Steel City Blitz
The first WPIAL Championships are here! Due to the structure of the overall statewide bracket, the WPIAL Champions in 6A and 4A enter the PIAA playoffs in the quarterfinals. The other four classifications have their champions enter in the state semifinals, which means the 6A and 4A Championship Games happen a week before the other four. The 6A and 4A Championship Games will be held at Pine-Richland on Saturday. This will be the fourth playoff meeting between Aliquippa and McKeesport since the Tigers moved down to 4A in 2020. Aliquippa has won the three prior meetings. This is also a game for the history books as the two teams both rank in the Top 6 in the WPIAL in all-time wins.
On this week’s edition of the WPIAL Blitz Show, we discussed the Championship matchup in depth as well as diving into the eight semifinal matchups in the other classifications. You can check out previews of those games in separate articles.
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McKeesport is appearing in their third straight championship game. The Tigers got off to a hot start by dominating Delaware Valley in the KDKA Kickoff Classic. But an injury sidelined star RB Kemon Spell for a few weeks and the Tigers lost 3 of their next four. When Spell returned for conference play, McKeesport returned to their dominant fashion. The Tigers average 48 points per game when Spell plays, which is amongst the highest total in the entire WPIAL. Even including the games without Spell, the Tigers are still the highest-scoring team in 4A.
This game will key on the defensive side of the ball, as these are two of the top three defensive squads in 4A. Aliquippa’s offense was not as explosive this year as in prior seasons but their defense was outstanding. One of the reasons for the Quips inconsistent offense was a mid-season injury to QB Marques Council. In the playoffs, Council returned from what was reported as a season-ending injury. The Quips rallied around him and their defense stymied Trinity then shut out New Castle in the semifinals.
This will be the fourth playoff meeting in five years for the Quips and Tigers. In 2020 McKeesport’s enrollment moved them down to 4A while the PIAA’s success formula forced Aliquippa up into 4A. The two teams met in the semifinals in 2021 and 2022 then in the Championship Game in 2023. Aliquippa won all three prior meetings. McKeesport is appearing in their third straight WPIAL Championship Game. Aliquippa lost in the semifinals last year, breaking a run of 16 straight championship game appearances. The Quips run dated back to their time in AA.
This game will feature the most combined wins of any teams in a WPIAL Championship. Aliquippa’s semifinal victory over New Castle was the 799th in school history...
