What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Sept. 11, 2025: Thursday night MACtion kicks off Week 3

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | 11:44 PM

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Week 3 of the WPIAL football season kicks off a day early with a rare Thursday night game featuring a Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference opener.

It was 40 years ago that Riverside was crowned WPIAL Class 2A champions with a victory over Swissvale, 21-15.

It is the Panthers’ lone football championship.

More recently, Union captured its second WPIAL football title and only outright crown when the Scotties stunned Bishop Canevin to win 2022 Class A gold, 26-0.

Those seem like glory days now that both teams have struggled out of the gates in 2025.

Riverside has been outscored 129-36 in its first three games, a victory over Northgate sandwiched by shutout losses to ranked teams Hopewell in 3A and Laurel in A.

Union has also been badly outscored in its two losses, also to ranked teams in Class A Neshannock and 2A Washington, 86-12.

Union hosts Riverside at 7 p.m. in a game you can watch here on Trib HSSN.

Also on Thursday, old City League rivals collide in a nonconference matchup when Brashear (0-3) faces independent Carrick (0-3) at Cupples Stadium at 7 p.m.

Both the Bulls and Raiders have allowed an average of over 43 points per game while averaging around 18 points in their three losses.

Crowded near the top

Even though we have not hit the midway point in WPIAL boys soccer section action, things are heating up at the top in Section 2-3A.

One-half game is the difference between the top three teams.

Trinity sits alone in first place at 4-0 in the section while both Thomas Jefferson and Bethel Park are right there with section marks of 3-0-1.

On Thursday, the Hillers visit the Black Hawks while the Jaguars are home to Ringgold. The Rams are tied with Laurel Highlands for fourth place at 2-2.

Other noteworthy district boys soccer games Thursday:

• Perfect teams collide with first place in Section 3-2A up for grabs when South Park hosts Seton LaSalle. Not only are both teams a perfect 4-0 in the section, the Eagles are 5-0 overall while the Rebels have won all seven of their matches this season.

• First place in Section 2-A is at stake when Bentworth visits Beth-Center. The Bearcats are 3-0 in the section and 6-0 overall while the Bulldogs are 2-0 in the section and 5-1 this season with their only loss coming against 3A Albert Gallatin.

First of many key volleys

Thursday marks another busy day of district girls volleyball section action, highlighted by the first of many showdowns coming up in Section 4-2A.

The top four teams in that section sport a combined overall record of 16-2 with a pair of undefeated teams.

Early on, three teams have yet to lose in section play.

Neshannock is 3-0 in the section, 5-0 overall, Shenango is 2-0 and 3-0, Mohawk is 2-0, 4-1 and Riverside is 2-1, 4-1.

On Thursday, the Lancers visit the Wildcats with a share of first place up for grabs.

Speaking of undefeated, another Thursday match between teams that have yet to lose this season pits Oakland Catholic visiting Chartiers Valley.

The Eagles are 2-0 in Section 1-3A and 5-0 overall while the Colts have a 3-0 section mark and are 6-0 this season.