Steel City Blitz
The 2025 WPIAL football season is nearly upon us! Over the next few weeks we will be previewing all 17 conferences in preparation for kickoff on August 22. We are also thrilled to announce that the WPIAL Blitz Show will be back on the YouTube airwaves this season. Subscribe to the Sports Stream Premium channel and watch our live broadcasts on Monday nights or on replay any time.
Sixteen teams qualify for the 1A playoffs. The top three teams from each of the four conferences are guaranteed playoff spots. The final four wild card spots are decided by the WPIAL selection committee, rather than by a formula as was the case in prior cycles. Neshannock moved down to 1A last year and won the Big Seven Conference crown. The playoffs were not kind to the Big Seven as three teams were bounced in the first round with only South Side advancing. Be sure to keep tabs on our WPIAL Standings Page throughout the season and follow our WPIAL Twitter account @WPIAL_Blitz. Teams are listed in their predicted order of finish.
2024 Result: 9-1, Big Seven Conference Champions, lost to Jeannette in first round
All-Time: 315-335-15 (87th in wins, 66th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Lancers moved down from 2A to 1A last season and looked poised to make a deep run after a 9-1 regular season where their only loss was by 7 points to 2A Midwestern Conference Champions Ellwood City. But they couldn’t get the running game going in the first round of the playoffs and were upset by 14-seed Jeannnette. The good news for Neshannock is their primary playmakers all return, giving them another shot at a big season. Senior QB Jino Mozzoccio threw for 1455 yards and 14 TDs and ran for 744 yards and 14 scores. Backfield counterpart Anthony Eakin (840 rushing yards, 158 receiving yards, 11 total TDs) also returns to the fold. Watch out for sophomore Justin Edgeworthy (345 yards, 5 TDs) who averaged an incredible 11 yards per carry last year as a freshman. Neshannock did see two of their top three receivers graduate, leaving Ethan Beaman (235 yards, 2 TDs) as the top returning target. However, with the trio of Mozzoccio, Eakin and speedster Edgeworthy in the backfield, the Lancers may not need to throw much this season. Their first round upset by Jeannette aside, Neshannock boasted the fourth-best defense in 1A (holding opponents to 15 points per game) and should once again be consider a strong championship contender.
2024 Result: 6-3, lost to Bishop Canevin in Quarterfinals
All-Time: 310-333-19 (88th in wins, 69th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 2 WPIAL Championships (1970, 1999), 1999 State Champions
The Rams reached the WPIAL finals in 2023 and followed it up with a semifinal appearance last season where they lost a tight game to Bishop Canevin. The Rams triple-option offense was the second-highest scoring unit in the conference (28 points per game). Senior RB AC...
