WPIAL District 7 Second Round of Playoff Previews

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Joey Chirillo | November 9, 2023

The regular season has ended, however the postseason is just getting started. After the first round of playoffs, many teams made a statement and are calling for the championship. 

Here is your 2023 District 7 Semi-Finals Week Playoff Preview. 

Class 1A:

South Side (1) – The Rams were one of two teams to not only go undefeated in conference play, but overall on the season as well. The Rams averaged the third highest points per game in the season (44.6), while only allowing 81 total points over 10 games.  This offense being led by RB Ryan Navarra after finishing the regular season with 1,000 rushing yards and 20 TDs, he is expected to continue South Side’s playoff run in 1A. Fending off Monessen in 39-0 victory South Side with face off against Greensburg Central Catholic at Peters Township Middle School this Friday night to continue their quest for their first 1A championship since 1999.  

Greensburg Central Catholic (8) – Greensburg while at the eight seed finished their regular season with a 7-3 overall record and 5-1 in conference. This is the third straight year where GCC has had a winning record and made the playoffs. Being led by QB Tyree Turner who’s had one interception this season with 14 TDs, they head in as the underdogs against the South Side Rams. In a 41-22 victory over West Greene, they continued their way into the playoffs going up against the number one ranked team, they needed everything they got to win this game.

Clairton (4) – Clairton has made the playoffs for the last 5+ years and are continuing to be a dominant football team. The Bears average the fourth most points per game in 1A, and that is after losing their first two games and being shutout in both of them. QB Mike Wright completed 67% of his passes and had 1,300+ yards. And from week three to week nine they won every game they played in and three of them allowed single digit points. After a 44-7 victory against Laurel in the beginning of the playoffs they advanced to play ranked five Union at Armstrong High School.

Union (5) – The defending 1A champs while at the number five seed should not be doubted or overlooked. The Scotties finished 8-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play. The interesting note about this team is they are undefeated when on the road but 3-2 when playing at home. They play at a neutral location of Armstrong High School, which is still away for these Scotties, which could bring great opportunities to the defending champs. In seven of their nine wins they have scored 40+ points and in their losses have allowed a total of 79 points. Facing the Clairton Bears ranked one above them, it will be a great game of offensive power and defensive stifling, as both teams look to advance.

Fort Cherry (2) – The Rangers strike hard this season going undefeated. Under Head Coach Tanner Garry, this team has been able to bounce back after some difficult seasons, going all the way to the semi-final round last year. Looking to the sophomore quarterback Matt Sieg, throwing for 1,011 yards, 15 TDs and 2 INTs this season while also having the lead in rushing for the team with 104 attempts for 1,335 yards and 12 TDs. Sieg shined against Jefferson-Morgan in a 50-16 victory, getting them one step closer to the championship. They will head to West Allegheny to play Rochester who beat Cornell in the first round. 

Rochester (10) – After a rocky season for the Rochester Rams, they look to head back to a state playoff game for the third straight year, but this time with a victory in hand. Having struggled in the air but striving on the ground, they were able to keep up with Cornell in an upset victory in overtime 20-19. They need to keep up this upset mentality if they want to dethrone Fort Cherry.

Bishop Canevin (3) – Heading into this season after losing the 1A championship to Union, Bishop Canevin hopes to claim the throne this time around. Outscoring opponents 295-81, with 48 of those points coming from their one loss against Fort Cherry, this team has explosive offense and stifling defense, which is what opponents need to figure out if they want to advance over Bishop Canevin. The Crusaders travel to Norwin high School to face California who had a victory over Jeannette 44-7. 

California (6) – California has had one of the best scoring offenses in 1A this year, having a point differential of 473-99. In all of their wins, they have won by 27 points or more, with the largest deficit being 61 points. Winning 44-7 over Jeannette and keeping their victories in big margins, California continues the dominating offense they showed in the regular season. Traveling to Norwin to play Bishop Canevin, a team looking to win the championship instead of just going, they have a very tough matchup in hopes to continue forward.

Class 2A:

Steel Valley (1) – The Ironmen are only one of two teams to have an undefeated conference record in all of 2A with a 7-0 conference record. After an early 23-20 double overtime loss to Seton LaSalle in week one, the Ironmen have dominated their opponents, outscoring them 277-65. The Ironmen have been led by junior running back Donald Barksdale all season who leads the team with 1,458 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. The Ironmen are looking to claim back to back 2A champions and their fourth championship in the last eight years. The Ironmen will have there first playoff game this Friday as they host the #9 Western Beaver. 

Western Beaver (9) – Western Beaver finished this season with a 5-2 conference record and finished with a 6-4 overall record. Western Beaver has also scored 40+ points in five games this year. The Golden Beavers are led by freshman quarterback Jaivin Peel, who has a total of 2,434 passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns this season. Western Beaver upset #8 Serra Catholic beating them 38-21, and will take on the #1 seeded Steel Valley at Steel Valley High School. 

Imani Christian Academy (4) – Imani Christian Academy finished this season with a 5-1 conference record and an overall record of 7-2. The Saints have the best points per game average in all of 2A with 38.0 points scored per game. The Saints are led by junior quarterback Steve Vandiver who has a total of 14 passing touchdowns and 1,229 total passing yards. Imani Christian hosted the #13 Waynesburg Central Raiders last Friday, and defeated Waynesburg Central 52-14. Imani Christian will play #5 Mohawk this Friday at Moon High School. 

Mohawk (5) – The Mohawk Warriors finished their season with a 6-1 conference record and an 8-2 overall record. After a week one loss to the Union Scotties, the Warriors went on to win their next eight games, averaging 40.25 points a game heading into their round one matchup versus Burrel. The Warriors X-Factor has been their receiving core as their six receivers have totaled over 1,800 passing yards this season. Those players being Bobby Fadden, Daunte Retort, Blake Logan, Justin Boston, Joe Nail, and A.J. Verdi. The Warriors defeated #12 Burrell last Friday 42-0 and will take on #4 Imani Christian Academy this Friday at Moon High School. 

Neshannock (2) –  The Lacers nearly had a flawless season, boasting a 9-1 overall record, including a perfect 7-0 record in conference play, which secured them the second seed in this year’s playoffs. They were led by the talented Sophomore Quarterback, Jino Mozzoccio, who completed 65 out of 108 passes for 906 yards and nine touchdowns. This achievement is even more remarkable because Neshannock’s offense primarily relies on a ground-and-pound approach, with three tailbacks who have each rushed for over three hundred yards. Lancer’s defense had only allowed 16 points per game which kept in some close games. They hope to keep this season alive as they will take on number 10 Beaver Falls

Washington (3) – The Prexies extended their impressive season with a 46-6 victory over Ellwood City. The Tigers’ offense, particularly in the running game, was in top form, with running back Eddie Lewis accumulating 102 yards on 11 carries. The Prexies’ defense was outstanding, allowing only 6 points in the previous week. They aim to maintain their positive momentum as they prepare to face McGuffey, whom they defeated just two weeks ago with a 13-7 score.

McGuffey (6) -The Highlanders won against Derry last week. While their offense heavily relied on the running game, it’s worth noting that two out of their three touchdowns came from their aerial attack. The defense also performed admirably, limiting the opponent to just two scores. Looking ahead, they aim to improve their offensive performance as they face a formidable Washington team known for their high-powered offense

Beaver Falls (10) – In the previous week, the Tigers delivered an unexpected victory by defeating the higher-seeded Keystone Oaks with a score of 20-7. The Tigers’ offense relied on their successful running game, with running back Da’Talian Beauford carrying the ball 27 times for a total of 191 yards. As anticipated, the Tiger defense performed admirably, limiting Keystone to just seven points. They are eager to maintain this positive momentum as they prepare to face the second-seeded Neshannock, who is coming off a bye week.

Class 3A: 

Belle Vernon (1) – The Belle Vernon Leopards earned a first round bye, finishing the regular season at 8-1. They are led by Penn State commit running back Quinton Martin, who will look to run all over the Deer Lakes defense in Belle Vernon’s first game of the 2023 playoffs. Belle Vernon has high expectations surrounding them, as they won not only the WPIAL 3A championship in 2022, but the PIAA 3A championship as well.

Deer Lakes (8) – Deer Lakes had a strong first round performance, taking down 9-seeded Southmoreland by 30 points, 48-18. This was their second victory over Southmoreland in 2023, as they won 24-7 earlier in the regular season. The Deer Lakes Lancers, led by Quarterback Derek Burk, will now take on Belle Vernon. The Lancers will look to pull off an upset against one of the WPIAL’s best teams. 

East Allegheny (4) – The Wildcats were able to earn a first round bye thanks to an undefeated conference record. This season was their first as conference champions since 2000. Now, they look to advance to the semifinals, which they can do with a win over South Park. East Allegheny is led by quarterback Michael Cahill and wide receiver Brennan Rutledge, who will need to be on the same page in order to get the victory. 

South Park (12) – The Eagles were the only lower seed that won their first round matchup in the entire 3A WPIAL playoffs. Not only did they win, they defeated Knoch, a 5 seed, by 17 points. South Park’s next test is this round against a dangerous East Allegheny team. Senior quarterback Zach Ludwig and junior running back Eric Doerue will need to get the South Park offense up to speed quickly in order to pull off back to back upsets against higher seeds. 

Avonworth (2) – The undefeated Antelopes, who are led by sophomore quarterback Carson Bellinger, enjoyed a first round bye.  Bellinger looks to continue the connection with wide receiver Andrew Kuban, who leads Avonworth in receiving yards with 753.  With Bellinger and Kuban leading the Avonworth offense against the Beaver Bobcats this Friday they look to secure a spot in the semifinals of 4A

Beaver (7) – The Beaver Bobcats finished their regular season at a record of 8-2. Their most recent victory came in the first round, when they beat Shady Side Academy 42-7. The Bobcats now square off against the Avonworth Antelopes, who they lost to by just five points on October 6th. Juniors Brady Mayo and Amari Jackson, who combined for 20 touchdowns in the regular season, will have to work with sophomore quarterback Travis Clear in order to take down the undefeated Antelopes. 

Elizabeth Forward (3) – The Warriors enjoyed a first round bye, and will now take on the 6-seeded West Mifflin Titans. To have a better chance at winning, Elizabeth Forward will have to incorporate running back Charles Nigut into their gameplan, as he has over 1,000 all purpose yards. They also have a strong passing game, as sophomore quarterback Ryan Messina did not throw an interception all regular season. 

West Mifflin (6) – West Mifflin rolled past Mt. Pleasant in round 1, picking up the 40-14 victory. They are now matched up in the quarterfinals against 3-seeded Elizabeth Forward, who had a much better regular season, winning three more games. However, it is about how you finish, and junior quarterback Cole Chatfield and the rest of this Titans team has a chance to go on a late postseason run and disrupt the 3A playoffs. 

Class 4A:

Aliquippa (1) – The Quips finished their season with a perfect 9-0 record. They are looking to stay perfect this week against the Wildcats from Greater Latrobe. As the number one seed, Aliquippa had a bye week giving them an entire week off.  Aliquippa was led this season by junior running back Tikey Hayes who ran for 17 touchdowns at 7.8 yards per carry. Hayes looks to continue his dominance for the Quips if they wish to stay perfect.

Greater Latrobe (9) – Greater Latrobe defeated West Allegheny last Friday by a score of 39-7 which improved the Wildcats record to 8-3 overall.  John Wetzel rushed for 4 touchdowns against the Indians to continue his scoring-filled season.  The Wildcats take on Aliquippa this week in their quarterfinal matchup and set their sights on fending off the back to back champions of 4A.

Mars (4) – The Fightin’ Planets defeated the Chartiers Valley Colts in their first round matchup by a score of 44-19. Mars is set to face Central Valley in a heavy hitting matchup this week. Mars has the leading scorer in all of the WPIAL in runningback Evan Wright. Central Valley allows 16.7 points per game on average and Wright scores 20.4 points per game on average. Wright will need to maintain his average in order for the Planets to take down the Warriors.

Central Valley (5) – Central Valley defeated the twelfth seeded Highlands Rams in the first round by a score of 28-7. The win improved their overall record to 8-3 as they shift their focus towards the Mars Fightin’ Planets.  The Warriors have won three of the last four championships in the 3A classification, making them big contenders for 4A. This Friday at Ambridge High School, they look to inch a step closer to winning their first title as a member of the 4A classification.

McKeesport (2) – McKeesport had last week off after finishing the season with a 9-1 overall record and acquiring the second seed.  The Tigers face off against the Trinity Hillers in their quarterfinal matchup this week.  McKeesport defeated the Hillers in Week 5 by a score of 35-7. Expect the Tigers to pick up where they left off against Trinity.

Trinity (10) – Trinity executed a blow out against the higher seeded North Catholic Trojans last week by a score of 49-0 improving their overall record to 7-4. This win marked their first playoff win since 2007. They may have to wait until next year to get their next playoff win because the Hillers will take on the powerhouse McKeesport Tigers this week. Trinity seems to possess the Cinderella story trait, which could push them past the Tigers.

Montour (3) – Montour earned their first round bye week by finishing 9-1 this season. Their first playoff game of the 2023 season will chalk them up against Thomas Jefferson.  This matchup may be the best on this week’s slate. Quarterback Jake Wolfe had a dominant season for the Spartans throwing for 25 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions. Wolfe added 13 touchdowns on the ground this season as well. The Spartans will rely heavily on Wolfe to get past Thomas Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson (6) – Thomas Jefferson, who is usually a contender, seems to have been forgotten by most this season after dropping two games this season. The first of their two losses came against McKeesport and the second came in upset fashion against the Trinity Hillers. However, the Jaguars dominated Kiski Area last week, winning by a score of 57-13. Most have predicted a Montour vs McKeesport semifinal matchup, but do not count out Thomas Jefferson who has a very successful past and could very well win this game against Montour.

Class 5A

Peters Township (1) – Peters Township enters the playoffs as the only undefeated team in 5A football. The Indians have only allowed 65 points on defense this year and have scored an astonishing 405, in only 10 games. They are the fourth best team in Pennsylvania according to MaxPreps. Peters Township showed that they are the fourth best team in PA as they stomped on Franklin Regional 37-0 in the first round of 5A playoff. They go on to play Moon at South Fayette High School this Friday night.

Moon (5) –  After an 0-3 start to the season the Moon Tigers hit a complete 180 and finished the year 5-5 with a 3-2 conference record putting them in second place behind Peters Township.  Having beaten Gateway 35-31 with a huge defensive play with 25 seconds left. Now having to face the team above them in the conference to advance to the championship, it’s going to take everything from this Tiger team to take down the undefeated Indians.

Penn Hills (2) –  Penn Hills finished the season with a 3-2 record outside of the conference but went 5-0 in conference play. They continued that undefeated conference streak with a win over Penn Trafford 63-28 in the first round of 5A playoffs. In the second round they will face off against Pine-Richland. These teams met early in the regular season in a nail biter game as Penn Hills got the victory 26-20. Will we see a repeat or will Pine-Richland get revenge?

Pine-Richland (3) – Pine-Richland defeated Bethel Park 51-6 in a near blowout round one playoff game. They go 8-3 on the season, with their one loss in conference coming from Penn Hills, who they will face in Round two. Pine-Richland had four shutout games since then out of seven games. Will this game become a blowout or a shootout?

Class 6A

Central Catholic (1) – Coming off an electric regular season, eyes are set on winning the championship. Being led by QB Payton Wehner throwing for 2,456 yards, 32 TDs and 4 INTs, he has kept the offense winning and scoring all season. Besides their one loss to Pine-Richland, scoring only 19 points, Central Catholic has managed to score 42 or more points in each game and holding the majority of their opponents to 26 points or fewer.

Mount Lebanon (4) – Starting the season 4-1, many did not think they would end up at 5-5 at the end of regular season. The fall of this team in the second half of the season came from their conference play happening in this second half. Mount Lebo had a difficult time keeping up with its other 6A competitors, but was very strong against other opponents. Was this just a hiccup in their season or will the competition of the 6A division get to the Blue Devils too soon?

North Allegheny (2) – Outsourcing opponents 461-170 this season, North Allegheny has been strong and silencing for the majority of the season, having their only loss to Central Catholic. Winning all games by 5 or more possessions this season, once they get ahead, they are hard to beat.

Canon McMillan (3) – Going 2-2 in the conference, the Big Macs are right in the middle of this 6A play. Finishing 6-4 on the season, going back and forth on wins and losses, never really having streaks to keep momentum going, this Canon McMillan team is strong but inconsistent. If they want to advance to the throne, they need to find their rhythm now, not later.

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