While the WPIAL announced its football conference realignment earlier this year, the district released the schedule on Thursday. While the teams can opt to add their own matchups for Week Zero, the WPIAL set games for Week One through Nine for the next two-year cycle.

Following the formula used in 2021, the WPIAL once again hand selected the non-conference games, factoring geography and competitiveness into the decision. In Westmoreland County, some of the more notable non-conference match ups include Penn-Trafford battling Belle Vernon Area and North Allegheny, Hempfield Area against Greater Latrobe, Greensburg Salem and Southmoreland each playing Derry Area and Ligonier Valley, Belle Vernon Area against Thomas Jefferson and McKeesport Area, Yough facing Mount Pleasant Area, and Greensburg Central Catholic squaring off with Washington.

With Class 6A shrinking once again, both Hempfield Area and Norwin dropped down to 5A, joining a conference with Penn-Trafford and Franklin Regional. In the non-conference, Penn-Trafford will play host to McKeesport Area and Woodland Hills, while heading on the road against Belle Vernon Area and North Allegheny. Norwin welcomes Fox Chapel, Woodland Hills, and North Allegheny, while playing at Penn Hills. Franklin Regional hosts Greater Latrobe, while the Panthers have road tilts against Connellsville Area, Shaler Area, and North Hills. Hempfield Area’s home contests include Connellsville Area and Seneca Valley, while road games consist of Greater Latrobe and Shaler Area. In the final week of the regular season, Penn-Trafford hosts Franklin Regional, while Hempfield Area welcomes Norwin.

With Penn-Trafford and Norwin now in the same conference, each school was forced to find new Week 0 opponents. The Warriors will travel to Canon-McMillan while Norwin welcomes Upper St. Clair.

A pair of teams previously in 5A – Greater Latrobe and Kiski Area – both dropped down in class, and now represent the only county teams in 4A, albeit in different conferences. Greater Latrobe has a non-conference home game against Hempfield Area, and a road tilt against Franklin Regional, while the Wildcats have an open date in the final week of the regular season. Meanwhile, Kiski Area hosts Pine-Richland and Fox Chapel Area, while playing at Laurel Highlands.

Previously in 4A, Belle Vernon Area and Greensburg Salem moved down to 3A for the next cycle. The Leopards and Golden Lions join Southmoreland and Mount Pleasant Area in a conference, while Valley resides in another conference. Southmoreland plays non-conference at home against Ligonier Valley and Knoch, with road match ups against Derry Area and Deer Lakes. The Scotties will also host Mount Pleasant Area to wrap up the regular slate. Greensburg Salem hosts Derry Area, Deer Lakes, and East Allegheny, while traveling to Ligonier Valley. Mount Pleasant Area will welcome Yough and McGuffey, while traveling to Valley and Freeport. Belle Vernon Area plays at home against Laurel Highlands and Penn-Trafford, with road tilts against McKeesport Area and Thomas Jefferson. Valley has home games against Burrell and Mount Pleasant Area, a road contest at Apollo-Ridge, and an open date in the fourth week of the regular season.

Ligonier Valley was the lone Westmoreland team in 2A the past two years, but now the Rams are joined in the same conference by Burrell, Derry Area, and Yough, all of which dropped down from 3A. Yough plays its nonconference at home against Charleroi, while traveling to Mount Pleasant Area. Ligonier Valley welcomes Greensburg Salem, and plays at Southmoreland. Derry Area hosts Southmoreland, while playing on the road against Greensburg Salem. The Rams will host the Trojans in the final contest of the regular season. Burrell hosts Deer Lakes and plays at Valley.

Class 1A maintained the three county teams, as Greensburg Central Catholic and Jeannette stay together in a conference, while Monessen resides in a different conference. Jeannette hosts East Allegheny, while playing at Jefferson-Morgan and Charleroi. The Jayhawks will continue their season-finale showdown against Clairton, heading on the road to face the Bears. Greensburg Central Catholic welcomes West Greene, and has road games against Bishop Canevin and Washington. Monessen hosts Cornell and travels to Frazier.

All matchups will remain intact for 2023, although the home and road games will be reversed.