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Western Pennsylvania is home to some of the best high school football in the United States. The WPIAL is well known for producing many of the greatest players in the history of football, including George Blanda, Mike Ditka, Aaron Donald, Tony Dorsett, Bill Fralic, Ty Law, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, and Darrell Revis among the most legendary.
The WPIAL Football Report is your resource for the Aliquippa Quips Report, weekly picks, and rankings by Class, all brought to you by local sports writer Mike Drakulich (@PghSportsNation), who also covers Pitt Football and the Pittsburgh Steelers for NGSCSports.com.
All Photos Credit Ed Thompson Hyxposure Photos
Beaver Valley Beat the Expert Picks
In honor of growing up reading the Beaver County Times and waiting with excitement each week to enter the contest in picking the local games against great writers like Ed Rose, Mike Prisuta, Mike Bires, Andy Nuzzo, and John Perrotto to name a few…
Friday, November 22nd
PIAA State Playoffs
Class 6A
Central Catholic over State College (at Forest Hills HS)
Class 4A
Thomas Jefferson over Clearfield (at Windber HS)
Class 1A
Westinghouse over Bishop Guifoyle (at Johnstown HS)
*All Games at 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 23rd
Championship Saturday at Acrisure Stadium
Class 1A WPIAL Championship
Kickoff: 11:00 AM
Clairton Bears (13-0) vs Fort Cherry Rangers (13-0)
It’s an unstoppable force in quarterback Matt Sieg and Fort Cherry, averaging 41.5 points a game, going up against the Clairton defense, which is giving up… 1.08 points a game.
That’s not a misprint. The Bears have given up just two offensive touchdowns all season, both while the mercy rule was in effect.
All Sieg has done is throw for 1,124 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions, while rushing for 1,717 yards and 29 touchdowns.
The Clairton offense, like their defense, is ranked #1 in the WPIAL scoring 51.8 points a game.
Quarterback Jeffery Thompson has thrown for 1,872 yards and 27 touchdowns, while running back Drahcir Jones has 1,331 yards and 24 touchdowns.
The Pick: Clairton Bears
Class 2A WPIAL Championship
Kickoff: 2:00 PM
Seton LaSalle Rebels (11-0) vs South Park Eagles (11-1)
From the start of the season, it seemed these two teams were destined to meet, and now they will.
Seton LaSalle is averaging 42.2 points a game while giving up 10.3.
Quarterback Michael Pastirik has thrown for 1,948 yards, 32 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. His top receiver is Khalil Taylor, who has caught 22 touchdowns while falling just short of the 1,000 yard mark.
South Park is averaging 33.3 points per game, while allowing 11.6.
The Eagles top player is running back Eric Doerue who has amassed over 4,000 yards rushing in his career.
The Pick: Seton LaSalle Rebels
Class 3A WPIAL Championship
Avonworth Antelopes (10-3) vs Central Valley Warriors (7-5)
Kickoff: 5:00 PM
Not many envisioned this match-up for the championship game, as Imani Christian was the overwhelming favorite, but Avonworth had other ideas, and here they are, one game away from claiming the WPIAL crown.
Neco and Luca Neal are the straws that stir the Antelopes drink offensively at running back.
Central Valley is lead by the dynamic duo of Mason Dixon and Jance Henry. Dixon has rushed for 1,339 yards and 19 total touchdowns, while Henry has rushed for 788 yards and 12 combined touchdowns.
Avonworth won the regular season match-up 21-14, but the Warriors have won five out of the last six games, their only loss coming at the hands of North Hills.
The Pick: Central Valley Warriors
Class 5A WPIAL Championship
Pine-Richland Rams (10-1) vs Peters Township Indians (11-1)
Kickoff: 8:00 PM
The last game is set to be a doozy.
Pine-Richland has one loss on the year, that to North Allegheny, while Peters Township’s only blemish came at the expense of Upper St. Clair, who they paid back 7-3 last week.
The Rams are scoring at a 37 points per game pace, while allowing 11.9 a game.
They’re lead by junior Mac Miller, who has rushed for 1,228 yards.
The Indians have averaged 31.8 points per game while allowing just 10 a contest.
Quarterback Nolan DiLucia has thrown for 2,349 yards, with his favorite target being receiver Nick McCullough.
The Pick: Pine-Richland Rams
Last Week: 7-3 (.700)
Regular Season: 169-51 (.768)
Playoffs: 30-15 (.666)
Overall: 189-66 (.741%)
Playoff Rankings
6A
- Central Catholic (10-2)
- North Allegheny (10-2)
- Mount Lebanon (3-8)
5A
- Pine-Richland (10-1)
- Peters Township (11-1)
- Upper St. Clair (11-1)
- Bethel Park (10-3)
- Woodland Hills (8-3)
4A
- Thomas Jefferson (13-0)
- McKeesport (8-5)
- Aliquippa (7-3)
- Mars (6-6)
- Montour (8-2)
3A
- Avonworth (10-3)
- Central Valley (7-5)
- Imani Christian (11-1)
- Elizabeth Forward (8-3)
- Beaver (8-3)
2A
- Seton LaSalle (11-0)
- South Park (11-1)
- Ellwood City (10-1)
- Steel Valley (9-4)
- Western Beaver (8-3)
1A
- Clairton (13-0)
- Fort Cherry (13-0)
- Bishop Canevin (10-3)
- Jeannette (9-4)
- Neshannock (9-2)
Author Profile
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From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.
There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all!
As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football.
For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!
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