5 things to watch in Week 5: Little room for error in WPIAL 4A with 8-team playoff ahead

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, September 27, 2024 | 7:01 AM

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Eight maybe isn’t enough when counting WPIAL playoff berths.

That’s how many — or how few — playoff spots are available for the 18 teams in Class 4A, which starts conference play Friday night. That’s down from 12 spots last year. The smaller bracket leaves less room for error and adds weight to each of the five conference games they’ll play.

Understandably, there are concerns.

“In this format, a very good team is going to be left out,” Trinity coach Dan Knause said. “It’s exciting, but it’s like a five-game burst where every game is going to matter significantly.”

Only the top two finishers in each of the three conferences are guaranteed playoff spots. Two additional wild card teams will be chosen by the WPIAL football committee.

This is the first time the league will ask the committee to choose wild cards rather than use tie-breaking formulas. That has coaches wondering how exactly the committee will make those decisions.

“Obviously, somebody’s going to be happy and somebody is not,” West Mifflin coach Rod Steele said.

A year ago, Trinity finished in a three-way tie for second in its conference and all three teams qualified for the playoffs. If something similar happened this season, someone might miss out.

“You’ll want to secure one of those first two spots,” Knause said. “Because I’m not sure what the committee is going to look for.”

Only 44% of teams in Class 4A will qualify for the playoffs, the lowest rate among any of the six WPIAL classifications. The others range from 53% in Class A (16 of 30 teams) to 63% in 5A (12 of 19).

The WPIAL limited the 4A bracket to three rounds because of where the champion enters the state playoffs. The WPIAL 4A champion joins a week earlier than the champs in 5A, 3A, 2A and A. That also means the WPIAL 4A title game won’t be played at Acrisure Stadium.

This eight-team bracket was a dilemma 5A teams faced the past two seasons.

“Would I rather it been a 12-team field? Yes,” Knause said. “But at the same time, we have to control the controllables.”

Nearing a milestone

Upper St. Clair’s next victory is No. 500 in program history, a milestone only 25 other WPIAL teams have reached. USC (5-0) has its first chance Friday against Peters Township (5-0).

What makes Upper St. Clair’s wins total more remarkable is how quickly the team got there compared to some others. The school — originally called Fort Couch — started playing football in 1958.

In the team’s 67 years, it has averaged 7.4 wins per season.

The newest addition to the WPIAL’s 500-win club was Uniontown earlier this season. The Red Raiders started playing football in 1903.

Blame it on the rain

Along with scouting reports and game plans, checking weather apps has become a modern-day part of coaching.

Friday’s forecast includes the possibility of showers, which might throw a wrinkle into some plans. But don’t expect too many coaches to be caught off guard.

“You always have to prepare for situations and circumstances,” Central Catholic coach Ryan Lehmeier said. “Whether that be injury, weather, wind, snow. You’re always kind of prepared. You have to have a plan for those things, but we don’t stand out in dry weather and talk about the rain.”

Scouring the schedule

Teams from all 17 conference are in action for the first time this season.

As a result, the number of nonconference games has dwindled to five, but they do include some intriguing matchups.

Undefeated Imani Christian (5-0), the top-ranked team in WPIAL 3A, visits North Catholic (3-2), which has the WPIAL’s leading receiver. North Catholic’s Ryker Kennedy has caught a WPIAL-best 35 passes for 492 yards.

On Saturday, Monessen (4-1) visits South Side (4-0), the third-ranked team in Class A. The game was moved from Friday because of a lack of officials, South Side coach/athletic director Luke Travelpiece said.

No need to wait

Central Valley isn’t easing into its conference schedule.

A week after defeating fifth-ranked Beaver, the No. 3 Warriors (2-3, 2-0) visit No. 4 Avonworth (3-2, 1-0) in a matchup that might decide the Western Hills title. This is only the fourth all-time meeting between the former WPIAL champions.

Avonworth won 28-20 last season. Central Valley won 37-22 in 2022 and 43-6 in 2021.

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, Central Catholic, Central Valley, Imani Christian, Monessen, North Catholic, South Side, Trinity, Upper St. Clair, West Mifflin