Riverview chasing 1st WPIAL football playoff berth since 2016

By: Michael Love
Saturday, October 4, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The last time the Riverview football team qualified for the WPIAL Class A playoffs was in 2016.

It also was the last time the Raiders had defeated Greensburg Central Catholic. They celebrated a 13-7 victory over the Centurions in overtime that day en route to a postseason berth.

The subsequent eight seasons in the series were fraught with frustration as GCC would prevail each time. In a couple of those seasons, the loss was damaging to Riverview’s playoff hopes.

That streak of setbacks to the Centurions came to an end Sept. 27 as Riverview topped GCC, 26-7, to improve to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference and win for the fourth time overall.

Coach Trevor George said the win was big for his players as it not only put them in a good spot for the playoffs but also was another step in building momentum and confidence for a team that continues to develop closer bonds.

“It was interesting to see how the kids would respond after a big win like they got against GCC, and they came in that Monday locked in and ready to rock and roll,” George said.

“It wasn’t an overhyped atmosphere. It was just a new mission, a new business trip to get ready for Brentwood. We had to take care of what we had to take care of, and that is winning every day and every rep in practice. It is so cool to see them be so process oriented with every week its own season. These kids work to go 1-0 each week.

“They have taken ownership of focusing on the immediate task and not looking too far ahead. I talked before about how this team might have gotten away from that in the past and worried too much about certain games on the schedule and lost sight of what was right in front of them.”

The Raiders hope to put another one in the win column this week as they travel to Frazier.

Defense helped produce the first touchdown against GCC as a fumble recovery set up the offense to where quarterback Connor Kmetz eventually scored on a 1-yard run. It was his first rushing score of the season.

Riverview’s run game went on to dominate GCC, which was without its dynamic two-way standout Samir Crosby because of injury.

The Raiders racked up 262 yards on 40 carries.

Kaden Levy scored on runs of 3 yards and 1 yard, his team-leading ninth and 10th rushing scores of the season.

Max Kratt capped the scoring in the fourth quarter as he hauled in a 4-yard pass from Kmetz.

The TD pass was Kmetz’s fifth of the season.

“You could see the heart and will of the kids in all three phases,” George said. “The defense really stepped up again. It was their third shutout. Their only points came on a kickoff return. That game was big in showing the growth and maturity of a competitive football team.”

In addition to the win, Riverview honored its eight seniors before the game.

“It was so special to see them celebrated for all they have given the program and all they still have to give,” George said.

“One of the coolest experiences for me is to see them grow from seventh grade into the people they are today as students and athletes. I had all of them in history class in seventh grade. We’ve watched them grow physically in the weight room and also grow through the ups and downs as they helped build the program. It’s just a great group of kids and a close-knit senior class.”

George said the Week 3 game against conference power Leechburg — a tough 27-18 loss under the Friday night lights Sept. 12 at Riverside Park — taught him a lot about where his team was and what they could accomplish.

The Blue Devils led 27-6 at the end of three quarters but Riverview didn’t quit and closed the gap with a 32-yard TD run by Levy and a 64-yard Kmetz pass to Rio Stotts.

Leechburg’s standout senior tailback Timmy Andrasy logged 33 carries for 162 yards and three scores.

“Leechburg is a phenomenal team, and everyone knows about their big and experienced line and (Andrasy) and his abilities,” George said.

“We were able to adapt and did a good job working to contain their success.”

Riverview got back in the win column with a 64-14 win over Springdale.

“(The Leechburg game) taught us a lot about playing with grit and also how to handle adversity,” George said.

“That was a tough-battled game in all three phases, and we were able to see some successes. The kids came out of it more motivated than I’ve ever seen them come out of a game.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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