WPIAL Class 6A football breakdown: In tiny field of 5, contenders line up to take shot at Mt. Lebanon

By: Don Rebel
Saturday, August 20, 2022 | 12:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

At its zenith, the highest classification in the WPIAL, then called Quad-A, had 28 teams in the early 2000s.

That number stayed steady over the next decade-plus and was at 25 teams for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Expansion to six classifications has steadily shrunk 6A, which started with 14 teams in 2016. That number dropped to nine teams in 2018 and eight teams in 2020.

When the new PIAA cutoff numbers for 6A were determined earlier this year, the WPIAL was left with only five teams in Class 6A.

Over the last few years, 6A football has become predictable with little urgency in the regular season and familiarity in the postseason where every playoff game is a rematch.

“It is a huge concern when half of the schedule is against 5A teams,” North Allegheny coach Art Walker said. “It’s a tough situation regarding playing that many games that do not have playoff implications. I’m not sure if there is one (solution) unless we pull in other 6A teams from neighboring districts.”

“It is concerning,” Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle agreed. “For the remaining 6A teams, the season is just a race to the finish where we see each other again and again. I miss the days of Quad-A where there were several different scenarios as far as playoffs go for our teams. It made the planning and preparation exciting.”

One option discussed in the past that hasn’t gained much momentum is having 6A and 5A teams together in geographical conferences for the regular season, then separate for the postseason.

“With the present situation in Pennsylvania, I firmly believe that we will never go back to four classes,” Canon-McMillan coach Mike Evans said. “But for the sake of the entire state, we need take a good look at restructuring into a 5A format if that helps distribute the teams better across the state so there isn’t an entire class with only five teams in a district as large as WPIAL.”

While the future of 6A football is loaded with questions, the 2022 season should shape up as one of the more competitive campaigns in recent years.

Four of the five teams are returning standout quarterbacks, including three juniors.

Canon-McMillan’s Michael Evans threw for 1,596 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, Logan Kushner of North Allegheny racked up 1,481 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Payton Wehner of Central Catholic tallied 1,460 yards passing and 17 touchdowns.

Seneca Valley senior Graham Hancox also returns after throwing for 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago.

The only new starting quarterback will be for defending district and state champion Mt. Lebanon. Senior Alex Gevauden and sophomore David Shields will battle to replace Joey Daniels, who was 112 for 189 passing for 2,118 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2021.

THE FAVORITE

1. Central Catholic (9-3)

The Vikings came up just short of winning a third straight WPIAL 6A championship last season, losing to undefeated Mt. Lebanon in the title game. One of the top players in the state returns to anchor the Central Catholic defense in junior linebacker Anthony Speca, while junior quarterback Payton Wehner is also back along with HSSN preseason all-star (along with Speca) junior wide receiver Pete Gonzalez. It won’t be easy for the Vikings. Class 6A continues to shrink but should be more competitive than it has been in recent years.

Preseason rankings

2. Seneca Valley (7-4)

3. North Allegheny (7-5)

4. Mt. Lebanon (15-0)

5. Canon-McMillan (4-7)

THE STARS

Anthony Speca

Central Catholic, Jr., H-back/LB

Speca has been a standout on defense at Central Catholic in his first two scholastic seasons and has caught the attention of many. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior registered 84 tackles last fall, with four sacks and four forced fumbles. He has over 20 Division I offers from the likes of Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame.

Peter Gonzalez

Central Catholic, Jr., WR

Pete Gonzalez made a name for himself throwing the football at Pitt when he led the Big East Conference in 1997 in passing yards, completions and touchdowns. His son Peter is making a name for himself catching the football right down the street at Central Catholic. The 6-2, 200-pound junior caught 18 passes for 322 yards as a sophomore.

Luke Lawson

Seneca Valley, Sr., WR/S

Lawson is one of a slew of experienced seniors that has Seneca Valley in the 6A preseason championship discussion. The 6-2, 210-pound senior had 36 receptions for 558 yards and six touchdowns last fall. Lawson is a force as a safety but also can move into the box at outside linebacker. He will attend the Naval Academy next year.

Tyree Alualu

North Allegheny, Jr., RB/LB

Alualu may only be a junior, but his play last year has catapulted him to the North Allegheny defensive leader from his inside linebacker position. At 5-11, 203 pounds, he was the third leading tackler for the Tigers in 2022. Tyree is the son of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Tyson Alualu.

Kade Capristo

Mt. Lebanon, Sr., OT/NG

Capristo was one of the unsung heroes in the trenches last season who helped Mt. Lebanon to a perfect 15-0 season with WPIAL and PIAA championships as well. What stood out was the 6-3, 290-pound senior played at a high level despite tearing his labrum in the second game of the season. It required offseason surgery. Capristo has committed to Richmond.

DON’T MISS

9:16: Mt. Lebanon vs. Central Catholic at Carnegie Mellon

This is the rematch of the 2021 WPIAL 6A championship game won by Mt. Lebanon, 47-7. The Blue Devils also won the regular season meeting last year, 35-14. Since expansion in 2016, these two teams have played seven times, including playoffs games with Mt. Lebanon holding a 4-3 edge overall while Central Catholic has a 2-1 record in the postseason.

9:23: North Allegheny vs. Central Catholic at West Mifflin

With Pine-Richland in 5A, North Allegheny and Central Catholic are the most decorated teams in Class 6A over the last dozen years. Since 2010, The Vikings have won five WPIAL championships while the Tigers have won three. The schools have split their last six meetings with NA winning three of the last four regular season meetings. Central beat NA in the 2020 6A finals, 38-24.

9.23: Seneca Valley at Mt. Lebanon

A lot can happen between now and Week 8, but it’s hard not seeing this as a key contest. Mt. Lebanon ended a 21-year district championship drought last year while Seneca Valley is still in search of its first WPIAL crown. The Blue Devils beat the Raiders, 38-7, last season, but in the three previous regular season meetings between the two, the average margin of victory was just over three points per game.

10.28: Seneca Valley at North Allegheny

This is the last of the great rivalries in the district’s highest classification. A playoff post, positioning or a shot at the 6A regular season title could be at stake when Seneca Valley visits North Allegheny in Week 9. Since expansion to six classes six years ago, the Tigers have won five of the eight meetings, but the Raiders hold a 2-1 edge in playoff games.