Jack Miles first role with the Laurel football program was as an eager observer. Jack's grandfather, George, led the Spartans from 1982 to 2003 and compiled a record of 201-128-4.

George led Laurel to its only WPIAL title in 1980. Jack used to go and sit and watch practice when he was 3-years-old.

"I have been around football my entire life," said Jack, who rushed for 109 yards in the Spartans' upset win over Fort Cherry last Friday. "I have always been passionate about football, so there wasn't really a time or age I wasn't interested. I would always talk to my dad and grandfather about how I wanted to be as big or as good as the football players."

Jack and his Laurel teammates will have an opportunity to leave a new chapter in the program's legacy when it takes on No. 2 seed Clairton at 11 a.m. Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. George and Jack's dad, Ryan, are assistant coaches for the Spartans.

Making trips to Pittsburgh's North Shore to play for titles has been a tradition for his family.

In 1989, Laurel and Clairton met at Three Rivers Stadium for the Class A crown. Ryan, played for George in that game. The Bears came away with a 27-20 win. Clairton was quarterbacked that day by Wayne Wade, who is now the Bears long-time head coach.

George's lone WPIAL title win also came against Clairton in 1980, but the Spartans' 14-12 win was played at Mt. Lebanon High School. 

"It's was a blessing to be able to have my family as coaches," Jack said. "Not just for them to see my become successful, but also for them to push me even farther to be this successful."

The Spartans earned their spot with a balanced offensive effort in a 24-14 semifinal win over the two-time defending WPIAL champion Rangers. Laurel didn't have any negative plays and used all of their backs to move the ball methodically down the field.

​Jack, who recovered a fumble in addition to scoring on a 33-yard rush in the third quarter, said Laurel didn't go overboard in celebrating an upset win. Fort Cherry had won 40 consecutive games against WPIAL opponents.

"I didn't do anything special after the game because the job is not done," Jack said. "Our goal was to win the WPIAL championship and Fort Cherry was a boulder we had to climb. I look forward to the community coming and watching such a big game."

Clairton (12-1) is another boulder in a similar size to Fort Cherry. The Bears made the WPIAL final last year and lost a one-point heartbreaker. Clairton has the second-most championships in the district's history with 14, but haven't raised a trophy since 2019.

The Bears' defense is led by sophomore linebacker Brandon Murphy, who has drawn Division I interest. Clairton (12-1) lost its season opener to Imani Christian before shutting out its next nine opponents. The Bears' defense hasn't looked quite so invincible in the WPIAL playoffs.

In the quarterfinals and semifinals, the Bears allowed 33 and 22 points, respectively. Clairton only conceded 19 points in the regular season.

Jack is excited for the challenge ahead. There is still work left to be done.

"When it comes to playing for Laurel, I think of it like repaying the people that helped me throughout my life," Miles said.

Seton La Salle, Steel Valley eager to get back on top
The Rebels had one of the most difficult offseasons in recent memory. Seton LaSalle thought Southmoreland transfer Anthony Smith may start at quarterback. Then his eligibility was denied.

The Rebels were set to have Khalil Taylor and Trey Littlejohn return at wide receiver. They transferred to Pine-Richland and Penn Hills, respectively. After losing its season opener to North Catholic, the Rebels haven't lost since, displaying an explosive offense.

Steel Valley is led by Pitt recruit Da'Ron Barksdale. Read about the game in my preview for the Tribune Review.

Can the Avonworth train be derailed?
The Antelopes have a strong argument to be in the top five pound-for-pound teams in the WPIAL. There is a thought that Avonworth, which came close to winning the state title last season, may be capable of making another run to Mechanicsburg.

The Antelopes (12-0) have been outscoring opponents by an average margin of 42-10. Avonworth went on the road and beat WPIAL Class 4A champion Aliquippa and has another win over perennial power Thomas Jefferson. Antelopes quarterback Carson Bellinger threw for 1,934 yards and and 26 touchdowns.

Dimitri Velisaris has been the Antelopes' top running back, picking up 1,449 yards on the ground. The Antelopes will seek their fourth WPIAL crown and to go back-to-back for the first time in program history against Imani Christian.

The Saints (12-0) were undefeated last season when Avonworth knocked them out in the WPIAL semifinals. Imani should be a worth challenger. The Saints have outscored their opponents by an average margin of 49-7. Gabe Jenkins, who decommitted from Penn State after James Franklin was let go, has passed for 1,646 yards and thrown for 29 touchdowns against five interceptions.

Jenkins has also rushed for 1,357 yards. David Davis, another player who has drawn Division I interest, has 515 receiving yards.

Pine-Richland, Peters Township set to square off again
There is a real argument to be made that Class 5A has been the most balanced division in the WPIAL since the PIAA chose to expand to six classes in 2016. But Pine-Richland and Peters Township have risen to the top of the heap. This will be the third consecutive year the two programs meet in the finals and the fourth time overall.

Pine-Richland won last year's matchup 20-9. The Rams also beat the Indians in 2020 and 2022. Peters Township is 1-3 in in the 5A title games, with their lone win coming in a 43-17 win over Pine-Richland in 2023.

The Rams are 11-1 this season, with their lone defeat coming at the hands of 6A state title contender Pittsburgh Central Catholic. The Indians (12-0) are undefeated. Pine-Richland is loaded with stars, including Jay Timmons, the son of former Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who recently committed to Ohio State.

Taylor is one of the top-recruited juniors in the country. Pine-Richland quarterback Aaron "Oobi" Strader has also put up good numbers.

Peters Township is led by quarterback Nolan DiLucia, who has passed for 2,449 yards and 22 touchdowns. Cole Neupaver has rushed for 1,314 yards. The Indians defense is led by Pitt commit Reston Lehman. This should be a worthy nightcap for the four-game Saturday slate.

Josh Rizzo is the editor of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

HOPEWELL TWP - Laurel coach Brian Cooper, according to a nearby family member shouting after the game, was celebrating his birthday on Saturday morning. It's hard to believe that Cooper would be able to sleep after leading the Spartans to an upset win over Fort Cherry, 24-14, Friday night.

The Spartans stopped a 40-game winning streak the Rangers had against WPIAL competition. Laurel out physicaled Fort Cherry to punch its ticket to the WPIAL Class 1A final for the first time since 1989. Cooper indicated that the Spartans were taking a calm approach to heading to Acrisure Stadium and taking on Clairton.

"We're exited for the opportunity," Cooper said. "We're going to enjoy tonight. We're going to refocus."

Laurel (12-1) didn't have to completely shut out Fort Cherry quarterback Matt Sieg. The Spartans just needed to bottle him up as much as possible. Laurel allowed Sieg to rush for 152 yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground, but didn't allow Fort Cherry to score in the second half.

"Matt Sieg is a 4-four star, hell of a player," Laurel linebacker Jack Miles said. "But he's human and he's going to make mistakes just like we all are."

Imani Christian and Avonworth set for star-powered final
The Saints were undefeated last year when Imani met with Avonworth in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals. The Antelopes, who lost four times during the regular season, didn't appear like a threat to Imani. But Avonworth heated up in the playoffs, knocking off the Saints 14-6 and made a run all the way to the PIAA final.

This time around, Avonworth (11-0) will be a heavy favorite to beat Imani. The Antelopes have blown by every team they've run into, including a 44-24 win over North Catholic in the semifinals. Avonworth is led by Dimitri Velisaris, who averages 7.7 yards per carry and has run for 1,348 yards.

The Antelopes also have a reliable quarterback in Carson Bellinger, who has thrown for 25 touchdowns against one interception. Imani Christian has North Carolina commit David Davis and highly-sought after Gabe Jenkins to power their offense. Davis ran for 242 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Saints' semifinal win over Montour.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

​MURRYSVILLE - Semaj Robinson took what Plum football coach Matt Morgan said to heart. Before what turned out to be Franklin Regional's final drive of the first half, Robinson was challenged to do better.

The way Robinson responded -- and how Plum handed adversity during a 42-13 road win over Franklin Regional Friday night -- may be an indicator for which direction the Mustangs are headed. Plum finished last season 2-8 and weren't a major player in the WPIAL Class 5A playoff picture. 

Robinson intercepted Franklin Regional sophomore quarterback Dom Devola in the endzone before halftime to slam the Panthers' momentum to a halt. Plum was ahead 21-0 and Robinson made sure it stayed that way with a leaping grab.

​"Last drive, I got in trouble because I wasn't trying my hardest," Robinson said. "In practice, I know I can be better. That gave me more motivation to get the pick."

Plum (1-0) took risks throughout the first half. The Mustangs saw the good and bad sides of taking chances. Plum's first gamble, on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line on the game's opening possession, ended with a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Nonnenberg to Brendan Marsten.

"We wanted to get the ball early and score early," Morgan said. "We wanted to control the game from the start. That's how we wanted to approach this whole night. I thought we gave it to them on both sides of the ball."

The second time Plum went for it on fourth down, running back Elijah Jackson was stacked up an inch short on fourth and one. The Mustangs' offense was effective at pulling them out of the hole.

The Mustangs' first-half success allowed Plum to survive a second-half swoon. The Panthers cut the lead to 21-13 toward the end of the third quarter, but Plum responded with 21 unanswered points to pull away.
​
"We had to respond on offense," Morgan said. "We had a guy miss a line on the kickoff. That's why they got the ball back. We knew they were going there to and the guy didn't shift. We bounced back and finished the game."

Clairton has special night spoiled

Tyler Boyd made the trek back to hometown to see his alma mater, Clairton, open the stadium that now bears his name with an interesting matchup with Imani Christian. The Bears scored the opening touchdown before allowing 19 consecutive points in a 19-12 loss to Imani Christian. The Saints (1-0) are viewed as the top contender for the WPIAL Class 3A crown.

Taris Wooding earned the honor of becoming the first player to score in the refurbished stadium, catching a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Thompson. David Davis and Gabe Jenkins -- both Penn State recruits -- scored touchdowns for the Saints.

Vikings return favor, stun Jeannette
The Jeannette Jayhawks snapped out of a midseason 3-game losing streak to make the WPIAL Class 1A semifinals this season. After a few years in the wilderness, people were thinking Jeannette had turned a corner. The Jayhawks, however, built a 23-0 lead before seeing it slip away against Mount Pleasant.

The Vikings had blown a lead against Jeannette last season, allowing a late touchdown pass in a loss. Mount Pleasant returned the favor by not allowing Jeanette to score in the final two quarters.

North Allegheny holds off Wolverines
Woodland Hills made it known that the Wolverines want to be serious players on the WPIAL stage during the preseason. North Allegheny had to score on fourth-and-goal with 50 seconds left to escape the Wolvarena with a 28-26 win.

Luke Rohan scored the game-winning touchdown for the Tigers. The game featured several lead changes and was a good choice for first game of the KDKA Kickoff Classic. Pittsburgh Central Catholic played in the night cap at the Wolvarena, dropping a 23-6 decision to La Salle College.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be sent to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.

 Clairton's football team appeared set to return to the WPIAL Class A summit last season. But the Bears had an injury to quarterback Jeffrey Thompson in the postseason. He wasn't able to throw the ball in the WPIAL Championship game, which played a key role in Clairton's loss to a talented Fort Cherry team.

The Bears will christen Tyler Boyd Stadium this Friday at 7 p.m. against Imani Christian. Clairton coach Wayne Wade said the new turf should make the Bears faster. Imani Christian, which also has its eyes set on WPIAL and PIAA gold, will be an excellent first test for both sides.

The Saints won their first 11 games last season before falling to eventual WPIAL champion Avonworth in the Class 3A finals. Imani brings back plenty of Division I talent in junior defensive back Gabe Jenkins, who is a four-star recruit and defensive back. Senior athlete David Davis has committed to Penn State.

Clairton, which finished 13-1 last season, shut out 10 of its 14 opponents last season. Sophomore linebacker Brandon Murphy has already drawn plenty of Division I interest. The Bears also return Thompson under center.

Here's a look at a few other games worth keeping an eye on for Week Zero:

Vikings Ready for Tough Test
La Salle College is seen as one of the handful of teams with a chance to knock St. Joseph's Prep off its perch as the PIAA's top team in Class 6A. Pittsburgh Central Catholic would like to throw its hat in that ring. The Vikings reached the 6A final before falling to St. Joseph's Prep last season.

The Vikings have plenty of beef returning up front. Matt Bowers, who is 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, Jimmy Kalis (6-7, 280) and Jon Sassic (6-6, 280) will provide protection up front. The Vikings have won a state title since 2015 when they beat St. Joseph's Prep in a Class 4A game to claim their fourth crown.

The Explorers turned heads last season by beating St. Joe's in the regular season. However, St. Joe's upended La Salle in the district playoffs. Explorers quarterback Gavin Sidwar will test Central Catholic's resolve. The Mizzou commit passed for 2,747 yards and 31 touchdowns last season.

Jeannette, Mt. Pleasant ready for rematch
The Jayhawks fought off a three-game slide toward the end of the regular season to reach the WPIAL Class A semifinals. Jeannette started last season with a bang. The Jayhawks erased a late deficit to stun Mt. Pleasant, 28-27, on a 74-yard touchdown catch by Jayce Powell with 3 minutes,15 seconds remaining.

Jeanette will bring back quarterback Kymone Brown and running back Eli Jones. Mt. Pleasant saw its roster swell to 60 players and is hoping to make a splash in Class 3A. The Vikings saw a major exodus in the backfield. Quarterback Cole Chatfield graduated and the Vikings lost three players from the program.

The two Westmoreland County rivals should produce another interesting contest.

Can Gateway get its groove back?
The Gators missed the playoffs last season, which was the first time in Don Holl's nine seasons leading the program. Gateway finished 3-7, but the Gators also were able to get freshman Elvis Koutsakis a year of experience under center. Koutsakis threw for 1,587 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The Gators will hit the road to take on State College, which won District 6 and reached the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals. The Little Lions are getting a boost this season as running back D'Ante Sheffey, who spent the last two seasons with Harrisburg returns to the program. Sheffey ran for 1,725 yards and scored 24 touchdowns as a freshman for the Little Lions.

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshrizzo.