14
Clairton 26,
Jeannette 6
2017 Pine-Richland 42,
Central Catholic 7
Gateway 21,
Penn-Trafford 16
Thomas Jefferson 27,
Montour 0
Quaker Valley 2,
Aliquippa 0
Washington 37,
Steel Valley 10
Jeannette 35,
Imani Christian 34
2018 Pine-Richland 34,
Seneca Valley 7
Penn Hills 28,
West Allegheny 18
South Fayette 31,
Thomas Jefferson 24
Aliquippa 42,
Derry 19
Steel Valley 48,
South Side Beaver 6
OLSH 28,
Rochester 6
2019 Central Catholic 10,
Pine-Richland 7
Gateway 21,
Peters Twp 20
Thomas Jefferson 41,
Belle Vernon 7
Central Valley 13,
Aliquippa 12 (OT)
Avonworth 28,
Washington 6
Clairton 41,
Sto-Rox 19
2020 Central Catholic 38,
North Allegheny 24
Pine-Richland 35,
Peters Twp 0
Thomas Jefferson 35,
Aliquippa 28 (OT)
Central Valley 35,
Elizabeth Forward 0
Beaver Falls 43,
Sto-Rox 30
Jeannette 45,
Clairton 14
2021 Mt. Lebanon 47,
Central Catholic 7
Penn-Trafford 24,
Moon 21
Aliquippa 28,
Belle Vernon 13
Central Valley 52,
North Catholic 15
Serra Catholic 35,
Beaver Falls 12
Bishop Canevin 42,
OLSH 7
2022 North Allegheny 35,
Central Catholic 21
Pine-Richland 34,
Upper St Clair 3
Aliquippa 34,
Central Valley 7
Belle Vernon 24,
Avonworth 7
Steel Valley 34,
Beaver Falls 14
Union 26,
Bishop Canevin 0
2023 North Allegheny 44,
Central Catholic 41
Peters Twp 43,
Pine-Richland 17
Aliquippa vs McKeesport Belle Vernon vs Avonworth Steel Valley vs Beaver Falls South Side Beaver vs Fort Cherry