WPIAL Class 5A Preview: Expanded playoff field a welcome change

From: Chris Harlan

Sunday, August 18, 2024 | 6:01 a.m.

Upper St. Clair and Woodland Hills suffered disappointment last season, and Penn Hills experienced it two years ago.

They all had winning records and narrowly missed the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs, which was undoubtedly the toughest qualifying bracket. But there is new hope for 5A teams this fall as the playoff bracket has been expanded from eight to 12 teams.

This is a welcome change.

“We were last year, but there have been teams like us in recent years,” said Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko, whose team missed the playoffs because of the decision despite an overall record of 8-2.

Back then, the WPIAL used mathematical formulas to determine wildcards and stated each conference could not have more than one. The WPIAL changed that policy starting this fall, largely due to some recent cancellations in 5A.

“Sometimes there's a conference that's stronger and one that's not so strong,” said Junko, who supports the change. “Some teams come in and you say, 'Wow!'”

Starting this season, the WPIAL will allow members of its football committee to select the wild card teams in all classifications. In 5A, the top three finishers in each conference will automatically qualify, leaving the committee with three open spots to choose from.

It is a change that has found support.

“It's going to be a pretty strong field for 5A because no one is going to fall through the cracks,” Junko said. “The teams that make it will undoubtedly be deserving.”

Class 5A is once again loaded with talent, starting with defending champion Peters Township. The Indians return a total of 11 starters from a lineup that won its first WPIAL title and finished as state runner-up.

Those starters include junior quarterback Nolan DiLucia, the WPIAL's best passer last season.

When coach TJ Plack took over the program in 2016, the Indians were coming off two straight 2-7 seasons. This year, Peters Township will try to reach the WPIAL final for the fourth time in six years.

“I've always said from day one, 'We want people to respect us,'” said Plack, who is entering his ninth year. “We want Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair to treat us like a rival. We may never be a rival like Lebo, but I know they respect us now.”

Peters Township entered this fall as the preseason favorite in 5A, which is a relatively new feeling for the Indians.

“We could have been targeted,” Plack said. “I'm pretty sure that happened to us last year, and I'm sure it will happen again this year. We just have to keep an eye on everything.”

No team has repeated the WPIAL 5A title since the sport expanded to six classes in 2016. The teams likely to stand in Peters Township's way this fall are some of the same contenders as a year ago.

“It's going to be the usual suspects,” Plack said. “I think 5A is absolutely packed.”

The six teams in the Allegheny Six remain the same as last year, but the other two conferences have changed. The only change in the Northeast was the swap of Woodland Hills for Plum.

The Big East has changed the most with the addition of Woodland Hills, Armstrong, Kiski Area and Latrobe. Plum, Norwin and Hempfield have left the Big East.

“We'll probably have some late nights,” Woodland Hills coach Brian Tarrant said of the search for new opponents. “But those are more the fun things. That's why I became a coach.”

The size of the WPIAL bracket is determined by where the 5A champion enters the PIAA playoffs – either the semifinals or the quarterfinals. That changed for the next two years, with the WPIAL returning to a larger bracket in 5A.

The move also allows the WPIAL to play the 5A finals at Acrisure Stadium, but it could be stressful being one of the last three teams to qualify via wildcard.

“If you're hoping to get a committee member's vote,” Junko said, “then somewhere you didn't do your job properly when you had the chance.”

PRE-SEASON RANKINGS

1. Peters Township (15-1)

The Indians won their first WPIAL title last season and finished the year as state runners-up. They return five starters on offense and six on defense, making them the team to beat in Class 5A.

2. Pine-Richland (9-4)

3. Woodland Hills (6-4)

4. Penn Hills (9-3)

5. Upper St. Clair (8-2)

*Records from 2023

THE STARS

Nolan DiLucia

Peters Township, Jr., QB

DiLucia was the WPIAL's leading passer last year with 3,131 yards and added nearly 500 more yards rushing. The 6'2″, 195-pound player threw 30 touchdowns and led the Indians to their first WPIAL title as a starter in his first year.

Ryan Petras

Bethel Park, sr., WR/DB

Petras leads all returning WPIAL receivers with 52 catches last season. He turned those catches into 734 yards, ran for another 409 yards and scored 14 TDs. Petras committed to Northwestern baseball last year, but 14 football offers changed his mind.

Scoop Smith

Woodland Hills, Jr., WR/DB

The WPIAL 100-yard dash champion is a major threat for the Wolverines. Five of his 17 touchdowns were longer than 60 yards last season, including a 99-yard kickoff return. He caught 44 balls for 851 yards.

Nate Stoll

Upper St. Clair, sr., OL/DL

The Princeton recruit is an anchor for the Panthers on both sides of the ball. A third-year starter at guard and defensive end, Stohl earned All-Conference honors in both his sophomore and junior years. He has 10 sacks in his career.

Mickey Vaccarello

Peters Township, sr., TE/LB

Opposing teams often found the freshman linebacker from Stanford in their backfields. Vaccarello (6-3, 210) led the Indians with 29 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, including one in the WPIAL final. He had 61 total tackles.

DON'T MISS

8.30 a.m.: Penn Hills at Woodland Hills

Tough non-conference test in Week 1 for teams with playoff expectations.

9:27?: Peters Township in Upper St. Clair

With this encounter as the opening game of the Allegheny Six, it is not an easy entry into the conference games.

10.4: Penn-Trafford at Gateway; Penn Hills at Pine-Richland

These conference duels decided the Big East and Northeast titles last season.

Chris Harlan is a sports reporter for TribLive. He joined the Trib in 2009 after spending seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. Reach him at [email protected].

Tags: Bethel Park, Gateway, Penn Hills, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Pine-Richland, Upper St. Clair, Woodland Hills