PIAA appeals ruling to keep Aliquippa football in Class 4A for 2024 season

ALIQUIPPA — Just less than one month ago, it was decided by Beaver County Judge James Ross that Aliquippa would remain in WPIAL Class 4A for the 2024 season after the PIAA moved the Quips up to 5A under the PIAA competitive balance.

The ruling came after the school district filed a lawsuit against the PIAA due to the health and safety of its players with the sizable disadvantage Aliquippa would have with its roster against a majority of 5A schools across the WPIAL.

But even after the Quips won their ruling back in late May, the PIAA is taking legal action against the football program to the commonwealth court as it looks to undo the Beaver County Judge's ruling in hopes of upholding its competitive balance rule.

Aliquippa has been in the news all offseason long after capturing its fifth state football title in program history this past season. After their dominant victory over Dallas, the Quips were forced to move up to the WPIAL’s second-highest classification in 5A due to the PIAA’s competitive balance rule, even though Aliquippa is tied for the fourth smallest enrollment of WPIAL Class 2A schools sitting at just 156 students.

The school district later appealed to the PIAA regarding its ruling, but it was denied by the state later in the month of January.

Aliquippa has been dominant throughout its first four seasons in Class 4A competing in the Parkway Conference. The Quips has posted a masterful 59-3 record overall which includes two state championship victories during the 2021 season in a 34-27 win over Bishop McDevitt in 2021 and a 60-14 victory over Dallas to cap off the 2023 season. Along with its postseason success, Aliquippa also boasts a perfect 24-0 record against Parkway Conference opponents capturing three straight WPIAL titles throughout the 2021-23 campaigns.

Now with just over two months away until the regular season begins, the Quips state of what classification it will compete in is still up in the air as it awaits to see if the PIAA appeal will be heard.

The Beaver County Times will update this story once more information becomes available.