No team has dominated the six-classification era like Steel Valley. The Ironmen won the 2016 WPIAL and PIAA Championship by enacting the mercy rule against every team. They completed an undefeated regular season in 2017 but fell to Washington in the WPIAL final. Last year, after an early-season loss to Shady Side Academy, Steel Valley would win the WPIAL crown once again. The 2018 season was a bit odd in 2A as the teams that reached the Championship Game (Steel Valley and South Side Beaver) both finished second in their respective conferences. After a number of star players from last year’s top teams graduated, this year’s race in the Allegheny Conference figures to be wide open
The playoff format in 2A is the same as last year.