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.
Thirteen teams qualify for the 2A playoffs. The top three teams from each of the three 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. Ellwood City won their first conference title since 1997 and had their first undefeated regular season since 1944. 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: 6-3, lost to South Park in quarterfinals
All-Time: 383-489-41 (60th in wins, 89th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL Championship
A year after reaching the semifinals for the first time in school history, Mohawk returned to the playoffs for the fourth straight season and won another postseason outing. After tough games against Lawrence County foes in non-conference play, Mohawk lost their first conference game to Ellwood City, but bounced back to win five of their next six games and comfortably qualify for the playoffs where they beat Keystone Oaks in a first round shootout. Mohawk has one of the most exciting players in 2A in dual-threat QB Bobby Fadden who threw for 1682 yards and 18 TDs and ran for 618 yards and 7 TDs. Fadden will be joined in the backfield by rising junior Cash Stratton (489 yards, 8 TDs). Mohawk’s top two receivers graduated, leaving Joe Nail (110 yards, 2 TDs) as the top returning target.
2024 Result: 5-5, lost to Seton LaSalle in quarterfinals
All-Time: 296-263-4 (93rd in wins, 47th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 1985 WPIAL Champions
The Panthers made the playoffs for the second time in three seasons and rode a stingy defense to a first round victory. Coming off a 1-win season, Riverside being able to win a playoff game amounted to a tremendous success. Their only loss by more than two scores was against Seton LaSalle in the playoffs. Riverside held opponents to just 16 points per game, the 6th best mark in 2A. The Panthers turnaround came halfway through the year when freshman Aidan Gaydosz took over at quarterback. With only a partial year as a starter, he threw for 812 yards and 5 TDs and ran for 109 yards and 4 scores. Riverside’s leading rusher and leading receiver both graduated. Junior Mason Holler (112 yards, 2 TDs) is the top returning back while seniors Hunter Garcia (400 yards, 2 TDs) and Joe Chill (107 yards, 4 TDs) are the top returning receivers. If...
