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.
Twelve teams qualify for the 3A playoffs. The top three teams from each of the three conferences are guaranteed playoff spots. The final three wild card spots are decided by the WPIAL selection committee, rather than by a formula as was the case in prior cycles. With Belle Vernon moving back up to 4A, Elizabeth Forward took over as the dominant force in the conference. The Interstate had one of the most exciting Week 9s last season of any conference, resulting in Greensburg Salem, Southmoreland, and Mt Pleasant finishing in a 3-way tie for second. 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: 7-3, Interstate Conference Champions, lost to Central Valley in semifinals
All-Time: 456-512-36 (38th in wins, 73rd in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
Elizabeth Forward reached the semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons and are once again the favorites in the Interstate Conference. The Warriors lost their first two outings of 2024 on the final play of the game – a blocked extra point against West Mifflin and a 2-point conversion in 3OT against Highlands. But they bounced back and cruised through conference play winning all five games by at least 30 points. Dual-threat quarterback Ryan Messina (2244 passing yards, 21 TDs; 595 rushing yards, 8 TDs) returns for his senior season to lead the offense. Messina is the only returning starter at the skill positions after 14 seniors graduated. Brendan Stroschein (237 yards, 2 TDs) is the top returning receiver and the only one of the top five that did not graduate. Other than Messina, the top returning rushers are junior Travis Dusi and sophomore Niko Mrkonja who both only got a handful of carries in backup duty last season.
2024 Result: 7-3, lost to Avonworth in the first round
All-Time: 718-418-39 (7th in wins, 15th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: Never won a WPIAL title
The Lions rebounded from a 2-8 campaign in 2023 to go 7-3, capping off the season with a 28-21 victory over Southmoreland that forced a 3-way tie for second place and earned them a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. That was Greensburg Salem’s first playoff appearance since 2019 and they will look to build on it this season. Junior dual threat QB Brody Chismar returns after throwing for 1000 yards and 15 TDs and running for 621 yards and 3 scores. He is the only one of the top...
