WPIAL Football Playoffs: Round 2 Predictions

A total of 16 teams, 4 from each classification, are still playing football at the moment. Let's get into how the matchup against each other.


A
#1 North Catholic vs. #9 South Side Beaver
NC, the defending state champs, should have no problem with a good but inferior South Side Beaver team.


Prediction: North Catholic

#2 Clairton vs. #7 Shenango
Clairton has blown through every opponent they have faced this season. Although I believe Shenango will keep it closer with the Bears then most teams did, I think that Clairton will handle them fairly easily.


Prediction: Clairton


#3 Neshannock vs. #6 Jeannette
This is a great matchup. Neshannock comes into this game at 10-0 while Jeannette is 9-1. It's a tossup, but I think Neshannock will be too much in the end.
Prediction: Neshannock


#4 Avonworth vs. #12 Riverside
Avonworth has only lost once this year to #1 North Catholic. I believe that they will be too much for a Cinderella hopeful in riverside, and will get another shot at the Trojans next week.


Winner: Avonworth


AA
#1 South Fayette vs. #8 South Park
The defending state champion Lions handled South Park pretty easily during the regular season. Expect tomorrow to be more of the same.


Winner: South Fayette


#2 Aliquippa vs. #7 Mount Pleasant
Aliquippa will celebrate the 30 year anniversary of beating Mt. Pleasant for the WPIAL title by doing the same tomorrow.


Winner: Aliquippa

#3 Washington vs. #6 Apollo-Ridge
I believe that the Prexies will be too much for AR in this one because they are the better team.


Winner: Apollo Ridge


#4 Seton-Lasalle vs. #5 Highlands
This will be a good one. I believe that the Rebels will take advantage of a banged-up Highlands team.


Winner: Seton-Lasalle


AAA
#1 Central Valley vs. #8 Indiana
Led by RB/CB Jordan Whitehead, the Warriors simply have too much fire power for the Little Indians to pull the upset.


Winner: Central Valley


#2 Thomas Jefferson vs. #10 Mars
The Planets are coming off of an upset of #7 Montour. This game will be hard fought, but I think Senior RB Austin Kemp will be the difference for TJ


Winner: Thomas Jefferson


#3 West Allegheny vs. #6 Franklin Regional
The Panthers will be looking for revenge on the defending AAA champs, as they ended FR's season in the semifinals last year. It will be close for a while, but the Indians will wear FR down in the end.


Winner: West Allegheny


#4 Hampton vs. #5 Ringgold
This will be a tough one. Both teams only have 1 loss, but I think QB Nico Law will be the difference and Ringgold will get it done.


Winner: Ringgold


AAAA
#1 Pine-Richland vs. #9 Altoona
Led by Senior QB Ben DiNucci, Pine Richland has been fantastic all year, and Altoona is not yet ready to compete with this caliber of a team.


Winner: PR


#2 Penn-Trafford vs. #7 North Allegheny
This is a very even 2 vs. 7. NA is a potentional sleeper team whine Penn-Trafford is undefeated. It will be a battle, but I think Penn-Trafford's talent will be a little too much for the Tigers in the end.


Winner: Penn Trafford.


#3 Central Catholic vs. #6 Woodland Hills
Oh boy. Game of the week for the WPIAL. I have great respect for both of these teams so I'd hate to pick but...... *flips coin* Central will pull it out in the end, as I think they have proved more this season then Woody High has.

Winner: Central Catholic


#5 McKeesport vs. #13 Plum
Plum pulled a major upset over #4 Penn Hills last week, but I think that midnight will strike this week, courtesy of the Tigers.


Winner: McKeesport