Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) held its final fall championships of the 2024-25 academic year on Saturday, Nov. 23 with the WPIAL/UPMC Sports Medicine Football Championships presented by Noble Environmental at Acrisure Stadium. A full day of four games saw Pine-Richland win Class 5A, Avonworth capture Class 3A, South Park take home Class 2A, and Fort Cherry repeat as Class 1A champions.
Pine-Richland is now a nine-time WPIAL football champion, winning six of those crowns over the last 10 seasons. The Rams are tied with Central Catholic for sixth all-time in WPIAL football championships, previously claiming the title in 1969, 1970, 2003, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
Avonworth and South Park are both three-time WPIAL football champions, joining a group of 13 other schools with exactly three titles to their names. The Antelopes were also winners in 1959 and 2019, while the Eagles own trophies from 1997 and 2005.
Fort Cherry successfully defended its Class 1A championship, giving the school two WPIAL football titles in its trophy cabinet. The Rangers are the 20th different team to win their first two WPIAL championships in back-to-back fashion, joining Aspinwall (1943-44), Beaver (1981-82), Blackhawk (1991-92), Braddock (1954-55), Central Catholic (2003-04), Donora (1944-45), Jefferson-Morgan (1973-74), McDonald (1951-52), Montour (1957-58), New Brighton (1950-51), New Kensington (1946-47), North Braddock Scott (1933-34), Penn Hills (1976-77), Pine-Richland (1969-70), Quigley Catholic (1978-79), Seton LaSalle (1979-80), Upper St. Clair (1974-75), Wilkinsburg (1914-15), and Wilmington (1987-88).
The aforementioned four WPIAL champions have qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Football Championships, and enter the bracket in the semifinal round. Semifinal round games begin on Friday, Nov. 29 and all championship games are set for Dec. 5-7 from Chapman Field on the campus of Cumberland Valley High School.
CLASS 5A RECAP
Top-seeded Pine-Richland carried a narrow 10-9 lead into halftime, then outscored third-seeded Peters Township in the third quarter, 10-0, to claim the Class 5A championship with a 20-9 triumph this past Saturday night.
Pine-Richland (11-1, 5-0 Section I) and Peters Township (11-2, 5-1 Section III) were even in most statistical categories, with the Rams holding a small edge in total offense (242-233), but the Indians topping them in first downs (16-9) and time of possession (24:22-23:38). Pine-Richland was slightly more explosive offensively with a 5.4 yards-per-play mark to Peters Township’s 3.9, and the Rams forced two turnovers to the Indians’ one.
After a scoreless first quarter, Pine-Richland grinded out a 14-play, 89-yard drive that ended in a 24-yard field goal from senior kicker Grant Argiro. Peters Township answered with a touchdown on the ensuing possession, as junior quarterback Nolan DiLucia connected with senior wide receiver Eli Prado for a 23-yard score, making it 6-3 following a failed two-point conversion.
The teams then traded three-and-outs before the Rams regained possession with 2:04 left in the half, and on third-and-16, sophomore quarterback Aaron Strader found senior wide receiver Tanner Cunningham over the middle for a 64-yard touchdown to make it 10-6. With 1:11 on the clock, the Indians drove 64 yards down the field over nine plays, ending with a 29-yard field goal by junior kicker Anthony Maiello to set the halftime score at 10-9.
On the opening drive of the second half, Cunningham recovered a fumble forced by Pine-Richland junior defensive back Jay Timmons to shift the momentum. Four plays later, Strader hit Timmons in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown to open the Rams’ lead to 17-9. The Pine-Richland defense forced another three-and-out on Peters Township’s next possession, and five plays later, Argiro connected from 47 yards out to make it a 20-9 game, which ultimately remained as the final score.
Strader finished with 147 passing yards on 7-of-13 attempts with two touchdowns and an interception, and added 26 rushing yards on seven carries. Timmons and Cunningham were the recipients of those scoring passes, with Timmons coming up with 81 receiving yards on four catches, and Cunningham bringing down two catches for 71 yards. Junior runningback Maclane Miller had 57 rushing yards on 19 carries.
Defensively for the Rams, junior linebacker Grant Pillar led all players with 13 tackles, and senior linebacker Sam Heckert had 11. Heckert and classmates Dustin Edwards and Josh Smith all had solo sacks, with Pillar and another senior in Joshua Nindl sharing one. Cunningham had a fourth-quarter interception and a fumble recovery.
DiLucia accumulated 222 yards of total offense (161 passing, 61 rushing) and a touchdown, connecting on 16-of-27 pass attempts. Senior wide receiver Nick McCullough was the leading receiver with six receptions for 86 yards, while Prado added three catches for 38 yards and a score. On defense, junior defensive back Lucas Rost led Peters Township with seven tackles, and classmate James Spratt recorded a sack. McCullough hauled in an interception in the third quarter.
Pine-Richland reached its third consecutive WPIAL championship game with a 42-0 win over ninth-seeded Franklin Regional and 28-7 triumph versus fifth-seeded Bethel Park, while Peters Township topped sixth-seeded Penn-Trafford, 42-13, and second-seeded Upper St. Clair, 7-3. This was a rematch of last season’s Class 5A title tilt and the third time in five years that the Rams and Indians met in the final.
Pine-Richland begins the PIAA Championships against District III champion Bishop McDevitt at Mansion Park in Altoona. The Rams have won three PIAA titles (2017, 2020, 2022) and are making their seventh PIAA appearance, owning an all-time record of 12-3.
CLASS 3A RECAP
Fifth-seeded Avonworth pitched a shutout in the Class 3A championship game, as it defeated Section I rival and second-seeded Central Valley, 17-0, this past Saturday evening.
Avonworth (11-3, 5-1 Section I) scored on its opening two possessions to take control of a defensive battle with Central Valley (7-6, 5-1 Section I). The Antelopes held slight edges in total offense (173-160), first downs (8-7), and time of possession (26:56-21:04).
Avonworth began the game with a 10-play, 42-yard drive, ending it with a two-yard touchdown plunge by senior runningback Nico Neal. The Antelopes forced a turnover on downs on the Warriors’ first possession, and followed that up with an eight-play, 28-yard trek that carried into the second quarter, cumulating in a 32-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Calder Mahan. In the fourth quarter, Neal sealed the victory with a three-yard touchdown run, capping an eight-play, 33-yard drive with 4:23 remaining in the contest.
Avonworth compiled 143 of its 173 offensive yards on the ground, with Nico Neal rushing for 102 yards and two scores on 23 carries. Junior runningback Luca Neal added 33 rushing yards on 16 attempts. Sophomore linebacker Bryce Metz recorded a team-high eight tackles and half a sack, while senior linebacker Justin Beck tallied seven tackles and two sacks. Senior defensive lineman Mason Metz finished with 1.5 sacks and sophomore defensive back Dimitri Velsaris forced a fumble.
Central Valley senior quarterback Steven Rutherford had 109 yards passing on 11-of-15 attempts. Junior wide receiver Aaron Lawson was his top target with five receptions for 35 yards, and senior wide receiver Quinn Connelly recorded a game-high 46 receiving yards on two catches. The Warriors’ top rusher was senior runningback Mason Dixon, who had 33 rushing yards on 10 carries. Lawson and senior defensive lineman Brendan Alexander both registered 10 tackles defensively, and linebackers Ethan Shearer and Michael Crea shared a sack.
The Antelopes made their third straight WPIAL championship game with wins over 12th-seeded Greensburg Salem (43-27) in the first round, fourth-seeded Beaver (42-21) in the quarterfinals, and top-seeded Imani Christian Academy (14-6) in the semifinals. Central Valley began the playoffs with a bye before defeating seventh-seeded Freeport, 35-7, and third-seeded Elizabeth Forward, 31-15, to make it to Acrisure Stadium.
Avonworth starts its PIAA Championships journey versus District VI champion Penn Cambria at Norwin High School. This is the Antelopes’ second PIAA appearance, sporting a 1-1 all-time record with a Class 2A runner-up finish in 2019.
CLASS 2A RECAP
Second-seeded South Park held the ball for three-quarters of the Class 2A championship game, using that possession to defeat top-seeded Seton LaSalle, 21-14, this past Saturday afternoon.
South Park (12-1, 6-0 Section I) had a time of possession number of 36:20 and ran 56 offensive plays to the 24 from Seton LaSalle (11-1, 6-0 Section III). The Eagles also owned advantages in total offense (245-169) and first downs (17-5).
After forcing a three-and-out on the Rebels’ opening possession, South Park churned down the field 67 yards over 12 plays, ending with a six-yard touchdown rush by senior runningback Eric Doerue. The Eagles also scored on their second possession, traveling 47 yards over 10 plays with a one-yard sneak by junior quarterback Eric Lenzi making it 14-0.
Seton LaSalle cut the deficit in half with 1:22 remaining in the second quarter as sophomore wide receiver Khalil Taylor raced 32 yards to paydirt. South Park had an answer on its first drive of the second half, completing a 11-play, 69-yard trek with a Doerue eight-yard rushing touchdown.
The Rebels would pull within a score with 11:10 left in the game as senior quarterback Michael Pastirlik found sophomore wide receiver Richard Littlejohn for a 51-yard touchdown, but they wouldn’t touch the ball again after a punt with 5:52 on the clock.
Doerue rushed for 149 of the Eagles’ 217 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries, while senior wide receiver Kenyan Brown added 35 yards and Lenzi tallied 25. Lenzi added 28 yards passing, with both of his completions going to junior tight end Harilaos Bouzos. Defensively, seniors Parker Cunningham and Griffin Burnett both led the team with four tackles, with Burnett adding a forced fumble that was recovered by senior linebacker Wyatt Markovich.
Pastirlik threw for 116 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-16 attempts, with Taylor collecting five receptions and Littlejohn adding four for 91 yards. Taylor’s 32-yard rushing touchdown paced Seton LaSalle, with senior runningback Logan King adding 24 rushing yards on seven carries. On defense, freshman defensive back Elijah Hickman led all players with nine tackles, and King, junior linebacker Will Martin, and senior defensive lineman Ethan Patsey all added eight each.
South Park booked its ticket to Acrisure Stadium with a 19-9 win over seventh-seeded Mohawk and 28-7 triumph versus third-seeded Ellwood City. Seton LaSalle defeated ninth-seeded Riverside, 34-7, and fourth-seeded Steel Valley, 27-13, to make it to the WPIAL championship game.
South Park starts the PIAA Championships against District IX champion Central Clarion at Farrell High School. The Eagles are two-time PIAA champions (1997, 2005) and will carry a perfect 5-0 all-time record into their third PIAA appearance.
CLASS 1A RECAP
Facing a fourth down with 2:34 remaining, top-seeded Fort Cherry reached paydirt from 13 yards out to successfully defend the Class 1A title as it defeated second-seeded Clairton, 21-20, this past Saturday afternoon.
Fort Cherry (14-0, 6-0 Section III) outgained Clairton (13-1, 7-0 Section I) through the air, 181-6, and held a 13-11 edge in first downs. The Bears led in total offense (341-264) and time of possession (25:14-22:46).
Clairton struck first with 2:58 left in the opening quarter as junior runningback Mike Ruffin outran the Rangers defense for a 79-yard rushing touchdown. A failed two-point conversion led to Fort Cherry taking the lead on its next drive, as junior quarterback Matt Sieg finished a four-play, 62-yard trek with a four-yard rushing score followed by a successful extra point.
The Rangers made it 14-6 on their last possession of the first half, as Sieg’s one-yard plunge capped an eight-play, 55-yard drive. The Bears responded early in the second half after senior runningback Drahcir Jones scored on a 58-yard rushing touchdown, with a Ruffin two-point rush tying the game at 14-14.
Ruffin scored his second touchdown of the day with 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter, cashing in from three yards out to make it 20-14. That score held until Fort Cherry regained the lead with 2:34 to go, as Sieg found sophomore runningback Ryan Huey open on the right sideline for a 13-yard touchdown on fourth-and-five. Junior kicker Nik Massey’s extra point gave the Rangers a late 21-20 lead, finishing off a 13-play, 82-yard drive.
Sieg finished the day with 161 yards passing on 8-of-15 attempts, 87 rushing yards on 29 carries, and three total touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 passing). Senior wide receiver Shane Cornali was his top target with four catches for 65 yards, and added a 20-yard pass to Huey, who had two catches for 33 yards and the winning touchdown. On defense, junior defensive back Blake Sweder led all players with 12 tackles and sophomore linebacker Tyler Wolfe added 10.
Ruffin rushed for 162 yards and two scores on just 14 carries, while Jones added 90 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Clairton also had junior runningback Deon Pompey compile 57 rushing yards on eight attempts and classmate Donte Wright add 29 yards on nine carries. Defensively, sophomore linebacker Darren Pinson collected 10 tackles to lead the Bears, while freshman defensive back Brandon Murphy and sophomore defensive back Jaece Booker added eight each. Booker pulled down an interception at the end of the third quarter, and Murphy recovered a fumble.
Fort Cherry made it back to Acrisure Stadium with wins over 16th-seeded Brentwood (56-14), ninth-seeded Cornell (27-20), and 13th-seeded Jeannette (49-14). Clairton blanked its first three playoff opponents, shutting out 15th-seeded Rochester (56-0), 10th-seeded California (54-0), and third-seeded Bishop Canevin (24-0).
Fort Cherry opens the PIAA Championships against District IX champion Port Allegany at Memorial Stadium on the campus of PennWest University, Clarion. This is the Rangers’ second PIAA appearance, carrying a 1-1 all-time record with a Class 1A runner-up effort last season.
PIAA PREVIEW
Semifinal Date: Friday, Nov. 29
Championship Dates & Location: Dec. 5-7 at Chapman Field (Cumberland Valley HS)
Total Champions from WPIAL: 58 (2 in Class 6A, 4 in Class 5A, 17 in Class 4A, 13 in Class 3A, 9 in Class 2A, 13 in Class 1A)
- Previous Champions: Aliquippa (5), Thomas Jefferson (5), Central Catholic (4), Clairton (4),
North Allegheny (3), Pine-Richland (3), Rochester (3), Belle Vernon (2),
Central Valley (2), Farrell (2), Jeannette (2), McKeesport (2), Penn Hills (2),
South Fayette (2), South Park (2), Upper St. Clair (2), Beaver Falls (1),
Duquesne (1), Franklin Regional (1), Hopewell (1), Mt. Lebanon (1),
North Catholic (1), Penn-Trafford (1), Quaker Valley (1), South Side (1),
Steel Valley (1), Washington (1), West Allegheny (1)
Last Class 5A Champion from WPIAL: Pine-Richland (2022)
Last Class 3A Champion from WPIAL: Belle Vernon (2023)
Last Class 2A Champion from WPIAL: Steel Valley (2016)
Last Class 1A Champion from WPIAL: Jeannette (2017)
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