WPIAL Football 2021 – Bracketology

The brackets will be unveiled tonight at 6:00 on the TribLive High School Sports Network. Don Rebel and Chris Harlan released their bracket predictions early in the morning. We let it digest through College GameDay, but now will unveil our predictions for the 2021 WPIAL Football Playoffs for all six classifications.

 

6A – 5 teams qualify

1 – Mt. Lebanon (bye)

4 – North Allegheny vs. 5 – Canon McMillan

2 – Central Catholic (bye)

3 – Seneca Valley (bye)

 

Notes: Easy to do 6A! Central Catholic vs. Seneca Valley will be another instant classic.

 

5A – 12 teams qualify

1 – Moon – bye

8 – Bethel Park vs. 9 – Woodland Hills

4 – Gateway – bye

5 – Penn Hills vs. 12 – Peters Township

2 – Penn-Trafford  – bye

7 – North Hills vs. 10 – Franklin Regional

3 – Pine-Richland  – bye

6 – Upper St. Clair vs. 11 – Fox Chapel

 

Notes: Tri-champions North Hills, Penn Hills, and Pine-Richland are to be seeded based solely on the committee’s preferences. Tiebreakers do not apply.

 

4A – 13 teams qualify

1 – Belle Vernon – bye

8 – New Castle vs. 9 – Highlands

4 – Hampton vs. 13 – Montour

5 – Thomas Jefferson vs. 12 – Plum

2 – Aliquippa – bye

7 – Armstrong vs. 10 – Laurel Highlands

3 – McKeesport – bye

6 – Beaver vs. 11 – Indiana

 

Notes: The decision between 6-4 New Castle and 7-3 Highlands is extremely meaningful as it means a home game for either the ‘Canes or the Golden Rams. The strength of the conference could give New Castle the advantage. Also, how great would the QB matchup in the 7/10 game be with Armstrong vs. Laurel Highlands?

 

3A – 12 teams qualify

1 – Central Valley – bye

8 – Southmoreland vs. 9 – Keystone Oaks

4 – Elizabeth Forward – bye

5 – Freeport vs. 12 – Ambridge

2 – Avonworth – bye

7 – South Allegheny vs. 10 – East Allegheny

3 – North Catholic – bye

6 – Mount Pleasant vs. 11 – Burrell

 

Notes: This one is tough after the top five teams. Mount Pleasant technically is fourth in the conference, but they’re a half-game behind Southmoreland and South Allegheny due to their game against winless Brownsville being declared a no contest.  As a result, and the fact that they beat Southmoreland by a wide margin early in the year, is why we put the Vikings at 6th (even with their loss to South Allegheny last night). 6/7/8 could be in any order though.

 

 

2A – 16 teams qualify

1 – Sto-Rox vs. 16 – Shady Side / Seton LaSalle (wild card)

8 – Chartiers-Houston vs. 9 – Neshannock

4 – Laurel vs. 13 – Ligonier Valley

5 – Serra Catholic vs. 12 – McGuffey

2 – Steel Valley vs. 15 – Beth-Center

7 – Western Beaver/South Side winner vs. 10 – Mohawk

3 – Washington vs. 14 – New Brighton

6 – Beaver Falls vs. 11 – Western Beaver / South Side loser

 

Notes: Ranking the top four seeds, all being undefeated, is not going to be easy. Sto-Rox is the obvious #1, and Steel Valley after their week 9 victory over previously-unbeaten Serra Catholic should keep the Ironmen at #2. Laurel’s dominance in the MAC and Washington’s last second win this week in the Century could and probably should flop the Spartans and Little Prexies, but I’ll guess the committee gives the edge to perennial power Washington.  Games today will determine the wild card as well as the 7-seed.

 

1A – 15 teams qualify

1 – Clairton – bye

8 – OLSH vs. 9 – Greensburg Central Catholic

4 – Cornell vs. 13 – Mapletown

5 – Leechburg vs. 12 – California

2 – Bishop Canevin vs. 15 – Monessen

7 – Carmichaels vs. 10 – Shenango

3 – West Greene  vs. 14 – Burgettstown

6 – Rochester vs. 11 – Springdale / Riverview winner

 

Notes: The parity of the Big 7 Conference games this year make this so tough to seed! If Cornell beats OLSH in week 9, they could be the 2-seed. If Shenango beats Union, they could have gotten a home game. Instead, even though they beat OLSH, they could now get the home game instead (which would have to be played on Saturday).  Will the committee give good seedlings to the Big 7 or bad seedlings to the Big 7 as a result?

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