Mar 12, 2026 By John Sacco 5 min read

Avella High School is neighbor to Burgettstown and Fort Cherry.

Yet, when the WPIAL football steering committee came to moving a Class A Tri-County South Conference team to the Black Hills Conference – where Burgettstown and Fort Cherry reside – it was Bentworth that was sent packing.

The WPIAL’s two-year football realignment, beginning this fall, along with schedules were released Thursday morning by the league.

As always in such an undertaking there are both happy and sad faces. In the case of the Bearcats there is just plain disgust and confusion.

The move obviously has nothing to do with geography. So, what was it that has Bentworth traveling across Washington County rather than placing the Eagles with their neighbors?

“I think one of the reasons there, the (committee) looked at geography first,” said Brian Geyer, the associate executive director of the WPIAL.

“You always want to keep close schools together because close schools are close competition. That leads to (good) gates and you want to keep rivalries and that stuff together. The next thing that they looked at as a committee was competitive balance. I think the committee really spent a lot of time, energy and effort into trying to do that as the best they possibly could. They look at historical data over the last two years and the last two cycles of what teams look like.”

At this point, it would be difficult to placate Bentworth.

“I can’t believe some of the distances we’re going to have to travel the next two years,” said Bearcats’ coach Don Pordash. “Being moved into that conference when (Avella is) right next door to those teams … it is what it is. If you want to be the best, you got to beat the best besides the traveling part. It is going to make it hard on Bentworth because of our bus schedules and things like that. We’re going to just have to overcome and make the best of it.

“I’m just really surprised at the alignment. I mean how do we build rivalries? We get moved around all the time. We’re right at the cut of Double-A. I would like an explanation but I’m not sure I won’t get one.”

Bentworth is not the only team on the move. Trinity moves from Class 4A to 5A. Waynesburg goes from 2A to 3A. McGuffey is down to 2-A while Chartiers-Houston moves from 2A to 3A and Belle Vernon goes from 4A back to 3A.

The move causing a great deal of chatter is Washington dropping to Class A from 2A.

The Little Prexies join Bentworth, Brentwood, Burgettstown, Fort Cherry, Monessen and Sto-Rox in the Black Hills.

“I thought that it would make a lot of sense,” veteran Washington coach Mike Bosnic said. “I wasn’t surprised. Nowadays, it’s not hard to get film on opponents. We’re going to be playing a challenging schedule and the kids are excited. They’re really excited.”

Conferences

In addition to the Black Hills, here are the following are conferences that local schools will compete in during 2026 and 2027 seasons:

Canon-McMillan will battle Central Catholic, Hempfields, Mount Lebanon, North Allegheny, Norwin and Seneca Valley in Class 6-A.

In 5A, the Allegheny 6 will consist of Bethel Park, Peters Township, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity, Upper St. Clair and West Allegheny.

Ringgold is on the move in 4A Section 3 that includes Albert Gallatin, Chartiers Valley, Laurel Highlands, South Fayette and Uniontown. Both Albert Gallatin and Uniontown have rejoined the WPIAL after playing independent schedules.

In 3-A, Section 1 has Belle Vernon and Waynesburg along with Derry, Elizabeth Forward, Greensburg Salem, Mount Pleasant and Southmoreland.

Chartiers-Houston and McGuffey will battle Bishop Canevin, Carlynton, Keystone Oaks, Quaker Valley and Seton LaSalle in the Class 2A Century Conference. Charleroi is the lone Washington County team in the 2A Interstate Conference that includes Apollo-Ridge, Brownsville, East Allegheny, Ligonier Valley, South Allegheny and Steel Valley.

The Class A Tri-County South Conference will include Avella, Beth-Center, California, Carmichaels, Frazier, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene.

“We just embrace it,” said Trinity coach Dan Knause. “We embrace competition. It’s who we are as a program and, honestly, we we look at it as great challenges and beautiful opportunities. We know it’s going to be a grind week in and week out, but we wouldn’t want it any other way.

“We just focus on ourselves and we have to have that same mentality. We challenge our guys to be the best versions of themselves every day because that’s what it’s going to take. I’m excited. It’s great. We’re playing in the best conference in the state.”

As for Ringgold’s new digs, coach Robert Heller said: “I’m glad we got put in that conference. I think it’s winnable. South Fayette is going to be South Fayette. But I thought we’d be in it and I’m excited to be there. I like our chances for sure.”

Crossovers

The WPIAL did setup some interesting non-conference games, including Trinity at Canon-McMillan (Sept. 4), Peters Township at South Fayette (Sept. 11), California at Fort Cherry (Sept. 4), Frazier at Monessen (Sept. 11), Fort Cherry at Laurel (Sept. 11), South Allegheny at Washington (Sept. 4) and Clairton at Washington (Sept. 25).

Notes

California opens at home with Mohawk, Fort Cherry and hosts Washington. The Prexies open the season at nemesis Steel Valley. . . The WPIAL has not set postseason parameters and must wait for the PIAA brackets, which takes three readings. Geyer said the WPIAL playoffs dates and formats should be known around the end of the current school year.