Woodland Hills 21 Franklin Regional 0 (5A Quarterfinal)

Three long touchdowns and a suffocating defensive performance propelled Woodland Hills to an upset of host Franklin Regional 21-0 in the Class 5A quarterfinals. The sixth-seeded Wolverines opened the scoring in the first quarter, as Scoop Smith hauled in a 44-yard pass from quarterback Cameron Walter. The QB connected with Smith again on a 68-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Frankie Keyes capped the scoring in the fourth on a 73-yard run. Walter hit on 5-of-6 passes for 126 yards, Smith hauled in three receptions for 120 yards, and Keyes produced 16 carries for 121 yards. While the Wolverines advance to the semifinals to play Pine-Richland, the season ends for third seed Franklin Regional with a mark of 6-4.

Pine-Richland 31 Penn-Trafford 17 (5A Quarterfinal)

Limited to just three points through three quarters, Penn-Trafford’s fourth-quarter rally came up short, as the Warriors fell to host Pine-Richland 31-17 in the Class 5A quarterfinals. Ryan Palmieri was the catalyst for the No. 2 Rams, as he compiled three TD runs to stake the hosts to the lead. In the fourth quarter, PT’s Conlan Greene threw for a pair of scores, as he connected with Daniel Tarabrella on a 40-yard strike, and followed with a 5-yard TD to Owen Demeri. Greene finished 13-of-27 for 194 yards and two scores. Although the seventh-seeded Warriors recovered one onside kick in the fourth, Pine-Richland recovered the second attempt, and sealed the outcome with a late touchdown. While PR advances to the semifinals to play Woodland Hills, the Warriors end the season with a mark of 6-5.

Greater Latrobe 28 Highlands 21, OT (4A First Round)

Keyed by a pair of Robby Fulton touchdown runs, the second of which came in extra time, Greater Latrobe upset homestanding Highlands 28-21 in overtime in the Class 4A first round. Fulton’s 6-yard score gave the No. 11 Wildcats the lead in OT, and Ja’Tawn Williams intercepted a pass to secure the first playoff win for Greater Latrobe in more than 50 years. The Wildcats also received a pair of TD passes from John Wetzel, as he hit Corey Boerio on a 14-yard pass and hooked up with Connor Lakin on a 7-yard strike. Wetzel finished with 66 yards through the air and 87 on the ground, while Fulton compared 75 yards on 10 carries. For the Golden Rams, the No. 6 seed, QB Chandler Thimons hit 14-of-25 passes for 114 yards and a score, but tossed two interceptions. Greater Latrobe advances to the 4A quarterfinals, and will face No. 3 Thomas Jefferson, which received a first-round bye.

East Allegheny 42 Mount Pleasant Area 39 (3A First Round)

Mount Pleasant Area came up short in a shootout in the Class 3A first round, as No. 9 East Allegheny edged the host Vikings 42-39. Wildcats QB Michael Cahill produced a special performance, as he rushed 21 times for 155 yards and five touchdowns, and hit on 13-of-19 passes for 142 yards and another score. The eighth-seeded Vikings had prolific performances on offense, too, as Robbie Labuda rushed 24 times for 198 yards and a TD, Lane Golkosky compiled nine carries for 111 yards rushing and three scores, and added a TD reception, and quarterback Cole Chatfield threw for 150 yards and two TDs. While top-seeded Belle Vernon Area, which received a bye, awaits EA, Mount Pleasant Area’s season concludes at 6-5.

West Mifflin Area 54 Southmoreland 28 (3A First Round)

Southmoreland could not slow West Mifflin Area’s explosive offense, as the No. 5 seed Titans claimed a 54-28 victory against the No. 12 Scotties in the Class 3A first round. Shai Newby hit on all nine of his passing attempts for 351 yards and four TDs for the host Titans, while Ty’Jeir Williams caught four passes for 159 yards and three scores, and Rich Fix hauled in three receptions for 145 yards and a TD, adding a rushing score and an 83-yard kickoff return touchdown. In the defeat, Southmoreland QB Kadin Keefer went 13-of-26 for 153 yards and two scores, Ty Keffer amassed seven receptions for 87 yards and a TD, while Trey Whetsel and Cameron Phillips each rushed for touchdowns. The Titans advance to play Freeport Area in the quarterfinals, while Southmoreland’s season ends with a record of 4-7.

Ligonier Valley 27 Western Beaver 20 (2A First Round)

Haden Sierocky accounted for all four touchdowns in leading Ligonier Valley to a 27-20 victory against Western Beaver in the Class 2A first round, the first WPIAL playoff win in Rams’ history. The No. 7 Rams, who were the host team in the game played at Offutt Field, received a monster performance from Sierocky, who rushed 25 times for 200 yards. Golden Beavers QB Xander LeFebvre factored into all three scores for No. 10 Western Beaver, as he hit 7-of-20 passes for 147 yards and two scores, and rushed for another TD. Ligonier Valley’s defense recorded three interceptions, however. With the triumph, LV advances to the quarterfinals to face No. 2 Beaver Falls, which received a bye.

Neshannock 48 Burrell 6 (2A First Round)

Burrell had no answer for Neshannock’s prolific offense, as the fourth-seeded Lancers rolled to a 48-6 home victory in the Class 2A first round. Devin Beattie scored the lone TD on a 2-yard run for the No. 13 Buccaneers, who played without starting QB Chase Fenner. Neshannock QB Jonny Huff passed for 100 yard and two TDs, and he added a rushing score, as Neshannock moves on to the quarterfinals for a showdown against Washington. The Buccaneers conclude the 2022 campaign with a record of 6-5.

Rochester 36 Greensburg Central Catholic 15 (1A First Round)

Greensburg Central Catholic was held scoreless until the fourth quarter, as the No. 3 Centurions were stunned by No. 14 Rochester 36-15 in the Class 1A first round at Hempfield Area High School. Antonio Laure rushed 29 times for 223 yard and three scores, and he added a TD reception in guiding the Rams to the upset against the host Centurions. Greensburg Central Catholic’s touchdowns came on a 1-yard run by Da’sjon Craggette and a 28-yard pass from Tyree Turner to Amari Mack. Turner finished 11-of-17 for 129 yards, with one TD and one interception. GCC concludes the season with a mark of 8-3, while Rochester moves on to the quarterfinals to play Fort Cherry.

Bishop Canevin 63 Jeannette 14 (1A First Round)

Top-seeded Bishop Canevin scored 28 unanswered points in the second quarter, as the Crusaders dominated in a 63-14 win against Jeannette in the Class 1A first round. QB Kole Olszewski passed for 157 yards and three scores, while Jason Cross also threw for a trio of touchdowns for Bishop Canevin. For the No. 16 Jayhawks, Noah Sanders scored on a 7-yard run, while Jeannette’s defense produced a fumble recovery score. While BC moves on to the quarterfinals against Clairton, Jeannette’s season ends at 3-8.

Fort Cherry 56 Monessen 42 (1A First Round)