Nov 6, 2025 By Jerin Steele 4 min read

The final week of the regular season did not go the way Wash High or South Allegheny football teams wanted and now they are facing off in the playoffs maybe sooner than expected.

Wash High lost to Seton LaSalle in the Century Conference championship game. South Allegheny saw its bid for an unbeaten season, and its chance to be a top seed, end with a loss to Steel Valley.

Both rebounded last week and now the fifth-seeded Prexies (9-2) and fourth-seeded Gladiators (10-1) play in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals at 7 p.m. tonight at Charleroi.

The Prexies beat Beaver Falls, 37-8, last Friday in the first round, which was a nice response after the disappointment of not winning a conference title.

Tristan Reed threw touchdown passes to Caleb Patton and Ameer Nelson and ran for two more scores. JaQuay Heyman added a 47-yard punt return for a touchdown and Jahvon Woods recorded a safety on a tackle in the end zone.

“We’re starting to get some guys back and get healthy,” Wash High coach Mike Bosnic said. “I thought the kids did a really good job last week preparing and played really well on Friday.”

South Allegheny, meanwhile, took out its frustrations on Waynesburg in the first round, securing a 61-13 victory.

It was the latest instance that the Gladiators have lit up the scoreboard this season. They’ve scored 60 or more points four times and more than 50 points on two other occasions.

South Allegheny is led by the Cook brothers, quarterback Alijah and receiver Drew.

Drew, a senior, is one of the top wide receivers in the WPIAL with 48 receptions, 803 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averages 16.7 yards per catch and is naturally the favorite target of his younger brother Alijah, a sophomore.

Alijah has thrown for 1,461 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first season as the starting quarterback.

Though the passing game is the bread and butter, the Gladiators balance it with a running game that features Joey Gamret, who has 884 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“They’re a really good team,” Bosnic said. “Offensively the Cook brothers are dynamic. (Drew) has a lot of receiving yards. They do have a balance attack and their running backs run hard.

“We just have to play fundamental, sound football. As always you have to take care of the ball and tackle well. We always feel like we can compete and be successful anytime we do those things.”

Wash High has used a balanced attack all season and expect that to continue tonight.

The offense is led by Reed, but there’s plenty of weapons around him.

Patton, Blaise Naraskivitch and Nelson have double-digit reception totals and Jamarie Walker, Nelson, Woods and Heyman have been splitting the carries at running back.

“I think it’s an advantage, because we have a lot of weapons and we can spread the ball around,” Bosnic said. “We try to do that every week and be unconventional for other teams to prepare for. It’s definitely something we want to continue to do.”

Two years ago, the Prexies made the semifinals and lost by two points to Beaver Falls. They’re one win away from getting back there, but will have to solve the Gladiators first.

“This group of seniors have been great and have really stepped up as leaders,” Bosnic said. “They deserve it and I would love to see that for them.”

Extra points

Canon-McMillan will try to pull the ultimate upset tonight when it faces Central Catholic (9-1) in the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals at West Mifflin.

The Big Macs (4-6) lost to the Vikings, 45-10, two weeks ago in the regular-season finale.

* Speaking of rematches, following a bye No. 2 Peters Township (10-0) hosts No. 7 Bethel Park (7-4) in a Class 5A quarterfinal. The Indians mercy ruled the Black Hawks, 35-0, at Bethel Park in the final night of the regular season.

* No. 12 Chartiers-Houston will look to keep its most successful season in a quarter century going with another upset. The Bucs (8-3) play Big 7 Conference champ and fourth-seeded Laurel (10-1) at West Allegheny in the Class A quarterfinals.

The Bucs already beat one Big 7 team last week in South Side Beaver and will try to do it again.

* No. 9 Neshannock (8-3) stands in the way of top-seeded Fort Cherry (11-0) and a third consecutive semifinals appearance. The two teams play at Beaver’s Gypsy Glen Stadium.

Neshannock is coming off an impressive 49-6 win at Leechburg in the first round, but has a 35-7 loss to South Side Beaver on its resume. Chartiers-Houston beat South Side Beaver last Friday. The Rangers had a 30-point victory over Chartiers-Houston earlier this season.