Armstrong River Hawks football players will face a new crop of tough teams this fall.
Following the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) realignment, the previous-Triple A team will move up a few letters.
Some of Armstrong’s newest opponents for the next two years in Class 5A, Section 2 include: Connellsville, Franklin Regional, Kiski Area, Latrobe, McKeesport, Penn-Trafford and Plum.
This past season, Armstrong won over new section-foe Gateway 38-26 in Monroeville, but lost to Franklin Regional 35-26.
Franklin Regional, Kiski Area, McKeesport, Penn Trafford and Plum all made the WPIAL playoffs in their respective classes during the Fall 2015 season.
Armstrong was 6-4 overall this past Fall and made the playoffs during their inaugural season, but lost to eventual PIAA state football championship runner-up Thomas Jefferson.
Last year, Armstrong’s conference included Indiana, Knoch, Greensburg Salem and Mars – which now fell to Class 4A
Apollo-Ridge is now in Class 3A, Section 2 with opponents from Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Keystone Oaks, Seton-La Salle, Shady Side Academy and Valley
Armstrong’s boys’ basketball team will also be in Class 5A, but their section does not include Connellsville, McKeesport, Penn-Trafford or Plum and welcomes in Highlands.
Armstrong’s girls` basketball team 5A section includes Hampton and Indiana.
This year, the Armstrong boys’ and girls’ teams have had largely-unsuccessful inaugural seasons in the AAAA varsity standings – both missing the upcoming WPIAL playoffs.