Talkin’ about playoffs: The PUP’s 2025 WPIAL football playoff breakdown

It’s the most magical time of the year. No, it’s not quite Christmas and the holiday season but rather the start of the WPIAL football playoffs.

Beginning Friday, a total of 65 teams will begin their quest to win one of six championships, title pursuits that began in weight rooms all around Western Pennsylvania last winter.

The championship sites were changed just a bit this season. Class 6A and Class 4A finalists will meet Nov. 15 at Pine-Richland High School, while Classes 5A, 3A, 2A and 1A finalists will shoot for titles Nov. 22 at Acrisure Stadium.

Here’s a breakdown of each class, along with predicted champions from the PUP high school sports staff:

CLASS 6A

No. 1 seed: Central Catholic. A year after winning its first title since 2020, Central Catholic is eyeing a championship repeat. Considering their dominance against Class 6A foes this season, you’ve got to like the Vikings’ chances. Coach Ryan Lehmeier’s crew won their conference games by an average of 38 points. Only North Allegheny (Central won that one, 21-6) came within 28 points of the Vikings. Ashton Blatt (11½ sacks), Angelo Pugliano (9 sacks) and Colsen Gatten (66 tackles) are a few of the headliners for a defense that has not given up more than 10 points in a game since the first week of September. First-year starting quarterback Owen Herrick has passed for 1,733 yards and 14 touchdowns, and a big talented offensive line includes tackle James Halter, who this past week committed to Notre Dame.

Sleeper: North Allegheny. Look, there are only four teams in the bracket and Central Catholic is the heavy favorite, so the three other teams, including No. 2 North Allegheny, can all be considered sleepers. After winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, North Allegheny saw its three-peat dreams end in a loss to Central Catholic in last year’s final. This Tigers’ team has three losses, the second of which was an eye-opening thrashing at the hands of Class 5A top seed Pine-Richland, 67-0. But Art Walker is one of the WPIAL’s elite coaches, and chances are he will have his team inspired to make a run at a seventh title. Lincoln Hoke (66 tackles, 4½ sacks) and Owen Urschler (10½ sacks) are two of the big playmakers defensively, and Brady Brinkley has passed for 1,502 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Keep an eye on … Roman Thompson, Central Catholic. Thompson led the Vikings in tackles last season as a sophomore, but this running back-linebacker has emerged as one of the WPIAL’s top two-way players this season. Offensively, Thompson has rushed for a team-best 634 yards on 86 carries, and his 21 touchdowns are more than any other Class 6A player. He’s had three three-touchdown games and scored a career-high five touchdowns against Hempfield. Defensively, Thompson once again tops the Vikings in tackles with 74 and has also chipped in an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Upset special: Norwin over North Allegheny. No. 2 seed North Allegheny is reeling after two consecutive losses, and Norwin is due to beat the Tigers after playing them tight each of the past two meetings. A season ago, Norwin led North Allegheny, 14-8, after one quarter. But quarterback Tristan Tavares was injured and North Allegheny scored 28 unanswered points to win, 36-14. And then last month, Norwin held a three-point lead in the fourth quarter before North Allegheny rallied for a 20-17 win.

Who ya’ got?

Brad Everett: Central Catholic over Norwin.

Steve Rotstein: Central Catholic over Norwin.

Johnny Santa: Central Catholic over North Allegheny.

CLASS 5A

No. 1 seed: Pine-Richland. Defending champion Pine-Richland has been “Ram Tough,” all of its wins coming by at least 29 points. The only blemish was a loss to Central Catholic in Week 1. Coach Jon LeDonne has an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the ball. The most talented group of playmakers in the WPIAL includes quarterback Oobi Strader (1,996 yards, 23 touchdowns), wide receivers Jay Timmons (31 catches, 549 yards, 9 touchdowns) and Khalil Taylor (29 catches, 476 yards, 18 touchdowns), and running back Mac Miller (838 yards, 12 touchdowns). Defensively, the Rams give up only 12.7 points per game. Linebacker Grant Pillar leads the team in tackles and sacks. The Rams are shooting for a third title in four years. They played Peters Township in the final each of the past two years.

Sleeper: Upper St. Clair. Don’t let its No. 6 seed fool you … Upper St. Clair is really good and a legitimate championship contender. The Panthers are oh-so-close to being unbeaten as they’ve lost just twice. No. 2 Peters Township used a last-minute defensive stand to top the Panthers, 24-20, and Moon knocked them off in double overtime, 20-13, earlier this month. Coach Mike Junko’s team features quarterback Ethan Hellmann, who ranks second in the WPIAL in passing with 2,199 yards and 30 touchdowns. Hellmann passed for five touchdowns against Baldwin in the regular-season finale. The Panthers host Plum in the first round.

Keep an eye on … Scoop Smith, Woodland Hills. The scoop on Scoop is that the Woodland Hills speedster continues to be the WPIAL’s most electrifying player. Smith, who is just 5 feet 5, has scored 19 touchdowns, many of which have come on plays of 60 or more yards. A two-time WPIAL Class 3A 100-meter champion, Smith is the spark plug for a Woodland Hills team that averages 38.5 points per game, went unbeaten in Big East Conference play for the second year in a row, and enters the playoffs riding a seven-game win streak. Their only losses were to Class 6A foes Central Catholic and North Allegheny.

Upset special: North Hills over Bethel Park. While it’s unlikely to happen — this writer believes all four higher-seeded teams will win their first-round games — No. 10 North Hills upsetting No. 7 Bethel Park wouldn’t be the craziest thing that’s ever happened. Sure, North Hills hasn’t won a playoff game since 2010 and is only 3-7, but five of those losses have come by a combined 19 points. The only lopsided defeats were to No. 1 seed Pine-Richland and Class 6A Seneca Valley. Bethel Park has a lot of firepower offensively, but the Black Hawks do surrender 25.8 points per game. Hey, you never know, right?

Who ya’ got?

Brad Everett: Pine-Richland over Peters Township.

Steve Rotstein: Pine-Richland over Peters Township.

Johnny Santa: Pine-Richland over Woodland Hills.

CLASS 4A

No. 1 seed: McKeesport. It has been 20 years since McKeesport last won a WPIAL championship. The Tigers have had lots of excellent teams since — last year’s team made it to the final before losing to Thomas Jefferson, 28-7 — but this could be the year they finally break through and raise the championship trophy for the fifth time in school history. In running back Kemon Spell, the Tigers have a superstar who headlines the team’s vaunted flexbone offense. Wide receiver Javien Robinson is another standout with Power Four offers, quarterback Matt Miller has thrown for nine touchdowns and ran for five more, and the line play has been outstanding. The team’s only losses were to Thomas Jefferson and Class 5A Upper St. Clair, both games the Tigers led in the fourth quarter.

Sleeper: Thomas Jefferson. In a way, it almost seems like Thomas Jefferson has underachieved up until this point. The Jaguars were the PUP’s No. 1 team in the preseason, but failed to win their conference, dropped a non-conference game to a Class 3A team, and needed last-minute rallies to win a pair of games. While that all may be true, the Jaguars are still the defending champions, and they come in with an 8-2 record after closing the regular season with three straight wins. The No. 4-seeded Jaguars go as their running game goes. Workhorse running back Tyler Eber has run for 1,607 yards and 30 touchdowns. The Jaguars will have to get past Ayden Yocum (1,721 yards rushing, 18 touchdowns) and Mars first, but a win would likely earn them a rematch with McKeesport, whom the Jaguars slipped past, 16-7, on Sept. 5.

Keep an eye on … Kemon Spell, McKeesport. All eyes will be on Spell, who is arguably the WPIAL’s top talent. Spell, who is considered the No. 1 junior running back in the country, is being wooed by many of the nation’s top programs, but before he goes off to college he’d like to help the Tigers end a 20-year WPIAL championship drought. Despite missing several games due to an ankle injury, Spell has racked up 1,076 yards on just 81 carries (13.2 yards per carry) and has scored 23 touchdowns. 

Upset special: Aliquippa over Trinity. If it weren’t for Aliquippa quarterback Marques Council suffering a season-ending injury earlier this month, this would have been a pretty cool matchup of Ivy League-bound quarterbacks. Council is a Yale recruit, while Trinity’s Jonah Williamson is headed to Harvard. This still sets up to be a good game, though, and it’s not hard to see No. 7 Aliquippa knocking off No. 2 Trinity. This is by no means one of the better teams Aliquippa has had over the years, but it’s still Aliquippa, and the Quips enter the playoffs having won three of their past four games.

Who ya’ got?

Brad Everett: McKeesport over New Castle.

Steve Rotstein: McKeesport over New Castle.

Johnny Santa: McKeesport over Montour.

CLASS 3A

No. 1 seed: Avonworth. There isn’t much not to like about an Avonworth squad that has been as impressive as any team in the WPIAL. The Antelopes entered the season as defending champions, and coach Duke Johncour’s team has certainly looked the part of a group that can reach the final for the fourth year in a row and repeat as champs for the first time. Led by quarterback Carson Bellinger (1,723 yards, 24 touchdowns), wide receiver Luca Neal (37 catches, 758 yards, 15 touchdowns) and running back Dimitri Velisaris (1,212 yards, 17 touchdowns), the Antelopes won their Western Hills Conference games by an average of 35 points and claimed impressive non-conference wins against Class 4A powers Aliquippa and Thomas Jefferson, in back-to-back weeks, nonetheless.

Sleeper: North Catholic. Outside of the four teams that received byes, No. 5 North Catholic might have the best shot to claim the title. Quarterback Joey Felitsky (2,410 yards, 32 touchdowns) led the WPIAL in passing for the second year in a row, and his multitude of receiving options include Will Waskiewicz (33 catches, 10 touchdowns) and Preston Simko (30 catches, 15 touchdowns). The Trojans, who average 44 points a game, have dropped three of five following a 5-0 start, but they closed the regular season with a big 44-36 win at Hopewell. A quarterfinal matchup with No. 4 Elizabeth Forward could be fun. Elizabeth Forward outlasted the Trojans, 45-42, in that round last season. The Trojans won their only WPIAL title in 2013.

Keep an eye on … Gabe Jenkins, Imani Christian. Then a running back, Jenkins led Imani Christian in rushing last season when he ran for more than 1,000 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. A year later, Jenkins has paced the team in rushing once again, but he has also shined as a passer after moving to quarterback. Jenkins, a junior and former Penn State commit who recently reopened his recruitment, has thrown for 1,318 yards and ranks among the Class 3A leaders with 24 touchdown passes. Oh, and he’s rushed for 898 yards to go along with eight touchdowns, as well. Jenkins hopes to lead No. 2 Imani Christian to its first championship.

Upset special: Hopewell over Southmoreland. It has been a memorable run for No. 7 Southmoreland, which is 9-1 and having one of the best seasons in school history. But the Scotties could have their hands full trying to slow down high-powered No. 10 Hopewell, which features standout sophomore James “Booboo” Armstrong, who already owns scholarship offers from Pitt and Penn State. Armstrong has thrown for 2,015 yards and 19 touchdowns in addition to rushing for 672 yards and 13 scores. Teammate Nasir “Bruiser” Wade has rushed for 1,152 yards and 12 touchdowns for a Vikings team that averages 39.4 points per game.

Who ya’ got?

Brad Everett: Avonworth over Imani Christian.

Steve Rotstein: Avonworth over Imani Christian.

Johnny Santa: Avonworth over Imani Christian.

CLASS 2A

No. 1 seed: Seton LaSalle. Back in June, it would have pretty much looked like a lock that Seton LaSalle, last year’s WPIAL runner-up, would be the No. 1 seed in these playoffs. That was until a bevy of key players transferred out, among them heralded receiver Khalil Taylor. But despite those losses, coach Tim Storino’s team lost just one game in the regular season, winning their final nine games to finish 9-1 and atop the Century Conference. Running back Kymarr Freeman has helped fuel a team that has the No. 2 scoring offense and No. 3 scoring defense in the class. Freeman has rushed for 1,343 yards and 21 touchdowns, which includes a 279-yard, two-touchdown performance in a huge 27-14 win against Washington last week. 

Sleeper: Apollo-Ridge. It has been a big turnaround for Apollo-Ridge, which isn’t ready for the ride to end quite yet. A year after finishing 1-8, the Vikings rebounded to go 7-3 in the regular season and have won six of seven following a 1-2 start. Alex Clawson has thrown for 1,335 yards and 11 touchdowns, and top target Jayden McCray has 39 catches for 769 yards and six touchdowns. Seeded seventh, the Vikings will have to get past two Midwestern Conference teams (No. 10 Riverside and No. 2 Western Beaver) to reach the semifinals, but waiting for them could be No. 3 Steel Valley, a team they defeated, 18-14, Oct. 3. The Vikings have never won a WPIAL title.

Keep an eye on … Da’Ron Barksdale, Steel Valley. For Barksdale, the game is the game. A Pitt recruit, Barksdale is having a terrific senior season and hopes to lead No. 3 Steel Valley to its first title since his freshman season. Barksdale, a running back-defensive back, has rushed for 1,505 yards and has scored 26 touchdowns while also collecting four interceptions on defense. He’s been ultra consistent, running for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in all 10 games. And he’s coming off one of his best performances to date, rushing for 176 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Ironmen to a 33-12 win against previously unbeaten South Allegheny.

Upset special: Beaver Falls over Washington. A 12 over 5 upset seems to happen every year in the NCAA basketball tournament, and there’s a chance there might be one of those in the Class 2A playoffs this year, too. After going 0-10 a season ago, No. 12 Beaver Falls has bounced back to earn a playoff spot following a 4-3 finish in the Midwestern Conference. Xavier Clark and Kenny Jewell are two of the top playmakers for a Beaver Falls team that won a WPIAL championship just two seasons ago.

Who ya’ got?

Brad Everett: South Allegheny over Steel Valley.

Steve Rotstein: Steel Valley over South Allegheny.

Johnny Santa: Seton LaSalle over Steel Valley.

CLASS 1A

No. 1 seed: Fort Cherry. Prior to 2023, Fort Cherry had never won a WPIAL championship. Fast forward a few years, and the Rangers now have a chance to become the first Class 1A team to three-peat since Clairton did it from 2014-16. And with senior quarterback Matt Sieg on its side, it’s hard not to like Fort Cherry’s chances. Earlier this season, Sieg became the WPIAL’s all-time leader in total yardage and touchdowns. He ranks third on the WPIAL’s career rushing list with 7,504 yards, and is only 143 yards away from surpassing former Fort Cherry star Mike Vernillo for the No. 2 spot. While he’s only attempted 24 passes and thrown for eight touchdowns this season, he has rushed for 1,320 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Rangers average 48.8 points per game and have won all of their games by at least 30 points.

Sleeper: Laurel. Just about everyone’s predicted champion will likely be Fort Cherry or Clairton, meaning every other team is considered a sleeper. So, if the Rangers or Bears don’t raise the championship trophy, it very well could be No. 4 Laurel, which captured its only WPIAL title 45 years ago. The Big 7 Conference champs are 9-1, their only loss coming to Bishop Canevin on Sept. 13. Since then, the Spartans have rolled to six consecutive wins by outscoring their opponents, 254-22. The Spartans have been led by seniors Luca Santini (1,098 yards passing, 18 touchdowns), Nathan Hill (553 yards rushing, 15 touchdowns) and Kolton Carlson (28 catches, 562 yards, 15 touchdowns).

Keep an eye on … Jeff Thompson, Clairton. Thompson is somewhat quietly having an outstanding season for No. 2 Clairton, which appears to be on a collision course with Fort Cherry after falling to the Rangers, 21-20, in last year’s championship. A senior, Thompson was hampered by an injury in last year’s final. Now healthy, Thompson leads Class 1A with 1,873 yards and 30 touchdowns. He’s been extremely efficient, completing 80% (101 of 126) of his passes. Thompson has also done a great job of spreading the ball around to a group of star receivers that includes Brandon Murphy, Taris Wooding, Donte Wright and Michael Ruffin.

Upset special: Jeannette over Bentworth. When it comes to tradition, this one is a mismatch. Jeannette’s 10 WPIAL titles are fifth all time, while Bentworth has never won a title. This season, however, it’s No. 7 Bentworth that comes in as the higher seed. The Bearcats feature Ben Hays, who ranks among the WPIAL leaders in rushing and touchdowns. But No. 10 Jeannette has played very well over the past month, winning its last four games following a 3-3 start. Dual-threat quarterback Kymone Brown is among the Jeannette players who helped the Jayhawks win a WPIAL basketball championship last season.

Who ya’ got?

Brad Everett: Clairton over Fort Cherry.

Steve Rotstein: Fort Cherry over Clairton.

Johnny Santa: Clairton over Fort Cherry.