(All first-round games are Friday. Playoff seeds are next to teams in parentheses).
CLASS 6A
The games: Seneca Valley (4) at North Allegheny (1); Central Catholic (3) at Mt. Lebanon (2).
The winner will be: North Allegheny. This classification doesn’t seem to have an overly strong team this season. There are good teams, but no powerhouse. Really, any of the four teams seem to have a legitimate shot at the title. But North Allegheny finished the regular season No. 1, so why not go with the Tigers? Their offense won’t wow anyone, but their defense might be enough to carry Art Walker to his sixth WPIAL title.
On the rise: Mt. Lebanon. The Blue Devils have won four of their last five, with the only loss coming at North Allegheny (14-11). The offense is clicking for the most part and the defense is doing just enough.
The scoop: North Allegheny will have its hands full in the semifinals with Seneca Valley. They didn’t play in the regular season. … Central Catholic has been up and down, especially defensively. But the Vikings are still capable of winning the title. Central has been in a title game six of the past seven years. … Mt. Lebanon coach Bob Palko is seeking his ninth WPIAL title.
CLASS 5A
The games: (8) South Fayette at Pine-Richland (1); Penn Hills (7) at Gateway (2); Woodland Hills (6) at Peters Township (3); Upper St. Clair (5) at Penn-Trafford (4).
The winner will be: Pine-Richland. The Rams’ offense, led by QB Cole Spencer (1,698 yards passing in six games), has been virtually unstoppable. It won’t be as easy in the playoffs, but this team is well-rounded. Pine-Richland’s lines might be the difference in the biggest games.
On the rise: Peters Township. The Indians finished 6-0, their first unbeaten regular season since 1975. Their offense won’t put up big statistics, but the defense has been excellent most of the season. WR-DB Donovan McMillon is a Florida recruit and TE-LB Cordan Hondru a Miami (Ohio) recruit.
The scoop: This classification is by far the best in the WPIAL, at least in terms of quality teams. The WPIAL had a tough decision in who to make the No. 2 seed, but Gateway got the nod over Peters Township. … Gateway features the WPIAL’s top player in Derrick Davis, but it’s the “other” players who could decide Gateway’s fate. … Don’t sleep on Penn-Trafford. The Warriors are talented and physical enough to make a championship run. Their only loss was on the road at Peters Township (24-21) when Penn-Trafford made six turnovers. … Penn-Trafford’s game against Upper St. Clair is one of the best in the first round. With quarterback Ethan Dahlem, USC has a chance against anyone.
CLASS 4A
The games: Hampton (8) at Aliquippa (1); Mars (7) at Thomas Jefferson (2); McKeesport (6) at Plum (3); Chartiers Valley (5) at Belle Vernon (4).
The winner will be: Thomas Jefferson. The loss to McKeesport finally proves this team isn’t as strong as last year’s that went 16-0. But Thomas Jefferson is still good enough to win it all. The McKeesport loss, where Thomas Jefferson had four turnovers and costly penalties, might have been a wake-up call.
On the rise: Aliquippa. The Quips literally were on the rise this season, going from Class 3A to 4A. But they weren’t challenged much. Their closest game was a 44-28 win against New Castle in the season opener. Aliquippa is huge on the lines and running back Vernon Redd is a big-play machine, but the play of quarterback Vaughn Morris might be key. The Quips have been to the championship a WPIAL record 12 consecutive seasons.
The scoop: McKeesport is suddenly one to watch. The Tigers’ 20-14 victory against Thomas Jefferson sent shock waves around the WPIAL. Defensive performances like that will give the Tigers a shot against anyone. The McKeesport-Plum quarterfinal game shapes up as one of the best in all of the WPIAL. Undefeated Plum is one of the most intriguing teams in Class 4A. … Defense makes Belle Vernon good enough to make a championship run. If Belle Vernon beats Chartiers Valley, Belle Vernon will meet Aliquippa. … The three teams with the longest consecutive playoff streaks are all in Class 4A. This is the 26th consecutive year that both Aliquippa and Thomas Jefferson have made the playoffs. This is the 23rd consecutive year for McKeesport.
CLASS 3A
The games: East Allegheny (8) at Central Valley (1); Mount Pleasant (7) vs. North Catholic (2) at Mars; Freeport (6) at Elizabeth Forward (3); South Park (5) at Keystone Oaks (4).
The winner will be: Central Valley. The Warriors might be the most prohibitive favorite in any of the WPIAL’s six classifications. They outscored teams, 356-49, have a handful of future FBS college players and are playoff-seasoned, making the PIAA championship game last year.
On the rise: North Catholic. The Trojans are undefeated and also put up some impressive statistics during the regular season, outscoring teams by 317-57.
The scoop: The WPIAL had a tough decision to make between East Allegheny and Freeport. They played in the same conference, finished with only one conference loss, but didn’t play because of a COVID-19 case at Freeport. The WPIAL gave Freeport the No. 6 seed and, surprisingly, East Allegheny No. 8. Avonworth, the WPIAL Class 2A champ last year, was alive for a wild card, but the spot went to Mount Pleasant. And Mount Pleasant was given the No. 7 seed. … Elizabeth Forward is a sleeper team. The Warriors allowed only 53 points in the regular season.
CLASS 2A
The games: Western Beaver (8) at Beaver Falls (1); Serra (7) at McGuffey (2); Washington (5) at Apollo-Ridge (4); Laurel (6) at Sto-Rox (3).
The winner will be: Beaver Falls. It’s hard to go against the Tigers, who have a terrific – and big - one-two running combination of Josh Hough (6 feet 3, 230 pounds) and Shileak Livingston (5-11, 220).
On the rise: McGuffey. The Highlanders won a conference title. The last time that happened they won the WPIAL championship in 1994.
The scoop: Serra is the No. 7 seed, but could give McGuffey a tough go in a quarterfinal game. … Apollo-Ridge and Serra are definitely teams capable of making noise. They play in the same conference, but their regular-season game was canceled because of COVID-19 at Serra and the WPIAL seeded Serra No. 7, while Apollo-Ridge got No. 4. … Sto-Rox seems capable of making it to the title game. The Vikings have several playmakers and their only loss was by forfeit to start the season.
CLASS 1A
The games: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (8) at Clairton (1); Springdale (7) at Rochester (2); Avella (6) at Jeannette (3); Shenango (5) at California (4).
The winner will be: Clairton. The Bears have size on the lines and their offense averaged 54 points in the regular season. They are trying to win their 11th WPIAL title in 15 seasons.
On the rise: California. The Trojans won the Tri-County South, but the Tri-County’s lack of success in the postseason always makes one wonder about teams from that conference. But California might be a formidable foe in the postseason.
The scoop: We could be headed for a Clairton-Jeannette rematch in the title game. Clairton defeated Jeannette, 34-28, in the season opener and Jeannette is the only team to give Clairton a challenge. … Shenango could be a sleeper team. The Wildcats were undefeated until losing to Rochester in the regular-season finale. But Shenango’s Reis Watkins, one of the WPIAL’s leading rushers, did not play because of an ankle injury. He could be back for the playoffs.
Mike White: mwhite@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mwhiteburgh
First Published: October 25, 2020, 12:33 p.m.
