<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=16NCxW_1GoeIwHu00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=16NCxW_1GoeIwHu00" width="1576" height="885" ></figure>The weekly football previews on LCSportsNet.com are presented by Doran Concrete. Laying the foundation for the WPIAL playoffs. For more information on how Doran can assist with your next project, visit them online at DoranConcrete.com.We’ve reached the second season, and seven area teams are in the postseason. Wilmington will wait a week until the District 10 1A playoffs begin, the other six are in action this week in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.All games are at the higher seed home field for the first round. Next week, we move to neutral sites, unless a top seed received a bye, then they will host a game next week. Kickoffs are scheduled for 7 p.m.The 1A and 2A title games are at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, November 28th. The 4A title game is paired with 6A at Pine Richland high school on Saturday, November 21st.In Class 1A Laurel has the tougher draw, as the Spartans could possibly meet Fort Cherry for a third time in a 12-month period in next week’s quarterfinals. Shenango could potentially see Clairton in the semifinals but must navigate the first two rounds. And honestly, we are not sure what to think of this Clairton team because of forfeits and a rollercoaster season.Neshannock’s loss last week pushed the Lancers down to the No. 6 seed in 2A, and it made the committee’s job of separating Seton LaSalle and Bishop Canevin as the No. 1-2 seeds easier and much more understandable. Canevin and Seton-LaSalle both receive a bye this week.Upset to watch with Riverside and Ligonier Valley? Remember, defense and running games travel this time of year. Do the Panthers have enough left in the tank to play in Week 12?In 4A, New Castle’s bracket is a crapshoot. McKeesport is getting hotter and Kemon Spell is getting healthier and showing signs he’s back to his usual self. Everyone picked off everyone in 4A. Montour beat both New Castle and McKeesport, and Blackhawk, but lost to South Fayette. They are the favorite of many going in, but McKeesport is gaining a lot of steam. That McKeesport-Blackhawk first round? Sheesh.<h2>Class 1A </h2>No. 15 Serra Catholic (4-6) at No. 2 Shenango (9-0) Where: Frank Bongivengo Field, Shenango HSOn air: The Lawrence County Sports Network will provide live coverage. Video, per WPIAL broadcast rights will be available on the NFHS Network. Live audio will be available on LCSportsNet with Eric Thomas and Gene Matsook on the call.Head coaches: Serra Catholic – Akeeme Johnson (2nd, 6-14); Shenango – Casey Hilton (1st, 9-0)Top players: Serra Catholic – DE Micah Martin; Shenango – RB Jasyn Williams (1,212 rushing, 18 rush TDs)Series history: Shenango leads the all-time series 2-0, with the last meeting coming in 2019.Up next: The winner faces either No. 7 Jeannette or No. 10 Monessen at a neutral site in next week’s quarterfinals. Our take: Serra is a tricky study. The Eagles aren’t very deep and have four losses by seven or fewer points and enter the playoffs losing two straight including last week’s 14-13 heartbreaker to Greensburg Central Catholic. The common opponent between the Eagles and Wildcats is Northgate. Serra lost by seven, Shenango won by eight. Serra’s defense is its key, and they can absolutely wreak havoc on an opponent defensively. Plus, you have to consider they took a lead against Clairton into the fourth quarter before injuries disrupted their flow. ….&nbsp; Shenango survived a furious Laurel rally in Week 10 and has been punishing opponents with their powerful Wing-T rushing attack. Few teams run it and nobody has as well as the Wildcats. It might be the toughest offense to scheme for. Niko DeSalvo was fantastic last week with 21 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown, exactly what the Wildcats want out of their QB. Watch Caleb McConnell if Serra opts to test him throwing the football, he has a tendency for big plays and can go the distance if he snags one.No. 12 Greensburg CC (7-3) at No. 5 Laurel (7-3) Where: Spartan Stadium, Laurel HSOn air: The Lawrence County Sports Network will provide live coverage. Video, per WPIAL broadcast rights will be available on the NFHS Network. Live audio will be available on LCSportsNet with Lee Mohn and Jay Mohn on the call.Head coaches: GCC – JT Thompson (4th, 28-16); Laurel – Brian Cooper (13th, 84-54)Top players: GCC – DT Aiden Lent (16 TFL, 5 sks); FB/DE Alex Medved (156 rush, 3 rush TD – 3 sks)Series history: Only one meeting ever between the two and it came in the WPIAL playoffs in 2004 when GCC won 45-7.Up next: The winner will face either No. 4 Fort Cherry or No. 13 Avella next week at a neutral site.Our take: This is a fascinating matchup, and as stated above, a week ago vs Serra Catholic, GCC needed to win and pulled out a 14-13 thriller to qualify for the playoffs. GCC’s top offensive threats, QB Carson Kramer, RB Blasé Bugosh and WR Luca Denis are all underclassmen. Kramer will be tested by a very talented and game Laurel defensive front that has accounted for 13 sacks and 35 tackles for loss. Laurel was gashed up front by Shenango last week so that front is going to want to get right in this game. Laurel’s offense has been better and better each week, and a big reason has been because of Alex Medved’s switch to fullback. He doesn’t have gaudy offensive stats, but he’s been the most effective runner the Spartans have right now.No. 14 Union (5-5) at No. 3 Clairton (8-2) Where: Tyler Boyd Stadium, ClairtonHead coaches: U – Dave Commesso (1st, 5-5); C – Wayne Wade (14th, 145-34)Top players: RB Quinten Napper (455 rush, 6 TDs); RB Gianni Million (1333 rush, 20 TDs)Series history: The Bears lead the series 1-0, with the only meeting coming in 2023, an 18-6 win by Clairton in the WPIAL quarterfinals.Up next: The winner will take on either No. 6 California or No. 11 Northgate at a neutral site next week.Our take: What a long, strange trip it’s been for both programs this season. Union needed Commesso to step in late in the preseason when Kim Neidbala resigned to move to the eastern side of the state, then started the season losing its first two games. The Scotties won all five games from Sept. 11-on and were so close to at least a six, if not, seven-win season. The turn around has been a remarkable one as is. Clairton was dominated by Farrell then dropped back into the Eastern conference where Wayne Wade missed a game, the Bears won two by forfeit, didn’t play for two weeks and then demolished Greensburg CC and Jeannette to win the conference by a combined 68-0 to close the regular season. The Bears also lost Brandon Murphy for the season in that Farrell game, and it’s been a lot of underclassmen filling roles left by last year’s remarkable state championship team.<h2>Class 2A </h2>No. 11 South Allegheny (5-5) at No. 6 Neshannock (7-3) Where: Bob Bleggi Stadium, Neshannock Athletic ComplexOn air: The Lawrence County Sports Network will provide live coverage. Video, per WPIAL broadcast rights will be available on the NFHS Network. Live audio will be available on LCSportsNet with Thad Sturgeon and Bradley Windhorst calling the action.Head coaches: SA – Brian Hanson (4th, 25-19); N – Mike Bongivengo (3rd 24-9)Top players: ATH Nasir Roccman (524 rushing, 256 receiving, 9 total TDs); Justin Edworthy (1289 rushing, 361 receiving, 18 total TDs)Series history: The programs have never met on the gridironUp next: The winner will play at No. 3 seed Apollo-Ridge next week.Our take: Hanson took South Allegheny from 1-9 his first season to WPIAL playoff team in his second year and a 9-3 record. The Gladiators lost all-world talent Drew Cook who willed the SA basketball team to the PIAA championship round two seasons ago and put them back in the WPIAL final a season ago as well, but the offense hasn’t missed much of a beat. South Allegheny averages 138 through the air and 188 on the ground and will go against what’s been a very solid, but young, Neshannock front. SA uses a three-headed monster in the backfield with Nasir Roccman, Marcel Boxley and Malakai Myers who all have over 300 yards rushing.&nbsp;&nbsp; ….&nbsp; We aren’t going to lie, it was a bit alarming how the Lancers game against Western Beaver ended last week, but Neshannock has the tools to make a run in 2A to at least the semifinal round. How they respond in a win-or-go-home came coming off that loss will tell us just how far we think they can go in this tournament. As you may know we love the adage that run game and defense travel in the playoffs. Enter Justin Edworthy who has been spectacular this season and it is now his time to fully shine.No. 10 Riverside (6-3) at No. 7 Ligonier Valley (8-2) Where: Weller Athletic Field and Recreation ParkHead coaches: R – Fran Ramsden (2nd 7-11); LV – Roger Beitel (23rd 162-89)Top players: QB Levi Foust (968 passing – 1276 rushing, 30 total TDs); OL-DL Tanner Richards.Series history: This is the first meeting between the two.Up next: The winner will travel to Dormont Stadium next week to take on No. 2 seed Seton LaSalle, however due to Bishop Canevin having a home game next week as well, the date and time is unknown.Our take: Beitel has coached in over 250 games. He was retained after the 2025 season. Beitel’s program had a stretch between 2016-19 where they went a remarkable 51-4. … Weller Athletic Field recently received a $1 million grant to upgrade the facilities. …. Riverside, no question, was limping towards the playoffs entering Week 10 and almost missed a chance with an overtime win over winless Mohawk. It hasn’t gone according to plans thanks to injuries, but Ramsden tapped into Danny Viscuso in recent weeks and that has worked wonders for the Panthers running game. Remember that defense and run games travel this time of year and expect a heavy heavy dose of Viscuso here.<h2>Class 4A </h2>No. 5 Chartiers Valley (6-4) at No. 4 New Castle (7-3) Where: Taggert StadiumOn air: The Lawrence County Sports Network will provide live coverage. Video, per WPIAL broadcast rights will be available on the NFHS Network. Live audio will be available on LCSportsNet with James Dotson and Tim Continenza on the call.Head coaches: CV – Steve Spence (2nd, 13-8); NC — Fred Mozzocio (14th, 122-45)Top players: CV – QB Owen Weargraff (1883 pass, 23 TDs); NC — QB Marino Graham (1372 pass — 792 rush, 27 total TDs)Series history: They have met 12 times, with New Castle holding a 9-3 edge in the series. The last meeting was in 2023, a 35-14 CV win. CV has won three of the last four meetings.Up next: The winner moves on to the semifinals against No. 1 South Fayette or No. 8 Kiski Area next week at a neutral site.Our take: CV can run the football and that is still an area of concern for the Red Hurricanes. But what is not of concern is the ‘Canes offense right now. They are outscoring teams 155-78 the last three weeks. Marino Graham has set some records, and the Canes offense is humming. A big reason is the season Jermaine Walker has had with over 700 yards rushing. That has taken a lot of pressure off Graham and opened the passing game up even more. Speaking of CV likes to sling it, so they will try to test a very good Canes secondary. If they can establish a run game, this could be interesting. All of that punishing non-conference schedule and New Castle’s ability to play some of its best football late in the season puts the Canes in a much better spot than they were this time a season ago.</div></body>

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The weekly football previews on LCSportsNet.com are presented by Doran Concrete. Laying the foundation for the WPIAL playoffs. For more information on how Doran can assist with your next project, visit them online at DoranConcrete.com. We’ve reached the second season, and seven area teams are in the postseason. Wilmington will...

WPIAL First Round Playoff Previews Presented by Doran Concrete

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The weekly football previews on LCSportsNet.com are presented by Doran Concrete. Laying the foundation for the WPIAL playoffs. For more information on how 

WPIAL First Round Playoff Previews Presented by Doran Concrete

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