When the WPIAL football steering committee announces the first-round pairings, some coaches will usually voice their displeasure.

That wasn’t the case Monday night at the Embassy Suites in Coraopolis. There wasn’t much complaining — at least outwardly — by coaches.

After WPIAL Executive Director Tim O’Malley announced the pairings to the assembled coaches and media, the coaches picked up game footballs, exchanged films with their opponents and hustled home to study films.

“My coaches kind of had everything figured out,” Greensburg Central Catholic coach Muzzy Colosimo said after his team received a Class AA No. 2 seed behind Beaver Falls. “We expected to get either Freeport or Bishop Canevin.

“It doesn’t matter where we got seeded. We’re just happy to be here. You have to prepare each week, and it helps because we’ve been here before.”

Greensburg Central Catholic (9-0) will play host to Freeport (6-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. In fact, all first-round games will be played on that day.

“Class AA was the toughest class to put together,” O’Malley said. “The top three teams (Beaver Falls, GCC and Shady Side Academy) and their opponents were easy because they were unbeaten. But the next 10 were tough.

“Next was probably Class AAAA. We had a couple serious decisions on where to put Upper St. Clair. But we’re satisfied.”

Defending Class AA champion Jeannette (8-1) was seeded fourth. The Jayhawks will play host to Valley (7-2).

“With the WPIAL, you never know how they’ll seed teams,” Jeannette coach Ray Reitz said. “We’re just happy to be playing at home. Valley is a well-coached team. Our motivation after a tough loss (to Greensburg Central Catholic) is, knowing if you lose, you’re out of the tournament.”

Jeannette, the two-time defending WPIAL champion and returning PIAA titleholder, has played into December the past two seasons. They’d like a third trip, but it won’t be easy.

Reitz, however, said his team is only focused on winning the first game. A possible rematch against Beaver Falls looms in the semifinals if the Jayhawks are fortunate enough to make it that far. Jeannette defeated Beaver Falls last year in the finals.

“We just have to get back on track,” Reitz said. “I saw Valley against Shady Side Academy and I’m familiar with what it does.”

In Class AAA, Yough (5-4) and Greensburg Salem (5-4) will be at home. Yough will battle WPIAL Class AAA runner-up Montour (7-2) at Cougar Mountain. Greensburg Salem faces Hopewell (7-2) at Offutt Field.

The Yough-Montour game will feature two of the more explosive players in Class AAA: Yough running back Ben Hoffer and Montour quarterback E.J. Banks.

“We figured we’d get Montour,” Yough coach Jim Wehner said. “We’re going to give it our best shot. The players have been texting me since 6 o’clock, so I know they’re excited.”

Franklin Regional (5-4) will be on the road for its first game at New Castle (6-3). New Castle has won six consecutive games after opening the season with three losses, which included a 27-18 loss at Indiana. Franklin Regional fell to Indiana, 41-17, last week.

Indiana will play host to Trinity, which has had an up-and-down season. The Hillers closed with wins over West Mifflin, Yough and Ringgold. It will be the first time Indiana is playing host to a playoff game.

Despite losing to Derry, Greensburg Salem was able to get a home game thanks to Laurel Highlands’ upset victory against rival Uniontown.

Other Class AAA matchups include Uniontown (6-3) at No. 1 Thomas Jefferson, Laurel Highlands (4-5) at No. 2 Highlands and Ringgold (6-3) at No. 3 Blackhawk.

Penn-Trafford (4-5) and Hempfield (4-5) will be on the road in the Class AAAA playoffs. Penn-Trafford faces returning WPIAL and PIAA champion Central Catholic (7-2) at Fox Chapel, while Hempfield is at No. 2 Bethel Park (9-0).

Hempfield coach Greg Meisner said his team is getting healthy at the right time.

“Bethel Park is an excellent squad,” Meisner said. “We’re as healthy as we’ve been all season. We’ll show up Friday and have the kids ready to go. We have nothing to lose.”

In Class A, Monessen (6-3) will play host to returning WPIAL champion Serra (6-3), while Beth-Center (8-1), the Tri-County South champion, will have its eight-game winning streak tested by Western Beaver (6-3), which is coming off a 21-14 loss to South Side Beaver.

Carmichaels (5-4) and California (4-5) are on the road. Carmichaels goes to No. 3 Monaca, while California (8-1) visits No. 2 Avonworth (9-0).

Additional Information:

Playoff matchups

All games 7:30 p.m. Friday

Class AAAA

No. 11 Penn-Trafford at No. 6 Central Catholic

No. 15 Hempfield at No. 2 Bethel Park

Class AAA

No. 9 Hopewell at No. 8 Greensburg Salem

No. 10 Montour at No. 7 Yough

No. 12 Trinity at No. 5 Indiana

No. 13 Franklin Regional at No. 4 New Castle

No. 14 Ringgold at No. 3 Blackhawk

No. 15 Laurel Highlands at No. 2 Highlands

No. 16 Uniontown at No. 1 Thomas Jefferson

Class AA

No.13 Valley at No. 4 Jeannette

No. 15 Freeport at No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic

Class A

No. 9 Serra Catholic at No. 8 Monessen

No. 15 California at No. 2 Avonworth

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