2026 Preseason Top 100 Season Preview: No. 96 Pine-Richland (PA)

Pine-Richland won 11 games and reached the WPIAL Class 5A championship game last season. The Rams did not finish the final step, but they return two committed Division I stars and another young offer group capable of taking them back.

Khalil Taylor is committed to Nebraska, and quarterback Oobi Strader is committed to Kent State. Luke Bernesser gives the offense a young lineman in front of them, while Elijah Hill and Adam Barnett bring Division I offer lists to the defense. Kaeden Taylor, Colten Andrighetti, Nico Aiello and Landon Brown deepen the returning group.

Team Snapshot

Team: Pine-Richland Rams

Location: Gibsonia, Pennsylvania

Head Coach: Jon LeDonne

2025 Record: 11-2

2025 Finish: WPIAL Class 5A runner-up

Returning Starters: 6 offense, 6 defense

T25PS Ranking: No. 96

The Offense Has Its Two Answers

Strader gives Jon LeDonne a returning quarterback with a college destination, and Taylor gives the offense a playmaker defenses have to find on every snap. Their chemistry should allow Pine-Richland to operate with confidence rather than spend the early season searching for a featured identity.

Bernesser matters because the line decides how much freedom those two stars actually have. Hill holds offers from Pitt, Marshall, Kent State, Akron and Incarnate Word. Barnett's list includes Kent State, Akron, Marshall, Liberty and Sacramento State.

The broader group is essential. Kaeden Taylor, Andrighetti, Aiello and Brown give the Rams the kind of depth needed for another WPIAL run. The title will be decided by whether the full roster can answer when opponents focus everything on Khalil Taylor and Strader.

Players to Know

Khalil Taylor

Taylor is committed to Nebraska after building one of Pennsylvania's strongest national recruitments. His versatility makes him the central matchup problem in the offense.

Aaron “Oobi” Strader Jr., QB

Strader is committed to Kent State and returns to direct the offense. His decisions will set the weekly floor.

Luke Bernesser, OL

Bernesser gives Pine-Richland a young lineman central to protecting the offense.

Elijah Hill

Hill holds offers from Pitt, Marshall, Kent State, Akron and Incarnate Word.

Adam Barnett, DL

Barnett holds offers from Kent State, Akron, Marshall, Liberty and Sacramento State.

Kaeden Taylor, Colten Andrighetti, Nico Aiello and Landon Brown

That returning group gives Pine-Richland the depth needed when defenses sell out to stop Taylor and Strader.

Newcomers to Follow

Ethan Marchlinski, Zion Smith, Kylen Taylor and Jack Berbenich can deepen the rotation without being asked to carry the title pursuit.

Complete 2026 Schedule

Aug. 28: at Avon (OH)

Sept. 4: West Allegheny

Sept. 11: at Central Catholic

Sept. 18: at Mt. Lebanon

Sept. 25: North Allegheny

Oct. 2: at Moon Area

Oct. 9: Penn Hills

Oct. 16: Armstrong

Oct. 23: at North Hills

Oct. 30: at Plum

Biggest Question

Can Pine-Richland punish defenses that build their entire plan around Khalil Taylor and Oobi Strader?

The committed stars will attract the attention. Bernesser and the line have to keep the offense balanced, while Hill, Barnett and the broader rotation create winning plays elsewhere. The Rams become a champion when the second and third answers are as dependable as the first two.

Bottom Line

Pine-Richland has a WPIAL championship ceiling. The quarterback is committed, the featured playmaker is committed and the younger offer group gives the roster more answers. I expect the Rams back in the title conversation, with balance deciding whether the result changes.

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Visit the Pine-Richland page today, sponsored by Mama Lucia's Pizza & Bar in Wexford.

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T25PS Prediction

Regular Season: 8-2; I think they are the heavy favorite in the WPIAL 5A and my prediction is we'll see this team in the 5A championship.

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Thanks for reading,

Alex | T25PS

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