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. The Western Hills is one of the deepest conferences in the WPIAL. Avonworth is the defending WPIAL Champions and brings back a number of players from the team that lost in overtime of the State Championship last year. The Lopes finished the regular season in a 3-way tie with Central Valley and Beaver atop the conference. North Catholic, who got into the playoffs via the Wild Card, won a first round game and almost upset Elizabeth Forward in the quarterfinals. Hopewell is loaded with young talent and is a team on the rise. 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, Western Hills Conference co-champions, WPIAL Champions, lost to Northwestern Lehigh in PIAA finals
All-Time: 465-513-45 (33rd in wins, 70th in win%)
Championship Pedigree: 3 WPIAL Championships (1959, 2019, 2024)
Avonworth has reached the WPIAL Championship in three straight seasons and finally broke through and claimed the title last season. Dating back to their time in 2A, the Lopes have reached the WPIAL finals four times in six years. Avonworth looked to be on the ropes at the end of the regular season after a 20-point loss to Beaver dropped them into a three way tie for the conference title and they were given the fifth seed in the playoffs. The Lopes responded by flipping a switch in the postseason, getting revenge on Beaver in the quarterfinals and grinding out a win over top-seeded Imani Christian in the semis. Their defense was top-notch in the WPIAL finals, shutting out Central Valley. They came so close to the first state title in school history, going to overtime in a shootout with Northwestern Lehigh but ultimately coming up short. The Lopes return several key pieces from last year’s team and are among the favorites not only for the WPIAL title but to contend for the State crown. Senior QB Carson Bellinger didn’t have to throw much in the Lopes run-heavy offense but was efficient when needed, throwing for 1074 yards and 11 TDs. In the backfield, 3 of the top 4 rushers return, led by Luca Neal (1018 yards, 9 TDs), Dimitri Velisaris (595 yards, 8 TDs) and Bryce Metz (216 yards,...
