McGuffey is back in the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs, and the return comes with real meaning for a program that went through two winless seasons in Class 3A. The No. 8 seed will host Beaver Falls on Friday, giving the Highlanders a home playoff game after a long climb back into the field.
For coach Nate Parry, the turnaround has been less about one breakthrough moment and more about steady improvement. He said the last two seasons forced his team to focus on small, realistic goals instead of the scoreboard. If the previous week featured four or five false starts, the next target was to clean that up. If the team did not create a turnover one week, the goal was to force one the next.
That approach helped McGuffey stay grounded while it rebuilt. Parry said the players kept believing in the program, the coaches and themselves, and that belief carried the team through difficult stretches. The payoff is a return to the postseason for the first time since 2023.
A rushing attack that carried McGuffey forward
McGuffey’s offense this season was driven by a strong running game. Parry pointed to the team’s ability to move the ball even in difficult games, noting that against Seton LaSalle, McGuffey still had over 400 yards of offense. The issue in that game, and in others, was finishing drives and slowing the opponent.
Even so, the numbers showed a team that could score in bunches. McGuffey averaged 42.3 points per game, scored 40 or more points in four of its past five games and put up seven points in one of its tightest late-season results. The broader body of work was enough to earn the No. 8 seed and a home playoff opener.
For a team that had been winless in back-to-back seasons in Class 3A, the difference is significant. McGuffey is no longer just trying to survive each week. It is now in position to extend its season and test itself in November.
Armstrong's path in Class 5A
The playoff field also includes Armstrong, which enters the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs after a late-season stretch that made its berth more complicated. On Oct. 2, Armstrong beat Plum, 38-35, after Kayden Lewis returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in the final minute. One week later, North Hills beat Armstrong, 14-0, at Armstrong. Two weeks ago, Armstrong lost to Moon.
That stretch left the team’s postseason position in question, and Frank Fabian said he was nervous about having to go to the committee after the Moon loss. He also said there are no easy games in 5A, calling it a meat grinder.
Fabian said neither Armstrong nor the other teams in the bracket should be considered surprises by people inside coaching circles. He pointed to the work of coaches such as Eric Kasperowicz and Bob Palko and said they had taken over programs that were already strong but had gone through down years. In his words, they woke up sleeping giants.
That same resilience showed up in Armstrong’s season, and Fabian said the group keeps getting back up after being knocked down. Friday’s playoff openers reflect that broader picture across the WPIAL, with McGuffey getting a home game in Class 2A and Armstrong entering the Class 5A field after a difficult but successful late push.
