Projecting the WPIAL Playoffs Before Week 8 @NathanGrella @PaBackyard

Tagged under: District 7, News

Nate Grella | October 18, 2021

It’s mid October and with two weeks remaining in the regular season, there are several key games and situations remaining that will decide how the playoff brackets stack up. With that being said there’s a lot to get into so let’s kick it off!

1A- 15 Teams make the playoffs, 1 team receives a bye

1A is pretty straightforward. 5 Teams from each conference makes the playoffs. With two weeks remaining in the season, the bracket is all but set with few games that will decide rankings remaining. In Week 9, Monessen will travel to Avella that will be for the final spot in the Tri-County South.

Eastern Conference Projected Final Rankings

1- Clairton

4- Bishop Canevin

7- Greensburg Central Catholic

11- Leechburg

14- Springdale

Tri-County South Projected Final Rankings

3- West Greene

6- Carmichaels

9- California

12- Mapletown

15- Monessen

Big Seven Projected Final Rankings

2- Cornell

5- Rochester

8- Shenango

10- OLSH

13- Fort. Cherry

1A Projected First Round Games (Clairton Receives Bye)

California Trojans @ Shenango Wildcats

Ft. Cherry Rangers @ Bishop Canevin Crusaders

Mapletown Maples @ Rochester Rams

Monessen Greyhounds @ Cornell Raiders

OLSH Chargers @ Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions

Springdale Dynamos @ West Greene Pioneers

Leechburg Blue Devils @ Carmichaels Mighty Mikes

2A- 16 Teams Taken 3 Teams taken from both the Allegheny and Three Rivers Conference, 4 From the Century, 5 from the Midwestern and the last team taken from either the Allegheny or Three Rivers based on Gardner Points

2A is still certainly in flux. All eyes in the region will turn to the Allegheny conference in Week 9 when Steel Valley and Serra Catholic will face off for the conference title. I think that the Eagles win and stay in the second seed. In Week 8, Ligonier Valley will play Shady Side for a right to not sweat at the Dog and Pony Show. Mohawk will the play the two bottom teams in the Midwest so the Warriors are likely to move up to the 3rd seed before seasons end. I’m banking on the Freedom Bulldogs to beat New Brighton for the final spot in the Midwestern.

Allegheny Projected Final Rankings

2- Serra Catholic

5- Steel Valley

11- Ligonier Valley

Midwestern Projected Final Rankings

3- Laurel

6- Beaver Falls

9- Mohawk

13- Neshannock

15- Freedom

Century Projected Final Rankings

4- Washington

8- Chartiers Houston

10- McGuffey

14- Beth Center

Three Rivers Projected Final Rankings

1- Sto-Rox

7- Western Beaver

12- South Side Beaver

16 Last Team In- Shady Side

2A Projected First Round Games

Shady Side Bulldogs @ Sto-Rox Vikings

Mohawk Warriors @ Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

Neshannock Lancers @ Washington Prexies

South Side Beaver Rams @ Steel Valley Ironmen

Freedom Bulldogs @ Serra Catholic Eagles

McGuffey Highlanders @ Western Beaver Beavers

Beth Center Bulldogs @ Laurel Spartans

Ligonier Valley Rams @ Beaver Falls Tigers

3A- 12 Teams Make the Playoffs, 4 Teams Receive a Bye

The most anti-climactic conference in the WPIAL. Central Valley is likely to repeat as WPIAL champs, and all of the familiar faces are back from 2020. Quaker Valley and Ambridge will face off in Week 8 for the last playoff spot in the Northwestern Six. The rest of the spots are pretty much set in stone. With the Lopes only loss to Central Valley, look for Avonworth to make the 4th bye.

Northwestern Six Projected Final Rankings

1- Central Valley

4- Avonworth

7- Keystone Oaks

11- Quaker Valley

Allegheny Seven Projected Final Rankings

2- North Catholic

6- Freeport

9- Deer Lakes

12- East Allegheny

Interstate Projected Final Rankings

3- Elizabeth Forward

5- Mt. Pleasant

8- Southmoreland

10- South Allegheny

3A Projected First Round Games (Central Valley, North Catholic, Elizabeth Forward, Avonworth Receive Byes)

Deer Lakes Lancers @ Southmoreland Scotties

East Allegheny Wildcats @ Mt. Pleasant Vikings

South Allegheny Gladiators @ Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles

Quaker Valley Quakers @ Freeport Yellow Jackets

4A- 13 Teams make the playoffs, Three conference winners receive byes.

4A is the conference where we could see the most variation and it all revolves around the Big 8 in the final two weeks. McKeesport will host Thomas Jefferson in Week 8 and visit Belle Vernon. My money’s on the Tigers to beat TJ at home but lose in the finale at the Beach. In Week 8, Laurel Highlands will visit Trinity for the final spot in the Big 8. Look out for the Hillers. I also think that Chartiers Valley will take the 3rd spot in the Parkway conference by beating New Castle in Week 8. Chalk the rest of the way for the Greater Allegheny.

Parkway Projected Final Rankings

2- Aliquippa

6- Beaver

9- Chartiers Valley

13- New Castle

Greater Allegheny Projected Final Rankings

3- Hampton

5- Armstrong

8- Plum

10- Greensburg-Salem

11- Indiana

Big 8 Projected Final Rankings

1- Belle Vernon

4- McKeesport

7- Thomas Jefferson

12- Trinity

4A Projected First Round Games (Belle Vernon, Aliquippa, Hampton Receive Byes)

Chartiers Valley Colts @ Plum Mustangs

New Castle Hurricanes @ McKeesport Tigers

Trinity Hillers @ Armstrong RiverHawks

Greensburg-Salem Golden Lions @ Thomas Jefferson Jaguars

Indiana Indians @ Beaver Bobcats

5A- 12 Teams Make the Playoffs, 4 Teams Receive a Bye

In 5A this year no one has been safe. The Allegheny Six is still up for grabs in Week 8 when Bethel Park visits Moon for the conference title. I think that Moon wins a close one. If the Blackhawks were to upset, we could be facing a three-way tie if Upper St. Clair is able to beat the Blackhawks the week after. I also think Peters wins out against West A and South Fayette to claim the final spot. Speaking of three way ties, the North Hills Indians upset of Pine Richland last weekend meant the Northeast is almost guaranteed to finish based on Gardner Points. The Big East is the most simple with the top 2 set in stone. Woodland Hills can easily win out to get the 3rd spot. If the playoff projections are correct, we could get a possible first round championship rematch between Pine Richland and Peters.

Allegheny Six Projected Final Rankings

1- Moon

6- Bethel Park

8- Upper St. Clair

10- Peters Township

Big East Projected Final Rankings

3- Penn Trafford

5- Gateway

9- Woodland Hills

11- Franklin Regional

Northeast Projected Final Rankings

2- Penn Hills

4- North Hills

7- Pine Richland

12- Fox Chapel

5A Projected First Round Games (Moon, Penn Hills, Penn Trafford, North Hills Receive Byes)

Woodland Hills Wolverines @ Upper St. Clair Panthers

Fox Chapel Foxes @ Gateway Gators

Peters Township Indians @ Pine Richland Rams

Franklin Regional Panthers @ Bethel Park Blackhawks

6A- 5 Teams Make Playoffs, Seeds 1-3 receive a bye

6A still has some quirks to be decided. North A and Seneca Valley will play in Week 9 to decide the 3/4 seeds, however the rest is set in stone.

Quad County Projected Final Rankings

1- Mt. Lebanon

2- Central Catholic

3- North Allegheny

4- Seneca Valley

5- Canon McMillan Big Macs

6A Projected First Round Games (Mt. Lebanon, Central Catholic, North Allegheny receive a Bye)

Canon McMillan Big Macs @ Seneca Valley Raiders

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