The 2023 WPIAL Championship season concluded on Friday, November 24 at Acrisure Stadium, going out with a bang as three of the four games saw the lower-seeded team claim victory.
All the Pittsburgh-area teams whose seasons remain alive have advanced into the broader PIAA state playoff bracket. Here’s a look at how those teams performed Friday, as well as their next stop in pursuit of a state championship.
The North Allegheny Tigers, who claimed a 6A WPIAL title last weekend, earned a huge home win over the McDowell Trojans, crushing them 41-7 to advance into the 6A Semifinals.
Peters Township continued to make history after winning their first WPIAL Championship in team history last weekend, delving further into the state playoff bracket with a win over Cathedral Prep. Despite their gleaming 13-0 record, the Indians still had to make the long drive north to face the Ramblers. The distance didn’t seem to matter, though, as Peters Township won 33-14.
Aliquippa won their third straight WPIAL Championship, their 20th all-time, and the second in a row in the 4A classification, defeating the McKeesport Tigers 35-21.
Belle Vernon blanked Avonworth 26-0, Beaver Falls slipped past Steel Valley 14-12 with a late go-ahead two-point conversion, and Fort Cherry rolled past South Side Beaver 42-28. Read Pittsburgh Sports Now’s on-location coverage of the action here:
North Allegheny Trounces McDowell in PIAA Quarterfinal; 41-7
Aliquippa Defeats McKeesport for Third Consecutive WPIAL Title
Belle Vernon Defends WPIAL Title, Blanks Avonworth 26-0
No. 10-Seed Beaver Falls Wins WPIAL 2A Title with Final Drive Over Steel Valley
Matt Sieg Leads Fort Cherry to First WPIAL Title
The Westinghouse Bulldogs also advanced to the state semifinals for the second consecutive year, scoring a late touchdown — and putting the game on ice with an even later pick six — as part of a 24-point fourth quarter outburst to carry them past Farrell 36-20.
What’s Next for the WPIAL
North Allegheny advances to face Harrisburg, who survived Manheim Township in overtime 34-28. That matchup will take place at Altoona’s Mansion Park Stadium, kicking off at 1 pm on Saturday, December 2.
Peters Township will take on Cocalico, who breezed past Ephrata 23-9, in the 5A Western Semifinals. That game will also take place at Mansion Park Stadium, set for a 7 pm start on Friday, December 1.
Aliquippa will face Selinsgrove at Central Cambria High School at 7 pm Friday in the 4A bracket. Selinsgrove, who stomped Juniata 44-14 in the quarterfinals. At 3A, Belle Vernon will face Hickory, who defeated Central-Martinsburg 26-13. They’ll face off at North Allegheny at 7 pm Friday.
The 2A classification sends a pair of Western Pennsylvania teams to the state semifinals. Westinghouse and Beaver Falls will face each other at West Allegheny at 7 pm Friday, guaranteeing at least one state championship berth for a team from the region.
Rounding out the brackets at 1A, Fort Cherry will advance to face Redbank Valley, who crushed Cambridge Springs 44-0. They’ll play at Farrell at 7 pm Friday.
