There is now a definite chance that 6A football will come to Pennsylvania in 2016.
The PIAA strategic planning committee voted today to recommend to the PIAA board of directors to approve 6A football at its next meeting in October. The measure has to pass only one more vote to go into effect for 2016.
What might the WPIAL look like in 6A football? Below gives you a breakdown, even though it is based on the last enrollment figures two years ago. That is what the PIAA used to create the current four classes. Every school in the state must give the PIAA new enrollment figures by Oct. 1. Thus, the breakdowns could be a little different, but at least this gives a pretty good idea.
But quickly before we get to that, one piece of basketball recruiting news. Plum senior guard James Edwards tweeted earlier tonight that he has decided to play for the Air Force Academy. Edwards (pictured) is one of the top seniors in Western Pennsylvania this season. He averaged 20.2 points a game as a junior.
Now, onto the football breakdown.
Remember, these are based on enrollment figures given to the PIAA two years ago. So these breakdowns might be different under the new enrollment figures. Also, these breakdowns also are based on the "10 percent rule." That is a rule the PIAA passed this summer where schools have to only count 10 percent of cyber/charter/home-schooled students. In the past, schools had to count all of those students.
You want an example of how things might change under the new breakdownbs? Under the old enrollment figures and the "10 percent rule," Pine-Richland would be one boy away from being 6A. But the way that district has kept growing, it's highly possible Pine-Richland would have more students and be 6A under the new breakdowns, which will be released in December.
Here are the breakdowns (schools listed from largest to smallest in terms of boys enrollment in grades 9, 10 and 11 from the 2013-14 school year. This is only for football and NOT other sports):
CLASS 6A (13 SCHOOLS)
North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, Altoona, Butler, Hempfield, Central Catholic, Penn Hills, Mt. Lebanon, Norwin, Canon-McMillan, Shaler, Connellsville, Bethel Park.
CLASS 5A (18 SCHOOLS)
Pine-Richland, North Hills, Upper St. Clair, Peters Township, Baldwin, Fox Chapel, Penn-Trafford, Kiski Area, Plum, Latrobe, Woodland Hills, Moon, Franklin Regional, Gateway, McKeesport, Chartiers Valley, Albert Gallatin, Hampton.
CLASS AAAA (21 SCHOOLS)
Mars, West Allegheny, Knoch, Trinity, Laurel Highlands, Montour, Ringgold, Belle Vernon, West Mifflin, Thomas Jefferson, New Castle, Ambridge, Greensburg Salem, Uniontown, Hopewell, Indiana, Blackhawk, Central Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Yough, South Fayette.
CLASS AAA (22 SCHOOLS)
Mount Pleasant, Derry, McGuffey, Freeport, Highlands, Deer Lakes, Keystone Oaks, South Park, Quaker Valley, Beaver, Southmoreland, Kittanning, Burrell, Valley, Steel Valley, Brownsville, Waynesburg, Ellwood City, Mohawk, Shady Side Academy, East Allegheny, Summit Academy
CLASS AA (24 SCHOOLS)
West Shamokin, Charleroi, Ford City, Beaver Falls, South Allegheny, Seton-LaSalle, New Brighton, Washington, Burgettstown, Freedom, Apollo-Ridge, Laurel, Avonworth, Riverside, Carlynton, Northgate, Beth-Center, South Side Beaver, Vincentian, Fort Cherry, Sto-Rox, Neshannock, Chartiers-Houston, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
CLASS A (25 SCHOOLS)
Shenango, Bentworth, Bishop Canevin, Aliquippa, Brentwood, Serra, Leechburg, Carmichaels, Riverview, Greensburg Central Catholic, Springdale, California, Frazier, West Greene, Jeannette, Jefferson-Morgan, Clairton, Rochester, Western Beaver, Monessen, Union, Wilkinsburg, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Mapletown, Avella.