WPIAL Class 2A breakdown: More teams could mean more competition, parity

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, August 18, 2018 | 7:13 PM

Class 2A has been nothing if not predictable in the two years since expansion to six classifications.

In 2016, Steel Valley rolled to a perfect record by mercy ruling all 15 opponents in winning WPIAL and PIAA titles.

Last year, the average margin of victory in the 15 WPIAL playoff games was 22 points, with Washington dethroning Steel Valley by 27 points in the finals.

This season might not be as one-sided as Class 2A has grown from 23 to 31 teams, one of only two (5A is the other) of the six classifications that is bigger for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Bigger isn’t always better, but with seven teams falling from Class 3A, five teams moving up from Class A (four of which were playoff teams a year ago) and six teams moving to another 2A conference, it definitely seems to add more balance in a classification that needed it.

Washington is defending a district championship for the first time since 2002. Despite some key losses to graduation, Little Prexies coach Mike Bosnic said they are ready.

“We have been very successful over the past several seasons and have a great tradition at Wash High,” he said. “We are used to having targets on our back. It will be more incentive for teams this year being defending WPIAL champs.”

Charleroi finished 9-2 last year and McGuffey, down from Class 3A, also should contend in the Century Conference.

The deepest of the four conferences may be the new-look Allegheny Conference.

Steel Valley, East Allegheny and Avonworth were all Class 2A playoff teams a year ago, and they are joined by Apollo-Ridge, Shady Side Academy and Valley, dropping from 3A, and Summit Academy, up from Class A.

The Ironmen are looking for a third straight trip to the finals at Robert Morris. Linebacker and running back Todd Hill expects to keep the wins coming.

“This year, we’re working hard,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of younger players coming up who are working. Our whole team has experience, so we’re going to come back hard to get the W.”

Having just missed the playoffs a year ago, the sky is the limit for Shady Side Academy behind senior quarterback and defensive back Skyy Moore, who believes despite his on-field success, it means nothing without team success.

“Our goal as a team was to do more than not make the playoffs,” he said. “So this year, we want to go to the playoffs and compete for the WPIAL championship.”

After winning the Class 3A Allegheny Conference and falling in the semifinals to eventual champion Quaker Valley, Seton LaSalle is one of the teams to beat in the Three Rivers Conference, along with South Side. The Rams missed the playoffs last year but return their quarterback, the team’s top three rushers, as well as their leading receiver from a year ago.

The most wide-open 2A section is the Midwestern Athletic Conference. Five of the eight teams qualified for the playoffs last fall.

Neshannock is a year removed from playing for a WPIAL title and has some talent back from a 6-5 campaign, but Riverside may be the team to beat.

The Panthers finished 9-3 a year ago, with convincing playoff wins over Frazier and Avonworth before a heartbreaking, 13-10 loss to Riverside in the semifinals.

THE FAVORITE

1. Washington (13-1)

The Little Prexies lost standouts Nick Welsh and Isaiah Schoonmaker to graduation but return junior quarterback Zach Swartz, who threw for more than 2,000 yards a year ago. Wash High begins the season with a 38-game regular-season winning streak.

Preseason rankings

2. Riverside (9-3)

3. Steel Valley (11-1)

4. Shady Side Academy (6-3)

5. Charleroi (9-2)

*Records are from 2017

THE STARS

Todd Hill

Steel Valley, sr., RB/LB

Hill, a Howard recruit, is a four-year starter who was the leading tackler for the Ironmen in 2017 and averaged 6.5 yards per carry with six touchdowns.

Skyy Moore

Shady Side Academy, sr., QB/DB

Skilled on both sides of the ball, Moore picked off four passes as a DB last fall. He also threw for 1,184 yards and 11 scores and rushed for 1,321 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Geno Pellegrini

Charleroi, sr., QB/DB

The four-year starter at quarterback had a huge 2017 season, hitting on 116 of 195 passes for 2,333 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also rushed for 355 yards and nine touchdowns.

Dino Tomlin

Shady Side Academy, sr., WR/DB

The son of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is making a name for himself. Tomlin caught 30 passes for 714 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago.

Daniel Walker

Washington, sr., WR/S

Walker helped the Little Prexies win a WPIAL championship after moving back to Washington from Georgia. He averaged 18.7 yards per catch.

DON’T MISS

8.31 Washington at Charleroi

The Century Conference opener will determine the team to beat.

9.14 Shady Side Academy at Steel Valley

One of the toughest regular-season challenges for Steel Valley in two years comes in this Allegheny Conference Week 3 battle.

10.12 Riverside at Ellwood City

The neighboring rivals will meet in a conference game for the first time in five years.

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at drebel@tribweb.com.

Tags: Charleroi, Riverside, Shady Side Academy, Steel Valley, Washington