Trib HSSN don’t miss high school football matchups for 2025 Week 9

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 8:29 PM

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Welcome to Week 9 of the high school football season, the final weekend of the regular season.

There are 65 WPIAL football playoff berths this season, with 49 spots guaranteed to be clinched by the end of Friday in the six classifications, and another 16 wild card spots to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee Saturday afternoon.

So heading into Week 9, 37 of the 49 postseason berths have been determined.

The 37 with their playoff ticket already punched are:

Class 6A: Central Catholic and North Allegheny

Class 5A: Pine-Richland, Peters Township, Moon, Woodland Hills and Penn-Trafford

Class 4A: Trinity, Thomas Jefferson, McKeesport and Mars

Class 3A: Imani Christian, Highlands, Freeport, Avonworth, Central Valley, Elizabeth Forward and Southmoreland

Class 2A: South Allegheny, Apollo-Ridge, Steel Valley, Western Beaver, Seton LaSalle, Washington and Keystone Oaks

Class A: Fort Cherry, Bishop Canevin, Chartiers-Houston, Laurel, South Side, Neshannock, Clairton, Leechburg, Jeannette, California, Jefferson-Morgan and Bentworth

Here is a look at some of the top high school football matchups for Friday in Week 9.

Class 6A

No. 1 Central Catholic (8-1, 5-0) at No. 4 Canon-McMillan (4-5, 2-3)

7 p.m. Friday, AHN Field at Big Mac Stadium in Canonsburg

Coaches: Ryan Lehmeier, Central Catholic; Brian DeLallo, Canon-McMillan

On air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: Central Catholic 48, Seneca Valley 6, Norwin 24, Canon-McMillan 21

Players to watch: Jayden Alexander, Central Catholic (Jr., 5-8, 180, RB/ATH); Ty Jansma, Canon-McMillan (Jr., 6-1, 190, QB/S)

Team notes

Central Catholic: The Vikings are the Class 6A regular season champions for a third straight year and as the top-seed will host a semifinal in two weeks. Central Catholic upped its winning streak to eight straight games last week with a victory at Seneca Valley. Vikings junior running back Jayden Alexander carried the ball 15 times and rushed for 120 yards and scored three touchdowns. His backfield mate, quarterback Owen Herrick, threw for 170 yards and a touchdown in the 42-point win.

Canon-McMillan: The Big Macs need a win to finish in the top four and clinch a playoff spot. If Canon-McMillan loses, then a Norwin win over Mt. Lebanon would also earn the Big Macs a spot in the postseason. A Canon Mac loss and a Lebo win end the season. In a tough three-point loss to Norwin last week, Big Macs quarterback Ty Jansma threw for 179 yards and a touchdown while Braelon Wingfield and Bryce Collins each socred touchdowns on the ground for Canon-McMillan.

Historic factoids

• Central Catholic and Canon-McMillan have met 15 times on the gridiron and the Vikings are 12-2-1 against the Big Macs.

• These teams met in the final game of the regular season a year ago with Central Catholic winning, 38-13. The game was scoreless after one quarter before the Vikings scored 38 unanswered points in the second and third quarter combined. Bradley Gompers and Elijah Faulkner each scored two touchdowns for Central while Alijah Brown and Matthew Hirsch found the end zone for Canon-McMillan.

• The Vikings have won 11 straight games in this series and have outscored the Big Macs in those 11 wins, 439-97. The last time Canon-McMillan defeated Central Catholic was 72 years ago in the fall of 1953 by a score of 38-6.

• The first meeting between these schools was 75 years ago. In the 1950 season, the Vikings and Big Macs played to a scoreless tie.

Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference

No. 2 Peters Township (9-0, 4-0) at Bethel Park (6-3, 2-2)

7 p.m. Friday, Black Hawk Stadium at Bethel Park MS

Coaches: T.J Plack, Peters Township; Phil Peckich, Bethel Park

Last week: Peters Township 61, Baldwin 0; Bethel Park 33, South Fayette 16

Players to watch: Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township (Sr., 6-2, 210, QB/DB); David Dennison, Bethel Park (Sr., 6-2, 190, RB/LB)

Team notes

Peters Township: The Indians have locked up the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference championship with a perfect regular season heading into Week 9. In a rout of Baldwin last week, Peters Township senior quarterback Nolan DiLucia threw for 97 yards and one touchdown, a 22-yard strike to Ian Watson. Indians running back Cole Neupaver ran for 36 yards on only three carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 6 and 29 yards as well as a 72-yard interception return for a score.

Bethel Park: The Black Hawks are tied for third place in the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference with Upper St. Clair after a big win last week at South Fayette. Bethel Park senior running back David Dennison carried the ball 41 times and rushed for 244 yards and four touchdowns on runs of 12, 14, 5 and 2 yards. He also caught a 11-yard scoring pass from Evan Devine. The Hawks can’t finish lower than fourth place but are in good shape for a wild card berth if they don’t finish third in the conference.

Historic factoids:

• Bethel Park leads the all-time series against Peters Township, 17-11.

• After winning by 40 points two years ago, 68-28, the Peters Township win over Bethel Park last year was a lot closer, 31-28. Nick McCullough scored three touchdowns, two on passes from Nolan DiLucia, and Nick Courie scored the game winner for the Indians. Tanner Pfeuffer threw a TD pass and had a scoring run to lead the Black Hawks.

• The Indians beat the Black Hawks three times in a row from 2018-2020 by a combined score of 110-14. Before that, Bethel Park won seven straight games from 2011-2017 with the Indians scoring double-digit points against the Hawks once in 2015, 35-12.

• The schools played three times from 1929-1931 with Peters Township beating Bethel Park in the first meeting 96 years ago, 27-6. The two didn’t play each other again until 1992.

Class 4A Parkway Conference

No. 4 Montour (6-3, 3-1) at West Allegheny (4-4, 3-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Joe P. DeMichela Stadium at West Allegheny

Coaches: Lou Cerro, Montour; Dave Schoppe, West Allegheny

On air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: Montour 34, Aliquippa 20, West Allegheny 40, Blackhawk 10

Players to watch: Brandon Bennett, Montour (Soph., 6-3, 205, QB/BB); Brodie Cornell, West Allegheny (Jr., 5-8, 180, RB/S)

Team notes

Montour: On the heels of a big road win at Aliquippa last week, the Spartans can clinch at least a share of the Class 4A Parkway Conference championship with another road victory at West Allegheny. Montour sophomore quarterback Brandon Bennett threw for 125 yards and two touchdown tosses to Zander Stern, plus he rushed for 85 yards and a score. Spartans running back Caden Halajcio rushed for 117 yards on 21 carries and scored the game-clinching touchdown on a 34-yard run.

West Allegheny: The Indians are in the hunt for a share of the Class 4A Parkway Conference championship for a second straight year thanks to a big upset of New Castle two weeks ago and a 30-point win over Blackhawk last week. West Allegheny junior running back Brodie Cornell rushed for 147 yards on 22 carries and scored four touchdowns on runs of 2, 15, 5 and 23 yards. Teammate Jake McNabb rushed for 102 yards on eight carries and added a scoring run.

Historic factoids

• This is the 45th battle between these rivals in the West Hills of Pittsburgh and the series has been razor close. West Allegheny has won 22 times, Montour has 21 wins and there has been one tie.

• With the conference crown at stake in Week 9 last season, West Allegheny stunned Montour in overtime, 13-7. Trey Hopper hit Marcus Battles on a 63-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter for the Spartans and Brock Cornell scored in the third quarter to tie the game. The contest ended in OT on a Roman Police 8-yard run as the Indians won and forced a three-way tie for the conference crown between West Allegheny, Montour and Aliquippa.

• This has been a series of runs. The Indians won last year and the Spartans had won the two previous meetings. From 2012-2021, West A won six straight, Montour won four of the five before that, and West Allegheny had an eight-game winning streak in the series from 1997-2006.

• There was one WPIAL playoff game in this series 13 years ago. In a 2012 Class 3A quarterfinal, West Allegheny defeated Montour, 14-2. The first meeting in the series was 76 years ago when the Indians beat the Spartans in the fall of 1949, 6-0. The lone tie came 61 years ago, 12-12, in 1954.

Class 3A Western Hills Conference

North Catholic (6-3, 3-2) at Hopewell (6-3, 2-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Tony Dorsett Stadium at Hopewell

Coaches: Chris Rizzo, North Catholic; Matt Mottes, Hopewell

Last week: Avonworth 42, North Catholic 10; Central Valley 23, Hopewell 7

Players to watch: Joe Felitsky, North Catholic (Sr., 6-1, 185, QB); James “Booboo” Armstrong, Hopewell (Soph., 6-3, 220, QB)

Team notes

North Catholic: The Trojans will clinch third place and a playoff berth in the Class 3A Western Hills Conference with a win. North Catholic could still get in with a loss via tiebreaker points or as a wild card. The Trojans’ explosive offense was held in check last week by conference winner Avonworth. The district’s leading passes is NC senior Joey Felitsky, who last week threw for 164 yards and a touchdown. For the season, he has connected on 117 of his 168 passes for 2,098 yards and thrown 29 touchdowns.

Hopewell: The Vikings just missed the 2024 WPIAL playoffs, but a win would tie them for third place with North Catholic and Beaver (if they lose to Avonworth). Even if the tiebreaker points don’t break their way, they would have a good chance at a Class 3A wild card. Hopewell also has an explosive offense that was limited last week in a loss to Central Valley. Sensational sophomore quarterback James “Booboo” Armstrong threw for 164 yards and running back Nasir Wade rushed for 104 yards.

Historic factoids

• This is only the third contest between Hopewell and North Catholic. The Trojans have won both previous meetings with the first coming in 2021 and then again in Week 9 last season.

• The two teams were schedule to open up the 2020 season, but the game was postponed due to the delay in the season caused by the covid outbreak.

• The first meeting was in Week Zero of the 2021 season, with North Catholic crushing Hopewell, 62-0. Last year, both offenses went wild with the final score, 55-43. Tom Arth had four touchdown runs and Joey Felitsky threw three touchdown passes for the Trojans, while Booboo Armstrong had a touchdown pass and five scoring runs for the Vikings.

• Both programs have won one WPIAL football championship. Hopewell won Class 3A gold in 2002 while North Catholic captured a Class A championship in 2013.

Class 2A Century Conference

No. 3 Washington (8-1, 5-0) at No. 2 Seton LaSalle (8-1, 5-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Dormont Stadium

Coaches: Mike Bosnic, Washington; Tim Storino, Seton LaSalle

On air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: Washington 63, Carlynton 0; Seton LaSalle 55, Keystone Oaks 0

Players to watch: Jamarie Walker, Washington (Jr., 5-11, 200, RB/LB); Kia Jones, Seton LaSalle (Soph., 5-11, 165, QB/DB)

Team notes

Washington: The Little Prexies have clinched a WPIAL Class 2A playoff and can win the Century Conference championship outright with a victory. Washington made it seven straight wins with a rout of Carlynton last week. In those victories, the Little Prexies have outscored their opponents, 354-42. In the win over Carlynton, junior running back Jamarie Walker rushed for 79 yards on only six carries and scored three touchdowns. Wash High quarterback Tristan Reed threw a pair of touchdowns.

Seton LaSalle: The Rebels have clinched a WPIAL Class 2A playoff berth and can win the Century Conference championship outright with a win. Seton LaSalle has won eight straight games and has outscored its opponents in the streak, 367-48. Against neighbor Keystone Oaks last week, the Rebels led 21-0 at the half before scoring 34 unanswered points. Leading the way was sophomore QB Kia Jones, who threw for 141 yards and two TDs, while running back Kymarr Freeman ran for 105 yards and three scores.

Historic factoids

• This is the 18th meeting between Washington and Seton LaSalle with Wash High holding the all-time lead in the series, 10-7, although Seton has won five of the last six meetings.

• In Week 9 a year ago, Washington and Seton LaSalle were tied after one quarter, 14-14, before the green and gold scored 38 of the final 52 points to win on the road, 52-28. Michael Pastirik threw four touchdown passes, two to Khalil Taylor, and Logan King ran for three TDs for the Rebels. Tristan Reed had a touchdown pass and a scoring run for the Little Prexies.

• These Class 2A powers have met three times in the WPIAL playoffs. Twenty years ago, they squared off in the 2005 Class 2A quarterfinals with the Rebels winning, 35-7. In the 2012 Class 2A quarters, the Little Prexies prevailed, 33-17. A year later in the 2013 Class 2A first round, Seton LaSalle was victorious, 35-27.

• The Little Prexies won the first three meetings in this series in the early to mid-1960s. The first clash came in the fall of 1962 when Washington defeated South Hills Catholic, 18-7.

Class A Big 7 Conference

Neshannock (7-2, 4-1) at No. 4 Laurel (8-1, 5-0)

7 p.m. Friday at Spartan Stadium at Laurel

Coaches: Mike Bongivengo, Neshannock; Brian Cooper, Laurel

On air: Video stream on Trib HSSN

Last week: Neshannock 49, Summit Academy 6; Laurel 45, South Side 7

Players to watch: Jino Mozzocio, Neshannock (Sr., 5-10, 178, QB/DB); Luca Santini, Laurel (Sr., 6-0, 164, QB/DB)

Team notes

Neshannock: Now that their game at Rochester is a forfeit, the Lancers are officially tied for second place with South Side, one game behind Laurel in the Class A Big 7 Conference. Neshannock has won six of its last seven games, including a 43-point win last week at Summit Academy. Senior quarterback Jino Mozzocio was 13 of 18 passing for 206 yards and two touchdowns, plus he ran for two scores. Anthony Eakin rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the Saturday afternoon win.

Laurel: Like Neshannock and South Side, the Spartans have clinched a Class A playoff berth and can win the Big 7 Conference outright with a victory. Laurel won its fifth straight game, cruising past South Side last week. Senior quarterback Luca Santini threw for 153 yards and three touchdowns for the green and white. Spartans running back Kolton Carlson rushed for 128 yards and scored on a touchdown run and a scoring reception. Carlson is the leading receiver on Laurel and the team’s second leading rusher.

Historic factoids

• This is the 54th meeting between these Lawrence County foes and Neshannock leads Laurel, 28-24 with one tie.

• The Lancers have beat the Spartans three straight times and in seven of the last nine meetings dating to 2012.

• A year ago in Week 9, Neshannock defeated visiting Laurel, 27-7. Jino Mozzocio threw two touchdown passes and Anthony Eakin scored twice for the Lancers. Kolton Carlson scored the lone Spartans touchdown.

• These teams played for the first time 66 years ago. In the fall of 1959, Neshannock rolled past Laurel, 31-6.

Tags: Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, Hopewell, Laurel, Montour, Neshannock, North Catholic, Peters Township, Seton La Salle, Washington, West Allegheny