Undefeated Central Catholic faces Hempfield in season finale

Central Catholic has outscored its opponents 400-71 this season, a margin that defines its dominance in Class 6A. The undefeated Vikings enter Thursday night's game at U.S. Steel Community Field with an 8-0 record. They host Hempfield at 7 p.m. to conclude the regular season.

The outcome determines the regular season champion. If Hempfield wins, it claims the title while Central Catholic settles for second place. If Central Catholic wins, it secures the regular season crown for the fourth consecutive year. The Spartans currently sit at 6-3 overall with only one loss in conference play. They have won five straight games since their Week 4 defeat to North Allegheny.

A loss for Hempfield could drop the Spartans to second, third, or fourth place. That final standing depends on the results of Friday's Class 6A games. Those matchups include Canon-McMillan at Mt. Lebanon and North Allegheny against Norwin.

Elsewhere in the final week, Connellsville attempts to finish fifth in the Class 5A Big East Conference. The Falcons, with a 4-5 overall record, visit Fox Chapel at 7 p.m. Fox Chapel is 1-8 overall and 0-5 in the conference. A Fox Chapel victory would create a three-way tie for fifth place involving both teams and Franklin Regional, all sitting at 1-5 in the league.

In Class A, Union hosts Summit Academy at 7 p.m. The Scotties are 4-5 overall and can improve to 5-5. That result would cap a turnaround after finishing winless in 2025. Summit Academy seeks its first win of the season. The Knights are 0-9 overall and have lost all six conference games.

The 2026 WPIAL boys and girls cross country championships will also take place Thursday at White Oak Park in McKeesport. The six championship races are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The boys Class 3A race begins at 11 a.m., followed by the girls Class 3A at 11:45 a.m.

Two soccer quarterfinals feature familiar opponents from Section 3-4A. No. 7 Pine-Richland visits No. 2 Seneca Valley at 7 p.m. Pine-Richland won their previous two meetings this season by scores of 7-0 and 5-0. Seneca Valley receives its postseason debut with a first-round bye. Pine-Richland defeated Canon-McMillan 2-1 in overtime to reach the quarterfinals.