W.P.I.A.L. High School Football Predictions: Week Zero

Each week from the start of the WPIAL season through the PIAA State Finals, Pittsburgh SportsNation brings you the best, uncensored, no holds barred predictions by our local high school football guru who goes by the moniker “P To The Power of 2”.

He is one of our underground writers who covers the hard hitting action of WPIAL High School Football in Western Pennsylvania. Or is it she...? Either way, we'll never tell! (Unless you have a crisp $100 bill in hand)

By P To The Power of 2

Welcome back friends, family, and not to forget, our haters from across the commonwealth! 

Well, well, well, here we are, summer is almost over and the 2018 high school campaign begins. Gameday crews are placing on the final touches before this weekends contests. We have seen an off season full of coaching changes, classification changes, rule changes.

All these changes….One consistent, and that's yours truly, PToThePowerOf2! Last season, we racked up another fantastic record, crushing the completion with a full sweep of the PIAA Finals, 6-0. Our final full season record, last year, stood tall at a staggering 148 wins and only 22 defeats, 87%. 

Tell your friends who the real procrastinator in the state is!

Plenty of story-lines to keep our vision on this season. Could Thomas Jefferson make a 4-peat? Will Bob Palko’s final season end with PIAA gold? Will Blackhawk rise from the ashes with new head coach Zach Hayward? Aliquippa welcomes former alumni Mike Warfield, can he lead the Quips back to Hershey? Can Pine Richland continue to dominate Class 6A?

A fantastic and interesting season is upon us! We’ll give you our opening week Top 5 State Rankings.

Class ‘AAAAAA’

#1. Saint Joseph Prep Hawks

#2. Coatesville Red Raiders

#3. Pine Richland Rams

#4. Parkland Trojans

#5. Central Catholic Vikings

Class ‘AAAAA’

#1. Archbishop Wood Vikings

#2. Gateway Gators

#3. Malvern Prep Friars

#4. Manheim Central Barons

#5. Springfield Cougars

Class ‘AAAA’

#1. Imhotep Charter Panthers

#2. Berks Catholic Saints

#3. Thomas Jefferson Jaguars

#4. Bishop McDevitt Crusaders

#5. Erie Cathedral Prep Ramblers

Class ‘AAA’

#1. Aliquippa Quips

#2. Sharon Tigers

#3. Scranton Prep Cavaliers

#4. Middletown Blue Raiders

#5. Neumann-Goretti Saints

Class ‘AA’

#1. Southern Columbia Tigers

#2. Washington Prexies

#3. Wilmington Greyhounds

#4. Mount Carmel Red Tornadoes

#5. West Catholic Burrs

Class ‘A’

#1. Jeannette Jayhawks

#2. Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders

#3. Farrell Steelers

#4. Old Forge Blue Devils

#5. Williams Valley Vikings

So, we’ve given you our top 5 in the state…..

Week “zero” is here…..let’s give you some selections for week zero:

Aliquippa over McKinley Tech (Washington DC)

McKeesport over Erie

Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Erie Cathedral Prep

New Brighton over Rochester

North Allegheny over COF Academy (Ohio)

IMG Academy (Florida) over Pine Richland

Steubenville (Ohio) over Penn Hills

Woodrow Wilson (Washington DC) over Woodland Hills

Gateway over Mount Lebanon

Penn Trafford over Norwin

There we are folks….Enjoy the lights in week ‘zero’…..See yous next week!