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Aliquippa's Darrelle Revis runs for a touchdown against Northern Lehigh in the fourth quarter in the PIAA Class AA championship game in December 2003.
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Post-Gazette all-time WPIAL championship team

Bradley C Bower/Associated Press

Post-Gazette all-time WPIAL championship team

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the first WPIAL championship game, and the Post-Gazette unveils its all-time championship team. The squad was selected by the P-G's scholastic sports staff and is made up of players who either won a championship or played in a title game. The biggest factor in the selections is what the player did after high school. Also, some players are listed at positions they were known for after high school and not necessarily the positions they played in high school.

a-Joe Namath -- Beaver Falls, 1960: Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame who played at U. of Alabama and won Super Bowl with New York Jets

Dick Hoak -- Jeannette, 1956: After Penn State career, was a RB for the Steelers for 10 years and made Pro Bowl once.

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Dan Towler -- Donora, 1944, 1945: Nicknamed "Deacon," was the leading rusher in the NFL in 1952 and MVP of the Pro Bowl that year.

Before starring at Ohio State, Jeannette's Terrelle Pryor was a member of the Fabulous 22.
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Steve Breaston -- Woodland Hills, 1999, 2000, 2001: QB in high school played WR in NFL for six years and was in Super Bowl with Arizona Cardinals.

Eric Crabtree -- Monessen, 1961: A RB in high school who went on to play at Pitt and then WR in AFL and NFL for six years.

Mike Ditka -- Aliquippa, 1955: A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who also won a Super Bowl as coach of the Chicago Bears.

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Steve August -- Jeannette, 1971: Played eight seasons in the NFL, seven with the Seattle Seahawks and part of one with the Steelers.

Doug Crusan -- Monessen, 1961: Played seven years in the NFL. Started 10 games in 1972 for undefeated and Super Bowl champ Miami Dolphins.

Bill Fralic -- Penn Hills, 1977, 1978, 1979: Played at Pitt and is member of College Football Hall of Fame. Made NFL Pro Bowl four times.

Rich Saul -- Butler, 1965: Played 12 years with Los Angeles Rams and made Pro Bowl six times. Brothers, Ron and Bill, also played in NFL.

The WPIAL football championship trophy.
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Jim Sweeney -- Seton-LaSalle, 1979: Had tremendous career at Pitt and played 16 seasons in the NFL, including four with the Steelers.

LaVar Arrington -- North Hills, 1993: Also RB in high school. Won Butkus Award at Penn State, played in NFL seven years and three-time Pro Bowler.

Bruce Clark -- New Castle, 1973, 1975: All-American at Penn State went on to play eight years in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl once.

Sean Gilbert -- Aliquippa, 1987, 1988: USA Today national high school player of the year in 1988, he played 11 years in the NFL.

Sean Lee -- Upper St. Clair, 2003: RB-DB in high school. Had excellent career at Penn State and now a top LB for NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

Paul Posluszny -- Hopewell, 2001, 2002: Outstanding RB at Hopewell, won Butkus Award at Penn State and now plays with Jacksonville Jaguars.

Myron Pottios -- Charleroi, 1956: Had outstanding career at Notre Dame, played 12 years in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl six times.

Brandon Short -- McKeesport, 1994: Was All-American at Penn State and played seven years in the NFL with Carolina and New York Giants.

Arnold Galiffa -- Donora, 1944: Was All-American QB at Army who won 11 varsity letters at Army. Played for three different teams in NFL.

Ty Law -- Aliquippa, 1991: Also talented RB in high school. Played 15 years in the NFL and won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.

Terrelle Pryor -- Jeannette, 2006, 2007: No. 1 high school player in country as a senior. Also tremendous QB who played QB in the NFL.

Darrelle Revis -- Aliquippa, 2003: Do-it-all player in high school is one of the best DBs in the NFL these days with the New York Jets.

Coach Phil Bridenbaugh -- New Castle 1924, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1942, 1948, 1949

Bridenbaugh won seven WPIAL titles when he coached from 1924-49. Back then, there were no playoffs and teams had to be undefeated to play for the championship. Bridenbaugh had a 273-63-26 record.

a-Namath did not "play" in a championship game. His Beaver Falls team was "declared" champion in 1960 because there was not another undefeated team in its classification, and only undefeated teams could play for championships back then.

 

• PG Interactive: Quick facts about the remaining teams:

 

First Published: November 25, 2015, 1:40 p.m.

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