Chris Harlan stories, Page 34
In 16th straight WPIAL title game appearance, Aliquippa to meet worthy adversary in McKeesport
As a first-year coach, Matt Miller led McKeesport to the 2016 WPIAL finals, a rapid ascent that maybe skewed his perception of the playoffs. “I thought it was easy,” Miller said with a laugh. “Young and dumb, right?” After a few heartbreaking near misses in the past seven years, Miller...
No guarantee WPIAL welcomes back Farrell, if District 10 approves school’s transfer
Farrell wants to come back to the WPIAL after almost two decades in District 10, but a potential homecoming for the Steelers is no guarantee. First, Farrell needs approval from the District 10 committee, which denied a similar request to leave eight years ago. Even if District 10 agrees this...
WPIAL continues investigation of racial slurs in Mohawk-Burrell football game
The WPIAL investigation is ongoing into allegations that racial slurs were used in a Burrell-Mohawk football game. Members of the WPIAL Equity Council for Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Competency continued to review information after meeting last week with representatives from the two schools, WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said Monday....
With 6 TDs, North Allegheny QB Logan Kushner shines brightest in WPIAL title win over Central Catholic
“Best player on the field” was how North Allegheny coach Art Walker described his quarterback Logan Kushner. Sure, there were bigger guys out there. He’s not headed to a Big Ten school. Division I colleges aren’t really recruiting him. But on a field dotted with major-college talents, Kushner passed for...
Aliquippa headed ‘home’ to WPIAL finals, extending championship game streak to 16 years
Whether the stadium on the North Shore is called Heinz Field or Acrisure Stadium doesn’t much matter to Aliquippa’s football players, since they have their own nickname for it. “Home” is what they like to say. Tikey Hayes called it home. Arison Walker called it home. That’s because for the...
Offense steps to forefront when Central Catholic, North Allegheny meet again for Class 6A title
The traditional style of a Central Catholic vs. North Allegheny game was always defined by the defenses. Just a year ago, they combined for a 7-3 score in a field-position battle. But that’s not necessarily the case anymore, since both offenses now rank among the highest scoring in the WPIAL....
Peters Township eyes 1st WPIAL title, but defending champion Pine-Richland stands in the way
This was just another week of practice for Peters Township’s football team, exactly like any of the others the Indians had this season. At least that was the idea. It’s hard to do in the days leading up to a WPIAL championship game, but coach T.J. Plack tried his best....
5 things to watch: WPIAL playoff weekend split between finals, semifinals
Pine-Richland will eat breakfast together a few hours before kickoff, part of a pregame routine Saturday that differs from most weeks. That’s because the WPIAL scheduled them with a noon kickoff, which Pine-Richland coach Jon LeDonne admits is a little unusual for his team. But rather than fret about the...
4 WPIAL football championships will be televised with support from Steelers
The four WPIAL football championship games held at Acrisure Stadium will be televised this year, thanks to support from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the WPIAL announced Tuesday. The Class A, 2A, 3A and 4A finals on Nov. 24 will be televised by KDKA+, which previously was known as Pittsburgh’s CW. The...
Coaches association names 2023 WPIAL field hockey all-stars
The WPIAL Field Hockey Coaches Association announced postseason honors Monday, including all-stars for each classification and a 24-person all-WPIAL team. Pine-Richland teammates Jessica Albertson, Madeline Mill and Georgia Rottinghaus were among the all-WPIAL honors after winning the Class 3A title. Penn-Trafford teammates Ava Hershberger and Mackenzie Keenan were named all-WPIAL...
Farrell wants to rejoin WPIAL after nearly 2 decades in District 10
Farrell athletic director and football coach Anthony Pegues calls himself “a WPIAL guy,” since the Steelers played here in the WPIAL when he was on the team. He’s ready to come back. The Farrell school board took a step in that direction Monday night by voting 8-1 to transfer its...
5 things we learned in Week 11 of the WPIAL football season: Semifinals feature new blood
Some teams are penciled into the semifinals before the WPIAL playoffs even start. Aliquippa, after winning Friday, will make its 17th straight appearance in the final four. But, this year, have an eraser handy for some other regulars. A couple of teams with semifinal streaks lost Friday night in the...
WPIAL announces playoff sites for football semifinals
WPIAL football playoffs Class 6A Saturday’s final No. 1 Central Catholic (10-1) vs. No. 2 North Allegheny (10-1) at Norwin, 6 p.m. Class 5A Saturday’s final No. 1 Peters Township (12-0) vs. No. 3 Pine-Richland (9-3) at Norwin, noon Class 4A Friday’s semifinals No. 1 Aliquippa (10-0) vs. No. 4...
Touchdown with 2 seconds left sends defending champ Pine-Richland back to WPIAL finals
Pine-Richland was two seconds away from a season-ending loss when freshman Aaron “Oobi” Strader narrowly crossed the goal line on a touchdown run that has the defending champion headed back to the WPIAL finals. “If there’s time on the clock, there’s a chance,” coach Jon LeDonne said. But time was...
5 things to watch in WPIAL Week 11: Regular season rematches dominate playoff schedule
About two months ago, Penn Hills coach Charles Morris made a prediction before he left the field at Pine-Richland’s stadium. He was right. “If people remember, after the game, I said, ‘I know we’re going to see these guys again,’” said Morris, whose Indians will get that rematch Friday night....
WPIAL Equity Council to review Burrell’s allegations that Mohawk football players used racist remarks
The WPIAL will have a role in resolving the dispute between Burrell and Mohawk, whose football teams played a game marred by allegations of racial slurs. The WPIAL Equity Council for Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Competency is reviewing information submitted by the schools and will make a recommendation to the...
WPIAL allowing Burrell, Mohawk to settle racist taunts dispute
The WPIAL is hopeful Mohawk and Burrell can resolve allegations of racial taunts involving their football teams without the league’s intervention. “The schools did their own investigations and are sharing information with each other,” WPIAL administrator Vince Sortino said Wednesday. “The schools are handling the situation.” Sortino said members of...
Judge grants Jonna Burke preliminary injunction letting basketball coach avoid PIAA suspension
A federal judge has granted Jonna Burke’s request for a preliminary injunction, a legal victory that lets the Shady Side Academy girls basketball coach avoid a PIAA suspension for now. Burke was serving a one-year ban for an alleged recruiting violation before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Reed Eddy ruled in...
Burrell football coach says playoff opponent used racial slurs, his protest led to ejection
Burrell football coach Shawn Liotta said his players were targeted with racial slurs in a game Friday against Mohawk and that he was ejected after confronting game officials about it. “Their kids were repeatedly using racist remarks toward our kids,” said Liotta, a sixth-year coach at Burrell. “Our coaches and...
North Allegheny trying to make most of calm before the playoff storm
The North Allegheny football team didn’t have a game in the first week of the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers took a week off. “We were going to do everything we could to make the most of the extra time,” NA coach Art Walker said. “We wanted to...
5 things we learned in high school football Week 10: Wildcat formation works for WPIAL teams
The wildcat formation is almost as old as WPIAL football itself, but the run-oriented offense is proving hard to stop. What makes it work? “It’s the mentality of our line and our team in general,” said Moon running back Josh Bladel, who’s becoming a wildcat expert. “We want to play...
WPIAL announces sites, times for Friday’s football playoff games
WPIAL football playoffs All games at 7 p.m. Friday Class 6A Semifinals No. 4 Mt. Lebanon (5-5) vs. No. 1 Central Catholic (9-1) at Fox Chapel No. 3 Canon-McMillan (6-4) at No. 2 North Allegheny (9-1) Class 5A Semifinals No. 1 Peters Township (11-0) vs. No. 5 Moon (6-5) at...
No. 5 Moon thwarts final drive, runs past Gateway in WPIAL 5A quarterfinals
Moon ran the football almost 70 times Friday night, and Gateway coach Don Holl marveled that not once were the Tigers flagged for holding. It was a compliment, but one surely coated with some sarcasm. Moon rolled out an old-school offense that at times used 10 blockers and a wildcat...
WPIAL rules North Catholic baseball player ineligible after transfer
The WPIAL ruled North Catholic junior Jake McKee ineligible for the upcoming baseball season after transferring from New Brighton. The WPIAL held a hearing Thursday. WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said the hearing panel found validity in testimony from New Brighton that indicated McKee’s transfer was at least partially motivated...
5 things to watch in WPIAL Week 10: Run vs. pass option to decide Class 5A playoff openers
The run-pass option is a staple for offenses nowadays and this year’s WPIAL Class 5A bracket is one big RPO. Among the eight playoff teams in 5A, some have a run-first offense while others have quarterback-driven attacks. The divide in styles is more obvious this week since they’re matched head-to-head...
