CTK ’17 – 2016 WPIAL Class 2-A Football Flashback

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, August 11, 2017 | 12:46 AM

Expansion was a huge part of the 2016-2017 school year as the PIAA and thus the WPIAL got its first taste of six classifications starting with the 2016 football season. While there were some surprises and some competitive action in the regular season and district playoffs, there was very little suspense in the championship chase as Steel Valley became one of the most dominant WPIAL and PIAA champions.

2016 WPIAL 2-A HEADLINES:

*  OK, so how dominant was Steel Valley in what turned out to be a 15-0 perfect season’ The Ironmen scored 806 points, a hefty average of 53 points per game. But the maroon and gold didn't just have a lethal offense, they dominated on the other side of the pigskin as well. Steel Valley yielded only 121 points all year, an average of 8 points per game, including five shutouts. But while the Ironmen ran roughshod over their opponents, they did show a lot of mercy. All fifteen victories came with with the clock running at the end in the 35+ point mercy rule.

*  After coming so close with Semifinals losses three straight years from 2012, 2013 and 2014, then losing in the Quarterfinals in 2015, Neshannock finally broke through and reached the WPIAL finals. The Lancers won the new look Midwestern Athletic Conference then rolled past Serra Catholic and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, before beating Washington to qualify for the first Class 2-A title game at Robert Morris University. The magic ended in the finals though as Neshannock fell to Steel Valley 49-14.

*  Ten teams who qualified for the Class 2-A playoffs were returning to the postseason after making it a year earlier. The six teams that made the 2016 2-A playoffs after missing the previous year were Riverside, Laurel, Freedom, East Allegheny, Brentwood and Serra Catholic. Ironically, five of those teams were coming off 3-win seasons in 2015 with the lone exception being Freedom as the Bulldogs only won twice two years ago.

*  The two quarterbacks who guided their teams to the finals finished in the top ten in the WPIAL in passing. Neshannock's Frank Antuono connected on 137 passes for 2,165 yards and 25 touchdowns while Ryan Harper of Steel Valley completed 102 passes for 2,081 yards and 33 touchdowns. The Ironmen's DeWayne Murray was the third leading rusher in the WPIAL with 2,094 yards and was tops in the district in scoring with 46 touchdowns. 

*  Two teams finished without a victory in Class 2-A in 2016 as both Brownsville and Vincentian Academy fended up with 0-10 records. The Falcons enter 2017 with an 11 game losing streak while the Royals lost 15 straight before announcing they would not be fielding a team this fall.

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2016 WPIAL Final Class 2-A Standings:

The first step toward double gold for Steel Valley was rolling to the Three Rivers Conference championship while both Neshannock in the Midwestern Athletic Conference and Washington in the Century Conference were perfect en route to conference titles.

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2016 WPIAL Class 2-A Football Playoff Results:

South Side Beaver won the sixth place wild card tiebreaker to edge out Beth-Center and Carlynton for a playoff spot. Once the playoffs started, there was plenty of offense as the winning team scored at least 35 points in 10 of the 14 Class 2-A playoffs. 

2016 WPIAL CLASS 2-A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

Steel Valley Ironmen  49  –  Neshannock Lancers  14  

WPIAL CLASS 2-A Semifinals:

Steel Valley Ironmen  42  –  Riverside Panthers  0  

Neshannock Lancers  27  –  Washington Little Prexies  7  

WPIAL CLASS 2-A Quarterfinals:

Steel Valley Ironmen  50  –  Laurel Spartans  14 

Riverside Panthers  21  –  Freedom Bulldogs  7  

Washington Little Prexies  61  –  Brentwood Spartans  27  

Neshannock Lancers  71  –  Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans  28 

WPIAL CLASS 2-A First Round:

Steel Valley Ironmen  51  –  Beth-Center Bulldogs  14  

Laurel Spartans  10  –  Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers  6  

Riverside Panthers  42  –  Avonworth Antelopes  7  

Freedom Bulldogs  38  –  East Allegheny Wildcats  21  

Washington Little Prexies  35  –  South Side Beaver Rams  13  

Brentwood Spartans  46  –  Frazier Commodores  19  

Neshannock Lancers  60  –  Serra Catholic Eagles  21  

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans  14  –  Burgettstown Blue Devils  7  

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2016 PIAA Class 2-A Football Playoff Results:

Southern Columbia has been one of the most successful football programs since the PIAA state playoffs began nearly 40 years ago, but the Tigers were no match for the domination that was the 2016 Steel Valley football team as the Ironmen captured the schools first ever state football championship going away.

2016 PIAA CLASS 2-A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

STEEL VALLEY IRONMEN 49 – Southern Columbia Tigers 7  

PIAA CLASS 2-A Semifinals:

STEEL VALLEY IRONMEN 49 – Wilmington Greyhounds 13  

Southern Columbia Tigers 31 – Ligonier Valley Rams 27  

PIAA CLASS 2-A Quarterfinals:

STEEL VALLEY IRONMEN 49 – NESHANNOCK LANCERS 14  

Wilmington Greyhounds 42 – Kane Wolves 0

Ligonier Valley Rams 39 – Dunmore Bucks 19  

Southern Columbia Tigers 20 – Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes 5

PIAA CLASS 2-A First Round:

STEEL VALLEY IRONMEN 42 – RIVERSIDE PANTHERS 0 

NESHANNOCK LANCERS 27 – WASHINGTON LITTLE PREXIES 7  

Wilmington Greyhounds 49 – Sharpsville Blue Devils 7

Kane Wolves 34 – Chestnut Ridge Lions 12

Ligonier Valley Rams 35 – Bishop McCort Crimson Crushers 7  

Dunmore Bucks 48 – York Catholic Fighting Irish 35

Southern Columbia Tigers 49 – South Williamsport Mountaineers 21

Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes 41 – West Catholic Burrs 12