Mike Vukovcan Over the last couple of years, the Hopewell Vikings football program have competed in the Western Hills Conference, without question the most difficult in all of Class 3A.
The question is what will their section opponents look like next season?
Every two years, the WPIAL and PIAA look at boy’s enrollment and then based off the numbers, reconstruct sections for the next two years.
Teams in the Western Hills Conference this season included Hopewell, Avonworth, Central Valley, North Catholic, Beaver, Quaker Valley, Freeport and McGuffey.
Things will look different in 2026 and 2027.
The next sections won’t be announced until next month but one school that we know won’t be in Class 3A anymore is Central Valley. Multiple outlets are reporting that their enrollment increased, and they now have the numbers to compete in 4A.
While this is pure speculation, don’t be surprised if Hopewell’s section opponents include Ambridge, Beaver, Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, OLSH and one more team.
Some possibilities include Avonworth, North Catholic, Knoch, South Park, Waynesburg or West Mifflin. Keep in mind, West Mifflin and Waynesburg did play in a section with Hopewell a few years ago.
If Aliquippa didn’t make the Class 4A championship game, they likely would’ve been assigned to 3A and would’ve been in Hopewell’s section. But because of the WPIAL’s competitive balance rule, Aliquippa will remain in 4A.
Here are some of the schools that will now be playing 3A: Belle Vernon, West Mifflin, OLSH, Ambridge, Shady Side, South Park, Waynesburg and Beaver Falls.
Because of their close proximity, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Avonworth, Knoch, North Catholic, Deer Lakes and Highlands in a section together.
Hopewell will have 3 non-conference games to schedule, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them try and schedule games against Central Valley and New Castle.
