Chris Harlan stories, Page 63

Greg Perry resigned as football coach at his alma mater Keystone Oaks, citing a union contract decision that reduced money available for his assistant coaches. Perry went 45-34 in eight seasons. “I quit because in the spring, the school board and the (Keystone Oaks Education Association) decided on a contract...

The WPIAL’s largest classification officially is getting smaller next season in football and basketball. As expected, the WPIAL will have only five football teams in Class 6A for the next two years, according to updated enrollment numbers released Tuesday by the PIAA for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. But...

The Beaver County branch of the NAACP added its voice to those opposing a PIAA rule that could force the small-school Aliquippa football team to face even larger opponents in Class 5A next season. In a letter dated Monday and addressed to the WPIAL, the branch argued that the PIAA...

Central Valley faced a fourth-and-1 at its own 18-yard line with less than 5 minutes left in the state championship. The Warriors held a 7-0 lead, so nobody would’ve criticized coach Mark Lyons if he’d decided to punt and play defense. Sean FitzSimmons offered a riskier idea. “Sean said: ‘Listen....

Class 6A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. North Hills, 6-0, 1 2. North Allegheny, 8-0, 2 3. Fox Chapel, 7-1, 3 4. Central Catholic, 5-2, 4 5. Upper St. Clair, 6-1, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. Laurel Highlands, 6-0, 1 2. Penn Hills, 7-0, 2...

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 6-0, 1 2. Upper St. Clair, 7-0, 2 3. Mt. Lebanon, 8-0, 3 4. Norwin, 5-1, 4 5. Butler, 6-2, 5 Out: none Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Chartiers Valley, 8-1, 1 2. Moon, 8-0, 3 3. Oakland Catholic,...

This was a historic football season for the WPIAL, which had four teams celebrate state titles in Hershey. The WPIAL never before had won more than three in a year, but Mt. Lebanon, Penn-Trafford, Aliquippa and Central Valley all made history this fall. Each team had a unique story. The...

Mt. Lebanon won its first state title behind a veteran coach, a dynamic offensive trio and toughness at the line of scrimmage. Those elements all were recognized Wednesday when the Class 6A all-state football team was announced. Blue Devils coach Bob Palko was named the state’s 6A coach of the...

After winning its first WPIAL and PIAA football titles, Penn-Trafford has more reason to celebrate. Warriors coach John Ruane was named the PIAA Class 5A coach of the year on Wednesday, and three Penn-Trafford players earned all-state honors. Quarterback Carter Green, running back Cade Yacamelli and offensive lineman Declan Ochendowski...

If Tiqwai Hayes’ next three seasons are anything like his first, the Aliquippa freshman has an exciting future ahead. Hayes, who rushed for 1,746 yards and scored 23 touchdowns this season, was named Wednesday as the state’s Class 4A Player of the Year after leading the Quips to a PIAA...

Central Valley’s 27th straight victory was a 7-0 win over Wyomissing in the PIAA Class 3A football championship game earlier this month. The Warriors’ run of success was certainly recognized by a group of Pennsylvania sportswriters. On Monday, seven Central Valley players were named to the Class 3A all-state football...

A rare neurological disorder confined Serra Catholic coach Jose Regus to a wheelchair at times this season, yet Regus remained on the sideline and led the Eagles to a WPIAL football title and a state runner-up finish. His determination was recognized Tuesday when Regus was named the state’s Coach of...

Six WPIAL Class A football players earned all-state honors Tuesday, including Bishop Canevin wide receiver Lesae Lacks, whose team-high 50 catches helped the Crusaders win the district title. Lacks finished his junior year with 930 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns for Canevin, which won its first WPIAL title since 1990....

Class 6A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. North Hills, 4-0, 1 2. North Allegheny, 6-0, 4 3. Fox Chapel, 5-1, 3 4. Central Catholic, 4-1, 2 5. Upper St. Clair, 4-1, NR Out: Butler (4-2, 5) Class 5A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. Laurel Highlands, 4-0, 2 2. Penn Hills,...

Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 4-0, 1 2. Upper St. Clair, 5-0, 2 3. Mt. Lebanon, 6-0, 3 4. Norwin, 5-1, 4 5. Butler, 5-1, NR Out: Baldwin (5-2, 5) Class 5A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. Chartiers Valley, 4-1, 1 2. Trinity, 5-0, 2 3....

The Pine-Richland football coaching job is open for the second time in six months. Steve Campos, who stepped into a heated controversy last summer to lead the team, resigned Wednesday after one season as head coach. Lingering health issues led to his decision, said Campos, who recently underwent knee replacement...

The WPIAL’s largest football classification just keeps getting smaller. WPIAL Class 6A had eight teams this fall, but that number is likely shrinking to five before next season with Hempfield, Norwin and Baldwin all dropping to 5A, according to information from the schools. The new cutoff for Class 6A football...

In an attempt to boost middle-school enrollment, Sewickley Academy inadvertently ran afoul of PIAA recruiting rules with a multi-part video highlighting the school’s academics, arts and athletics. As one video, there wouldn’t be an issue. But because the three were presented separately, the WPIAL found Sewickley Academy had violated PIAA...

Class 6A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny 3-0, 1 2. Upper St. Clair, 4-0, 2 3. Mt. Lebanon, 4-0, 3 4. Norwin, 3-1, 4 5. Baldwin, 4-1, NR Out: Peters Township (2-3, 5) Class 5A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. Chartiers Valley, 3-0, 1 2. Trinity, 4-0, 3...

Class 6A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. North Hills, 3-0, 3 2. Central Catholic, 2-0, 4 3. Fox Chapel, 3-1, 2 4. North Allegheny, 4-0, NR 5. Butler, 3-1, 5 Out: Pine-Richland (1-3, 1) Class 5A Rk., Team, W-L, Last 1. New Castle, 3-0, 1 2. Laurel Highlands, 3-0, 2...

When coach Dan Heckert started a girls wrestling program a year ago at North Allegheny, he hoped someday the sport might become sanctioned by the PIAA and have teams at schools across the WPIAL. That idea just took a step closer to reality. The PIAA earlier this year created a...

Matt McDonough had a ticket to see the new Spider-Man movie, but his own heroics almost made him late. The North Allegheny senior hit a game-tying 3-pointer with eight-tenths of a second left to force overtime, where the Tigers defeated visiting Pine-Richland, 74-70, Friday night in Section 1-6A boys basketball....

The excitement of signing day used to be limited to February, but that changed five years ago when the NCAA added an early signing period for Division I football. Now, most of the top recruits sign in mid-December. A number of WPIAL and City League seniors took that opportunity Wednesday,...

The Big Seven was competitive this fall, with every team winning at least two conference games. That depth is reflected in the all-conference team. Rochester’s Sal Laure was named both the offensive and defensive player of the year in the Class A conference, but the senior shared each award with...

Leechburg quarterback Thomas Burke finished fifth among all WPIAL passers this season, earning the senior Offensive Player of the Year honors in the Eastern Conference. Burke finished with 2,232 passing yards and 18 touchdowns for the Blue Devils, who also had senior Eli Rich named the conference’s top lineman. Both...