Every few years, the WPIAL realigns its football and basketball conferences, something that elicits responses from coaches in favor and opposed to the shakeups.

For the Mt. Lebanon football team, the realignment before the start of this season meant little change. As the season has progressed, though, it has meant a chance to salvage a season.

The Blue Devils started the season a disappointing 0-5 and also found themselves with a 1-2 mark in the six-team Great Southern Conference. That essentially put them in a three-way tie for third place with Upper St. Clair and Peters Township.

But a convincing 41-6 victory against hapless Baldwin (0-8, 0-4) last Friday has changed the entire outlook for the season for Mt. Lebanon. By virtue of that win and a previous one on Oct. 3 against Peters, the Blue Devils (2-6, 2-2) have already clinched a WPIAL playoff berth.

"We're in the playoffs," Mt. Lebanon coach Chris Haering said. "With the way things are now, that's the way you have to look at it. The system is set up so that we have an opportunity. We've got to continue to get better if we want to take advantage of it."

The Blue Devils have been playing better of late. After losing those first five games, the 14-7 victory against Peters Township gave them some confidence. A 35-28 loss to Canon-McMillan the following sent Haering and his staff back to the drawing board, but they knew there was time to make a playoff push.

Haering has seen some positives developing in recent weeks. The team's offense seemed to come together a little more in the second half against Canon-McMillan and the offensive line has been improving.

It came into full bloom against Baldwin as senior quarterback Anthony Cappucci completed 16 of 26 passes for 310 yards.

He still would like to see the team make more plays on both sides of the ball. The defense, he said, has been in position to make some plays that could have kept the team in games but has failed to respond at times.

"We scored a few points [against Canon-McMillan] and that's a positive sign," Haering said. "Defensively, we have to do a better job of making plays.

"Our kids have been working hard and trying to get better. We've just got to find a way to make some plays, especially on defense."

Mt. Lebanon counts on a core group of players to make those plays on both sides of the ball. Haering said Cappucci and junior receiver Mike Martin have been performing well with the offense and are getting better each week.

Defensively, junior linebacker Sean Veights and senior defensive end Vince Cantelm have been the leaders.

"Those four guys have been playing really well," Haering said. "But we've got a lot of guys who have been working hard at their positions and they are coming on, too. I think we are getting better. At this point, we're trying to get better every week."

Haering is hoping that trend continues tomorrow night when the Blue Devils visit neighboring rival Upper St. Clair (5-3, 2-2) in a game that will determine the third- and fourth-place teams in the Great Southern.

Once the playoffs begin, the Blue Devils know they start with a clean slate. Haering said at the start of this season, he thought the team had the ability to be competitive each week and was hopeful of making the playoffs.

Several factors, including turnovers, penalties, bad bounces, tough opponents and an inability to make key plays at critical junctures have contributed to the less-than-impressive overall record.

In addition to conference leaders Bethel Park and Canon-McMillan, Lebo also played North Hills, North Allegheny, Central Catholic and Shaler Area -- all of whom have winning records this season -- for its non-conference schedule

The Blue Devils are hoping they can extend the challenge for at least a few more weeks. No one associated with the team intends to apologize for Mt. Lebanon getting into the playoffs with a less-than-stellar record.

"If you can get there, you start all over," Haering said. "We want to improve as a team. That's what we're watching for at this point."