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Two defending WPIAL Champions made it back to Heinz Field: Pine-Richland in 6A who have won the last two titles and Aliquippa in 3A who are making their 12th straight Championship Game appearance. Lebanon 31-14 in the semifinals to reach Heinz Field for the sixth time in seven years.Pine-Richland is the two-time defending WPIAL 6A Champions and looked the part early in the season.
But Belle Vernon struck back to cut the lead to 30-28 then took advantage of some South Fayette mistakes to score two touchdowns in 14 seconds and claim a 41-30 lead. In 2010, Central Valley’s run ended in the PIAA quarterfinals against Erie Cathedral Prep.
Aliquippa has the most WPIAL Championships of any school with 17 and have also won three State Championships (1991, 2003, 2018). The Quips won the first two regular season meetings, but Central Valley has won the last two including their impressive victory in Week 9 this year. Juniors Ian Hansen (624 yards, 8 TDs) and Preston Zandier (411 yards, 3 TDs) have also contributed to a talented receiving corps that all averages over 20 yards per catch.Belle Vernon also has a three-year starter at quarterback in Jared Hartman who has thrown for 1745 yards and 29 TDs. However, those losses came against 3A Aliquippa and 2A McGuffey. In Week 8, Sto-Rox’s passing attack was slowed down by Laurel’s running game with the Spartans beating Sto-Rox for the second straight year. 2019 WPIAL Championship Football Playoff Brackets as of 11-23-19. In 2010, Central Valley’s run ended in the PIAA quarterfinals against Erie Cathedral Prep. Both of those teams went on to win the 3A State title.
The biggest difference with this year’s Belle Vernon squad has been sophomore Devin Whitlock who transferred from Monessen. This season, the teams met again in Week 9 and Central Valley claimed an historic victory. The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) was founded in 1906 to regulate and administer interscholastic athletic competition in a fair and equitable manner.The WPIAL Football Season is played in the fall, with the first game of the season coming in as early as late-August. Shane Stump is a three-year starter at quarterback and has thrown for 2149 yards and 31 TDs this season. Aliquippa committed a number of turnovers which resulted in Central Valley touchdowns and lost to the Warriors for the second straight year.
Hartman missed the playoffs last year due to a season-ending knee injury but has made the most of his senior season, leading Belle Vernon to Heinz Field. Lebanon Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 at Antimarino Stadium at Gateway High School. In the first meeting, Dudley threw for 2 TDs and ran for another in the first meeting between these teams. They came up just short of winning the title in 2003 and 2014 but won the State Championship in 2017 with a 41-21 victory over St. Joe’s Prep. Clairton topped Sto-Rox in the 2011 and 2012 WPIAL Championship Games. This year four classifications (1A, 3A, 4A, and 6A) will have their title games at Heinz Field. CLASS 6A: WPIAL …
Pine-Richland’s offense is nearly the polar opposite, relying on 6A’s leading passer Cole Spencer (2490 yards, 29 TDs) to lead the way. His favorite targets have been electric junior WR Kenlein Ogletree (768 yards, 16 total TDs) who has found the end zone in all three phases this season, and Jonte Sanders (378 yards, 6 TDs).
The Rams receiving corps is led by Eli Jochem (967 yards, 13 TDs), D’avay Johnson (512 yards, 6 TDs), and Luke Miller (314 yards, 6 TDs).
Championship Saturday at Heinz Field started with Clairton claiming their 7th title this decade by defeating Sto-Rox. The 2019 WPIAL Championships will once again feature a full day of games at Heinz Field, starting at 11am with the 1A Championship. Click on the "pace" links to move about through the results. The Vikings have a plethora of talent at WR and Wilson has been able to spread the ball around between seniors Amahd Pack (819 yards, 17 TDs), Jaidon Berry (653 yards, 4 TDs), and Treynell Paxton (579 yards, 6 TDs). Who will make it to the championships?