Second season arrives
Seneca Valley, Mars and Summit Academy learned their WPIAL postseason fates on Monday night.
The WPIAL announced the football playoff pairings and labeled Seneca Valley the No. 5 seed in Class AAAA, Mars the No. 6 seed in Class AAA and Summit Academy the No. 11 seed in Class AA.
The Raiders (8-1), who finished second in the Northern Eight Conference, will welcome 12th-seeded Hempfield (6-3) to NexTier Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday. If Seneca Valley advances, the winner of No. 4 Woodland Hills (7-2) and No. 13 Pine-Richland (5-4) would await in the quarterfinals.
Mars (8-1), the Greater Allegheny Conference co-champions, drew 11th-seeded Elizabeth Forward (6-3) in the first round. The game will take place at the Mars Athletic Complex at 7:30 p.m. Friday and the winner will face off with either No. 3 Central Valley (8-1) or No. 14 Belle Vernon (4-5).
Summit Academy (5-4) is making the first WPIAL postseason appearance in school history after finishing third in the Allegheny Conference and will be met with a stiff test at 7:30 p.m. Friday with a trip to sixth-seeded Beaver Falls (7-2), which has only lost to Aliquippa — the No. 1 overall seed in Class AA — and Central Valley.
Upper St. Clair (9-0) received the nod over Central Catholic (9-0) for the No. 1 seed in Class AAAA. Three-time defending champion North Allegheny (6-3) is the No. 9 seed and will visit Bethel Park (6-3) in Round 1.
Defending champion West Allegheny (9-0) received the top seed in Class AAA over second-ranked Thomas Jefferson (9-0).
South Fayette (9-0) and Kittanning (9-0) are the No. 2 and 3 seeds, respectively, behind Aliquippa (9-0) in Class AA.
Sto-Rox (9-0) was named the No. 1 seed in Class A. North Catholic (9-0) took the No. 2 seed. Five-time defending champion Clairton (8-1) is ranked fourth.
Following is a complete list of the WPIAL football first-round playoff matchups.
Class AAAA
Kiski Area at Upper St. Clair; Baldwin at Central Catholic; Peters Township at McKeesport; Pine-Richland at Woodland Hills; Hempfield at Seneca Valley; Penn Hills at Penn Trafford; North Hills at Gateway; North Allegheny at Bethel Park
Class AAA
Hollidaysburg at West Allegheny; Hampton at Thomas Jefferson; Belle Vernon at Central Valley; Montour at Franklin Regional; Moon at West Mifflin; Elizabeth Forward at Mars; New Castle at Highlands; Indiana at Ringgold
Class AA
South Park vs. Aliquippa at Hopewell; Greensburg Central Catholic at South Fayette; Yough at Kittanning; Valley at Mt. Pleasant; Beaver at Shady Side Academy; Summit Academy at Beaver Falls; Seton LaSalle at Washington; New Brighton at Quaker Valley
Class A
Sto-Rox at Avella; Western Beaver at North Catholic; West Shamokin at Monessen; Frazier at Clairton; Fort Cherry at Carmichaels; Brentwood at Neshannock; Laurel at Avonworth; Apollo Ridge at Beth Center