Central Valley makes history in dominant win over North Catholic, claiming WPIAL 3A title

PITTSBURGH — Three straight trips to Heinz Field, three straight Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championships for the Central Valley Warriors under head coach Mark Lyons. 

Saturday's dominant win over the No. 2 North Catholic Trojans helped the No. 1 Warriors make history on the North Shore, becoming just the 12th program in WPIAL history to three-peat, marking the fifth time a Beaver Valley program has accomplished the feat, joining the likes of Rochester (2002-02), West Allegheny (1999-2001), Blackhawk (1991-93) and Aliquippa (1987-89). 

The third straight WPIAL Class 3A title was all but a formality for the Warriors, whose average margin of victory was 41.4 points per game leading up to Saturday.

The 52-15 decision was just another step forward for the Warriors, who move on to defend their Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's 3A state title.

After the game, an appreciative Lyons reflected on the journey and making history with the Warriors' program that is in just its 12th season overall, but already has five WPIAL titles to its name now. 

"That's pretty special [to win three in a row]. I don't know if it's set in for some of these guys," Lyons said. "This group of seniors and captains, what they've accomplished in four years of playing high school football, not so sure many people can put this next to their names."

Not only did the Warriors claim their third straight WPIAL Class 3A championship, they also won their 25th game in a row and are one game away from playing in a third straight PIAA state championship while aiming for a second straight state title. 

Any way you try and slice it, what the Warriors' program has done from 2019 to now is historic. 

With a spot etched in the record books, an opportunity he never thought possible became reality on Saturday at Heinz Field. As a veteran coach who's been around football in the WPIAL for 30 years, the wins are that much sweeter for Lyons, who started out his career losing three straight championship games with Monaca before winning three straight with the Warriors. 

Coming off of a second straight WPIAL championship and a state championship, Central Valley talked all summer about having a target on their backs and getting everybody's best shot. 

That happened all season, but the Warriors were never phased by it, allowing just double digit points defensively twice all season prior to Saturday's championship game. 

On Saturday afternoon, sitting at the podium as a WPIAL champ for the third straight time, Central Valley senior Sean FitzSimmons said that the feeling of winning never gets old, especially with such a close group of teammates at Central Valley High School.

"It always feels great. This is the third time we've sat here, and it feels better and better every time," FitzSimmons said. "We have states coming up now, so we're focused on that. We're going to celebrate this WPIAL championship tonight, but then we're going to get right back into preparation."

Any time a program puts on a dynasty-like run like the Warriors have had in a three-year stretch, it's easy to try and compare this current version of the Warriors to past versions. That's not something Lyons like to partake in, but the 12th year Central Valley head coach did state that this group of players is special to him.

"You never want to compare teams, but this team is up there for me; it's pretty special," Lyons said. "They have their own identity and are winning football games in different fashion. We still play great defense. I think this team knows how to control a game from a clock-management standpoint...I think this group just separates itself from others.

"We may have been more splash plays in the past so quick over the top, but this team right here is built for late November, December football, and can play whatever style is needed to be successful."

Numbers never lie, which backs up Lyons' claim. As the calendar flips to December, Central Valley is playing on once again, chasing another state championship and another achievement for the history books. 

Contact Joshua Carney at jcarney@gannett.com or 412-228-9178. Follow Joshua on Twitter: @ByJoshCarney