WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — West Mifflin running back Armand Hill made his mark as a freshman in 2023, helping the Titans to a quarterfinal appearance in the WPIAL playoffs. In that quarterfinal game, the Titans faced their neighborhood rivals, the Elizabeth Forward Warriors. Hill and the Titans ultimately fell short, losing the game 42-21.
While that loss ended the Titans’ playoff run, it gave the young team even more momentum. After spending an entire offseason processing the loss, Hill and the rest of the Titans waited for the rematch against the Warriors. Thankfully, they didn’t have to wait long, as the two teams faced off in the opening week of the 2024 season.
The Titans avenged their loss from last season, defeating the Warriors 17-16. Hill, who is a sophomore this season, scored the game-winning touchdown on a 44-yard run in which he broke through several tackles and knocked another defender to the ground with his arm.
“It was very important (to get this win),” said Hill Pittsburgh Sports Now after the win over the Warriors. “They beat us twice last year and knocked us out of the playoffs. That’s great for us.”
Although the Titans only won by one point, the young team made numerous mistakes in the second half of the game and managed to complete the comeback despite being behind by a touchdown midway through the third quarter.
“When we’re down, we help each other out,” Hill said of the Titans team’s mentality.
As a freshman, Hill rushed for 1,526 yards and 20 touchdowns, including a game against Hopewell in which he rushed for the second-most yards in a game in WPIAL history with 495 rushing yards. To keep the insane momentum he’s built going into 2023, Hill worked during the offseason to improve his game even more. In particular, Hill said he tried to improve his power and speed before the start of his sophomore season.
With his stunning freshman campaign, Hill garnered over 10 Division I offers, including offers from Power Four schools such as Pitt, Penn State, Michigan, Maryland and West Virginia. Although Hill is attracting national attention in terms of his recruitment, he is only a sophomore and should expect many more offers by the time he graduates in 2027.
For now, Hill said, he’s just focused on the current season. Even in a game where he didn’t threaten the WPIAL records, Hill still ran for 84 yards and a game-winning touchdown. The Titans’ season-opening win over the Warriors gives them the confidence to compete with schools like McKeesport and Thomas Jefferson in Class 4A.
The end goal for the Titans and Hill is to not only compete in Class 4A, but to dominate it. Hill said the goal for this season is to finish as “state champions.”
