Few survivors remain.
As we proceed deeper into the month of November, the 2021 WPIAL football playoffs continue to roll right along. This weekend will include some fantastic semi-final matchups along with one championship game.
Due to a smaller quantity of teams, the Class-6A division is one week ahead of schedule compared to the remainder of the league.
They will hold their championship game this Saturday at Norwin High School, kicking off at 7 pm.
Mt. Lebanon and Central Catholic will face off in a collision of two top-seeded teams; a matchup that many saw coming from a mile away. Both were ranked no.1 and no.2 respectively heading into the tournament.
The Blue Devils, in their return to prominence, defeated the Vikings 35-14 back in October.
Over in the Class-5A division, semi-finals matchups will begin Friday evening in what has been an ultra-competitive bracket that has seen both Gateway and North Hills get upset.
All winners will advance to Heinz Field.
Only one team from Across the North Hills remains alive in the tournament. They are the Pine Richland Rams.
Pine (no.3) will play Penn-Trafford (no.2) at North Allegheny High School on Friday starting at 7 pm.
The two did not previously play this year as they represent two different conferences.
In the second 5A matchup this Friday, the Moon Area Tigers (no.1) will take on the Penn Hills Indians (no.5) at Gateway High school starting at 7 pm.
Undefeated Moon has been the favorite all year long, having steamrolled almost every one of their opponents.
They will face a tough Penn Hills team that continues to hang around, having competed with some of the best throughout 2021.
Traditional powerhouses will play in the Class-4A semi-finals.
Aliquippa (no.2) and McKeesport (no.3) will meet at Canon-McMillan High School, kick-off is at 7 pm.
Both have identical records, but McKeesport has been battle-tested with a significantly tougher schedule.
Belle Vernon (no.1) will play Thomas Jefferson (no.5) at West Mifflin at 7 pm.
In what could be a possible upset alert, Thomas Jefferson is a dangerous fifth seed team.
Class-3A semi-finals include (no.1) Central Valley vs. (no.4) Elizabeth Forward at West Allegheny High School 7pm. and (no.2) North Catholic vs. (no.3) Avonworth at Fox Chapel High School at 7 pm.
Many expect the Warriors and Trojans to meet at Heinz Field.
In Class-2A, things get interesting as both the number five and six seeds are still alive.
Steel Valley (no.1) vs. Beaver Falls (no.5) at Dormont Stadium beginning at 7 pm.
Along with Sto-Rox (no.2) vs Serra Catholic (no.6) at South Fayette, kick-off is 7 pm.
The Sto-Rox Vikings appear to be the favorite and feature an explosive offense that has given the rest of the classification headaches all season long.
Finally, we have the smallest classification in Class-1A.
Matchups will feature Cornell (no.2) vs. Bishop Canevin (no.3) at Montour High School and Rochester (no.5) vs. OLSH (no.9) at Martorelli Stadium, both games begin at 7 pm.
OLSH will look to continue to make waves as a number nine seed this deep in the tournament.
All victors from this Friday’s semi-finals matchups will play in a four-game WPIAL football championship event next Saturday at Heinz Field.
We shall see who remains!
Ben Spriggs is senior communications and media student at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he also writes for the campus paper. Ben is a graduate of North Hills High School. He can be reached at