2023 WPIAL Class A football breakdown: Strength of Big 7 Conference on display

By: Bill Hartlep
Sunday, August 20, 2023 | 8:01 AM

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It’s popular coachspeak to say that a meat-grinder conference schedule prepares teams for the postseason.

Last season, that appeared to be absolutely accurate in the WPIAL Class A Big 7 Conference.

Laurel won the conference with a 6-0 record and earned the No. 2 seed for the Class A playoffs with an overall mark of 9-2.

The other three playoff qualifiers from the Big 7 each reached the semifinals — No. 5 seed South Side, No. 10 Union and No. 14 Rochester. Then, Union went on to win its first WPIAL championship in 63 years by upsetting top-seeded Bishop Canevin, 26-0, in the finals at Acrisure Stadium.

“We also have teams in our section that would have made the playoffs in other sections. It is deep,” said South Side coach Luke Travelpiece, whose team returns nine starters on offense and eight on defense, including QB Brody Almashy and RB/LB Ryan Navarra, the conference’s defensive player of the year in 2022. “I said this last year, and it remains true for this year: whoever makes it into the playoffs will be battle-tested.”

The Scotties took down No. 7 Burgettstown, Laurel and Rochester during their Cinderella WPIAL playoff run and then topped Port Allegany in the PIAA semifinals before losing to Steelton-Highspire, 22-8, in the state championship game.

It was a feather in the cap of the loaded Big 7, which appears to again have some of the top teams ready to contend in Class A.

Union returns standout quarterback Braylon Thomas, who was 8 of 15 passing for 80 yards in the WPIAL title game and also ran for 123 yards on 25 carries and scored the Scotties’ first two touchdowns.

“We feel that we’re in one of, if not the best, Class A leagues in the state,” Laurel coach Brian Cooper said. “With Union having their starting quarterback back, and as good of an athlete as he is, they have to be favored to win it. South Side has a lot of returning starters and good depth. Rochester has a great running back and a great coach there. They do a lot of the basics well, and that will be hard-hitting and a physical game. They’re going to be good.

“Shenango has their quarterback back, and they’re going to be good. Northgate should be much more improved. They were young last year. And Summit, it depends on what kids are there and how long they get to work with them.

“You just have to get ready to embrace the grind and get ready to go through it.”

Bishop Canevin also appears ready to contend after winning the 2021 title and finishing as the WPIAL runner-up last season. The Crusaders, who finished 7-0 in the Black Hills Conference, return senior QB Jason Cross, a West Virginia recruit and an all-state defensive back.

Also in the Black Hills, Fort Cherry features one of the WPIAL’s most exciting underclassmen in sophomore quarterback/safety Matt Sieg, who ran for nearly 2,000 yards and threw for 1,200 a year ago. He contributed to 44 touchdowns.

Greensburg Central Catholic won the Eastern Conference at 6-0 last season but was upset in the opening round of the playoffs by Rochester. The Centurions are again strong at the skill positions and are under the direction of first-year coach JT Thompson. They will be led by senior quarterback Tyree Turner (1,470 yards, 20 TDs) and sophomore playmaker Samir Crosby.

Clairton also is expected to contend in the Eastern Conference after finishing 5-1 last season.

The Bears, who won 10 Class A titles between 2006-19, will miss graduated all-state offensive lineman Tyreese Washington-Law, as well as all-conference QB Capone Jones and WR Keith Wright. Leechburg, which was 4-2 in conference play, graduated Braylan Lovelace, who headed off to Pitt after rushing for 1,359 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Mapletown was a feel-good story throughout the WPIAL last season after winning the Tri-County South with a 7-0 record and completing the program’s first undefeated season since 1968.

The Maples finished 11-1 after falling to South Side in the quarterfinals.

They graduated running back Landan Stevenson, who earned all-state honors after running for 2,342 yards and scoring 45 touchdowns.

He compiled 5,993 career rushing yards and 102 touchdowns. California, Carmichaels and Monessen all finished 5-2 a year ago in the TCS and should challenge for the conference crown.

PRESEASON RANKINGS

1. Union (12-4)

After winning the program’s first WPIAL title in 63 years, it will be tough to match the joyous moment when the Scotties raised the district championship trophy. But that won’t stop Kim Niedbala’s team from entering the season as the favorite to return to Acrisure Stadium.

2. Bishop Canevin (12-2)

3. South Side (11-2)

4. Clairton (6-6)

5. Rochester (7-5)

*Records from 2022

THE STARS

Jason Cross

Bishop Canevin, Sr., QB/RB/WR/S

A West Virginia recruit, Cross (6-1, 170) threw for 1,277 yards and 18 touchdowns last season in helping the Crusaders reach the WPIAL title game. He also ran for eight scores, caught two TDs and made 59 tackles with six interceptions on defense to earn all-state honors.

Antonio Laure

Rochester, Jr., RB/LB

Laure was the ninth-leading scorer in the WPIAL last season with 176 points, including 26 touchdowns. He ran for 1,407 yards on 231 carries and also caught 16 passes for 260 yards.

Ryan Navarra

South Side, Sr., RB/LB

The Big 7 Conference defensive player of the year last season, Navarra also made an impact offensively, rushing for 800 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had four touchdowns in a playoff win over Mapletown.

Matt Sieg

Fort Cherry, So., QB/SS

A four-sport standout, Sieg (6-1, 175) exploded on the high school scene as a freshman, throwing for 1,221 yards and 11 TDs and rushing for 1,982 yards and 33 scores. He also made 26 tackles on defense.

Braylon Thomas

Union, Sr., QB/DB/P

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior ran for 1,466 yards and 20 touchdowns and threw for 1,202 yards and 14 scores in helping Union capture the WPIAL Class A title in 2022, earning all-state honors in the process.

DON’T MISS

9.29: Greensburg C.C. at Clairton

The Centurions got the best of Clairton for the first time since 2001 last season 34-18 en route to winning the Eastern Conference title. The Bears will be out for revenge in a game that could decide who sits atop the conference.

9.30: Fort Cherry at Bishop Canevin

Two of the WPIAL’s most exciting two-way players will face off as Fort Cherry’s Matt Sieg heads to Dormont Stadium to take on Jason Cross and the Crusaders in the Black Hills Conference.

10.6: Rochester at Union

Union beat the Rams, 6-0, in Big 7 Conference play last October and then also won the rematch 18-16 in the WPIAL Class A semifinals.

Writer Josh Rowntree contributed.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.