The WPIAL has set preliminary plans for the coming fall sports season, releasing alignments, schedule grids and preliminary guidance for post-season qualification. The information was sent to athletic directors for Football, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Cross Country, Field Hockey and Girls Tennis. The schedule grids are similar to what the League originally planned for the 2020 fall sports season but later modified due to COVID-19 impacts. The football grids do not include games for Aug. 27 weekend, known as Week Zero. Teams can schedule a second scrimmage or play a non-conference game. The League-provided schedule begins Sept. 3 with Week 1 games and is set to conclude in Week 9 Oct. 29.
In addition, at a Wednesday meeting, the PIAA Board of Directors discussed keeping the state finals on Thanksgiving weekend. Executive Director Bob Lombardi indicated that a determination would be made in the near future. That move would necessitate changes to the just-released WPIAL schedules and post-season format.
Apparently, there will not be a Trinity / Wash High football match-up this year. The two met last year when Uniontown dropped its WPIAL schedule leaving Trinity with an opening that matched Washington’s availability. The newly released League schedule grid lists both schools as having open dates for Oct. 8 this year. According to Trinity AD Ricci Rich, the Hillers expected to be visiting Wash High Stadium but he was notified that the Little Prexies had scheduled Uniontown for a non-conference game. Trinity is still looking for an opponent to fill their open date.