5 things to watch in Week 9: New wild card approach puts playoff hopes in WPIAL football committee’s hands

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, October 25, 2024 | 7:15 AM

Purchase Photo Options

In most other years, Friday’s finale between Hopewell and North Catholic might be considered almost a play-in game.

The winner would finish fourth in the Western Hills Conference and head to the playoffs, while the loser stays home. South Fayette vs. Moon in the Allegheny Six might’ve had the same feel Friday night. But now there’s a chance all four teams might make the playoffs thanks to a change in the way the WPIAL chooses qualifiers.

There are more wild cards than ever this year: 16. And the WPIAL football committee was empowered this year to award those at-large bids to whichever teams it deems worthy.

No need for Gardner Points or any other mathematical formulas.

That’s why in Class 3A for example, it’s possible that the Western Hills could send five teams to the playoffs while the Interstate or Allegheny conferences send only three.

In 5A, might the Allegheny Six have five playoff qualifiers?

It’s up to the committee.

In years past, the WPIAL used wild cards in situations where the total number qualifiers couldn’t be selected evenly from the conferences. A 16-team bracket with three conferences would need one wild card. But this year, the WPIAL chose to include multiple wild cards in five of six classifications.

Class 2A and A have four wild cards each, 5A and 3A have three and 4A has two. The WPIAL’s intent was to assure the best teams qualified for the playoffs, rather than rely on tie-breaking formulas that at times drew criticism.

As a result, the committee will have some decisions to make when it meets Saturday to seed the brackets.

Latrobe (5-4, 2-3), Kiski Area (4-5, 2-3) and Gateway (3-6, 2-4) might all finish tied for fourth in the Big East. It seems unlikely they’d all earn wild cards. A win Friday by Latrobe over Penn-Trafford or Kiski Area over Woodland Hills would avoid the three-way tie.

Otherwise, their playoff fates would be in the hands of the committee.

Ailing QBs in 5A

Two of the three conference champions in Class 5A might be using a backup quarterback Friday. Woodland Hills and Pine-Richland both saw their starters get injured last week.

Woodland Hills junior Cameron Walter sustained a knee injury that sent him to the sideline in the first quarter. Pine-Richland sophomore Aaron “Oobi” Strader exited his game with what was thought to be a collarbone injury, putting Friday’s start in question.

Pine-Richland (7-1, 4-0) hosts Shaler (3-6, 1-3). Woodland Hills (7-2, 5-0) hosts Kiski Area (4-5, 2-3). Both have already clinched the Northeast and Big East conference titles.

A dual-threat quarterback, Strader has passed for 1,267 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He also rushed for four scores.

Walter ranks as Woodland Hills’ career passing leader. This season, Walter has thrown for 1,133 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Three’s a crowd

We’ll find out Friday whether teams are in a sharing mood. The Parkway, Western Hills and Allegheny 7 conferences could all wind up with tri-champions.

Montour, Avonworth and Imani Christian are guaranteed to finish in first place in their respective conferences. But will they win outright conference titles or be forced to share?

If West Allegheny (3-1) defeats Montour (4-0), those two could form a three-way tie with Aliquippa (3-1). The Quips play Ambridge (1-3).

If Avonworth (5-0) loses to Beaver (4-1), they will finish tied with Central Valley (5-1). The Warriors have a nonconference game Friday.

If Imani Christian (5-0) loses to Freeport (4-1), they could end up tied with Deer Lakes (4-1). The Lancers play Burrell (2-3).

Winner takes all

Neshannock vs. Laurel. Jefferson-Morgan vs. California.

Those four teams all have undefeated conference records entering de facto championship games Friday.

They’re the only two such matchups on this week’s schedule.

Neshannock (8-1, 5-0) plays Laurel (5-4, 5-0) in the Midwestern. Jefferson-Morgan (9-0, 6-0) plays California (7-2, 6-0) in the Tri-County South.

Perfect time to peak

It might not matter how Mt. Lebanon started the season, but rather how it finishes. The Blue Devils began 0-5 and lost seven of their first eight yet can earn a playoff spot Friday.

Mt. Lebanon (2-7, 2-3) finishes its regular season hosting Norwin (2-7, 0-5). With a win, the playoff scenarios favor the Blue Devils.

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: Ambridge, Avonworth, Beaver, Burrell, California, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Gateway, Hopewell, Imani Christian, Jefferson-Morgan, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Laurel, Montour, Mt. lebanon, Neshannock, North Catholic, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland, Shaler, West Allegheny, Woodland Hills