PIAA football


As of the 2022-2023 and the 2023-2024 school years, there are 555 high school football teams competing in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's '12 Districts'. Each district is divided into numerous leagues and conferences. Up until the end of the 2015-16 school year, there were only four classifications, ranging from Class A to Class AAAA. At the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, an update took place and the PIAA added two additional classifications, making six total.
The classifications range from Class A to Class AAAAAA. As of the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, the PIAA will have 95 A or class, 94 AA or class, 88 AAA or class, 92 AAAA or class, 98 AAAAA or class and 88 AAAAAA or class schools competing throughout the football season. Every two years, the PIAA reconfigures the classifications due to student population changes in Pennsylvania high schools.

PIAA Districts

The PIAA divides its schools into 12 districts for state championship competitions. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania belong to a distinct district. The district breakdown and the counties included are as follows:District I or District 1.District II or District 2.District III or District 3.District IV or District 4.District V or District 5.District VI or District 6.District VII or District 7.District VIII or District 8 District IX or District 9.District X or District 10.District XI or District 11.District XII or District 12 including Philadelphia Catholic League and Public League.

PIAA Teams

  • State Championships listed in Bold indicate State Champion, Non-bold indicates Runner-Up

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P

PIAA Champions 1988 to present

Class AAAAAA
Class AAAAA
Class AAAA
Class AAA
Class AA
Class A

Champions 1885 to 1987

The following list of championships happened prior to the creation of the current PIAA playoff format which was created in 1988. Prior to the current playoff format, high school football championships was based on the Saylor System. This system was a points system and no playoffs occurred from 1885 until 1987.
  • 1887 Germantown Academy
  • 1888 Haverford School
  • 1889 William Penn Charter
  • 1890 Haverford School, William Penn Charter
  • 1891 Haverford School
  • 1892 Hill School
  • 1893 Germantown Academy
  • 1894 Hill School
  • 1895 Hill School
  • 1896 Cheltenham Military Academy
  • 1897 Hill School
  • 1898 Germantown Academy
  • 1899 Hill School
  • 1900 Hill School
  • 1901 Hill School
  • 1902 Haverford School
  • 1903 Easton
  • 1904 Hill School
  • 1905 Williamsport
  • 1906 Steelton-Highspire
  • 1907 Shamokin
  • 1908 Williamsport
  • 1909 Central
  • 1910 Williamsport
  • 1911 Greensburg Salem
  • 1912 Central
  • 1913 Reading
  • 1914 Wilkinsburg
  • 1915 Central
  • 1916 Wilkinsburg
  • 1917 Easton
  • 1918 Harrisburg Tech
  • 1919 Harrisburg Tech
  • 1920 Greensburg Salem
  • 1921 Rochester
  • 1922 Wilkinsburg
  • 1923 Harrisburg Tech
  • 1924 New Castle
  • 1925 Easton
  • 1926 Schenley
  • 1927 Greensburg Salem
  • 1928 William Penn
  • 1929 Clairton, Greensburg Salem
  • 1930 John Harris
  • 1931 Shenandoah Valley
  • 1932 Jeanette
  • 1933 New Castle
  • 1934 Liberty
  • 1935 North Braddock Scott
  • 1936 McKeesport
  • 1937 North Braddock Scott
  • 1938 Hazleton
  • 1939 Easton
  • 1940 Brownsville
  • 1941 Johnstown
  • 1942 Clairton, New Castle, Wilkinsburg
  • 1943 Brownsville
  • 1944 Donora
  • 1945 Donora
  • 1946 Altoona, Brownsville
  • 1947 New Kensington
  • 1948 Steelton-Highspire
  • 1949 New Castle
  • 1950 Williamsport
  • 1951 Farrell
  • 1952 Aliquippa
  • 1953 Har-Brack
  • 1954 Brownsville, Williamsport
  • 1955 Aliquippa
  • 1956 Jeanette, Williamsport
  • 1957 Wilkinsburg
  • 1958 Mt. Lebanon
  • 1959 Charleroi
  • 1960 Beaver Falls
  • 1961 Monessen
  • 1962 John Harris
  • 1963 Washington
  • 1964 Central Catholic
  • 1965 Uniontown
  • 1966 John Harris
  • 1967 New Castle
  • 1968 Latrobe
  • 1969 John Harris
  • 1970 Mt. Lebanon
  • 1971 Kiski
  • 1972 Gateway
  • 1973 State College
  • 1974 Gateway, Pennsbury, Upper St. Clair
  • 1975 New Castle, Upper St. Clair
  • 1976 Penn Hills
  • 1977 Penn Hills
  • 1978 Steelton-Highspire
  • 1979 Penn Hills
  • 1980 Central Bucks West
  • 1981 Mt. Lebanon
  • 1982 Cumberland Valley, Steelton-Highspire, Steel Valley
  • 1983 Berwick
  • 1984 Owen J. Roberts
  • 1985 North Hills
  • 1986 Gateway
  • 1987 Central Bucks West, North Hills

Non-PIAA Schools

The following schools are not recognized by the PIAA as of the 2018-19 school year.
SchoolTeamCity/TownCountyClassColorsDistrictConference/LeagueState Championships
Academy of the New ChurchLionsBryn AthynMontgomeryAAA scarlet & whiteIndependence Conference
Episcopal AcademyChurchmenNewtown SquareDelawareAAA blue & whiteInter-Academic League
George SchoolCougarsNewtownBucksAAAA green & whiteIndependence Conference
Germantown AcademyPatriotsFort WashingtonMontgomeryAA black & redInter-Academic League
Haverford SchoolFords[Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Haverford Township]DelawareAAAA maroon & goldInter-Academic League
Hill SchoolRamsPottstownMontgomery blue & grayMid-Atlantic Prep League
Malvern PrepFriarsMalvernChesterAAAAA blue & silverInter-Academic League
Mercersburg AcademyBlue StormMercersburgFranklin blue & whiteMid-Atlantic Prep League
Perkiomen SchoolPanthersPennsburgMontgomeryAAA purple & goldIndependence Conference
Springside Chestnut Hill AcademyBlue DevilsPhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaAAA blue, l. blue & whiteInter-Academic League
Valley Forge Military AcademyTrojansWayneDelawareA scarlet & whiteKeystone State 8-man Football League
William Penn CharterQuakersPhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaAA blue & goldInter-Academic League
Wyoming Seminary College PrepBlue KnightsKingstonLuzerneA blue & whiteFreelance Conference

Cooperative Football Teams

The following schools have co-oped with another school in high school football competition.
SchoolCity/TownCountyCo-op school
Allegheny-Clarion ValleyFoxburgClarionUnion
Bishop CarrollEbensburgCambria Bishop McCort
Blacklick ValleyNanty-GloCambriaUnited
Carson Long Military AcademyNew BloomfieldPerrySusquenita
ClarionClarionClarionClarion-Limestone
Clarion-LimestoneStrattanvilleClarionClarion
East JuniataMcAlistervilleJuniataTri-Valley
FerndaleFerndaleCambriaConemaugh Valley
Geibel CatholicConnellsvilleFayetteSouthmoreland
JohnsonburgJohnsonburgElkRidgway
MillersburgMillersburgDauphinUpper Dauphin
Nazareth PrepEmsworthAlleghenyCornell
Oswayo ValleyShinglehousePotterOtto-Eldred
West MiddlesexWest MiddlesexMercerSharpsville
WilkinsburgPittsburghAlleghenyWestinghouse
WilliamsburgWilliamsburgBlairJuniata Valley
YoungsvilleYoungsvilleWarrenWarren

Program drops

The following schools have decided to stop or temporarily cancel the high school football program as of the 2018-19 season.
SchoolTeamCity/TownCountyPast ClassColorsPast DistrictPast Conference/LeagueState Championships
Calvary Christian AcademyCougarsPhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaA blue & whiteDistrict IBicentennial League
Delaware County ChristianKnightsNewtown SquareDelawareA d. green, white & blackDistrict IBicentennial League
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High SchoolRed RaidersShamokinNorthumberlandA red & whiteDistrict IVAll American Football Conference
Prep CharterHuskiesPhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaAAA blue & goldDistrict XIIPhiladelphia Public - National Conference
RockwoodRocketsRockwoodSomersetA red, white & grayDistrict VWestern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference
Saint Joseph's Catholic AcademyWolvesBoalsburgCentreA blue & orangeDistrict VIIndependence Conference
ShadePanthersCairnbrookSomersetA navy & goldDistrict VWestern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference
Vincentian AcademyRoyalsPittsburghAlleghenyA blue & goldDistrict VIIFreelance League

Past Schools/Teams

SchoolTeamCity/TownCountyClassColorsClosed/MergedState Championships
Bishop HobanArgentWilkes-BarreLuzerneAA green & gold2007 closed
Bishop McDevitt (Wyncote)Royal LancersWyncoteMontgomeryAA black & gold2021 closed
BlairsvilleBobcatsBlairsvilleIndianaA orange & blackmerged with Saltsburg and became River Valley
Cardinal Brennan High SchoolChargersAshlandSchuylkillAnavy blue & vegas gold2007 Closed
Cavalry Christian AcademyCougarsPhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaA blue & white2017 closed
Central TechFalconsErieErieAAAAA black & gold2018 merged w/Erie
DuquesneDukesDuquesneAlleghenyA red & blue2007 closedState Champions 1993 - runner up 2005
East (Erie)WarriorsErieErieAAAAA scarlet, silver & white2018 merged w/Erie
Elmer L. MeyersMohawksWilkes-BarreLuzerneAAA blue & goldclosed 2021
Ford CitySabersFord CityArmstrongAA purple & gold2016 merged w/Armstrong
GAR MemorialGrenadiersWilkes-BarreLuzerneAAA navy & silverclosed 2021, consolidated to become Wilkes-Barre
Glen MillsBattling BullsConcordvilleDelawareAAAA black & goldclosed in 2019
James M. CoughlinCrusadersWilkes-BarreLuzerneAAAA blue & redclosed 2021, consolidated to become Wilkes-Barre
MillersburgIndiansMillersburgDauphinA maroon & goldsuspended football 2019
SaltsburgTrojansSaltsburgIndianaA red & whitemerged with Blairsville and became River Valley
Scotland SchoolCadetsScotlandFranklinA red & blue2009 closedState Champions 1992
Strawberry MansionKnightsPhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaA red & white2021 closed
Strong VincentColonelsErieErieAAAAA black & red2018 merged w/ErieState Champions 1991

PIAA Conferences

  • Bicentennial Athletic League
  • Central Athletic League
  • Ches-Mont League - American Conference
  • Ches-Mont League - National Conference
  • Delaware Valley League
  • District 9 - Region 1 Division
  • District 9 - Region 2 Division
  • District 9 - Region 3 Division
  • District 10 - Region 1 Division
  • District 10 - Region 2 Division
  • District 10 - Region 3 Division
  • District 10 - Region 4 Division
  • District 10 - Region 5 Division
  • District 10 - Region 6 Division
  • Eastern Pennsylvania Conference - North
  • Eastern Pennsylvania Conference - South
  • Heritage Conference
  • Inter-County Conference - North Division
  • Inter-County Conference - South Division
  • Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association - Division 1
  • Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association - Division 2
  • Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association - Division 3
  • Lancaster-Lebanon League - Section 1
  • Lancaster-Lebanon League - Section 2
  • Lancaster-Lebanon League - Section 3
  • Lancaster-Lebanon League - Section 4
  • Lancaster-Lebanon League - Section 5
  • Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference - East 1 Division
  • Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference - East 2 Division
  • Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference - West 1 Division
  • Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference - West 2 Division
  • Mid-Penn Conference - Capital Division
  • Mid-Penn Conference - Commonwealth Division
  • Mid-Penn Conference - Keystone Division
  • Northern Tier Large Conference
  • Northern Tier Small Conference
  • Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference - Division 1
  • Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference - Division 2
  • Philadelphia Catholic League - Blue Division
  • Philadelphia Catholic League - Red Division
  • Philadelphia Public League - American Conference
  • Philadelphia Public League - Independence Conference
  • Philadelphia Public League - Liberty Conference
  • Philadelphia Public League - National Conference
  • Pioneer Athletic Conference - Liberty Division
  • Pittsburgh City League
  • Schuylkill Colonial League - Gold Division
  • Schuylkill Colonial League - White Division
  • Suburban One League - American Conference
  • Suburban One League - Continental Conference
  • Suburban One League - National Conference
  • WPIAL 1A Black Hills Conference
  • WPIAL 1A Eastern Conference
  • WPIAL 1A Tri-County South Conference
  • WPIAL 2A Allegheny Conference
  • WPIAL 2A Century Conference
  • WPIAL 2A Midwestern Conference
  • WPIAL 3A Allegheny Six Conference
  • WPIAL 3A Interstate Conference
  • WPIAL 3A Western Hills Conference
  • WPIAL 4A Big Seven Conference
  • WPIAL 4A Greater Allegheny Conference
  • WPIAL 4A Parkway Conference
  • WPIAL 5A Allegheny Six Conference
  • WPIAL 5A Big East Conference
  • WPIAL 5A Northeast Conference
  • WPIAL 6A Tri-County Five Conference
  • Wyoming Valley Conference - Division 1
  • Wyoming Valley Conference - Division 2
  • York-Adams 3 Conference
  • York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association - Division I
  • York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association - Division II
  • York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association - Division III

Past seasons