Friday Night Lights: WPIAL Breakdown

We've made no secret of the fact that we're yinzers around here. We grew up in the greater Pittsburgh area, and as such have a great love for WPIAL football. Is there a better way to spend your friday nights in the fall? I didn't think so.

With the WPIAL season entering its final weekend, there are some big games on the docket this weekend. Here's a look at how things stand in all 4 classes. All four have 16-team playoffs, meaning that the top 4 teams from each conference advance. For reference, x = clinched playoff bearth, y = clinched Conference title.

AAAA

Big East Conference
Current Standings:
1. x-Woodland Hills (4-0)
2. x-Central Catholic (3-1)
3. x-Penn Hills (3-1)
4t. Kiski Area (1-3)
4t. Plum (1-3)

Big Games:
Woodland Hills v. Penn Hills - Woodland Hills wins the Conference title with a win. Central Catholic wins the title if Penn Hills wins. Penn Hills has an outside chance with a win and a Central Catholic loss to 0-4 Fox Chapel.
Kiski Area v. Plum - Casket match. The winner goes to the playoffs, the loser goes home.

Foothills Conference
Current Standings:
1t. x-Gateway (5-0)
1t. x-McKeesport (5-0)
3. x-Latrobe (3-2)
4t. Norwin (2-3)
4t. Penn Trafford (2-3)

Big Games:
Gateway v. McKeesport - Winner take all for the Conference title. WPIAL game of the week.
Norwin v. Penn Trafford - Casket match. Winner goes dancing, loser goes golfing.

Great Southern Conference
Current Standings:
1. y-Bethel Park (4-0)
2. x-Mt Lebanon (3-1)
3. x-Upper St Clair (2-2)
4. Baldwin (2-2)
5. Canon-Mac (1-3)

Big Games:
Canon-Mac v. Peters Twp - Canon-Mac beat Baldwin head-to-head and would hold the tiebreaker if they win and Baldwin loses.
Bethel Park v. Baldwin - Bethel already has the Conference wrapped up, but Baldwin needs a win to get into the postseason.

Northern Six Conference
1. y-North Allegheny (4-0)
2. x-Shaler (3-1)
3. x-North Hills (2-2)
4. x-Seneca Valley (2-2)

Everything is wrapped up here, just seeding at stake.

AAA
Big Seven Conference
Current Standings:
1. y-Thomas Jefferson (5-0)
2. x-Chartiers Valley (5-1)
3t. West Mifflin (2-3)
3t. Belle Vernon (2-3)
3t. Trinity (2-3)
6. Elizabeth Forward (1-4)
7. Ringgold (1-4)

Big Games:
Ringgold v. Trinity, Elizabeth Forward v. Belle Vernon
This conference is a mess. If TJ beats West Mifflin and Ringgold and Elizabeth Forward win, 5 teams would end up at 2-4 with no relevant tiebreaker in sight.

Greater Allegheny Conference
Current Standings:
1. x-Mars (3-1)
2. x-Franklin Regional (3-1)
3. x-Knoch (3-1)
4. x-Hampton (2-2)

Big Games:
Mars v. Knoch - Mars beat Franklin Regional, and would win the Conference title with a win. FR wins the title with a win and a Knoch victory over Mars. Knoch needs a win and an FR loss to Indiana (unlikely) to win the Conference.

Keystone Conference
Current Standings:
1. y-Greensburg Salem (5-0)
2. x-Uniontown (4-1)
3. x-Derry Area (3-2)
4. x-Laurel Highlands (3-2)

Everything is wrapped up here.

Parkway Conference
Current Standings:
1. y-Hopewell (5-0)
2. x-West Allegheny (5-1)
3. x-New Castle (4-2)
4. x-Montour (3-3)

Everything is wrapped up here as well.

AA
Allegheny Conference
Current Standings:
1. x-Shady Side Academy (7-1)
2. x-Freeport (7-1)
3. Burrell (6-2)
4. Ford City (6-2)
5. Kittanning (5-3)

Big Games:
Ford City v. Kittanning - Winner goes to the playoffs. Ford City also has the head-to-head tiebreaker over Burrell.

Century Conference
Current Standings:
1. y-South Fayette (8-0)
2. x-Keystone Oaks (7-1)
3. x-Sto-Rox (6-2)
4. Steel Valley (5-3)
5t. South Park (4-4)
5t. Seton-La Salle (4-4)
5t. Bishop Canevin (4-4)

Big Games:
Steel Valley v. South Park - Steel Valley clinches a playoff spot with a win. If South Park wins, the door is open for a 4-way tie in 4th place. However, since Seton-La Salle is playing KO and Bishop Canevin is playing South Fayette, this doesn't seem likely.

Interstate Conference
Current Standings:
1. y-Mt. Pleasant (8-0)
2. Greensburg Central Catholic (6-2)
3. McGuffey (6-2)
4. Washington (6-2)
5. Charleroi (5-3)
6. Jeanette (5-3)

Big Games:
Greensburg CC v. Jeanette, McGuffey v. Washington
The winner of McGuffey-Washington goes to the playoffs. The loser could wind up in a 3-way tie at 6-3 if Jeanette beats GCC. Charleroi needs a miracle against Mt Pleasant to get into the mix.

Midwestern Conference
Current Standings:
1t. x-Aliquippa (6-1)
1t. x-Beaver Falls (6-1)
1t. x-Center (6-1)
4. x-Beaver Area (5-2)

Big Games:

Beaver Area v. Center - Center can force a 3-way tie atop the conference with a win. Beaver Falls wins the conference if Center loses.

A
Big Seven Conference
Current Standings:
1. y-Rochester (6-0)
2. x-Laurel (5-1)
3. x-Monaca (4-2)
4. South Side Beaver (3-3)
5. Shenango (3-3)
6. Western Beaver (2-4)

Big Games:
South Side Beaver v. Western Beaver (Sat) - South Side Beaver beat Shenango and has the inside track to the last playoff spot. Western Beaver can force a 3-way tie with a win and a Shenango loss to Laurel.

Black Hills Conference
Current Standings:
1. x-Clairton (6-0)
2. x-Serra Catholic (5-1)
3. x-Fort Cherry (4-2)
4. Chartiers-Houston (3-3)
5. Frazier (2-4)
6. Burgettstown (2-4)

Big Games:
Clairton v. Serra Catholic - Conference title at stake. These are two of the best teams in Single-A. Don't be shocked to see them winning a lot in the playoffs.
Chartiers-Houston v. Fort Cherry - A loss could send C-H into a 3-way tie with Frazier and Burgettstown for the last playoff spot.

Eastern Conference
Current Standings:
1. x-North Catholic (6-0)
2. x-Avonworth (5-1)
3. x-Brentwood (4-2)
4. Springdale (4-2)
5. Riverview (3-3)

Big Games:
North Catholic v. Avonworth - winner-take-all for the conference title at J.C. Stone Field.
Springdale v. Riverview - Casket match for the last playoff spot.

Tri-County South Conference
Current Standings:
1. y-Monessen (6-0)
2. x-Beth-Center (5-1)
3. x-Jefferson-Morgan (4-2)
4. Carmichaels (3-3)
5. California (3-3)

Big Games:
California v. Monessen, Carmichaels v. West Greene
Carmichaels has the head-to-head tiebreaker over California, and will make the playoffs if they take care of business at 0-6 West Greene tonight.

In conclusion, here's what is at stake tonight:
- 7 Conference Titles
- 15 Playoff Spots

9 Conference Titles and 49 playoff spots have already been secured. As we've seen, the Big Seven Conference (AAAA) and Interstate Conference (AA) are the most exciting situations. There are 5 games tonight where the winner takes the conference title. It looks to be one of the first nights of the season where there isn't rain in the forecast, so we'll probably see some great football tonight under the lights in Western Pennsylvania.