The top two spots in the Interstate Conference will be occupied by Washington and Mt Pleasant with the conference title likely being decided in Week 5 when the two meet. Beyond that, the race for the last two playoff spots is wide open as McGuffey, Waynesburg and Southmoreland graduated many of their key contributors while Burgettstown and Charleroi return most of their starting lineups from last season.
Make sure to bookmark my WPIAL Standings Page (the only one available with all tiebreakers listed!). I should note that teams are organized in this preview based on my predicted order of finish.
You can check out all of my WPIAL Conference Previews here.
All helmet images are courtesy of the PA Helmet Project.
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Mt Pleasant
The only losses the Vikings suffered last season were to Washington an Aliquippa. 2014 was the 6th straight playoff appearance for Mt Pleasnt and the third straight year they advanced to the quarterfinals. They have not reached a WPIAL semifinal since 1996 when they played in AAA. Their leading rusher graduated but the Vikings find ways to churn out highly productive backs year after year. The next in line should be Jake Adamrovich who ran for 549 yards and 6 TDs last year. Rising junior Johnny Yester took over at quarterback halfway through last season and threw for 401 yards and 8 TDs. Mt Pleasant will have to replace their entire receiving corps, but they are not a team that passes much after averaging less than 10 attempts per game last year. All things told, this is a team that should challenge for the top spot in the conference once again.
Washington
@PREXIE_NATION
The Prexies stormed through the Interstate Conference and the first two rounds of the playoffs before running into the buzzsaw that is Aliquippa in the semifinals. Before meeting the Quips, Washington had been held under 34 points just twice and had only given up more than 21 once (to Apollo-Ridge in the quarterfinals). Washington graduated their quarterback, leading rusher and leading receiver. However, their second and third-leading rushers both return after averaging over 8.8 yards per carry as juniors. Kurt Adkins ran for 639 yards and 9 TDs while Jordan West added 499 yards and 7 TDs. Tight End Nate Swart also returns for his senior season after recording 358 yards and 4 TDs.
McGuffey
@McG_highlanders
McGuffey’s 2014 season was bookended with losses. They opened with a loss to Mt Pleasant and finished with a loss to Washington then a first round playoff loss to Seton La Salle. This was the Highlanders first trip to the postseason since 2009, so it was a definite improvement. McGuffey had the 5th best offense in AA last season but lost their quarterback and top three rushers to graduation. Marcus Czulewicz saw a handful of snaps at quarterback in relief duty as a sophomore and showed some ability to be a dual-threat quarterback, throwing for 110 yards and rushing for 106. Leading receiver Shaun Sanders also returns.
Burgettstown
@BtownSportsBHS
The Blue Devils have not been to the playoffs since 2009 when they were in Class A, but they won their last two games in 2014 which should give them some confidence heading into this season. The biggest success of 2014 was snapping the second-longest losing streak in the WPIAL and winning not just one, but three games. Brad McLaughlin threw for 451 yards and 2 TDs as a sophomore and gained valuable starting experience. His leading receiver Jacob Shipley returns for his senior season and fellow rising junior Cole LaRocka was second on the team in receiving and rushing. If they can steal a win in Week 1 against Waynesburg, Burgettstown could be in position to make a run at the playoffs in October when they face the bottom half of the conference. If they want to earn the last playoff spot, the Blue Devils will need to improve an offense that was scored more than 14 points just twice.
Charleroi
@CharleroiCougar
Fans in Charleroi saw their team put up a lot of yards but not a lot of points last season, winning just one game and suffering through the fourth-worst defense in AA. Leading rusher Brock Shannon returns for his senior season after running for 701 yards and 12 TDs. Second-leading rusher DeQuan Rawls also returns after rushing for 5.3 yards per carry as a sophomore. Ryan Workman is the heir apparent at quarterback and saw time in the Cougars “extra” 10th game, going 5-for-10 for 47 yards. Rising senior Trey Douyon was the second-leading receiver last year. The Cougars have enough returning talent on offense they could be comeptitive if (and only if) they can shore up their porous defense.
Waynesburg
@WBG_Raiders
The Red Raiders returned to the playoffs in 2014 for the first time since 2003. They were promptly dispatched by South Fayette, but the accomplishment for Waynesburg was just in reaching the postseason. Unfortunately, they were led there but a senior-laden roster and graduated nearly all of their significant contributors on offense. A pair of juniors – TE Colin McCracken and RB Zach Eisminger – figure to be the centerpieces of the offense as Waynesburg rebuilds for another run at a playoff berth.
Southmoreland
@SSD_Scotties
The Scotties were oh-so-close to returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1979 last season. Unfortunately, they came up 6 points shy against Waynesburg in a loss that ultimately cost them a playoff berth. Most of their significant contributors graduated but Tommy Pisula will return after leading the team in receiving and finishing third in rushing as a sophomore.
Derry
The Trojans moved down from AAA in 2014, carrying with them the WPIAL’s 5th-longest losing streak. They ended that streek with a Week 3 victory over Charleroi. The Trojans played three competitive games to end the season, each being settled by under 10 points. Second-leading rusher Tyler Balega returns for his junior season as the Trojans look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Brownsville
@Falcons1415
The Falcons have not won since October 28, 2011, a streak of 27 straight games. Brownsville did end their season on a bit of a high note with a win in an “extra” 10th game against Freedom that was scheduled last season. Dual-threat QB Marcellous Grooms returns for his senior season and leading scorer RB Tyler Herman also returns. Brownsville will have to be better at finding the end zone this season after scoring just 66 points in 9 games, the third-lowest offensive output in the entire WPIAL.
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