2024 WPIAL football playoff picture: Who’s in, on the cusp ahead of Week 8 contests

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, October 13, 2024 | 6:21 PM

---

Time to prepare for the new world order in the WPIAL football playoffs.

Wild card teams have expanded and are no longer figured out by the mathematics equations that included the dreaded Gardner Points and the WPIAL tiebreaker system.

Now a total of 16 teams will have to wait until Selection Saturday before they find out if they will participate in the district postseason as a wild card team.

So, instead of cyphering or using an abacus to determine if a team has clinched, we only have to focus on the top three finishers in each conference between Class A and 5A.

Here is a look at the teams that have clinched playoff berths and the remaining schedule for teams in the hunt heading into Week 8.

Conference records listed next to teams and only remaining conference games are listed.

Class 6A

Top four teams in the seven-team standings qualify for the playoffs.

Central Catholic Vikings, 4-0 (clinched)

Week 8 – host Seneca Valley (at CMU)

Week 9 – host Canon-McMillan (at CMU)

North Allegheny Tigers, 4-1 (clinched)

Week 9 – host Seneca Valley

Seneca Valley Raiders, 3-1

Week 8 – at Central Catholic (at CMU)

Week 9 – at North Allegheny

Hempfield Spartans, 2-3

Week 8 – host Mt. Lebanon

Canon-McMillan Big Macs, 1-3

Week 8 – host Norwin

Week 9 – at Central Catholic (at CMU)

Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils, 1-3

Week 8 – at Hempfield

Week 9 – host Norwin

Norwin Knights, 0-4

Week 8 – at Canon-McMillan

Week 9 – at Mt. Lebanon

Class 5A

Total of 12 playoff teams: Top three teams in the Allegheny Six, Big East and Northeast conferences earn playoff berths, plus three wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.

Big East Conference

Woodland Hills Wolverines, 4-0

Week 8 – at Franklin Regional

Week 9 – host Kiski Area

Penn-Trafford Warriors, 3-1

Week 8 – at Armstrong

Week 9 – at Latrobe

Franklin Regional Panthers, 3-1

Week 8 – host Woodland Hills

Week 9 – host Armstrong

Gateway Gators, 2-3

Week 8 – host Latrobe

Kiski Area Cavaliers, 2-3

Week 9 – at Woodland Hills

Latrobe Wildcats, 1-3

Week 8 – at Gateway

Week 9 – host Penn-Trafford

Armstrong River Hawks, 0-4

Week 8 – host Penn-Trafford

Week 9 – at Franklin Regional

Northeast Conference

Pine-Richland Rams, 4-0 (clinched)

Week 9 – host Shaler

North Hills Indians, 3-1

Week 8 – host Penn Hills

Penn Hills Indians, 2-1

Week 8 – at North Hills

Week 9 – host Plum

Plum Mustangs, 2-2

Week 9 – at Penn Hills

Shaler Titans, 0-3

Week 8 – host Fox Chapel

Week 9 – at Pine-Richland

Fox Chapel Foxes, 0-4 (eliminated)

Allegheny Six Conference

Upper St. Clair Panthers. 3-0 (clinched)

Week 8 – host Moon

Week 9 – host Baldwin

Peters Township Indians, 2-1

Week 8 – host Baldwin

Week 9 – host Bethel Park

Bethel Park Black Hawks, 2-1

Week 8 – host South Fayette

Week 9 – at Peters Township

South Fayette Lions, 1-2

Week 8 – at Bethel Park

Week 9 – at Moon

Moon Tigers, 1-2

Week 8 – at Upper St. Clair

Week 9 – host South Fayette

Baldwin Highlanders, 0-3

Week 8 – at Peters Township

Week 9 – at Upper St. Clair

Class 4A

Total of 8 playoff teams: Top two teams in the Parkway, Big Six and Greater Allegheny conferences earn playoff berths, plus two wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.

Parkway Conference

Montour Spartans, 3-0

Week 8 – host Aliquippa

Week 9 – host West Allegheny

Aliquippa Quips, 3-0

Week 8 – at Montour

Week 9 – host Ambridge

West Allegheny Indians, 2-1

Week 8 – at Blackhawk

Week 9 – at Montour

Blackhawk Cougars, 1-2

Week 8 – host West Allegheny

Week 9 – at New Castle

New Castle Red Hurricanes, 0-3

Week 8 – host Ambridge

Week 9 – host Blackhawk

Ambridge Bridgers, 0-3

Week 8 – at New Castle

Week 9 – at Aliquippa

Big Six Conference

Thomas Jefferson Jaguars, 2-0

Week 8 – host Chartiers Valley

Week 9 – at Laurel Highlands

*Week 7 game at Ringgold was postponed and may or may not be made up at a later date.

Belle Vernon Leopards, 2-1

Week 8 – at Ringgold

Week 9 – at Trinity

Trinity Hillers, 2-1

Week 8 – host Laurel Highlands

Week 9 – host Belle Vernon

Chartiers Valley Colts, 1-2

Week 8 – at Thomas Jefferson

Week 9 – at Ringgold

Laurel Highlands Mustangs, 1-2

Week 8 – at Trinity

Week 9 – host Thomas Jefferson

Ringgold Rams, 0-2

Week 8 – host Belle Vernon

Week 9 – host Chartiers Valley

* Week 7 game vs. Thomas Jefferson was postponed and may or may not be made up at a later date.

Greater Allegheny Conference

McKeesport Tigers, 3-0

Week 8 – host Indiana

Week 9 – at Knoch

Mars Fightin’ Planets, 2-1

Week 8 – at Hampton

Week 9 – host Indiana

Knoch Knights, 2-1

Week 8 – at West Mifflin

Week 9 – host McKeesport

Hampton Talbots, 1-2

Week 8 – host Mars

Week 9 – at West Mifflin

West Mifflin Titans, 1-2

Week 8 – host Knoch

Week 9 – host Hampton

Indiana Little Indians, 0-3

Week 8 – at McKeesport

Week 9 – at Mars

Class 3A

Total of 12 playoff teams: Top three teams in the Western Hills, Allegheny Seven and Interstate conferences earn playoff berths, plus three wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.

Western Hills Conference

Avonworth Antelopes, 4-0

Week 8 – host North Catholic

Week 9 – at Beaver

Central Valley Warriors, 4-1

Week 8 – host Hopewell

Beaver Bobcats, 3-1

Week 8 – host Quaker Valley

Week 9 – host Avonworth

Hopewell Vikings, 2-2

Week 8 – at Central Valley

Week 9 – at North Catholic

North Catholic Trojans, 2-2

Week 8 – at Avonworth

Week 9 – host Hopewell

Quaker Valley Quakers, 0-4 (eliminated)

McGuffey Highlanders, 0-5 (eliminated)

Allegheny Seven Conference

Imani Christian Saints, 4-0 (clinched)

Week 8 – at Burrell

Week 9 – at Freeport

Deer Lakes Lancers, 3-1

Week 8 – host Valley

Week 9 – host Burrell

Freeport Yellowjackets, 3-1

Week 8 – at East Allegheny

Week 9 – host Imani Christian

Burrell Buccaneers, 2-2

Week 8 – host Imani Christian

Week 9 – at Deer Lakes

Highlands Golden Rams, 2-3

Week 9 – at Valley

East Allegheny Wildcats, 1-4 (eliminated)

Valley Vikings, 0-4

Week 8 – at Deer Lakes

Week 9 – host Highlands

Interstate Conference

Southmoreland Scotties, 3-0

Week 8 – at Elizabeth Forward

Week 9 – at Greensburg Salem

Elizabeth Forward Warriors, 3-0

Week 8 – host Southmoreland

Week 9 – at Mt. Pleasant

Mt. Pleasant Vikings, 2-1

Week 8 – host Derry

Week 9 – host Elizabeth Forward

Greensburg Salem Golden Lions, 1-2

Week 8 – at Yough

Week 9 – host Southmoreland

Derry Trojans, 0-3

Week 8 – at Mt. Pleasant

Week 9 – at Yough

Yough Cougars, 0-3

Week 8 – host Greensburg Salem

Week 9 – host Derry

Class 2A

Total of 13 playoff teams: Top three teams in the Allegheny, Midwestern Athletic and Century conferences earn playoff berths, plus four wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.

Allegheny Conference

South Park Eagles, 4-0 (clinched)

Week 8 – at Apollo-Ridge

Week 9 – at Shady Side Academy

South Allegheny Gladiators, 4-1 (clinched)

Week 9 at Steel Valley

Steel Valley Ironmen, 3-1

Week 8 – at Ligonier Valley

Week 9 – host South Allegheny

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers, 2-3

Week 8 – host Shady Side Academy (at Moon)

Ligonier Valley Rams, 1-3

Week 8 – host Steel Valley

Week 9 – host Apollo-Ridge

Shady Side Academy Bulldogs, 1-3

Week 8 – at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (at Moon)

Week 9 – host South Park

Apollo-Ridge Vikings, 0-4

Week 8 – host South Park

Week 9 – at Ligonier Valley

Midwestern Athletic Conference

Ellwood City Wolverines, 5-0 (clinched)

Week 8 – host Union

Week 9 – host Beaver Falls

Western Beaver Golden Beaver, 4-1

Week 8 – at New Brighton

Week 9 – at Freedom

Mohawk Warriors, 3-1

Week 8 – at Freedom

Week 9 – host Riverside

Riverside Panthers, 3-2

Week 8 – at Beaver Falls

Week 9 – at Mohawk

New Brighton Lions, 2-3

Week 8 – host Western Beaver

Week 9 – at Union

Union Scotties, 2-3

Week 8 – at Ellwood City

Week 9 – host New Brighton

Freedom Bulldogs, 1-4

Week 8 – host Mohawk

Week 9 – host Western Beaver

Beaver Falls Tigers, 0-5 (eliminated)

Century Conference

Seton LaSalle Rebels, 4-0 (clinched)

Week 8 – at Keystone Oaks

Week 9 – at Washington

Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles, 4-1 (clinched)

Week 8 – host Seton LaSalle

Washington Little Prexies, 3-1

Week 8 – at Carlynton

Week 9 – host Seton LaSalle

Waynesburg Central Raiders, 2-2

Week 8 – at Charleroi

Week 9 – host Sto-Rox

Carlynton Cougars, 1-3

Week 8 – host Washington

Week 9 – host Charleroi

Charleroi Cougars, 1-3

Week 8 – host Waynesburg Central

Week 9 – at Carlynton

Sto-Rox Vikings, 0-5 (eliminated)

Class A

Total of 16 playoff teams: Top three teams in the Big 7, Eastern, Black Hills and Tri-County South conferences earn playoff berths, plus four wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.

Big 7 Conference

Neshannock Lancers, 4-0 (clinched)

Week 8 – host Summit Academy

Week 9 – host Laurel

Laurel Spartans, 4-0

Week 8 – at South Side

Week 9 – at Neshannock

South Side Rams, 3-1

Week 8 – host Laurel

Week 9 – at Rochester

Rochester Rams, 2-2

Week 8 – at Northgate

Week 9 – host South Side

Northgate Flames, 1-4

Week 8 – host Rochester

Shenango Wildcats, 1-4

Week 9 – host Summit Academy

Summit Academy, 0-4

Week 8 – at Neshannock

Week 9 – at Shenango

Eastern Conference

Clairton Bears, 5-0

Week 8 – host Riverview

Week 9 host Brentwood

Leechburg Blue Devils, 4-1

Week 8 – at Brentwood

Week 9 – host Greensburg Central Catholic

Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions, 4-1

Week 8 – at Frazier

Week 9 – at Leechburg

Brentwood Spartans, 3-2

Week 8 – host Leechburg

Week 9 – at Clairton

Jeannette Jayhawks, 2-3

Week 8 – host Springdale

Week 9 – host Riverview

Riverview Raiders, 2-3

Week 8 – at Clairton

Week 9 – at Jeannette

Frazier Commodores, 0-5 (eliminated)

Springdale Dynamos 0-5 (eliminated)

Black Hills Conference

Fort Cherry Rangers, 5-0 (clinched)

Week 9 – at Serra Catholic

Monessen Greyhounds, 3-1

Week 8 – at Bishop Canevin

Week 9 – at Cornell

Bishop Canevin Crusaders, 3-1

Week 8 – host Monessen

Week 9 – host Burgettstown

Cornell Raiders, 2-2

Week 8 – at Chartiers-Houston

Week 9 – host Monessen

Serra Catholic Eagles, 1-3

Week 8 – at Burgettstown

Week 9 – host Fort Cherry

Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers, 1-4

Week 8 – host Cornell

Burgettstown Blue Devils, 0-4

Week 8 – host Serra Catholic

Week 9 – at Bishop Canevin

Tri-County South Conference

Jefferson-Morgan Rockets, 5-0 (clinched)

Week 8 – at Avella

Week 9 – at California

California Trojans, 5-0 (clinched)

Week 8 – at Beth-Center

Week 9 – host Jefferson-Morgan

West Greene Pioneers, 3-2

Week 8 – at Carmichaels

Week 9 – at Beth-Center

Bentworth Bearcats, 2-3

Week 8 – host Mapletown

Week 9 – at Avella

Carmichaels Mighty Mikes, 2-3

Week 8 – host West Greene

Week 9 – at Mapletown

Avella Eagles, 2-3

Week 8 – host Jefferson-Morgan

Week 9 – host Bentworth

Mapletown Maples, 0-4

Week 8 – at Bentworth

Week 9 – host Carmichaels

Beth-Center Bulldogs, 0-4

Week 8 – host California

Week 9 – host West Greene