What to watch for in WPIAL sports on October 16, 2024: Watch the football playoff matchup show on Trib HSSN

From: Don Rebel

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | 11:40 p.m

The postseason can't begin without a little bracketology.

The 2024 WPIAL football playoffs are scheduled to begin Saturday and continue with the eight championship games scheduled for Oct. 31 through Nov. 31. 2 at Highmark Stadium in Station Square.

Tournament schedules for the four boys' and four girls' tournaments will be announced Wednesday afternoon.

The boys will have 63 teams and two preliminary round games, one each in 3A and A.

Three of the four defending champions qualified: Norwin in 4A, South Park in 2A and Bentworth in A, looking to win more gold. Only South Fayette in 3A did not qualify after winning a district crown in 2023.

There are 61 teams taking part in the girls' competition, although only one preliminary round competition is planned for Class A.

All four 2023 winners are back in search of gold, even if a new champion is crowned in 4A.

Last year's 4A winner, Fox Chapel, is now in 3A, in the same field as that classification's champion 12 months ago, South Fayette.

Avonworth in 2A and Freedom in A are back in the championship hunt. The Antelopes are looking for their fourth straight WPIAL title while the Bulldogs are looking for a three-peat.

We'll be presenting the WPIAL Soccer Playoff Pairings Show on Wednesday at 1 p.m. here on TribHSSSN.TribLive.com

Team tennis, take 3

After being postponed twice due to wet weather, the WPIAL girls' tennis semifinals will be held Wednesday afternoon at neutral sites.

In Class 3A, the top three seeds and No. 5 advanced to the final four.

Top seed Mt. Lebanon will play No. 1 at Sewickley Academy's Nichols Court. 5 Fox Chapel compete.

The Blue Devils defeated Baldwin and Pine-Richland to advance, while the Foxes beat Mars before defeating No. 4 Upper St. Clair 3-2 in the quarterfinals.

Defending champion and No. 3 seed Bethel Park will face No. 2 seed Shady Side Academy in Chartiers Valley.

The Black Hawks eliminated Thomas Jefferson and Peters Township, while the Bulldogs won over Norwin and North Allegheny.

As far as seeding goes, the same situation has occurred in 2A as in 3A, with the top three seeds and No. 5 advancing to the third round.

Top-seeded North Catholic will face No. 5 Oakland Catholic at Shady Side Academy.

The Trojans beat Ellwood City and Winchester Thurston to advance, while the Eagles fell to Greensburg Central Catholic and No. 4 Sewickley Academy got past and made the final four.

In the other game, No. 2 Hampton faces No. 3 Quaker Valley in North Allegheny.

The Talbots defeated Lincoln Park and Beaver to reach the semifinals, while the Quakers made it with wins over South Park and Indiana.

All four games start at 3 p.m

The winners will qualify for the championships, now scheduled for Thursday at the Janet L. Swanson Tennis Center at Washington & Jefferson College.