“WPIAL Insider Thursday Night Primetime” Brings High School Football to SportsNet Pittsburgh
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eight-game schedule will showcase WPIAL football programs across five Western Pennsylvania counties
PITTSBURGH — August 13, 2026 — High school football is returning to Thursday nights in Western Pennsylvania.
“WPIAL Insider Thursday Night Primetime,” presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, will put WPIAL football on center stage this season with eight matchups featuring programs from Class 1A up to Class 6A across five counties.
Games will air live across SportsNet Pittsburgh and SportsNet Pittsburgh+, with additional replays scheduled throughout the season. All telecasts and re-airs will be available on SNP 360 to subscribers and authenticated users. The broadcasts will be produced by Pittsburgh-based, two-time Emmy Award-winning JRM Video.
“We’re excited to bring WPIAL football back to Thursday nights,” said Matt Farago, Director of Content Development for JRM Video. “Previous generations remember the excitement those games created—not only for the two communities playing, but throughout the entire WPIAL. We are thrilled to bring that tradition back and give these teams, schools and communities a stage worthy of what high school football means to this region.”
The Thursday night broadcast team will feature Jack Ridenour on play-by-play, former Pitt and Penn State football player Johnny Petrishen as analyst and WPIAL Insider’s Karlo Zovko providing additional analysis and reporting from the field.
Each week’s coverage will begin at 6 p.m. with the “WPIAL Insider Roadshow,” driven by Bowser, a one-hour pregame show originating from that week’s host school. The Thursday night game will follow at 7 p.m.
The Roadshow will preview the Thursday night matchup, break down the biggest games scheduled across the WPIAL on Friday and spotlight the host school, its community and their student section. The show will also welcome special guests, including notable WPIAL alumni and personalities from throughout Western Pennsylvania football.
Matt Farago will host the Roadshow alongside Zovko. They will be joined by current Pittsburgh Steeler and Chartiers Valley alumnus Christian Kuntz, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brad Everett.
Replay information will be announced at a later date.
2026 WPIAL Insider Thursday Night Primetime Schedule
Week 2 — Thursday, September 3
Moon at Bethel Park
SportsNet Pittsburgh
Week 3 — Thursday, September 10
South Park at Elizabeth Forward
SportsNet Pittsburgh+
Week 4 — Thursday, September 17
Propel at McKeesport
SportsNet Pittsburgh
Week 5 — Thursday, September 24
Aliquippa at New Castle
SportsNet Pittsburgh
Week 7 — Thursday, October 8
Uniontown at Ringgold
SportsNet Pittsburgh
Week 8 — Thursday, October 15
Ellwood City at Ambridge
SportsNet Pittsburgh
Week 9 — Thursday, October 22
Fort Cherry at Jeannette
SportsNet Pittsburgh+
Week 10 — Thursday, October 29
Hempfield at Central Catholic
SportsNet Pittsburgh+
About JRM Video
JRM Video is a Pittsburgh-based, two-time Emmy Award-winning production company specializing in live sports, event coverage and original video content. JRM Video has produced broadcasts for local, regional and national audiences while developing partnerships that showcase athletes, schools and communities throughout Western Pennsylvania.
For more information, visit JRMVideo.com.
About WPIAL Insider
WPIAL Insider is an independent media platform dedicated to covering high school football throughout Western Pennsylvania. Through digital content, social media, podcasts, player features and live programming, WPIAL Insider provides year-round coverage of the teams, athletes, coaches and stories that define football across the region.
WPIAL Insider is not officially affiliated with the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League.
About SportsNet Pittsburgh
SportsNet Pittsburgh is the regional television home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins and provides year-round coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, college athletics and other local sports. SportsNet Pittsburgh and SportsNet Pittsburgh+ are available through participating television providers across Western and Central Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia. All telecasts and re-airs are available on SNP360 to subscribers and authenticated users.
For additional information, visit SportsNetPittsburgh.com.
Media Contact
Matt Farago
Director of Content Development
JRM Video
[email protected]
