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Feb 12, 2026 By Rob Burchianti 5 min read

It was 2018 under first-year coach Drew Dindl when Albert Gallatin finished the football season with an 0-10 record. The Colonials had long road trips, were overmatched in roster size and interest in the program was waning.

The decision was made to leave the WPIAL to try and rebuild the program while playing a more competitive schedule to give players and fans hope.

Seven years later, coming off a 10-0 season and a 40-20 overall record as an independent, AG is ready to jump back into the WPIAL.

Other Fayette County teams that followed the Colonials into independent status – Uniontown, Connellsville and Brownsville – will also rejoin the WPIAL for the 2026 football season.

Uniontown’s decision had already been revealed and both Falcons teams and the Colonials confirmed they were following suit.

“I think it’s time,” Dindl said. “I think we did the right thing about how we went about the independent process. Doing that gave the kids and our program a fair chance and they had the opportunity to work hard and see it pay off, see what it was like to win. I think that’s important. Before we were so completely outmatched and outnumbered, it was hard to give them any hope.

“Now they have that little bit of confidence going back in. We built a good culture inside the team and there’s an expectation that they can compete. Going the independent route really did help us but now it’s time to go back.”

Dindl, Brownsville athletic director Jim Barak and Connellsville tri-head coach Jace McClean all said they were in talks with the WPIAL before making their decision and requested their non-conference schedules include nearby teams.

“We decided right after this past football season,” Barak said of the Falcons, who’ve been an independent since 2022. “We just feel we’re better off in the WPIAL. We’re hoping we get put in a conference where we can have a chance to be competitive. I believe we’ll be a 2A team.”

Brownsville has a record of 1-45 over the past five years as it tries to gain some traction under head coach Cody Castor who will be entering his second season after an 0-8 mark in 2025.

Dindl said the WPIAL told his athletic director Duane Dupont it’s willing to work with the incoming independents.

“They had us write some teams down that maybe we could play on our non-conference schedule,” Dindl said. “We’re hoping they’ll do that and not send us somewhere two hours away like happened a lot previously. It seems now at the WPIAL that they are trying to work with everybody.”

McClean, whose team spent two seasons as an independent, sees pros and cons on both sides of the issue.

“We were kind of in limbo, waiting to get some feedback from the WPIAL on possible section and non-section games to make a decision,” McClean said. “We (all four Fayette County independents) collectively came up with a proposal asking the WPIAL to make our non-section games a little more exciting and competitive by playing each other in the local area.

“Breaking down the numbers, the last time when we played 5A football, 2016 to 2021, we had a total record of 2-45. When we took over the program four years ago the WPIAL bumped us down into 4A. We had a 7-13 record in the first two years.”

The WPIAL then moved the Falcons back up to Class 5A.

“That’s when we decided to try the independent schedule for 2024 and 2025,” McClean said. “I believe going independent was successful by having more competitive game and it ultimately gave our players some confidence. Not only was it good for our kids, it was also good for the fans and community.”

McClean said the Falcons will be back in Class 5A again for 2026.

“According to state numbers this year, based on enrollment, we would be placed back into 5A football and we would rank as the largest team in the WPIAL,” McClain said.

Connellsville was competitive in most of its games despite a 5-14 the past two years.

McClean cited scheduling problems, no playoffs and no chance to earn conference accolades as cons for being an independent.

“Overall, this decision is a very difficult choice,” McClean said. “We know it’s going to be a tough road, but our kids are excited and are geared up for the challenge. We just hope the WPIAL takes everything we proposed into consideration and creates a more competitive balanced schedule for all schools.”

Dindl is hopeful all will turn out well for each of the Fayette County teams re-entering the WPIAL.

“It’s kind of exciting with all of us, Uniontown, Connellsville, Brownsville also, all going back, and we’ll see how it goes for us all,” said Dindl who admitted his players are in favor of the move, including his returning starting quarterback.

“Bronx (Jamison) has been asking me for a couple years now if we could go back,” Dindl said. “He’s really psyched, as is the rest of the team. We’re motivated.”