WPIAL Class 2A football semifinal preview: Budding rivalries take center stage

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 4:16 PM

Rivals Washington and Seton LaSalle fought three weeks ago for the Class 2A Century Conference championship.

Western Beaver and Steel Valley are budding rivals meeting for a third straight year in the postseason.

Here is a look at the two Class 2A games on Final Four Friday.

No. 5 Washington (10-2) vs. No. 1 Seton LaSalle (10-1)

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

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

On air: Video streamed on NFHS with audio on Trib HSSN

How they got here: Washington finished in second place in the Century Conference and cruised past Beaver Falls in the first round and South Allegheny in the quarterfinals. Seton LaSalle captured the Century Conference title, enjoyed a first-round bye and then rolled in the quarters over Mohawk.

Last week: Washington 31, South Allegheny 7; Seton LaSalle 42, Mohawk 7

Winner plays: The winner will play the Steel Valley/Western Beaver winner in the Class 2A championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at Acrisure Stadium

Players to watch: Tristan Reed, Washington (Sr., 6-4, 160, QB/WR/DB); Kymarr Freeman, Seton LaSalle (Soph., 5-9, 165, RB/LB)

Team notes

Washington: When looking at the first two playoff games for the Little Prexies, the first thing that jumps out is the defense they are playing. In wins over Beaver Falls and South Allegheny, Washington held each team to seven points in advancing to the semifinals. In the quarterfinals, Miami (Ohio) commit Tristan Reed scored twice, on a 23-yard pick-six and on a 13-yard run, as he combined for 128 yards from scrimmage. His Wash High teammate, running back Jahvon Woods, ran for 121 yards on 11 carries.

Seton LaSalle: The Rebels were back on the field last week after enjoying a first-round bye and showed no ill effects as they outscored Mohawk 42-0 in the first half. On the ground, Seton LaSalle was led by sophomore running back Kymarr Freeman, who rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns. His quarterback, fellow sophomore Kia Jones, was perfect on the night, completing all seven of his passes for 148 yards and two touchdown tosses, both to Aaron Lorittis.

Historic factoids

• This is the 19th meeting between Washington and Seton LaSalle with the Little Prexies holding the lead in the series, 10-8, although the Rebels have won six of the last seven meetings.

• Three weeks ago, Washington and Seton LaSalle squared off at Dormont Stadium for the Century Conference crown. The Rebels scored a touchdown in each quarter to hold off the Little Prexies, 27-14. Kymarr Freeman had two scoring runs and Kia Jones threw a pair of touchdown passes for Seton, while Tristan Reed had a TD pass and Jahvon Woods a short touchdown run for Wash High.

• This is the fourth meeting between the two in the WPIAL playoffs. Twenty years ago, they squared off in the 2005 Class 2A quarterfinals with the Seton LaSalle winning, 35-7. In the 2012 Class 2A quarters, Washington prevailed, 33-17. The next season, in the 2013 Class 2A first round, the Rebels were victorious, 35-27, to lead the playoff meetings, 2-1.

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

No. 3 Steel Valley (8-3) vs. No. 2 Western Beaver (10-1)

7 p.m. Friday, Dormont Stadium

Coaches: Ray Braszo, Steel Valley; Ron Busby, Western Beaver

On air: Video streamed on NFHS with audio on Trib HSSN

How they got here: Steel Valley clinched a three-way tie for the Allegheny Conference title with a Week 9 win over South Allegheny. Following a first-round bye, the Ironmen defeated Ellwood City. Western Beaver captured the Midwestern Athletic Conference title, had an opening-round bye then knocked off Apollo-Ridge.

Last week: Steel Valley 42, Ellwood City 6; Western Beaver 41, Apollo-Ridge 14

Winner plays: The winner will play the Washington/Seton LaSalle winner in the 2A championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at Acrisure Stadium

Players to watch: Da’Ron Barksdale, Steel Valley (Sr., 5-11, 185, RB/WR/CB); Wyatt Sparbanie, Western Beaver (Jr., 5-10, 180, RB/MLB);

Team notes

Steel Valley: When the Ironmen defeated South Allegheny in Week 9 to earn a share of the Allegheny Conference crown with the Gladiators and Apollo-Ridge, it also gave Steel Valley the top seed out of the conference and a first-round bye. In their playoff debut last week, the maroon and gold led 35-0 after three quarters and coasted to a 36-point win over Ellwood City. Ironmen senior running back Da’Ron Barksdale rushed for 213 yards and scored five touchdowns in his final home game.

Western Beaver: In a season of firsts in Industry, the first home night playoff game was a roaring success for the home team as the Golden Beavers scored three touchdowns in the middle two quarters to break open what had been a tied game against Apollo-Ridge. Junior running back Wyatt Sparbanie rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns for Western Beaver, and quarterback Amari Marshall ran for 103 yards and two scores as the Golden Beavers advance to the semis for the first time in 30 years.

Historic factoids

• This is the fifth meeting between Steel Valley and Western Beaver on the gridiron. The Ironmen have defeated the Golden Beavers in three of the four previous meetings.

• This is the third straight postseason these two teams have clashed. In the 2024 Class 2A quarterfinals, Steel Valley eliminated Western Beaver, 36-13. Donald Barksdale scored three times and Da’Ron Barksdale added two touchdowns for the Ironmen. Wyatt Sparbanie recovered a fumble in the end zone for one of the Golden Beavers’ two touchdowns.

• In the 2023 WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals, host Steel Valley edged Western Beaver, 21-18. Donald Barksdale had two touchdown runs for the Ironmen while Jaivin Peel threw three touchdown passes for the Golden Beavers.

• Six and seven years ago, the teams split nonconference games. The Ironmen were winners in 2018, 49-14, while the Golden Beavers were victorious in 2019, 7-6.

• Steel Valley has won six WPIAL football championships in 1982, 1988, 1989, 2016, 2018 and 2022. Western Beaver has won two district football crowns in 1976 and 31 years ago in 1994.

Tags: Seton La Salle, Steel Valley, Washington, Western Beaver