Trib HSSN game-by-game playoff previews for 2024 Week 12

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, November 14, 2024 | 5:35 PM

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The third weekend of the WPIAL football playoffs brings more clarity than confusion.

Semifinal Friday consists of eight final four matchups to determine the finalists in Class 5A, 3A, 2A and A next week.

Championship Saturday consists of two district title games that will crown winners in Class 6A and 4A.

Here is a look at all of the quarterfinals and semifinals in the district postseason. Links will be included for the games with previews appearing elsewhere on Trib HSSN.

WPIAL 6A championship

No. 2 North Allegheny (10-1) vs. No. 1 Central Catholic (9-2)

6 p.m. Saturday, Norwin

Preview coming soon

WPIAL 5A semifinals

No. 3 Peters Township (10-1) at No. 2 Upper St. Clair (11-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Bethel Park Stadium

Coaches: T.J. Plack, Peters Township; Mike Junko, Upper St. Clair

How they got here: Peters Township finished in second place in the Allegheny Six Conference and followed a first-round bye with a victory over Penn-Trafford in the quarterfinals. Upper St. Clair clinched a postseason berth and the Allegheny Six Conference championship to earn a first-round bye and then knocked off Penn Hills in the quarters.

Last week: Peters Township 42, Penn-Trafford 13; Upper St. Clair 24, Penn Hills 3

Players to watch: Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township (Jr., 6-2, 190, QB/DB); Julian Dahlem, Upper St. Clair (Sr., 5-10, 175, RB/WR/DB)

Team notes

Peters Township: The Indians have won five straight games since suffering their only loss of the season at Upper St. Clair in Week 5, 21-7. Following a first-round bye, Peters Township was impressive at home in a quarterfinals victory over Penn-Trafford. A 21-point second quarter put the Indians in control by halftime. Junior quarterback Nolan DiLucia connected on 10 of 17 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns, two to senior wide receiver Nick McCullough of 73 and 24 yards, and a 20-yard scoring strike to senior wide out Eli Prado.

Upper St. Clair: The Panthers not only were undefeated in the regular season, but they also won all five of their Allegheny Six games in what was the toughest WPIAL conference in years. The Panthers had their first taste of the postseason last week, a year after an 8-2 record did not get them in and let to major wild card playoff changes by district officials. At home against Penn Hills, USC spotted the Indians an early three-point lead before scoring 24 unanswered points. Senior Julian Dahlem led the team in rushing with 77 yards and a 26-yard touchdown run.

Historic factoids

• This is the 21st meeting between the two South Hills neighbors. Upper St. Clair leads the all-time series, 17-3.

• This the first time time Peters Township and Upper St. Clair have met in the WPIAL playoffs. The first time the Indians and Panthers played was 60 years ago. USC won that game in the fall of 1964, 41-6, going on to win the first 13 meetings between the programs.

• In the last six years, the teams split with the Panthers winning in 2018, 2021 and 2022, while the Indians were victorious in 2019, 2020 and 2023. In the late September game this season, Julian Dahlem rushed for 185 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 21-7 victory for USC. Nolan DiLucia threw for 161 yards and a touchdown for Peters Township.

• The winner advances to the WPIAL Class 5A championship game against the winner of Bethel Park vs. Pine-Richland.

No. 5 Bethel Park (10-2) vs. No. 1 Pine-Richland (9-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Martorelli Stadium

Preview coming soon

WPIAL 4A championship

No. 3 McKeesport (8-4) vs. No. 1 Thomas Jefferson (12-0)

Noon Saturday, Norwin

Preview coming soon

WPIAL 3A semifinals

No. 5 Avonworth (9-3) vs. No. 1 Imani Christian (11-0)

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

Coaches: Duke Johncour, Avonworth; LaRoi Johnson, Imani Christian

How they got here: Avonworth finished in a three-way tie for the Western Hills Conference championships and earned a playoff berth before defeating Greensburg Salem in the first round and Beaver in the quarterfinals. Imani Christian won the Allegheny Seven Conference crown, earned a first-round bye and then knocked off Highlands.

Last week: Avonworth 42, Beaver 21; Imani Christian 31, Highlands 17

Players to watch: Nico Neal, Avonworth (Sr., 5-10, 225, RB/LB); Gabe Jenkins, Imani Christian (Jr., 6-0, 175, RB/DB)

Team notes

Avonworth: In Week 9, the Antelopes headed to Beaver with the outright Western Hills Conference title on the line and were beaten by the Bobcats, 34-14. Following a bounce-back win the first round of the Class 3A playoffs over Greensburg Salem, Avonworth returned to Beaver for a quarterfinal and the outcome was completely different. The ‘Lopes led 35-0 at halftime and cruised to a 21-point victory. Senior running back Nico Neal led the way with 272 yards on 22 carries and four touchdowns. Younger brother Luca Neal also scored for Avonworth on a 26-yard run.

Imani Christian: As Highlands invaded historic Graham Field for the second time this season and led 14-0 at the half, it was the Saints who came back and are marching into the Class 3A semifinals. Coming off a bye week, Imani Christian started late but finished strong, scoring 23 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Junior running back Gabe Jenkins led the Saints comeback with 134 yards rushing and a touchdown pass to senior Dayshaun Burnett, who also scored on a 17-yard run. Following a safety by Imani Christian, sophomore Maurice Williams provided a game changing 34-yard free kick return.

Historic factoids

• This is the first meeting between Avonworth and Imani Christian.

• This is the fifth time in the last six years Avonworth has played in the WPIAL semifinals. The only year the Antelopes missed since 2019 was in the covid-19 season of 2020. They are 3-1 in that span in final four games with wins over Riverside in 2019, Shady Side Academy in 2022 and Elizabeth Forward last fall. They lost to North Catholic in the 2021 semis.

• This is the second district semifinal appearance for Imani Christian. The Saints are now 2-2 in their quarterfinal history and are 1-0 in the final four. Imani Christian held off California in the 2017 Class A semifinals, 30-24.

• The winner advances to the WPIAL 3A championship game against the winner of Elizabeth Forward vs. Central Valley.

No. 3 Elizabeth Forward (8-3) vs. No. 2 Central Valley (6-5)

7 p.m. Friday, Thomas J. Birko Memorial Stadium at Montour

Coaches: John DeMarco, Elizabeth Forward; Mark Lyons, Central Valley

How they got here: Elizabeth Forward was the Interstate Conference champion and was given the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye before edging North Catholic in the quarters. Central Valley tied Avonworth and Beaver for the Western Hills Conference title and received an opening-round bye before rolling past Freeport in the quarterfinals.

Last week: Elizabeth Forward 45, North Catholic 42; Central Valley 35, Freeport 7

Players to watch: Charlie Nigut, Elizabeth Forward (Sr., 5-6, 150, RB/DB); Mason Dixon, Central Valley (Sr., 6-0, 200, RB/LB)

Team notes

Elizabeth Forward: Following an Interstate Conference title that earned them a first-round bye, the Warriors were back to work last week in an instant postseason classic. Two heavyweight offenses went back and forth as Elizabeth Forward and North Catholic were tied after one quarter 14-14, tied at the half 28-28, even after three quarters 35-35 and nearly tied at the end of regulation. EF senior running back Charlie Nigut was awesome, rushing for 269 yards on 35 carries with four TD runs. However, it was sophomore kicker Luke Holdren who booted a game-winning 25-yard field goal with no time left for the win.

Central Valley: While there were late-game heroics in the other quarterfinal on the right side of the Class 3A bracket, the Warriors were in control of their game against Freeport, leading 21-0 at the half and scoring the game’s first 35 points. Senior running back Mason Dixon continues to shine in coming back off a big injury last season, rushing for 195 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. He wasn’t the only Central Valley back to have a big game as sophomore Jance Henry gained 102 yards on 13 carries and also scored two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Steven Rutherford also scored on a 7-yard run for CV.

Historic factoids

• This is only the fifth meeting between Elizabeth Forward and Central Valley. The EF Warriors have never defeated the CV Warriors.

• This is the third postseason clash between the Warriors of red and black and the Warriors of navy and sky blue. Central Valley outscored Elizabeth Forward in those two games by a combined 86-0. CV defeated EF in the 2020 Class 3A championship game, 35-0. The next year they met in the semifinals and Central Valley won easily, 51-0. CV knocked off EF in two regular season meetings as well, 42-26 in 2017 and 56-13 in 2016.

• Between the the schools that merged to form Central Valley in 2010, Elizabeth Forward never played Center but did play Monaca twice. Monaca won the first meeting in 1957, 40-7, but Elizabeth Forward won the next season in the fall of 1958, 13-12.

• The winner advances to the WPIAL 3A championship game against the winner of Avonworth vs. Imani Christian.

WPIAL 2A semifinals

No. 4 Steel Valley (9-3) vs. No. 1 Seton LaSalle (10-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Titans Stadium at West Mifflin

Coaches: Ray Braszo, Steel Valley; Tim Storino, Seton LaSalle

How they got here: Steel Valley finished in second place in the Allegheny Conference to clinch a playoff spot and defeated Washington in the opening round and Western Beaver in the second round. Seton LaSalle clinched a playoff berth and was given the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye after winning the Century Conference championship before ousting Riverside in the quarterfinals.

Last week: Steel Valley 36, Western Beaver 13; Seton LaSalle 34, Riverside 7

Players to watch: Donald Barksdale, Steel Valley (Sr., 5-10, 185, RB/LB/S); Michael Pastirik, Seton LaSalle (Sr., 5-9, 161, QB/LB)

Team notes

Steel Valley: The Ironmen should use the iconic Sister Sledge tune “We Are Family” as their theme song much the way the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates did. Steel Valley has leaned on the Barksdale brothers in this postseason and they have not disappointed. In playoff victories over Washington and Western Beaver, senior Donald Barksdale has rushed for 375 yards and six touchdowns while younger brother Da’Ron, a junior, has gained 245 yards and scored five touchdowns. The Ironmen are 2-1 in the WPIAL semifinals over the last three years.

Seton LaSalle: The Rebels were back on the field after enjoying a bye week thanks to winning the Century Conference championship outright. Against Riverside, senior quarterback Michael Pastirik completed 12 of 18 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns of 9 yards and 18 yards to sophomore wide receiver Khalil Taylor. Taylor also scored the game’s final TD on a 2-yard run. Senior running back Logan King also was productive in the victory over the Panthers, carrying the ball 35 times for 208 yards rushing and two touchdowns on runs of 3 and 2 yards.

Historic factoids

• This is the 26th meeting between Steel Valley and Seton LaSalle and the series is razor close. The Ironmen have 13 wins and the Rebels have 12.

• This is the first postseason game between the two former conference foes. They played each other every season between 2002-2015. They have split their last four meetings.

• The two squared off in nonconference games the last two years. In 2022, Steel Valley won big, 62-7. Last fall in a regular season classic, the Rebels prevailed in double overtime, 23-20.

• Both schools have a golden history with Steel Valley winning six WPIAL championships (1982, 1988, 1989, 2016, 2018, 2022) and Seton LaSalle claiming five (1979, 1980, 1990, 2002, 2004).

• The winner advances to the WPIAL 2A championship game against the winner of Ellwood City vs. South Park.

No. 3 Ellwood City (10-0) vs. No. 2 South Park (10-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Newman Stadium at North Allegheny

Coaches: Dan Bradley, Ellwood City; Brian Abbey, South Park

How they got here: Ellwood City won the Midwestern Athletic Conference outright, earning a No. 3 seed and a first-round bye before edging South Allegheny in the quarterfinals. South Park captured the Allegheny Conference championship, earning a No. 2 seed and a first-round bye before coming back to defeat Mohawk, 19-9.

Last week: Ellwood City 13, South Allegheny 12; South Park 19, Mohawk 9

Players to watch: Chris Smiley, Ellwood City (Sr., 6-0, 165, QB); Eric Doerue, South Park (Sr., 6-0, 210, RB/LB);

Team notes

Ellwood City: After enjoying a bye week in the first round thanks to winning the Midwestern Athletic Conference championship outright, the undefeated Wolverines ended the program’s 12-year postseason victory drought. Senior quarterback Chris Smiley connected on 13 of 20 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown, while senior running back Elijah Palmer-McCane rushed for 90 yards and scored twice, on a third-quarter 4-yard run and the game-winning touchdown on a 34-yard pass from Smiley in the fourth quarter.

South Park: Following a first-round bye thanks to winning the outright Allegheny Conference crown, the Eagles were flying low early as they fell behind visiting Mohawk 9-0 in the second quarter. South Park rallied, however, with 19 unanswered points to win and advance. Senior running back Erie Doerue carried the ball 26 times for 193 yards and two touchdowns on runs of 18 and 31 yards. He is now 43 yards shy of 1,500 yards rushing for the season. Junior quarterback Robert Lenzi connected with junior tight end Hari Bouzos on a 5-yard scoring pass in the second quarter for the Eagles’ first points.

Historic factoids

• This is the first meeting between Ellwood City and South Park.

• The last time South Park played in a WPIAL semifinal was five years ago when the Eagles lost to Aliquippa in a Class contest, 21-7.

• The last time Ellwood City reached the District 7 final four was 37 years ago when the Wolverines defeated Burrell by the unusual score of 2-0 to reach the 1987 Class 2A finals.

• The winner advances to the WPIAL 2A championship game against the winner of Steel Valley vs. Seton LaSalle.

WPIAL Class A semifinals

No. 3 Bishop Canevin (9-2) vs. No. 2 Clairton (12-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Confluence Financial Partners Stadium at Peters Township MS

Coaches: Richard Johnson, Bishop Canevin; Wayne Wade, Clairton

How they got here: Bishop Canevin finished in second place in the Black Hills Conference to earn a postseason berth then cruised past Bentworth in the opening round and squeezed by South Side in the quarterfinals. Clairton was the champion of the Eastern Conference before crushing Rochester in the opening round and California in the quarterfinals by a combined score of 110-0.

Last week: Bishop Canevin 17, South Side 13; Clairton 54, California 0

Players to watch: Kole Olszewski, Bishop Canevin (Sr., 5-11, 190, QB); Drahcir Jones, Clairton (Sr., 5-11, 186, RB/S)

Team notes

Bishop Canevin: The Crusaders made it four straight wins last week, but it wasn’t easy. South Side, the 2023 Class A runner-up, had a 6-3 lead at the half then went back on top in the fourth quarter, 13-10, before senior running back Jermell Lindsey scored on a 1-yard run that proved to be the game-winning score in a four-point victory. Senior quarterback Kole Olszewski hit on 12 of 23 passes for 251 yards and a 73-yard scoring pass to junior wide receiver Damar Olds. For his career, Olszewski has thrown for nearly 6,700 yards, which puts him at No. 16 on the WPIAL all-time passing list.

Clairton: To call the Bears quarterfinals victory over California a no-doubter is quite the understatement. If rules allowed, this game would have gone into the running clock mercy rule at the start of the second quarter after Clairton scored 36 points in the first quarter. The Bears defense was the star again for the black and orange, pitching its ninth shutout in 12 games and limiting the Trojans’ Lee Qualk, the district’s leading rusher, to only 13 yards on 17 carries. On offense, senior running back Drahcir Jones rushed for 100 yards on only 10 carries with three of the totes going for touchdowns.

Historic factoids

• This is the eighth meeting between Bishop Canevin and Clairton with the Bears holding the lead in the series, 6-1.

• The teams never played prior to 2010. This will be the third time the Crusaders and Bears have met in the WPIAL playoffs. They split the first two postseason games. In the first clash, Clairton shut out Bishop Canevin in the 2010 Class A quarterfinals, 47-0. In the 2022 Class A quarters, the Crusaders snapped a six-game skid against the Bears by winning, 29-6.

• In the five regular season meetings between the teams from 2012-2021, Clairton won all five matchups, beating the Crusaders by a combined score of 213-48.

• The winner advances to the WPIAL Class A championship game against the winner of Jeannette vs. Fort Cherry.

No. 13 Jeannette (9-3) vs. No. 1 Fort Cherry (12-0)

7 p.m. Friday, Big Mac Stadium, Canonsburg

PIAA Class A first round

Windber (10-2) vs. Westinghouse (8-1)

7 p.m. Friday, George Cupples Stadium on the South Side, Pittsburgh

Coaches: Matt Grohal, Windber; Donta Green, Westinghouse

How they got here: Windber won the District 5 championship with a victory over Northern Bedford. Westinghouse won the District 8 City League title with a victory over Allderdice.

Last game: Windber 14, Northern Bedford 7; Westinghouse 40, Allderdice 12 (played on Oct. 26)

Players to watch: Lucas Oleksa, Windber (Sr., 6-1, 205, QB/DE); Khalil Green, Westinghouse (Sr., 5-7, 179, QB)

Team notes

Windber: The Ramblers captured the District 5 championship last week by ousting defending champion Northern Bedford, 14-7. Senior quarterback Lucas Oleksa threw for only 53 yards but rushed for 131 yards on 22 carries. Senior running back R.J. Tallion carried the ball 16 times, gained 88 yards and scored both Windber touchdowns. The victory was the seventh win in a row for the Ramblers since their second loss of the season to North Star on Sept. 20, 44-8. Windber’s only other loss came in Week Zero against Glendale, 14-7.

Westinghouse: The big question for Bulldogs coach Donta Green this week centers on rest vs. rust. Westinghouse hasn’t played since defeating Allderdice in the City League championship game Oct. 26. In that District 8 title game, the Bulldogs and Dragons were tied 12-12 at halftime when Westinghouse took over in the second half, outscoring Allderdice 28-0 to win a third straight City League crown. Senior quarterback Khalil Green threw for 187 yards and scored four touchdowns with all four going to Lloyd Penn on connections of 6, 16, 23 and 37 yards.

Historic factoids

• This is the third meeting between Windber and Westinghouse with the Ramblers and Bulldogs splitting the first two contests.

• Westinghouse came back and scored 21 points in the final quarter to edge Windber in a 2021 PIAA preliminary round match, 35-34. The Ramblers cruised by the Bulldogs 65 years ago in a regular season clash during the 1959 campaign, 31-6.

• This is the sixth appearance for Westinghouse in the PIAA playoffs, which enters with an overall record of 6-5 having reached the PIAA Class 2A title game the last two seasons. This is also the sixth appearance for Windber in the state postseason. The Ramblers are a combined 0-5, having last played in 2009.

• The winner advances to the PIAA Class A quarterfinals to play the winner of the District 6 championship game between Northern Cambria vs. Bishop Guilfoyle.

Tags: Avonworth, Bishop Canevin, Central Valley, Clairton, Elizabeth Forward, Ellwood City, Imani Christian, Peters Township, Seton La Salle, South Park, Steel Valley, Upper St. Clair, Westinghouse