2025 WPIAL high school football playoff first-round matchups in each bracket

(File Photo of the WPIAL Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The 2025 WPIAL high school football playoffs kicks off this week as the first round in all six classes will start the journey to a WPIAL championship for each team that has qualified. Here are all the first round matchups that were revealed today with bold indicating the matchups of the Beaver Valley teams competing for their respective WPIAL championships, which will all take place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh:

Class 6A

#4 Canon-McMillan vs #1 Central Catholic (Location to be Determined, 11/07/25 at 7 p.m.)

#3 Norwin at #2 North Allegheny (11/07/25 at 7 p.m.)

Class 5A

#1 Pine-Richland (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#9 Kiski Area at #8 Shaler, (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#4 Penn-Trafford (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#12 Armstrong at #5 Moon Area (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#2 Peters Township (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#10 North Hills at #7 Bethel Park (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#3 Woodland Hills (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#11 Plum at #6 Upper St. Clair (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

Class 4A

#8 Chartiers Valley at #1 McKeesport (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#5 Mars at #4 Thomas Jefferson (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#7 Aliquippa at #2 Trinity (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#6 Montour at #3 New Castle (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

Class 3A

#1 Avonworth (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#9 Beaver Area at #8 Freeport (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#4 Elizabeth Forward (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#12 Burrell vs #5 North Catholic (Location to be Determined, 10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#2 Imani Christian (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#10 Hopewell at #7 Southmoreland (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#3 Central Valley (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#11 Derry at #6 Highlands (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#12 Beaver Falls at #5 Washington (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#2 Western Beaver (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#10 Riverside at #7 Apollo-Ridge (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#3 Steel Valley (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#11 Keystone Oaks at No. 6 Ellwood City

Class 2A

#1 Seton LaSalle (First-Round Bye), will host the winner of,

#9 OLSH at #8 Mohawk (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#13 Waynesburg Central at #4 South Allegheny

Class 1A

#16 Avella at #1 Fort Cherry (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#9 Neshannock at #8 Leechburg (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#13 Jefferson-Morgan at #4 Laurel (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#12 Chartiers-Houston at #5 South Side (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#15 Monessen at #2 Clairton (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#10 Jeannette at #7 Bentworth (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#14 Greensburg Central Catholic at #3 Bishop Canevin (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

#11 Frazier at #6 California (10/31/25 at 7 p.m.)

Hopewell High School football ends the longest-standing WPIAL playoff drought in the Beaver Valley at thirteen years

(File Photo of the Hopewell Area School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Cranberry Township, PA) Even though Hopewell High School’s football team lost to North Catholic High School 44-36 on Friday on the road in Cranberry Township, they broke their thirteen-year WPIAL playoff drought, which was the longest in the Beaver Valley. The Vikings finished the 2025 high school football season with a 6-4 record overall and a 2-4 record in the WPIAL 3A West Hills Conference, but still clinched a wild card spot as the #10 seed in the WPIAL 3A bracket. This is the first time since 2012 that Hopewell High School has reached the high school playoffs, and since their current head coach Matt Mottes got hired as their interim head coach in 2024, they have had one .500 season and two winless seasons since 2013. Hopewell will travel to Alverton, Pennsylvania to take on the #7 seed Southmoreland High School Scotties on Friday, October 31st at 7 p.m. Southmoreland is 9-1 overall with a 4-1 record in the WPIAL 3A Interstate Conference.

Borough of Conway given $10,000 Thriving Communities Grant from Norfolk Southern for two parks

(File Photo of the Visit Beaver County Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Conway, PA) Two parks in Conway will now be expected to get some updates thanks to a $10,000 Thriving Communities Grant courtesy of Norfolk Southern. The borough of Conway announced in September that they received this money and they will use these funds for three purposes: the building of a new pavilion at Buttermore Park, the installation of two new picnic tables at the Conway Borough Building Park and during next spring, the refreshing of the mulch at both parks. According to Norfolk Southern, the Thriving Communities Grant contributes to projects and programs in Norfolk Southern’s operating area that help communities with long-term recovery assistance, offer support for mental health needs, preserve community history and culture and beautify its public spaces.

Commemoration ceremony in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh will remember the victims of the 2018 Tree of Life Congregation synagogue shooting seven years later

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Police respond to an active shooter situation at the Tree of Life synagogue on Wildins Avenue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pa., on Saturday, October 27, 2018. (Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Today is the seven-year anniversary of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in the history of the United States, when forty-six-year-old Robert Gregory Bowers shot and killed eleven people and wounded six others at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. A commemoration ceremony this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community center in Squirrel Hill will remember the victims of that October 27th, 2018 attack. There will also be prayer and song, as well as a speech from a keynote speaker who was a Pittsburgh police commander at the time of the shooting, Jason Lando. Bowers was arrested at the scene of the shooting after being shot multiple times by police and he was charged with sixty-three federal crimes, with some of them being capital crimes. Even though Bowers pleaded not guilty on November 1st, 2018, he was found guilty on all counts on June 16th, 2023 and was then sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Michael Barny Kerr (1964-2025)

Michael Barny Kerr, 61, of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at home on October 19th, 2025, surrounded by his four children and granddaughter who loved him dearly.

He was born on May 29th, 1964, a son of the late Martin E. Kerr Sr. and Hazel F. Kerr. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother, Geraldine Kerr; his infant grandson, Isaiah Joseph Kerr, his infant sister, Anita Elaine Kerr, his sister, Anita Lynn Leport, his brother, Martin E. Kerr Jr. and his nephew, Mikey Lee Goehring II. He is survived by his children, Michael Kerr Jr. of Weirton, West Virginia, Sheila Kerr of Beaver Falls, Krista Kerr of New Brighton and Mitchael (Leslee) Kerr of Beaver Falls. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Samuel Kerr, Sadie Battalini, Paige Blackburn, Alexander Kinkade, Raelynn Kerr, and Semyiah Kerr; as well as his sisters Rita (Dennis) Rape and Juanita (David) Beaver, his aunt, Linda Delauter (James Caserta) and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He lived life his own way: full of grit, laughter, and love. In his younger years, he could often be found up on a roof or hanging drywall, working hard and taking pride in every job. When the workday ended, he enjoyed socializing, whether at a local bar, sitting around a backyard fire at his home, or spending time with family and friends sharing good stories and great conversations.

A true scrapper at heart, Mike knew his metals better than most folks know their own neighborhoods. He could spot value in anything, a skill that reflected how he saw life: always finding worth and meaning in unexpected places.

Mike had a few sayings that summed him up perfectly:

> “A man is only as good as his word.”

“Believe nothing you hear and half what you see.”

“If you’re not early, you’re late.”

He lived by those words every day — honest, sharp, and true to himself. He also had a lifelong love for junk food, which he enjoyed with humor and absolutely no guilt.

Family meant everything to Mike. Whether it was big get-togethers, quiet nights at home, or just being there when someone needed him, he showed his love through loyalty, laughter, and hard work. He leaves behind a legacy of strong values, quick wit, and a heart that never stopped giving.

Though he may be gone from sight, his voice, his laughter, and his wisdom will echo forever in the hearts of those who knew him. In his honor, grab a snack, share a laugh, and remember to keep your word — Mike sure always did.

Upon his request, there will be no funeral arrangements. The funeral home that took care of him was Simpson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.

Joseph Michael Sikora (1959-2025)

Joseph Michael Sikora, 66, of Chippewa, passed away peacefully on October 24th, 2025, at Good Samaritan Hospice in Warrendale, Pennsylvania.

He was born on September 21st, 1959. He was born and raised in Monongahela. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Viola (Tabory) Sikora. He is survived by his loving wife, Georgiann Speelman, children, grandchildren, two sisters, Bernadette (Dennis) Noel and Michelle (Derek) Freed and numerous nieces and nephews. In 1985, Joseph married his beloved wife, Georgiann Speelman, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Monongahela. Together, they raised four children: Michael Sikora, Kelsey (Drew) Snyder, Christopher Sikora, and Maggie Sikora (Colton). Joseph was also a proud grandfather to six grandchildren: Kayden Sikora, Sophia Sikora, Bryson, Sage, Weston, and Waylon Beighley. His greatest joy in life was being a husband, father, and grandfather, and he deeply valued the bonds of family, teaching his loved ones the importance of hard work, integrity, and togetherness.

Joseph graduated from Mon Valley Catholic High School in 1978. His strong work ethic and sharp intellect led him to a successful 40-year career in the nuclear industry, starting as a nuclear reactor operator at the age of 21. Throughout his career, he earned a reputation for dedication and excellence, always putting his family first with his steadfast commitment to his work.

He cherished spending Sunday afternoons at his mother’s house, surrounded by family, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers. The “bad call brick,” a humorous family tradition, symbolized the spirited and close-knit nature of their gatherings. Joseph was also an avid fan of Jimmy Buffett, and his music became the soundtrack for many summers spent with friends and family by the pool in his backyard.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Good Samaritan Hospice for the compassionate care they provided during Joseph’s final days.

A Celebration of Joseph’s life with his family will occur on Tuesday, October 28th from 1 -3 p.m. and 5 – 7 p.m. at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, who was in charge of his arrangements and where a private blessing service will take place.

Lisa Z. Veltri (1964-2025)

Lisa Z. Veltri, 61, of Baden, passed away on October 24th, 2025. She was born on March 3rd, 1964, the beloved daughter of the late Pasquale and Zynita (Morini) Veltri. She is survived by her brother, Kenneth Veltri and by many cousins from the Veltri family residing in Canada, Morini family, and the Damiano family.

Lisa graduated from Hopewell High School and went on to earn her master’s degree from Geneva College. She dedicated her career to working with children with special needs, offering them kindness, patience and encouragement throughout her life. She will be remembered for her generous spirit, her love of gardening, and her joy in baking for family and friends. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Baden Academy Charter School, North Hills Hospice, and the Hillman Cancer Center for their compassion and care.

The burial for Lisa will be private. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alvarez-Hahn Funeral and Cremation Services, LLC, 547 8th Street, Ambridge.

Woman from East Liverpool, Ohio arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in Greene Township

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Greene Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that thirty-three-year-old Katelynn Heddleston of East Liverpool, Ohio was arrested on the early morning of September 29th2025 for driving under the influence of drugs in Greene Township. Heddleston was stopped by police during a traffic stop on 1318 State Route 168 at 1:24 a.m. and was arrested and taken to jail because of an active warrant out of Ohio. The charges against Heddleston are pending.

Ellwood City woman arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in Aliquippa

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today that forty-year-old Jeanne Blubaugh of Ellwood City was arrested on the early morning of September 27th, 2025 for driving under the influence of drugs in Aliquippa. Blubaugh was stopped by police during a traffic stop on the 1000 block of Main Street at 2:11 a.m. and she was arrested during the stop for driving under the influence. The charges against Blubaugh are pending. 

Aliquippa woman arrested for possessing drugs and driving under the influence in Aliquippa

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release on Saturday that forty-two-year-old Melissa Mulig of Aliquippa was arrested for possessing drugs in Aliquippa on the night of September 29th, 2025. Mulig was stopped by police during a traffic stop on the 2600 block of Broadhead Road at 7:16 p.m. and was arrested during the stop for both driving under the influence and drug possession. The charges against Mulig are pending.