2024 WPIAL football playoff picture: Who’s in, on the cusp ahead of Week 8 contests
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Sunday, October 13, 2024 | 6:21 PM
Time to prepare for the new world order in the WPIAL football playoffs.
Wild card teams have expanded and are no longer figured out by the mathematics equations that included the dreaded Gardner Points and the WPIAL tiebreaker system.
Now a total of 16 teams will have to wait until Selection Saturday before they find out if they will participate in the district postseason as a wild card team.
So, instead of cyphering or using an abacus to determine if a team has clinched, we only have to focus on the top three finishers in each conference between Class A and 5A.
Here is a look at the teams that have clinched playoff berths and the remaining schedule for teams in the hunt heading into Week 8.
Conference records listed next to teams and only remaining conference games are listed.
Class 6A
Top four teams in the seven-team standings qualify for the playoffs.
Central Catholic Vikings, 4-0 (clinched)
Week 8 – host Seneca Valley (at CMU)
Week 9 – host Canon-McMillan (at CMU)
North Allegheny Tigers, 4-1 (clinched)
Week 9 – host Seneca Valley
Seneca Valley Raiders, 3-1
Week 8 – at Central Catholic (at CMU)
Week 9 – at North Allegheny
Hempfield Spartans, 2-3
Week 8 – host Mt. Lebanon
Canon-McMillan Big Macs, 1-3
Week 8 – host Norwin
Week 9 – at Central Catholic (at CMU)
Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils, 1-3
Week 8 – at Hempfield
Week 9 – host Norwin
Norwin Knights, 0-4
Week 8 – at Canon-McMillan
Week 9 – at Mt. Lebanon
Class 5A
Total of 12 playoff teams: Top three teams in the Allegheny Six, Big East and Northeast conferences earn playoff berths, plus three wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.
Big East Conference
Woodland Hills Wolverines, 4-0
Week 8 – at Franklin Regional
Week 9 – host Kiski Area
Penn-Trafford Warriors, 3-1
Week 8 – at Armstrong
Week 9 – at Latrobe
Franklin Regional Panthers, 3-1
Week 8 – host Woodland Hills
Week 9 – host Armstrong
Gateway Gators, 2-3
Week 8 – host Latrobe
Kiski Area Cavaliers, 2-3
Week 9 – at Woodland Hills
Latrobe Wildcats, 1-3
Week 8 – at Gateway
Week 9 – host Penn-Trafford
Armstrong River Hawks, 0-4
Week 8 – host Penn-Trafford
Week 9 – at Franklin Regional
Northeast Conference
Pine-Richland Rams, 4-0 (clinched)
Week 9 – host Shaler
North Hills Indians, 3-1
Week 8 – host Penn Hills
Penn Hills Indians, 2-1
Week 8 – at North Hills
Week 9 – host Plum
Plum Mustangs, 2-2
Week 9 – at Penn Hills
Shaler Titans, 0-3
Week 8 – host Fox Chapel
Week 9 – at Pine-Richland
Fox Chapel Foxes, 0-4 (eliminated)
Allegheny Six Conference
Upper St. Clair Panthers. 3-0 (clinched)
Week 8 – host Moon
Week 9 – host Baldwin
Peters Township Indians, 2-1
Week 8 – host Baldwin
Week 9 – host Bethel Park
Bethel Park Black Hawks, 2-1
Week 8 – host South Fayette
Week 9 – at Peters Township
South Fayette Lions, 1-2
Week 8 – at Bethel Park
Week 9 – at Moon
Moon Tigers, 1-2
Week 8 – at Upper St. Clair
Week 9 – host South Fayette
Baldwin Highlanders, 0-3
Week 8 – at Peters Township
Week 9 – at Upper St. Clair
Class 4A
Total of 8 playoff teams: Top two teams in the Parkway, Big Six and Greater Allegheny conferences earn playoff berths, plus two wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.
Parkway Conference
Montour Spartans, 3-0
Week 8 – host Aliquippa
Week 9 – host West Allegheny
Aliquippa Quips, 3-0
Week 8 – at Montour
Week 9 – host Ambridge
West Allegheny Indians, 2-1
Week 8 – at Blackhawk
Week 9 – at Montour
Blackhawk Cougars, 1-2
Week 8 – host West Allegheny
Week 9 – at New Castle
New Castle Red Hurricanes, 0-3
Week 8 – host Ambridge
Week 9 – host Blackhawk
Ambridge Bridgers, 0-3
Week 8 – at New Castle
Week 9 – at Aliquippa
Big Six Conference
Thomas Jefferson Jaguars, 2-0
Week 8 – host Chartiers Valley
Week 9 – at Laurel Highlands
*Week 7 game at Ringgold was postponed and may or may not be made up at a later date.
Belle Vernon Leopards, 2-1
Week 8 – at Ringgold
Week 9 – at Trinity
Trinity Hillers, 2-1
Week 8 – host Laurel Highlands
Week 9 – host Belle Vernon
Chartiers Valley Colts, 1-2
Week 8 – at Thomas Jefferson
Week 9 – at Ringgold
Laurel Highlands Mustangs, 1-2
Week 8 – at Trinity
Week 9 – host Thomas Jefferson
Ringgold Rams, 0-2
Week 8 – host Belle Vernon
Week 9 – host Chartiers Valley
* Week 7 game vs. Thomas Jefferson was postponed and may or may not be made up at a later date.
Greater Allegheny Conference
McKeesport Tigers, 3-0
Week 8 – host Indiana
Week 9 – at Knoch
Mars Fightin’ Planets, 2-1
Week 8 – at Hampton
Week 9 – host Indiana
Knoch Knights, 2-1
Week 8 – at West Mifflin
Week 9 – host McKeesport
Hampton Talbots, 1-2
Week 8 – host Mars
Week 9 – at West Mifflin
West Mifflin Titans, 1-2
Week 8 – host Knoch
Week 9 – host Hampton
Indiana Little Indians, 0-3
Week 8 – at McKeesport
Week 9 – at Mars
Class 3A
Total of 12 playoff teams: Top three teams in the Western Hills, Allegheny Seven and Interstate conferences earn playoff berths, plus three wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.
Western Hills Conference
Avonworth Antelopes, 4-0
Week 8 – host North Catholic
Week 9 – at Beaver
Central Valley Warriors, 4-1
Week 8 – host Hopewell
Beaver Bobcats, 3-1
Week 8 – host Quaker Valley
Week 9 – host Avonworth
Hopewell Vikings, 2-2
Week 8 – at Central Valley
Week 9 – at North Catholic
North Catholic Trojans, 2-2
Week 8 – at Avonworth
Week 9 – host Hopewell
Quaker Valley Quakers, 0-4 (eliminated)
McGuffey Highlanders, 0-5 (eliminated)
Allegheny Seven Conference
Imani Christian Saints, 4-0 (clinched)
Week 8 – at Burrell
Week 9 – at Freeport
Deer Lakes Lancers, 3-1
Week 8 – host Valley
Week 9 – host Burrell
Freeport Yellowjackets, 3-1
Week 8 – at East Allegheny
Week 9 – host Imani Christian
Burrell Buccaneers, 2-2
Week 8 – host Imani Christian
Week 9 – at Deer Lakes
Highlands Golden Rams, 2-3
Week 9 – at Valley
East Allegheny Wildcats, 1-4 (eliminated)
Valley Vikings, 0-4
Week 8 – at Deer Lakes
Week 9 – host Highlands
Interstate Conference
Southmoreland Scotties, 3-0
Week 8 – at Elizabeth Forward
Week 9 – at Greensburg Salem
Elizabeth Forward Warriors, 3-0
Week 8 – host Southmoreland
Week 9 – at Mt. Pleasant
Mt. Pleasant Vikings, 2-1
Week 8 – host Derry
Week 9 – host Elizabeth Forward
Greensburg Salem Golden Lions, 1-2
Week 8 – at Yough
Week 9 – host Southmoreland
Derry Trojans, 0-3
Week 8 – at Mt. Pleasant
Week 9 – at Yough
Yough Cougars, 0-3
Week 8 – host Greensburg Salem
Week 9 – host Derry
Class 2A
Total of 13 playoff teams: Top three teams in the Allegheny, Midwestern Athletic and Century conferences earn playoff berths, plus four wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.
Allegheny Conference
South Park Eagles, 4-0 (clinched)
Week 8 – at Apollo-Ridge
Week 9 – at Shady Side Academy
South Allegheny Gladiators, 4-1 (clinched)
Week 9 at Steel Valley
Steel Valley Ironmen, 3-1
Week 8 – at Ligonier Valley
Week 9 – host South Allegheny
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers, 2-3
Week 8 – host Shady Side Academy (at Moon)
Ligonier Valley Rams, 1-3
Week 8 – host Steel Valley
Week 9 – host Apollo-Ridge
Shady Side Academy Bulldogs, 1-3
Week 8 – at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (at Moon)
Week 9 – host South Park
Apollo-Ridge Vikings, 0-4
Week 8 – host South Park
Week 9 – at Ligonier Valley
Midwestern Athletic Conference
Ellwood City Wolverines, 5-0 (clinched)
Week 8 – host Union
Week 9 – host Beaver Falls
Western Beaver Golden Beaver, 4-1
Week 8 – at New Brighton
Week 9 – at Freedom
Mohawk Warriors, 3-1
Week 8 – at Freedom
Week 9 – host Riverside
Riverside Panthers, 3-2
Week 8 – at Beaver Falls
Week 9 – at Mohawk
New Brighton Lions, 2-3
Week 8 – host Western Beaver
Week 9 – at Union
Union Scotties, 2-3
Week 8 – at Ellwood City
Week 9 – host New Brighton
Freedom Bulldogs, 1-4
Week 8 – host Mohawk
Week 9 – host Western Beaver
Beaver Falls Tigers, 0-5 (eliminated)
Century Conference
Seton LaSalle Rebels, 4-0 (clinched)
Week 8 – at Keystone Oaks
Week 9 – at Washington
Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles, 4-1 (clinched)
Week 8 – host Seton LaSalle
Washington Little Prexies, 3-1
Week 8 – at Carlynton
Week 9 – host Seton LaSalle
Waynesburg Central Raiders, 2-2
Week 8 – at Charleroi
Week 9 – host Sto-Rox
Carlynton Cougars, 1-3
Week 8 – host Washington
Week 9 – host Charleroi
Charleroi Cougars, 1-3
Week 8 – host Waynesburg Central
Week 9 – at Carlynton
Sto-Rox Vikings, 0-5 (eliminated)
Class A
Total of 16 playoff teams: Top three teams in the Big 7, Eastern, Black Hills and Tri-County South conferences earn playoff berths, plus four wild card teams to be determined by the WPIAL football steering committee.
Big 7 Conference
Neshannock Lancers, 4-0 (clinched)
Week 8 – host Summit Academy
Week 9 – host Laurel
Laurel Spartans, 4-0
Week 8 – at South Side
Week 9 – at Neshannock
South Side Rams, 3-1
Week 8 – host Laurel
Week 9 – at Rochester
Rochester Rams, 2-2
Week 8 – at Northgate
Week 9 – host South Side
Northgate Flames, 1-4
Week 8 – host Rochester
Shenango Wildcats, 1-4
Week 9 – host Summit Academy
Summit Academy, 0-4
Week 8 – at Neshannock
Week 9 – at Shenango
Eastern Conference
Clairton Bears, 5-0
Week 8 – host Riverview
Week 9 host Brentwood
Leechburg Blue Devils, 4-1
Week 8 – at Brentwood
Week 9 – host Greensburg Central Catholic
Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions, 4-1
Week 8 – at Frazier
Week 9 – at Leechburg
Brentwood Spartans, 3-2
Week 8 – host Leechburg
Week 9 – at Clairton
Jeannette Jayhawks, 2-3
Week 8 – host Springdale
Week 9 – host Riverview
Riverview Raiders, 2-3
Week 8 – at Clairton
Week 9 – at Jeannette
Frazier Commodores, 0-5 (eliminated)
Springdale Dynamos 0-5 (eliminated)
Black Hills Conference
Fort Cherry Rangers, 5-0 (clinched)
Week 9 – at Serra Catholic
Monessen Greyhounds, 3-1
Week 8 – at Bishop Canevin
Week 9 – at Cornell
Bishop Canevin Crusaders, 3-1
Week 8 – host Monessen
Week 9 – host Burgettstown
Cornell Raiders, 2-2
Week 8 – at Chartiers-Houston
Week 9 – host Monessen
Serra Catholic Eagles, 1-3
Week 8 – at Burgettstown
Week 9 – host Fort Cherry
Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers, 1-4
Week 8 – host Cornell
Burgettstown Blue Devils, 0-4
Week 8 – host Serra Catholic
Week 9 – at Bishop Canevin
Tri-County South Conference
Jefferson-Morgan Rockets, 5-0 (clinched)
Week 8 – at Avella
Week 9 – at California
California Trojans, 5-0 (clinched)
Week 8 – at Beth-Center
Week 9 – host Jefferson-Morgan
West Greene Pioneers, 3-2
Week 8 – at Carmichaels
Week 9 – at Beth-Center
Bentworth Bearcats, 2-3
Week 8 – host Mapletown
Week 9 – at Avella
Carmichaels Mighty Mikes, 2-3
Week 8 – host West Greene
Week 9 – at Mapletown
Avella Eagles, 2-3
Week 8 – host Jefferson-Morgan
Week 9 – host Bentworth
Mapletown Maples, 0-4
Week 8 – at Bentworth
Week 9 – host Carmichaels
Beth-Center Bulldogs, 0-4
Week 8 – host California
Week 9 – host West Greene
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