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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PIAA Champions 1988 to present

Class AAAAAA

2024: Saint Joseph's Prep over Central Catholic 35 - 6
2023: Saint Joseph's Prep over [North Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny Senior High School|North Allegheny] 45 - 23
2022: Saint Joseph's Prep over Harrisburg 42 - 7
2021: Mount Lebanon over Saint Joseph's Prep 35-17
2020: Saint Joseph's Prep over Central York 62-13
2019: Saint Joseph's Prep over [Central Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Dauphin High School|Central Dauphin] 35-13
2018: Saint Joseph's Prep over Harrisburg 40-20
2017: Pine-Richland over Saint Joseph's Prep 41-21
2016: Saint Joseph's Prep over Pittsburgh Central Catholic 49-7

Class AAAAA

2022: Pine Richland over Imhotep Charter 28-14
2021: Penn Trafford over Imhotep Charter 17-14
2020: Pine-Richland over Cathedral Prep 48-7
2019: Archbishop Wood over Cheltenham 19-15
2018: Penn Hills over Manheim Central 36-31
2017: Archbishop Wood over Gateway 49-14
2016: Archbishop Wood over Harrisburg 37-10

Class AAAA

2022: Bishop McDevitt over Aliquippa 41-18
2021: Aliquippa over Bishop McDevitt 34-27
2020: [Thomas Jefferson County, Pennsylvania|Jefferson High School (Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania)|Thomas Jefferson] over Jersey Shore Area 21-14
2019: Thomas Jefferson over Dallas 46-7
2018: Cathedral Prep over Imhotep Charter 38-7
2017: Cathedral Prep over Imhotep Charter 38-28
2016: Cathedral Prep over Imhotep Charter 27-20
2015: Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Parkland 21-18
2014: Saint Joseph's Prep over Pine-Richland 49-41
2013: Saint Joseph's Prep over Pittsburgh Central Catholic 35-10
2012: North Allegheny over Coatesville 63-28
2011: Central Dauphin over North Penn 14-7
2010: North Allegheny over La Salle College 21-0
2009: La Salle College over State College 24-7
2008: Liberty over Bethel Park 28-21
2007: Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Parkland 35-21
2006: Upper St. Clair over Liberty 47-13
2005: McKeesport over Liberty 49-10
2004: Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Neshaminy 49-14
2003: North Penn over Pittsburgh Central Catholic 37-10
2002: Parkland over Woodland Hills 34-12
2001: Neshaminy over Woodland Hills 21-7
2000: Cathedral Prep over [Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks High School West|Central Bucks West] 41-35
1999: Central Bucks West over Cathedral Prep 14-13
1998: Central Bucks West over New Castle 56-7
1997: Central Bucks West over Upper St. Clair 44-20
1996: Downingtown over Woodland Hills 49-14
1995: Penn Hills over Lower Dauphin 35-14
1994: McKeesport over Downingtown 17-14
1993: North Hills over Central Bucks West 15-14
1992: Cumberland Valley over Upper St. Clair 28-12
1991: Central Bucks West over Cathedral Prep 26-14
1990: North Allegheny over Ridley 21-14
1989: Upper St. Clair over Wilson 12-7
1988: Pittsburgh Central Catholic over Cedar Cliff 14-7

Class AAA

2022: Belle Vernon over Neumann Goretti 9-8
2021: Central Valley over Wyomissing 7-0
2020: Central Valley over Wyomissing 35-21
2019: Wyoming over Central Valley 21-14
2018: Aliquippa over Middletown 35-0
2017: Quaker Valley over Middletown 41-24
2016: Beaver Falls over Middletown 30-13
2015: Imhotep Charter over Cathedral Prep 40-3
2014: Archbishop Wood over Central Valley 33-14
2013: Archbishop Wood over Bishop McDevitt 22-10
2012: Cathedral Prep over Archbishop Wood 24-14
2011: Archbishop Wood over Bishop McDevitt 52-0
2010: Allentown Central Catholic over Bishop McDevitt 28-27
2009: Selinsgrove over Manheim Central 10-7
2008: Thomas Jefferson over Archbishop Wood 34-7
2007: Thomas Jefferson over Garnet Valley 28-3
2006: General McLane over Pottsville 28-23
2005: Franklin Regional over Pottsville 23-13
2004: Thomas Jefferson over Manheim Central 56-20
2003: Manheim Central over Pine-Richland 39-38
2002: Hopewell over Strath Haven 21-10
2001: West Allegheny over Strath Haven 28-13
2000: Strath Haven over West Allegheny 31-28
1999: Strath Haven over West Allegheny 21-7
1998: Allentown Central Catholic over Moon 10-0
1997: Berwick over Perry Traditional Academy 17-14
1996: Berwick over Blackhawk 34-14
1995: Berwick over Sharon 43-6
1994: Berwick over Sharon 27-7
1993: Allentown Central Catholic over Blackhawk 40-0
1992: Berwick over Blackhawk 33-6
1991: Strong Vincent over Conestoga Valley 29-20
1990: Bethlehem Catholic over Seton-La Salle 43-7
1989: Perry Traditional Academy over Berwick 20-8
1988: Berwick over Aliquippa 13-0

Class AA

2025: Southern Columbia over Farrell 43-22
2024: Troy over Central Clarion 25-24
2023: Southern Columbia over Westinghouse 21-20
2022: Southern Columbia over Westinghouse 37-22
2021: Southern Columbia over Serra Catholic 62-25
2020: Southern Columbia over Wilmington 42-14
2019: Southern Columbia over Avonworth 74-7
2018:Southern Columbia over Wilmington 49-14
2017: Southern Columbia over Wilmington 48-0
2016: Steel Valley over Southern Columbia 49-7
2015: Southern Columbia over Aliquippa 49-14
2014: [South Fayette County, Pennsylvania|Fayette Township School District|South Fayette] over Dunmore 28-16
2013: South Fayette over Imhotep Charter 41-0
2012: Wyomissing Area over Aliquippa 17-14
2011: Lancaster Catholic over Tyrone 17-7
2010: West Catholic over South Fayette 50-14
2009: Lancaster Catholic over Greensburg Central Catholic 21-14
2008: Wilmington over West Catholic 35-34
2007: Jeannette over Dunmore 49-21
2006: Wilson Area over Jeannette 29-28
2005: South Park over Wilson Area 28-17
2004: Lansdale Catholic Grove City 40-17
2003: Aliquippa over Northern Lehigh 32-27
2002: Mount Carmel over Seton-La Salle 18-13
2001: Washington over Pen Argyl 19-12
2000: Mount Carmel over Aliquippa 26-6
1999: Tyrone over Mount Carmel 13-6
1998: Mount Carmel over Shady Side Academy 44-7
1997: South Park over South Williamsport 20-0
1996: Mount Carmel over Tyrone 25-6
1995: Bishop McDevitt over Burrell 29-0
1994: Mount Carmel over Forest Hills 20-14
1993: Dallas over Washington 31-7
1992: Valley View over East Allegheny 21-13
1991: Aliquippa over Hanover Area 27-0
1990: Hanover Area over Bishop Canevin 20-19
1989: Hickory over Montoursville 30-22
1988: Bethlehem Catholic over Wilmington 26-11

Class A

2022: Steelton-Highspire over Union 22-8
2021: Bishop Guilfoyle over Redbank Valley 21-14
2020: Steelton-Highspire over Jeanette 32-20
2019: Farrell over Bishop Guilfoyle 10-7
2018: Farrell over Lackawanna Trail 55-20
2017: Jeannette over Homer-Center 42-12
2016: Bishop Guilfoyle over Clairton 17-0
2015: Bishop Guilfoyle over Farrell 35-0
2014: Bishop Guilfoyle over Clairton 19-18
2013: North Catholic over Old Forge 15-14
2012: Clairton over Dunmore 20-0
2011: Clairton over Southern Columbia 35-19
2010: Clairton over [Riverside Beaver County, Pennsylvania|Beaver County School District|Riverside] 36-30
2009: Clairton over Bishop McCort 15-3
2008: Steelton-Highspire over Clairton 35-16
2007: Steelton-Highspire over Serra Catholic 34-15
2006: Southern Columbia over West Middlesex 56-14
2005: Southern Columbia over Duquesne 50-19
2004: Southern Columbia over Rochester 35-0
2003: Southern Columbia over Bishop Carroll 49-20
2002: Southern Columbia over Rochester 31-6
2001: Rochester over Southern Columbia 16-0
2000: Rochester over Southern Columbia 22-14
1999: South Side over Southern Columbia 27-21
1998: Rochester over Southern Columbia 18-0
1997: Sharpsville over Riverside 10-7
1996: Farrell over Southern Columbia 14-12
1995: Farrell over Southern Columbia 6-0
1994: Southern Columbia over Western Beaver 49-6
1993: Duquesne over South Williamsport 24-21
1992: Scotland School over Smethport 24-7
1992: Shenandoah Valley Junior Senior High School over Schuylkill Haven 10-0
1991: Schuylkill Haven over Rochester 28-18
1990: Marian Catholic over Farrell 21-13
1989: Dunmore over Keystone 57-18
1988: Camp Hill over Cambridge Springs 18-7

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.

School	Team	City/Town	County	Class	Colors	District	Conference/League	State Championships
Academy of the New Church	Lions	Bryn Athyn	Montgomery	AAA	scarlet & white		Independence Conference
Episcopal Academy	Churchmen	Newtown Square	Delaware	AAA	blue & white		Inter-Academic League
George School	Cougars	Newtown	Bucks	AAAA	green & white		Independence Conference
Germantown Academy	Patriots	Fort Washington	Montgomery	AA	black & red		Inter-Academic League
Haverford School	Fords	[Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania\|Delaware County, Pennsylvania\|Haverford Township]	Delaware	AAAA	maroon & gold		Inter-Academic League
Hill School	Rams	Pottstown	Montgomery		blue & gray		Mid-Atlantic Prep League
Malvern Prep	Friars	Malvern	Chester	AAAAA	blue & silver		Inter-Academic League
Mercersburg Academy	Blue Storm	Mercersburg	Franklin		blue & white		Mid-Atlantic Prep League
Perkiomen School	Panthers	Pennsburg	Montgomery	AAA	purple & gold		Independence Conference
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy	Blue Devils	Philadelphia	Philadelphia	AAA	blue, l. blue & white		Inter-Academic League
Valley Forge Military Academy	Trojans	Wayne	Delaware	A	scarlet & white		Keystone State 8-man Football League
William Penn Charter	Quakers	Philadelphia	Philadelphia	AA	blue & gold		Inter-Academic League
Wyoming Seminary College Prep	Blue Knights	Kingston	Luzerne	A	blue & white		Freelance Conference

Cooperative Football Teams

The following schools have co-oped with another school in high school football competition.

School	City/Town	County	Co-op school
Allegheny-Clarion Valley	Foxburg	Clarion	Union
Bishop Carroll	Ebensburg	Cambria	Bishop McCort
Blacklick Valley	Nanty-Glo	Cambria	United
Carson Long Military Academy	New Bloomfield	Perry	Susquenita
Clarion	Clarion	Clarion	Clarion-Limestone
Clarion-Limestone	Strattanville	Clarion	Clarion
East Juniata	McAlisterville	Juniata	Tri-Valley
Ferndale	Ferndale	Cambria	Conemaugh Valley
Geibel Catholic	Connellsville	Fayette	Southmoreland
Johnsonburg	Johnsonburg	Elk	Ridgway
Millersburg	Millersburg	Dauphin	Upper Dauphin
Nazareth Prep	Emsworth	Allegheny	Cornell
Oswayo Valley	Shinglehouse	Potter	Otto-Eldred
West Middlesex	West Middlesex	Mercer	Sharpsville
Wilkinsburg	Pittsburgh	Allegheny	Westinghouse
Williamsburg	Williamsburg	Blair	Juniata Valley
Youngsville	Youngsville	Warren	Warren

Program drops

The following schools have decided to stop or temporarily cancel the high school football program as of the 2018-19 season.

School	Team	City/Town	County	Past Class	Colors	Past District	Past Conference/League	State Championships
Calvary Christian Academy	Cougars	Philadelphia	Philadelphia	A	blue & white	District I	Bicentennial League
Delaware County Christian	Knights	Newtown Square	Delaware	A	d. green, white & black	District I	Bicentennial League
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School	Red Raiders	Shamokin	Northumberland	A	red & white	District IV	All American Football Conference
Prep Charter	Huskies	Philadelphia	Philadelphia	AAA	blue & gold	District XII	Philadelphia Public - National Conference
Rockwood	Rockets	Rockwood	Somerset	A	red, white & gray	District V	Western Pennsylvania Athletic Conference
Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy	Wolves	Boalsburg	Centre	A	blue & orange	District VI	Independence Conference
Shade	Panthers	Cairnbrook	Somerset	A	navy & gold	District V	Western Pennsylvania Athletic Conference
Vincentian Academy	Royals	Pittsburgh	Allegheny	A	blue & gold	District VII	Freelance League

Past Schools/Teams

School	Team	City/Town	County	Class	Colors	Closed/Merged	State Championships
Bishop Hoban	Argent	Wilkes-Barre	Luzerne	AA	green & gold	2007 closed
Bishop McDevitt (Wyncote)	Royal Lancers	Wyncote	Montgomery	AA	black & gold	2021 closed
Blairsville	Bobcats	Blairsville	Indiana	A	orange & black	merged with Saltsburg and became River Valley
Cardinal Brennan High School	Chargers	Ashland	Schuylkill	A	navy blue & vegas gold	2007 Closed
Cavalry Christian Academy	Cougars	Philadelphia	Philadelphia	A	blue & white	2017 closed
Central Tech	Falcons	Erie	Erie	AAAAA	black & gold	2018 merged w/Erie
Duquesne	Dukes	Duquesne	Allegheny	A	red & blue	2007 closed	State Champions 1993 - runner up 2005
East (Erie)	Warriors	Erie	Erie	AAAAA	scarlet, silver & white	2018 merged w/Erie
Elmer L. Meyers	Mohawks	Wilkes-Barre	Luzerne	AAA	blue & gold	closed 2021
Ford City	Sabers	Ford City	Armstrong	AA	purple & gold	2016 merged w/Armstrong
GAR Memorial	Grenadiers	Wilkes-Barre	Luzerne	AAA	navy & silver	closed 2021, consolidated to become Wilkes-Barre
Glen Mills	Battling Bulls	Concordville	Delaware	AAAA	black & gold	closed in 2019
James M. Coughlin	Crusaders	Wilkes-Barre	Luzerne	AAAA	blue & red	closed 2021, consolidated to become Wilkes-Barre
Millersburg	Indians	Millersburg	Dauphin	A	maroon & gold	suspended football 2019
Saltsburg	Trojans	Saltsburg	Indiana	A	red & white	merged with Blairsville and became River Valley
Scotland School	Cadets	Scotland	Franklin	A	red & blue	2009 closed	State Champions 1992
Strawberry Mansion	Knights	Philadelphia	Philadelphia	A	red & white	2021 closed
Strong Vincent	Colonels	Erie	Erie	AAAAA	black & red	2018 merged w/Erie	State 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

2016 PIAA football season