After winning the WPIAL Class 5A championship in 2024, Pine-Richland looks primed and ready to make a run at a repeat.

Following Aaron “Oobi” Strader’s four total touchdowns Friday night against Northeast Conference No. 2 seed-to-be Shaler, the Rams completed their regular season schedule unbeaten against Class 5A competition. It is fair to wonder if any team can stop them in their quest to repeat.

Pine-Richland (9-1, 5-0), now the Northeast Conference’s No. 1 seed, scored 35 unanswered points to pull away in a 49-17 victory against Shaler (3-7, 3-2). Strader, who ran for a touchdown to open the scoring, passed for three more, including a pair of scoring connections with Khalil Taylor.

Shaler’s Troy Cignetti ran back a first-quarter kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, tying the game 7-7.

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