What to watch for in high school sports on Oct. 16, 2025: City League playoffs feature familiar matchups

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | 10:31 PM

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As the Pittsburgh City League football playoffs kick off this weekend, forgive the four semifinalists if they are going through a bit of déjà vu this week.

On Thursday at Cupples Stadium, second-place finisher and three-time defending champion Westinghouse (5-3) will battle the third-place team in the district this season, Allderdice (4-4).

In the Friday semifinal, regular season champion University Prep (5-2) plays No. 4 Brashear (1-7) with both games kicking off at 7 p.m.

This probably feels familiar because three weeks ago, the Bulldogs beat the Dragons on Thursday, 44-16, and the Wildcats cruised past the Bulls on a Friday night, 30-7.

No matter who wins Thursday, one City League streak will continue. This will be the ninth straight year either Westinghouse or Allderdice is playing for District 8 gold.

The last title game that didn’t include the Bulldogs or Dragons was in 2016 when University Prep edged Brashear to win the City League crown, 15-14.

Since then, Westinghouse has won five City League titles in the last eight years while Allderdice has captured gold in the other three.

In fact, in five of those eight seasons, they met each other in the district championship game.

Allderdice beat Westinghouse in the 2018 finals, 18-8, and again three years later in 2021, 14-0.

The Bulldogs have defeated the Dragons in the championship in 2020, 36-20, in 2022, 40-8, and last fall, 40-12.

In the first meeting this season, Westinghouse sophomore quarterback Zahir Ismaeli threw for 118 yards and four touchdowns, two each to Jaylen Stanford and K-Shawn Hawkins, plus he ran for a score in the 28-point win.

Westinghouse has averaged 32.7 points per game while Allderdice has scored 22.6 points per game.

In the first University Prep-Brashear game three weeks ago, The Bulls actually led early on a Eric Swan to Jahleel Anthony 30-yard touchdown pass, but the Wildcats took over from there, scoring the final 30 points thanks in part to a pair of touchdown runs by Me’Laun Stampber.

Playoffs on the pitch begin

While the first round of the WPIAL soccer playoffs begins Saturday, there are two preliminary round matches Thursday that lift the curtain on the postseason pitch action.

In boys Class 3A, Ringgold (8-8) visits Belle Vernon (7-10-1) for the No. 16 seed at 6:30 p.m.

This is the second meeting this season between the fourth-place finishers. The Leopards edged the Rams in overtime, 2-1.

The winner visits top-seeded Hampton (14-2-2) in the Class 3A first round at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

In girls Class A, it’s the third meeting this season between the teams that tied for fourth place in Section 4 as the Ellis School (4-7) hosts Greensburg Central Catholic (3-7) at 6:30 p.m.

Both teams won on the road with the Centurions winning at the Ellis School, 2-1, and the Tigers picking up the victory at GCC, 3-1.

The winner is the No. 16 seed and will play No. 1 Sewickley Academy (15-1) at Quaker Valley at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Volleyball qualifiers

Thursday marks the final day of the WPIAL girls volleyball regular season with several playoff berths still up for grabs.

Already, 62 district teams have punched their ticket to ride into the postseason, but only the Class 3A playoff field is set.

Here are the playoff scenarios heading into the final night.

• In Section 2-4A, Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley are tied for third place. On Thursday, Pine-Richland is home to Butler and Seneca Valley hosts North Hills. If the Rams and Raiders finish in a tie, both teams will qualify for the playoffs.

• In Section 3-4A, Norwin clinches a playoff berth with a win at Plum and a Latrobe loss to Hempfield.

• In Section 4-4A, Armstrong is in with a win at Shaler and Fox Chapel qualifies with a win over Kiski Area. If the River Hawks and Foxes win or lose, they both qualify for the playoffs.

• In Section 2-2A, Keystone Oaks clinches with a win over Carlynton.

• In Section 2-A, Union is in with a win over Beaver County Christian and a Western Beaver loss to South Side.

• In Section 3-A, Jefferson-Morgan qualifies with a win at West Greene.

Serving for the crown

Most of the district gilrs volleyball section titles have been decided heading into the final night; however, there five that will be settled with head-to-head season finales.

• In Section 2-3A, Mars at 8-1 has a one-game lead over both Freeport and Hampton at 7-2. On Thursday, Mars hosts Freeport and Hampton is home to Highlands.

• In Section 1-2A, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Hopewell are tied for first place with 12-1 section records. The Chargers visit the Vikings in a winner-take-all match.

• In Section 4-2A, Neshannock at 9-2 has a one-game lead over both Mohawk and Riverside at 8-3. On Thursday, Neshannock hosts Mohawk and Riverside is home to Laurel.

• In Section 5-2A, Burrell and Southmoreland are deadlocked for the section lead with 8-1 records. The Buccaneers travel to the Scotties in a section championship match.

• In Section 1-A, St. Joseph at 8-1 has a one-game lead over Apollo-Ridge at 7-2. The Spartans host the Vikings as St. Joe’s tries to win the section crown outright and Apollo-Ridge tries to earn a share of the section title.