For only the third time in the 10-year history of the PIAA football playoffs with six classifications, the WPIAL has three teams in the finals playing for state gold.
In 2019, there were three teams from District 7 in the PIAA championships, then played at Hersheypark Stadium.
Thomas Jefferson won Class 4A state gold with a rout of District 2 Dallas, 46-7, but Central Valley lost by a touchdown in the Class 3A title game to Wyoming Area, 21-14, and Avonworth was humbled in the Class 2A finals by Southern Columbia, 74-7.
Avonworth is back in the PIAA title game for the third time since 2019, looking for that elusive first state championship.
The ‘Lopes will be joined in Mechanicsburg by two programs that are very familiar with the bright lights of the PIAA championships.
Central Catholic in Class 6A is making its ninth PIAA title game appearance while Clairton in Class A is in the state finals for the eighth time.
As far as the power rankings are concerned, Central Catholic and Avonworth remain at the top in their respective Trib 10 rankings.
Here is the latest Trib 10 big school and small school power rankings with overall record and ranking from last week. These rankings have zero classification boundaries.
Big School Trib 10
1. Central Catholic, 13-1, (1): The Vikings play LaSalle College on Saturday with audio on Trib HSSN
2. Peters Township, 13-1, (2): The Indians’ season is over
3. Aliquippa, 10-4, (3): The Quips’ season is over
4. Pine-Richland, 11-2, (4): The Rams’ season is over
5. McKeesport, 9-4, (5): The Tigers’ season is over
6. Moon, 9-4, (6): The Tigers’ season is over
7. Upper St. Clair, 10-3, (7): The Panthers’ season is over
8. North Allegheny, 8-4, (8): The Tigers’ season is over
9. Woodland Hills, 8-3, (9): The Wolverines’ season is over
10. Penn-Trafford, 9-1, (10): The Warriors’ season is over
Out: None
Small School Trib 10
1. Avonworth, 14-0, (1): The Antelopes play Northwestern Lehigh on Saturday with audio on Trib HSSN
2. Clairton, 14-1, (2): The Bears play Bishop Guilfoyle Academy on Thursday with audio on Trib HSSN
3. Seton LaSalle, 12-2, (3): The Rebels’ season is over
4. Imani Christian, 12-1, (4): The Saints’ season is over
5. Steel Valley, 9-4, (5): The Ironmen’s season is over
6. Laurel, 12-2, (6): The Spartans’ season is over
7. Fort Cherry, 12-1, (7): The Rangers’ season is over
8. Central Valley, 7-5, (8): The Warriors’ season is over
9. North Catholic, 9-4, (9): The Trojans’ season is over
10. Western Beaver, 10-2, (10): The Golden Beavers’ season is over
Out: None