Pennsylvania High Schools Face 81 Playoff Games
The state's first round of PIAA and WPIAL postseason action kicks off Tuesday with football and field hockey, while hockey and soccer follow on subsequent days.
By Abigail Brooks ·
Eighty-one high school teams across Pennsylvania face elimination this week as the state's postseason schedules begin. The slate covers five sports and spans multiple classifications, with the first wave of games occurring on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Nov. 11.
Football action dominates the weekend. The WPIAL Division 6A semifinals feature Hempfield (6-4) against Central Catholic (9-0) at U.S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green. That game is set for 7 p.m. Friday. North Allegheny (5-5) travels to Canonsburg to face Canon-McMillan (5-5) at AHN Field at the same time.
Lower classification football games also take place Friday. In Division 5A quarterfinals, Penn-Trafford (10-0) hosts Thomas Jefferson (8-2) at 7 p.m. Upper St. Clair (10-0) takes on Armstrong (7-4) in another Division 5A matchup. Division 4A semifinals include South Fayette (10-1) versus New Castle (8-3) at Central Valley.
Field hockey kicks off the week with PIAA first round games on Tuesday. In Division 3A, Villa Maria Academy (19-3) hosts Landisville Hempfield (17-5) at 2:15 p.m. Emmaus (23-0) faces Garnet Valley (16-5-1) at 5 p.m. Parkland (18-5-1) hosts Conestoga (19-2) at 6 p.m.
Division 2A hockey games follow the same Tuesday schedule. Crestwood (19-0-1) hosts Elizabethtown (17-6-1) at 4:30 p.m. Shady Side Academy (17-0) takes on Red Land (17-4-1) at 5:30 p.m. Gwynedd Mercy (14-8) plays Garden Spot (16-5-1) at 2:15 p.m.
Hockey results from Monday show close competition in the PIAA. Central Catholic defeated Thomas Jefferson 3-2 in Division 3A. Pine-Richland beat North Allegheny 3-2 in overtime. Upper St. Clair won 7-2 against Latrobe. In Division 2A, Bethel Park won 7-2 over Norwin and Fox Chapel defeated Moon 5-2.
Soccer playoffs begin Tuesday for some divisions and Wednesday for others. Boys Division 3A features Conrad Weiser (20-1-1) at Midd-West (18-2) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Boys Division 4A games start Wednesday, with Conestoga (18-0-3) hosting Northeastern York (13-4-4) at 6 p.m.
Girls soccer schedules mirror the boys with specific first round dates. Division 3A girls play Tuesday, with Conrad Weiser (20-1) at Blue Mountain (14-2-2) at 6 p.m. Division 4A girls games occur Wednesday, including Council Rock North (15-4-3) at Nazareth (24-0) at 6 p.m.
Volleyball concludes the first round schedule with games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Girls Division 5A plays Tuesday, with Penn-Trafford (18-1) at Exeter Township (16-3) at 5 p.m. Division 6A games occur Wednesday, featuring State College (16-0) hosting West Lawn Wilson (21-2) at 6 p.m.
