Western Pennsylvania high school football teams advance to playoffs

Summarised from 3 outlets · 9 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 17:02 · Archive

Western Pennsylvania high school football teams have won quarterfinal matches to advance to WPIAL semifinals and championship games.

Western Pennsylvania high school football playoffs reached the quarterfinal and semifinal stages Friday, with multiple teams securing spots in the next round across six classifications.

In WPIAL Class 2A, second-seeded Seton LaSalle dominated seventh-seeded Ligonier Valley with a 48-10 victory to advance to the semifinals. The Rebels, now 10-1, forced multiple turnovers and scored on special teams plays, including a blocked punt recovery by Legacy Williams in the end zone for a touchdown. Seton LaSalle's defense performed particularly well, with coach Tim Storino praising his team's preparation and execution. "I think our defense did well. They were locked in all week at practice," Storino said. Quarterback Noah Mikolay connected with Matthew Brodzinski for an 81-yard touchdown pass before halftime, as the Rebels built a 28-3 lead by the break.

Seton LaSalle's special teams coach Pat Carey earned recognition from Storino for the preparation of the punt return team. The Rebels' offensive versatility, featuring running back Kymarr Freeman with 774 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on the season, proved difficult for Ligonier Valley to defend. The seventh-seeded Rams finished 9-3 after starting the season with a turnaround from a 1-0 record the previous year.

In Class 3A, top-seeded Avonworth, the two-time defending WPIAL champion, defeated West Mifflin 42-13 in a conference matchup at Peters Township's Confluence Financial Partners Stadium. Avonworth improved to 11-1 and advanced to face number four Belle Vernon, also 11-1, in the semifinals next Friday. The Lopes answered West Mifflin's opening touchdown with six consecutive scoring drives, with senior running back Dimitri Velisaris scoring three times on short runs and sophomore quarterback Mason Mobley contributing both a 15-yard rushing touchdown and a 36-yard pass to Jaden Jones.

Coach Duke Johncour noted that Avonworth's running game proved effective despite West Mifflin's defence packing the box. "They packed the box; they forced us to throw, and we made some good throws and good completions," Johncour said. The Lopes had previously defeated West Mifflin 33-6 in conference play this season.

Elewhere in District 7, Canon-McMillan kicker Rhys Maentz drilled a 36-yard field goal with one second remaining to send the team to the Class 6A championship game. Apollo-Ridge advanced past Neshannock with quarterback Chris Dailey throwing for 296 yards and accounting for three touchdowns.

Twenty teams remain in the WPIAL playoffs with semifinals scheduled for 20 November and championship games on 21 November across all six classifications.

How it is being reported

• Updated WPIAL football playoff brackets for Nov. 20 semifinals, Nov. 21 championshipsTwenty WPIAL football teams remain in the playoffs, with semifinals scheduled for Nov. 20 and championship games on Nov. 21 across six classifications.PennLive · 14 Nov, 15:42
• District 7 Playoff Football Stars for Friday, Nov. 13Rhys Maentz drilled a 36-yard field goal with one second remaining to send Canon-McMillan to the WPIAL Class 6A championship game, while Chris Dailey threw for 296 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to lead Apollo-Ridge past Neshannock and highlight District 7 playoff football action Friday, Nov. 13.PennLive · 14 Nov, 11:00
• WPIAL playoffs football stat leaders (Nov. 13, 2026)Pittsburgh Post-Gazette · 14 Nov, 05:21
• WPIAL playoff football summaries (Nov. 13, 2026)Pittsburgh Post-Gazette · 14 Nov, 05:19
• Defending champion Avonworth rolls past West Mifflin in Class 3A quarterfinalsThree Rivers Conference rivals Avonworth and West Mifflin battled in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals Friday night at Peters Township’s Confluence Financial Partners Stadium, with the Titans looking to avenge a Week 8 loss to the two-time defending WPIAL champion Lopes.TribLIVE · 14 Nov, 05:06
• Seton LaSalle makes plays in all 3 phases in Class 2A quarterfinal win over Ligonier ValleySeton LaSalle used a dominant performance across all three phases of the game Friday night, rolling past Ligonier Valley, 48-10, to advance to the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals.TribLIVE · 14 Nov, 02:52
• Seton LaSalle, Ligonier Valley to vie for spot in WPIAL semifinalsTwo teams that took different paths to the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals will meet Friday, with a spot in the semifinals on the line.TribLIVE · 13 Nov, 16:33
• WPIAL teams look to punch ticket to championship games, semifinals in top games of the weekWestern Pennsylvania high school football playoffs feature key quarterfinal and semifinal matchups across six classifications, with teams vying for spots in WPIAL championship games.PennLive · 12 Nov, 19:06
• Westmoreland County playoff teams rely on unheralded but indispensable playersIf the five remaining Westmoreland County football teams advance in the WPIAL playoffs, it could be their “X-factor” players who lead them to the next round.TribLIVE · 12 Nov, 16:01

In this story: Seton LaSalle · Ligonier Valley · Avonworth · West Mifflin · Belle Vernon · Canon-McMillan · Apollo-Ridge · Western Pennsylvania

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