A total of 67 teams from the six classifications qualified for the 2023 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (WPIAL) football championships that begin this weekend. The championship games in Class 6A and Class 5A to be held on Saturday, November 18 at Norwin High School. The title tilts in Class 1A, Class 2A, Class 3A, and Class 4A will be played on Friday, November 24 at Acrisure Stadium, home of the NFL‘s Pittsburgh Steelers.
The reigning WPIAL football champions are Union in Class 1A, Steel Valley in Class 2A, Belle Vernon in Class 3A, Aliquippa in Class 4A, Pine-Richland in Class 5A, and North Allegheny in Class 6A.
Below are how the brackets set up, according to the WPIAL website:
CLASS 6A CHAMPIONSHIPS
Start Date: Friday, Nov. 10
Championship Game Details: Saturday, Nov. 18 at Norwin High School – 6:00 PM
Amount of Qualifiers: 4
Top Four Seeds: #1 Central Catholic (9-1, 4-0), #2 North Allegheny (9-1, 3-1), #3 Canon-McMillan (6-4, 2-2), #4 Mt. Lebanon (5-5, 1-3)
2022 Final: North Allegheny 35, Central Catholic 21
CLASS 5A CHAMPIONSHIPS
Start Date: Friday, Nov. 10
Championship Game Details: Saturday, Nov. 18 at Norwin High School – 12:00 PM
Amount of Qualifiers: 8
Top Four Seeds: #1 Peters Township (10-0, 5-0), #2 Penn Hills (8-2, 5-0), #3 Pine-Richland (7-3, 4-1), #4 Gateway (5-5, 5-0)
Qualifying Teams: Bethel Park, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Moon, Penn Hills, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Pine-Richland
2022 Final: Pine-Richland 34, Upper St. Clair 3
CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIPS
Start Date: Friday, Nov. 3
Championship Game Details: Friday, Nov. 24 at Acrisure Stadium – 8:00 PM
Amount of Qualifiers: 13
Top Four Seeds: #1 Aliquippa (9-0, 7-0), #2 McKeesport (9-1, 6-0), #3 Montour (9-1, 6-1), #4 Mars (8-2, 6-0)
Qualifying Teams: Aliquippa, Central Valley, Chartiers Valley, Greater Latrobe, Highlands, Kiski Area, Mars, McKeesport, Montour, North Catholic, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity, West Allegheny
2022 Final: Aliquippa 34, Central Valley 7
CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIPS
Start Date: Friday, Nov. 3
Championship Game Details: Friday, Nov. 24 at Acrisure Stadium – 5:00 PM
Amount of Qualifiers: 12
Top Four Seeds: #1 Belle Vernon (8-1, 5-0), #2 Avonworth (10-0, 6-0), #3 Elizabeth Forward (9-1, 4-1), #4 East Allegheny (8-2, 5-0)
Qualifying Teams: Avonworth, Beaver, Belle Vernon, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Elizabeth Forward, Knoch, Mt. Pleasant, Shady Side Academy, South Park, Southmoreland, West Mifflin
2022 Final: Belle Vernon 24, Avonworth 7
CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIPS
Start Date: Friday, Nov. 3
Championship Game Details: Friday, Nov. 24 at Acrisure Stadium – 2:00 PM
Amount of Qualifiers: 14
Top Four Seeds: #1 Steel Valley (8-1, 7-0), #2 Neshannock (9-1, 7-0), #3 Washington (9-1, 5-1), #4 Imani Christian Academy (7-2, 5-1)
Qualifying Teams: Beaver Falls, Burrell, Derry, Ellwood City, Imani Christian Academy, Keystone Oaks, McGuffey, Mohawk, Neshannock, Serra Catholic, Steel Valley, Washington, Waynesburg Central, Western Beaver
2022 Final: Steel Valley 34, Beaver Falls 14
CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIPS
Start Date: Friday, Nov. 3
Championship Game Details: Friday, Nov. 24 at Acrisure Stadium – 11:00 AM
Amount of Qualifiers: 16
Top Four Seeds: #1 South Side (10-0, 6-0), #2 Fort Cherry (10-0, 7-0), #3 Bishop Canevin (7-1, 5-1), #4 Clairton (8-2, 6-0)
Qualifying Teams: Bishop Canevin, Burgettstown, California, Clairton, Cornell, Fort Cherry, Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette, Jefferson-Morgan, Laurel, Leechburg, Monessen, Rochester, South Side, Union, West Greene
2022 Final: Union 26, Bishop Canevin 0
