Nov 6, 2017 3 min read

The list of local high school football teams still playing was cut by more than half after Friday night’s first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

What started as 13 area schools vying for WPIAL titles is now down to six: South Fayette, Belle Vernon, Washington, Burgettstown, California and Carmichaels.

The WPIAL announced the sites for second-round games – the quarterfinals for Class A and AA, and semifinals for Class 3A through 6A – each kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

This round features a rematch of two conference teams: South Fayette vs. Montour, and Belle Vernon vs. Thomas Jefferson. Belle Vernon, the No. 2 seed in Class 4A, and No. 3-seed Thomas Jefferson, both members of the Big Nine Conference, will play at Baldwin High School.

Belle Vernon (10-0) defeated the two-time defending WPIAL Champions, 21-17, on the gold turf of James Weir Stadium Oct. 13 that helped secure the conference title.

Thomas Jefferson (9-1) thrives in the postseason, having won six WPIAL championships in the last 13 years.

In Class 4A, No. 1-seed South Fayette and No. 4-seed Montour play their semifinal game in Joe P. DeMichela Stadium at West Allegheny High School just two weeks after meeting at Montour.

This time, more than a Northwest Nine title is on the line.

South Fayette (11-0) earned its fourth win on the road against teams with winning records when it defeated the Spartans 49-21 in Week 10.

Montour (8-2) is seeking its first WPIAL championship since 2011.

• California (11-0), the No. 1 seed in Class A, will play No. 9-seed Union at Canon-McMillan High School, looking to remain the only undefeated team in the classification.

Union (8-3) traveled to another Tri-County South Conference opponent in the first round, Fort Cherry, and knocked off the Rangers, 30-21.

• In another Class A matchup, Carmichaels (8-2) will be searching for an upset of No. 2-seed Clairton at Charleroi High School.

After taking advantage of home field in the first round, the seventh-seeded Mighty Mikes will be looking to stop a dominating Clairton team. The Bears (8-2) have won nine of the last 11 WPIAL Class A championships.

WPIAL officials will meet with representatives from Clairton and Summit Academy this afternoon regarding a bench-clearing fight in last Friday night’s game. Suspension of players is a possibility.

• Washington, the No. 2 seed in Class AA, hopes to get out to a faster start when it plays No. 7 East Allegheny at Elizabeth Forward High School. The Prexies have struggled to score points in the first half at times.

East Allegheny (7-3) was a 28-14 winner over Mohawk in the first round.

• After winning its first playoff game in 40 years on a 37-yard field goal as time expired, Burgettstown (7-3) will have momentum for its second-round game against No. 1-seed Steel Valley at Dormont Memorial Stadium.

The No. 9 Blue Devils defeated Neshannock, 31-28, in the first round, while Steel Valley (9-0) rolled over Laurel, 42-13.