It is hard to generate long-term success in high school football. A dominant class of players may come through your school and carry you to one or two titles, but sustained success over a period of time is generally hard to achieve. As WPIAL teams start to prepare for camp in the upcoming weeks, I decided to take a look back at the most successful programs in recent history. Over the past decade, 120 out of 130 eligible WPIAL teams qualified for at least one postseason. Of those 120, 15 qualified only once. Additionally, 36 schools have qualified for the playoffs but never made it out of the first round. The leaders in this category are Belle Vernon (0-8), Carmichaels (0-8), Chartiers-Houston (0-7), and Laurel Highlands (0-6).
As we know, certain conferences have had varying levels of playoff success from the dominant Parkway Conference in AAA to the middling Tri-County South in Class A. The mark of a truly dominant WPIAL program is not simply winning one’s conference and qualifying for the playoffs but having sustained success once one reaches the postseason. In order to quantify playoff success over a decade, I assigned point values to playoff victories over the last decade (2005-2014 playoffs). This serves to eliminate the “class bias” of ranking Quad-A teams higher simply because they play in a larger classification and empirically rank the remaining teams based on their playoff success. I decided to award 1 point for a playoff appearance, 2 points for a first round win, 4 points for a quarterfinal win, 8 points for a semi-final win and 16 points for a Championship. Based on this scoring system, I tallied the number of “Prestige Points” for each school.
25. Blackhawk
5 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 7-5
0 Championships
35 Prestige Points
The Cougars were one of the better programs in the Parkway Conference in the mid-2000s, reaching the Semi-Finals in 2003 and 2004 and the Championship Game in 2006 and 2008. The ’03 and ’04 trips to the semis are not included in this tabulation, but their championship game losses to Thomas Jefferson were enough to put the Cougars on the list, despite having only 1 playoff appearance in the last 6 years.
24. Avonworth
8 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 10-8
0 Championships
40 Prestige Points
Talk about a program on the rise. The Antelopes have reached the playoffs each of the last 7 years and only been knocked out in the first round once. Their crowning achievement came last season when they reached their first Championship Game since 1959.
23. Springdale
9 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 10-9
0 Championships
41 Prestige Points
The Dynamos were consistently one of the better Class A programs under long-time coach Chuck Wagner, who retired in 2011. Springdale made the playoffs in each of Wagner’s last 10 seasons, including a WPIAL Championship in 2003 (not included in this tally), a trip to Heinz Field in 2007 and 3 other semi-final appearances. Since Wagner’s retirement, the Dynamos missed the playoffs in 2013 and did not make it out of the first round in 2012 or 2014.
22. Sto-Rox
7 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 10-7
0 Championships
51 Prestige Points
The Vikings have bounced between AA and Single-A over the last decade and amassed most of their Prestige thanks to a 3-year run with WPIAL record-setting passer Lenny Williams under center. Sto-Rox reached 3 straight Class A Championship Games with Williams at QB from 2011 to 2013 but lost to Clairton in 2011 and 2012 and North Catholic in 2013.
21. Pine-Richland
7 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 9-6
1 Championship
51 Prestige Points
The Rams were one of the better AAA programs in the mid-2000s but took a step back when their enrollment elevated them to Quad-A. The program appears to have finally broken through in the Quad-A ranks after an undefeated 2014 season that culminated in a WPIAL Championship and a trip to the State Finals. When looking back over the last decade their last 3 years in AAA are included, which gives the Rams 2 additional semi-final trips on their resume.
20. Bethel Park
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 9-9
1 Championship
52 Prestige Points
The Blackhawks are one of just 14 schools to have reached the playoffs in each of the last 10 seasons. However, they have been knocked out in the first round 5 times and most of their success came in a 4-year span from 2007 to 2010 when they lost in the quarter-finals twice, the semi-finals once and won the 2008 WPIAL Championship.
19. Beaver Falls
8 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 13-8
0 Championships
56 Prestige Points
The Tigers have been forced to live in the shadow of archrival Aliquippa for the past decade. However, that should not detract from the success Beaver Falls has had over their run of 8 consecutive seasons where they reached the post-season. Beaver Falls has reached Heinz Field twice (2007 and 2008) and the semi-finals 3 additional times during that span. Interestingly, 2014 was the first time in four years that Beaver Falls season did not end at the hands of South Fayette.
18. North Catholic
8 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 12-7
1 Championship
60 Prestige Points
Since missing the playoffs in 2011, the Trojans went on a fantastic 3-year run that ended twice in the semi-finals and included a 2013 WPIAL Class A (and PIAA Class A) Championship. That was the first ever appearance in a Championship Game for North Catholic and provided an excellent send-off from the old school on Troy Hill. With their new home in Cranberry, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic will likely be playing their last games in Class A this season and could be playing in AAA within a few years.
17. McKeesport
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 12-9
1 Championship
62 Prestige Points
The Tigers have been one of the premier teams in the Foothills Conference over the last decade, but that success has not always translated into playoff victories. In this tally, McKeesport is still riding their Championship season from 2005 along with two runs to the semifinals in 2007 and 2008. The Tigers did not return to the semifinals until last season but their volume of playoff appearances puts them towards the top of the Quad-A pack.
16. Franklin Regional
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 13-9
1 Championship
64 Prestige Points
Despite being bounced around between conferences, the Panthers have been one of the most consistent AAA teams. Like McKeesport, Franklin Regional’s prestige is still being carried by a 2005 WPIAL Championship. The Panthers have had success recently with two trips to the semifinals in the last 4 seasons and only one first round exit in the last 6 years.
15. Gateway
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 16-10
0 Championships
68 Prestige Points
The Gators have been the definition of the WPIAL hype-train over the last decade. On paper, they have always looked like a program with the potential for dominance but have never been able to reach the pinnacle on the field. Their program has churned out numerous Division 1 recruits but they have not won a WPIAL Championship since 1986. Gateway reached Heinz Field in 3 consecutive seasons from 2007-2009 but fell to Central Catholic, Bethel Park and Woodland Hills. Gateway moved down to AAA last season and it marked the first time in their 13-year playoff run that they were ousted in the first round.
14. Montour
8 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 12-7
1 Championship
70 Prestige Points
The Spartans have reached the playoffs in 8 consecutive seasons, making 3 trips to Heinz Field in that time. Montour’s crowning achievement was winning the 2011 AAA Championship, part of an active streak of 6 consecutive Championships by teams from the Parkway Conference. Montour has not been able to replicate that success recently and has lost in the first round each of the last two seasons.
13. Upper St Clair
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 14-9
1 Championship
72 Prestige Points
It seems a bit strange that legendary coach Jim Render’s program does not make the Top 10 on this list, but the early exits from the playoffs have dropped the profile of the Panthers. Since winning the Quad-A Championship in 2006, Upper St Clair has only been to Heinz Field once (a 2011 loss to North Allegheny). The program has been on the upswing in recent years, reaching the semi-finals in 3 of the last 4 seasons before losing in the first round in 2014.
12. Greensburg Central Catholic
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 13-9
1 Championship
76 Prestige Points
GCC has reached the playoffs in 12 straight seasons but has been dropped in the first round in each of the last 3 years. The Centurions moved down to Class A this season and their prestige is riding on the later half of the 2000s when they reached Heinz Field 3 times in 5 years, including winning the AA Championship in 2009.
11. Rochester
8 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 18-8
0 Championships
80 Prestige Points
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. There has not been a team in the entire WPIAL that took a more precipitous drop than Rochester in the last two years. Coming into the 2013 season, Rochester was riding streak of 16 consecutive playoff appearances. The Rams then fell flat and finished 7th in the Big Seven Conference each of the last two seasons. Rochester is the highest ranked team on this list without a WPIAL Championship in the last decade (despite winning 4 in 5 years from 2000-2004). The Rams did reach Heinz Field 4 times and the semi-finals 2 additional times over the last decade. In the 4 years from 2008-2011 Rochester was an absurd 44-6 with 4 of their 6 losses coming in the playoffs to Clairton, part of a 6-year stretch where Clairton ended the Rams season each year.
10. Central Valley
5 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 15-3
2 Championships
91 Prestige Points
School district mergers are never an easy thing. But from a football standpoint, they can pay huge dividends. In the 5 years since Center and Monaca merged, Central Valley has reached the AAA semi-finals each season and has won 2 WPIAL titles, including in their inaugural season. The school has produced some of the biggest recruits in the region (Robert Foster and Jordan Whitehead) all while competing in the toughest conference in the WPIAL (the Parkway Conference). If this was an article about the Top 10 teams of the 2010s, Central Valley would be in the Top 5. However, I only gave them credit for Prestige Points earned since the merger, giving them only 5 years of history. For the record, Monaca had 20 Prestige Points (4 appearances, 1 quarterfinal, 1 championship game) and Center had 10 Prestige Points (4 appearances, 3 quarterfinals). Despite the limited history, Central Valley is without a doubt one of the preeminent WPIAL programs right now.
9. Jeannette
8 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 16-6
2 Championships
96 Prestige Points
The Terrelle Pryor-led Jayhawks won back-to-back WPIAL AA Championships in 2006 and 2007. The 2007 Jeannette team held the state record for points in a season before the 2014 Clairton Bears came along. Over the last decade, Jeannette has been boom or bust, reaching the semifinals 5 times but also failing to make the playoffs twice and exiting in the first round two other times. Their move from AA down to Class A in 2014 resulted in another playoff appearance that ended with a quarterfinal loss to Neshannock in a shootout.
8. Woodland Hills
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 18-9
1 Championship
100 Prestige Points
Woody High has the fewest WPIAL Championships of any team in the Top 10, hanging their hat on their 2009 title. That said, the Wolverines have been to Heinz Field in 5 of the last 10 years (including 4 of the last 6), making them a perennial contender on the Quad-A stage. Woodland Hills has been a factory for Division 1 talent as well, routinely churning out high-level prospects. This year is no different as RB Miles Sanders (a Penn State commit) is ranked as one of the top prospects in the state. On top of all that, The Wolvarena is one of the best high school football stadiums around.
7. South Fayette
8 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 16-5
3 Championships
108 Prestige Points
Brumbaugh High is coming off back-to-back State Championships and currently rides the WPIAL’s longest winning streak at 32 games. The Lions have won 3 of the last 5 WPIAL AA Championships, defeating Aliquippa in all three. However, a slow start to the decade which featured first round exits in 2005 and 2007 and playoff misses in 2006 and 2008 put a damper on their resume. The recent history would place South Fayette in the top 3 in Prestige Points in the 2010s. In order to have continued success, Coach Joe Rossi will have to find a new quarterback for South Fayette now that all the Brumbaugh brothers have graduated.
6. Central Catholic
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 22-8
2 Championships
114 Prestige Points
The Vikings have been a factory for defensive talent under coach Terry Totten. Central has had consistent success with their “run the ball and play defense” mantra, reaching Heinz Field each of the last two seasons and has reached the postseason in 12 consecutive years. The Vikings have never lost in the first round during that run and have only failed to reach the semi-finals 3 times. Central Catholic won the WPIAL and PIAA championships in 2007 and a WPIAL championship in 2013 (before falling in state championship game).
5. North Allegheny
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 20-7
3 Championships
120 Prestige Points
In 2005 North Allegheny hired Head Coach Art Walker from Central Catholic. Walker had just won the last two WPIAL Championships and he turned the Tigers program around after a first round exit in his first season, NA would reach the quarterfinals in the next 9 seasons and won 3 consecutive WPIAL Championships from 2010-2012. The Tigers also won the PIAA Quad-A title in 2010 and 2012, one of only two teams in the state to win multiple Quad-A titles in the last decade. NA is the highest-rated Quad-A team in these rankings and deservedly so, as their 3 WPIAL titles are the most of any Quad-A team in the last decade.
4. West Allegheny
9 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 19-6
3 Championships
123 Prestige Points
Bob Palko has won 7 WPIAL Championships at West Allegheny, turning them into one of the dominant AAA programs over the last two decades. Up until last season, Palko was a perfect 7-0 in WPIAL title games before Central Valley ruined his quest for his second three-peat. The only blotch on West A’s resume over the last 10 years is the 2008 season where they failed to make the playoffs, but the Indians responded by winning the 2009 WPIAL title. West Allegheny has reached the semi-finals in 5 of the last 10 seasons and Palko’s outstanding record has raised the question if they are now the premier AAA school.
3. Thomas Jefferson
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 26-7
3 Championships
146 Prestige Points
I ended the West A section with a rhetorical question but I’ll answer it here – Not quite yet. While West Allegheny has been one of the best AAA schools over the last 5 years, Thomas Jefferson’s numbers over the last decade are head and shoulders better than West Allegheny. The Jaguars have reached the semi-finals in 9 of the last 10 seasons (17 of the last 18, incredibly) and have a WPIAL-leading 20-year streak of making the playoffs. Thomas Jefferson reached Heinz Field in 6 straight years from 2003-2008, and while only the last 4 of those count towards this metric, that still accounts for 4 championship game appearances and 3 WPIAL titles. Additionally, Thomas Jefferson is the only WPIAL AAA school in the last decade to win a PIAA title, bringing home the crown in 2007 and 2008.
2. Aliquippa
10 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 27-7
3 Championships
164 Prestige Points
Like Thomas Jefferson, Aliquippa carries a WPIAL-leading 20-year playoff streak. Most impressively, the Quips have reached Heinz Field each of the last 7 years. Those 7 Championship Game appearances are tied for the most of any WPIAL school over the last decade. The Quips have also dominated in the regular season, having not lost a conference game since 2009. Over the last 5 seasons Aliquippa is 62-3 against WPIAL opponents with their only losses coming to South Fayette in the 2010, 2013 and 2014 Championship Games. Aliquippa has been the model of consistency at the AA level, a feat all the more impressive considering that they are a Class A-sized school “playing up” at the AA level.
1. Clairton
9 Playoff Appearances
Playoff Record: 32-2
7 Championships
231 Prestige Points
Despite missing the playoffs in 2005, no other school can compare with Bout Dat Nation. Clairton has far and away been the best WPIAL football program over the last decade, and it’s not even close. In that time the Bears have won 7 WPIAL Championships (4 more than the next closest schools) and 4 PIAA Championships (2 more than any other WPIAL school and 1 more than any other school in the state). From 2009 to 2013, Clairton put together the longest winning streak in state history, spanning 66 games (including PIAA playoff games). In the last 9 years, Clairton has only failed to reach Heinz Field twice – falling in the 2007 semifinals to Springdale and 2013 semis to Sto-Rox. In the 7 other years, including a 5-year run from 2008 to 2012, Clairton won the Class A title. The 2014 Bears set a state record by scoring 958 points (but came up just short in the state championship). Clairton has produced a number of talented players, including (arguably) the best WPIAL player of the past decade in Tyler Boyd. Boyd was one of the “Killer T’s,” a group which included Terrish Webb and Titus Howard (who went to Pitt along with Boyd and Trenton Coles who graduated a year prior). This year’s Clairton team is loaded again with seniors Aaron Matthews and Harrison Dreher and juniors Lamont Wade (who is already ranked as one of the top prospects in the nation for 2017) and Noah Hamlin – all of whom already have scholarship offers from Division 1 schools. What Clairton has been able to accomplish on the football field has been absolutely incredible and the juggernaut doesn’t show any signs of stopping soon.
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