2025 WPIAL Class 2A championship breakdown: Seton LaSalle vs. Steel Valley

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 4:29 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

WPIAL Class 2A football championship

No. 1 Seton LaSalle vs. No. 3 Steel Valley

2 p.m. Saturday, Acrisure Stadium

On the air: Audio stream: TribLive HSSN; TV: KDKA+; Radio: KDKA (1020 AM, 100.1 FM); Video stream: NFHS Network

Winner plays: District 10 champion Farrell (10-2) or District 6 champion Richland (12-1) in a PIAA semifinal Nov. 28 or 29.

WPIAL titles: Seton LaSalle 5 (2004, ‘02, 1990, ‘80, ‘79), Steel Valley 6 (2022, ‘18, ‘16, 1989, ‘88, ‘82)

Seton LaSalle (11-1)

Player to watch: Aaron Lorittis

An impact player on defense as an edge rusher, Lorittis also proved to be a difference-maker on offense in Seton LaSalle’s two playoff wins. He caught touchdown passes of 85 and 24 yards against Mohawk and last week grabbed an 81-yard TD against Washington. Lorittis committed to Monmouth.

Statistical leaders

Passing: Kia Jones 70-104, 1,054 yards, 10 TDs

Rushing: Kymarr Freeman 127-1,531 yards, 23 TDs

Receiving: Matthew Brodzinski 21-361 yards, 4 TDs

How they got here: After a first-round bye, No. 1 Seton LaSalle defeated No. 8 Mohawk, 42-7, in the quarterfinals; and No. 5 Washington, 27-19, in the semifinals.

Probable starting lineup

Coach: Tim Storino

Offense

QB, 4, Kia Jones, 5-11,165, so.

RB, 6, Kymarr Freeman, 5-9 165, so.

WR, 1, Matthew Brodzinski, 6-0, 170, so.

WR, 22, Jon Wega, 5-10, 165, jr.

WR, 14, Ronald Polk, 5-10, 152, so.

TE, 2, Aaron Loritts, 6-3, 215, sr.

LT, 61, Aaron Diggs, 6-1, 230, jr.

LG, 58, C.J. Widman, 5-10, 230, so.

C, 50, Brody Dilla, 5-10, 240, jr.

RG, 51, Dom Fani, 5-11, 228, jr.

RT, 54, Ray Piaggesi, 6-4, 225, so.

Defense

NT, 65, Logan Hindmarch, 5-9, 240, sr.

DT, 61, Aaron Diggs, 6-1, 230, jr.

DE, 2, Aaron Loritts, 6-3, 215, sr.

DE, 24, Legend Williams, 6-1, 212, jr.

LB, 38, Will Martin, 6-3, 215, sr.

LB, 8, DeOndre Hill, 5-11, 208, sr.

LB, 0, Elijah Hickman, 6-2, 190, so.

CB, 4 Kia Jones, 5-11, 165, so.

CB, 14 Ronald Polk, 5-10, 145, so.

FS, 6 Kymarr Freeman, 5-9 165, so.

SS, 10 George Hawkins, 5-9, 145, so.

Special teams

K, 9, Jeremy Rose, 5-10, 162, jr.

P, 22 Jon Wega, 5-11, 182, jr.

Notable: Seton LaSalle reached the finals for the second year in a row. The Rebels lost to South Park, 21-14, in last year’s Class 2A final. … The team has a strong group of sophomores that includes the team’s leading rusher, passer and receiver. … RB Kymarr Freeman rushed for 286 yards and three touchdowns combined in the team’s first two playoff wins. He has averaged 10.6 yards per carry in the postseason. … The Rebels went undefeated in the Century Conference while outscoring conference opponents 286-42. Overall, the Rebels average 39.7 points per game and allow 11.2. … Coach Tim Storino is in his fourth season at Seton LaSalle. … The team returned to the finals despite losing its two leading receivers to transfer before the season (Khalil Taylor to Pine-Richland and Tre Littlejohn to Penn Hills). The Rebels also lost incoming QB Anthony Smith, who was ruled ineligible by the WPIAL and transferred out of state. … Will Martin is a Duquesne linebacker recruit who had a 1-yard touchdown run in the semifinals. … LB Elijah Hickman lists Kentucky and Syracuse among his six FBS offers. … QB/DB Kia Jones’ college offers include Boston College. … Seton LaSalle is 5-1 all-time in WPIAL finals.

Steel Valley (9-3)

Player to watch: Da’Ron Barksdale

Committed to Pitt to play defensive back, Barksdale ranks among the WPIAL’s top scorers with 31 touchdowns. A running back for the Ironmen, Barksdale averages 163 rushing yards and has topped 100 yards in all 12 games. He hasn’t slowed down any in the playoffs, scoring 10 times in the past two games.

Statistical leaders

Passing: Tyson Barron 33-56, 521 yards, 6 TDs

Rushing: Da’Ron Barksdale 254-1,960 yards, 31 TDs

Receiving: Tyrell Breland 25-450 yards, 3 TDs

How they got here: After a first-round bye, No. 3 Steel Valley defeated No. 6 Ellwood City, 42-6, in the quarterfinals; and No. 2 Western Beaver, 34-7, in the semifinals.

Probable starting lineup

Coach: Ray Braszo

Offense

QB, 9, Tyson Barron, 5-9, 150, sr.

RB, 2 Da’Ron Barksdale, 5-11, 190, sr.

WR, 5, Tyrell Breland, 5-6, 140, sr.

WR, 8, Jayden Franklin, 5-10, 170, sr.

WR, 1, Tyrell Coates, 5-10, 190, sr.

Slot, 12, Ashad Dye, 5-10, 190, jr.

HB, 23, Ricardo Scott, 6-1, 175, jr.

LT, 78, Holden Labishak, 6-4, 340, sr.

LG, 51, Amir Randall, 6-2, 210, sr.

C, 53, Ryan Conroy, 5-11, 220, sr.

RG, 54, Rayvon Price, 6-2, 225, so.

RT, 73, Dylan Smith, 6-3, 310, sr.

Defense

DT, 51, Amir Randall, 6-2, 210, sr.

DT, 54, Rayvon Price, 6-2, 225, so.

DE, 1, Tyrell Coates, 5-10, 190, sr.

DE, 19, Lamarion Rucker, 6-5, 185, sr.

LB, 23, Ricardo Scott, 6-1, 175, jr.

LB, 10, Kylee Goodwin, 5-10, 190, jr.

LB, 8, Jayden Franklin, 5-10, 170, sr.

DB, 14, Gianni Keyes, 6-2, 180, fr.

DB, 2, Da’Ron Barksdale, 5-11, 190, sr.

DB, 12, Ashad Dye, 5-10, 190, jr.

DB, 9, Tyson Barron, 5-9, 150, sr.

Special teams

K, 88, Andy Tenney, 5-10, 160, sr.

P, 2, Da’Ron Barksdale, 5-11, 190, sr

Notable: Steel Valley reached the WPIAL finals for the third time in four seasons. The Ironmen defeated Beaver Falls, 34-14, in 2023 before losing a finals rematch, 14-12, a year later. … Overall, it is Steel Valley’s ninth finals appearance with six in the past 10 seasons. … Steel Valley finished as tri-champions in the Allegheny Conference with South Allegheny and Apollo-Ridge. The Ironmen have won five games in a row since an 18-14 loss to Apollo-Ridge on Oct. 3. They’ve outscored opponents 196-31 in that winning streak. … RB/DB Da’Ron Barksdale scored 19 touchdowns in the past five games, including five TDs apiece in quarterfinal and semifinal wins. … Barksdale committed to Pitt in June over Power 4 offers from West Virginia and Syracuse. … DB Ashad Dye has a team-high five interceptions, and Barksdale has four. … DT Rayvon Price and DT Amir Randall have nine sacks each. … Steel Valley averages 31.7 points per game and allows 9.2. … Ray Braszo is in his seventh season back at Steel Valley, where he previously coached from 2006-09. … The WPIAL title Braszo won in 2022 was his first. … Steel Valley is 6-2 all-time in WPIAL finals.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Seton La Salle, Steel Valley