While we pull over to take a break between the second round and quarterfinals on the Road to Hershey and the PIAA basketball playoffs, football jumps to the forefront Thursday.
The WPIAL has said it plans to release the new conference alignments and schedules for the 2026 and 2027 high school football seasons.
One of the different looks will include the return of the Fayette Four.
Four Fayette County schools that left the WPIAL in football only in recent years to play an independent schedule are all coming back.
While Albert Gallatin, Brownsville, Connellsville and Uniontown are returning, Butler remains out, and it will be joined by Baldwin.
Both the Golden Tornado and Highlanders will play independent football schedules and not be part of the WPIAL realignment or schedules process for 2026.
D2 final four
The week of high school hockey semifinal action concludes Thursday with the PIHL Division 2 final four at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Complex on Neville Island.
In the doubleheader opener, top seed and defending champion Morgantown (16-3-1-1) battles No. 5 Burrell (13-4-0-4) in a rematch of the 2025 D2 title game at 7 p.m.
The Mohigans beat the Buccaneers last year, 5-1. Now they battle for a return trip to the Division 2 title game.
In the quarterfinals, Morgantown eliminated Deer Lakes, 4-1. Dominic Petrucci and Cooper Cox each had a goal and an assists for the Mohigans.
Also last week, Burrell blanked Connellsville, 2-0. Seth Munda stopped all 19 shots he faced for the playoff shutout win for the Bucs.
In the only meeting of the season between the two teams, Burrell edged Morgantown in October, 4-3.
In the second game of the night, No. 2 Neshannock (14-4-2-1) takes on No. 3 Ringgold (14-4-2-1) at 9 p.m.
Last week, Neshannock rolled past Trinity in its playoff opener, 8-3. Marko Relic and Grant Hennon each had a pair of goals for the Lancers.
Also in the quarterfinals, Ringgold knocked out Knoch, 4-3. Benito Pesi had two goals for the winning Rams.
The teams met twice in the regular season with the Lancers sweeping both games from the Rams, 4-0 and 5-2.
Thursday on Trib HSSN
There are two broadcasts and one podcast you can watch or listen to at TribHSSN.TribLive.com on the 12th day of March.
Video Stream: Rebel Yell Podcast with a recap of the 2026 PIAA boys and girls basketball second round results and quarterfinals schedules on the TribLive High School Sports Network at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIHL Hockey Penguins Cup Playoffs Video Stream – Division II Semifinals: Burrell vs. Morgantown (WV) at 7 p.m. on Tenband TV at TribHSSN.TribLive.com
PIHL Hockey Penguins Cup Playoffs Video Stream – Division II Semifinals: Ringgold vs. Neshannock at 9 p.m. on Tenband TV at TribHSSN.TribLive.com