2025 WPIAL Class 3A championship breakdown: Avonworth vs. Imani Christian

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 6:15 PM

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WPIAL Class 3A football championship

No. 1 Avonworth vs. No. 2 Imani Christian

5 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 6 champion Penn Cambria (11-2) or District 10 champion Sharon (9-3) in a PIAA semifinal Nov. 28 or 29.

WPIAL titles: Avonworth 3 (2024, ‘19, 1959), Imani Christian 0

Avonworth (12-0)

Player to watch:Luca Neal

The senior’s versatility helped him earn conference offensive MVP honors in the Western Hills. Rostered as a wide receiver, Neal leads the team in catches (40) but also can run the ball. His carries as a wildcat quarterback in last year’s playoffs helped the Antelopes win the WPIAL title and reach the state finals. His team-high 18 touchdowns include two on interception returns.

Statistical leaders

Passing: Carson Bellinger 93-137, 1,934 yards, 26 TDs

Rushing: Dimitri Velisaris 188-1,449 yards, 24 TDs

Receiving: Luca Neal 40-788 yards, 10 TDs

How they got here: After a first-round bye, No. 1 Avonworth defeated No. 8 Freeport, 56-7, in the quarterfinals; and No. 5 North Catholic, 44-24, in the semifinals.

Probable starting lineup

Coach: Duke Johncour

Offense

QB, 3, Carson Bellinger, 5-11, 180, sr.

RB, 34, Dimitri Velisaris, 5-7, 175, jr.

WR, 4, Luca Neal, 5-10, 185, sr.

WR, 6, Jaden Jones, 6-3, 180, so.

TE/H, 88, Marco Arlia, 6-1, 220, sr.

TE, 14, Evan Loutzenhiser, 6-2, 190, sr.

HB, 23, Bryce Metz, 6-1, 205, jr.

LT, 74, Peter Bonnet, 6-6, 300, sr.

LG, 64, Tyler Hanny, 5-11, 255, sr.

C, 76, Brad Hines, 5-11, 250, jr.

RG, 72, Noah Neiss, 6-0, 235, so.

RT, 78, Harrison McAfee, 5-10, 255, jr.

Defense

DE, 7, Romello Harris-Blanchard, 6-2, 190, so.

DL, 72, Noah Neiss, 6-0, 235, so.

DL, 88, Marco Arlia, 6-1, 220, sr.

DE, 14, Evan Loutzenhiser, 6-2, 190, sr.

LB, 1, Jackson Krul, 5-10, 190, sr.

LB, 23, Bryce Metz, 6-1, 205, jr.

LB, 33, Gavin McDowell, 5-10, 185, so.

S/LB, 4, Luca Neal, 5-11, 185, sr.

CB, 5, Cooper Scharding, 5-11, 200, sr.

CB, 11, Jack Crawford, 6-0, 170, sr.

S, 26, Brayden Wiles, 5-8, 165, so.

S, 6, Jaden Jones, 6-3, 180, so.

Special teams

K/P, 31, Calder Mahan, 6-1, 165, jr.

Notable: Avonworth is trying to defend its WPIAL title after defeating Central Valley, 17-0, in last year’s finals. The Antelopes are in the championship game for the fourth year in a row, having finished as runners-up in 2022 and ‘23. … Avonworth went undefeated in the Western Hills and outscored conference opponents 262-48. Overall, the team averages 41.5 points per game while allowing 9.5. … Avonworth’s nonconference schedule included wins over Class 4A champion Aliquippa, 23-7, and 4A semifinalist Thomas Jefferson, 41-14. … RB Dimitri Velisaris rushed 17 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns in the semifinals. The junior had 112 rushing yards and four TDs on 10 carries in the quarterfinals. … Lineman Peter Bonnet is a Navy commit. … QB Carson Bellinger’s 26 touchdowns rank sixth among WPIAL passers. … Bryce Metz has a team-high 76 tackles. … Romeo Harris-Blachard leads with nine sacks. Evan Loutzenhiser has seven. … Seven Antelopes have at least one interception led by Jaden Jones (four). … Duke Johncour is in his 15th season as coach. … Avonworth earned its first WPIAL title in 1959 by tying Union, 13-13, in the championship game. The Antelopes won their first outright WPIAL title in 2019 over Washington, 28-6.

Imani Christian (12-0)

Player to watch: David Davis

Davis rolled up 413 rushing yards combined in playoff wins over Hopewell and Central Valley. Making his total more impressive is that the senior had only 13 carries. Boosting his yards-per-carry average were touchdown runs of 73, 75, 78 and 83 yards. He’s a big-play threat at running back, wide receiver and defensive back, the position North Carolina has recruited him to play.

Statistical leaders

Passing: Gabe Jenkins 71-138, 1,646 yards, 29 TDs

Rushing: Jenkins 127-1,357 yards, 13 TDs

Receiving: David Davis 19-511 yards, 9 TDs; Robert Torres-Johnson 19-414 yards, 6 TDs

How they got here: After a first-round bye, No. 2 Imani Christian defeated No. 10 Hopewell, 59-21, in the quarterfinals; and No. 3 Central Valley, 48-0, in the semifinals.

Probable starting lineup

Coach: LaRoi Johnson

Offense

QB, 1, Gabe Jenkins, 6-2, 180, jr.

RB, 9, Anthony Portis, 5-7, 195, sr.

WR, 4, David Davis, 6-0, 180, sr.

WR, 19, David Campbell, 5-7, 140, so.

Slot, 24, Daniel Stephens, 5-8, 150, so.

Slot, 14, Robert Torres-Johnson, 5-7, 155, sr.

TE, 8, Da’Juan Craighead, 6-2, 175, jr.

(or) TE, 0, Maurice Williams, 6-3, 190, jr.

LT, 56, Davon Johnson, 6-2, 255, jr.

LG, 50, Quamir Battles, 6-1, 260, jr.

C, 52, Matt Fulmore, 6-0, 300, sr.

RG, 78, Raymir Jones, 6-4, 260, sr.

RT, 51, Caiden Akitoye, 6-2, 210, sr.

Defense

DE, 10, Will Gorman, 6-3, 240, sr.

DT, 56, Davon Johnson, 6-2, 255, jr.

DT, 50, Quamir Battles, 6-1, 260, jr.

DE, 7, Darius Clark, 5-11, 180, jr.

LB, 9, Anthony Portis, 5-7, 195, sr.

LB, 0, Maurice Williams, 6-3, 190, jr.

LB, 8, D.J. Craighead, 6-2, 175, jr.

CB, 5, Victor Star, 5-8, 150, so.

CB, 14, Robert Torres-Johnson, 5-7, 155, sr.

S, 4, David Davis, 6-0, 180, sr.

S, 1, Gabe Jenkins, 6-2, 180, jr.

Special teams

K, 7, Darius Clark, 5-11, 180, jr.

P, 0, Maurice Williams, 6-3, 190, jr.

Notable: Imani Christian has never won a WPIAL title. The Saints lost to Jeannette, 35-34, in the 2017 Class A final. … A year ago, then top-seeded Imani Christian lost in the semifinals to No. 5 Avonworth, 14-6. … The Imani roster has a number of Division I recruits including seniors David Davis (North Carolina) and Will Gorman (Youngstown State), along with uncommitted juniors Gabe Jenkins, Da’Juan Craighead and Maurice Williams, who all have Power 4 offers. … Jenkins leads all WPIAL 3A passers with 29 TDs. He threw a 43-yarder to Craighead in the semifinals. … Jenkins was previously a Penn State commit before reopening his recruitment. … David Davis, also a former Penn State recruit, rushed for three touchdowns in last week’s semifinal win. … The Saints scored twice last week on fumble returns by Williams and Anthony Portis. … Imani Christian outscored its six Allegheny 7 Conference opponents 322-35. Overall, the team averages 43.5 points and allows 13.7. … This is LaRoi Johnson’s fourth season as coach. He previously coached Sto-Rox for four seasons and reached the finals twice. … Imani Christian is a small, private school in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood. The school’s enrollment qualifies for Class A football, but the Saints voluntarily “play up” to 3A.

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: Avonworth, Imani Christian