Chris Harlan stories, Page 88
New attendance limits remove some stress for WPIAL schools
High school administrators across the PIAA were verifying the number of seats in their stadiums and gymnasiums Tuesday after Gov. Tom Wolf eased limits on gathering sizes. The governor’s new formula is based on a percentage of a facility’s capacity rather than the 25-person indoor and 250-person outdoor restrictions previously...
Steelers allowing 5,500 fans at Heinz Field for Sunday’s game
The Pittsburgh Steelers will allow fans at Heinz Field on Sunday for the first time this season. Shortly after Gov. Tom Wolf eased statewide restrictions on gathering limits, the Steelers on Tuesday announced plans to admit 5,500 spectators into the stadium for their game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The team...
2 WPIAL teams earn national recognition from High School Football America
Two WPIAL football teams are earning national attention. North Allegheny and Pine-Richland were among four Pennsylvania schools receiving spots in the Top 100 rankings High School Football America released Sunday. North Allegheny was ranked 35th and Pine-Richland 85th in the first list for this season. Also included was St. Joseph’s...
Gateway, Penn-Trafford choose Sunday night kickoff for football game
Sunday night football is coming to the WPIAL. Conference rivals Gateway and Penn-Trafford agreed to move this week’s game to 7 p.m. Sunday to give the Gators time to recover from their covid-19 shutdown. The game is at Gateway’s Antimarino Stadium. The Gators were forced to cancel last week’s game...
10 members of WPIAL Diversity & Inclusion Council bring varied experiences
When Loran Cooley met the other individuals chosen for the first WPIAL Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council, he noticed a long list of doctorates. “I’m probably the least qualified,” he said, laughing. Not hardly. As an African American and former head football coach at Baldwin, Cooley understands the racial landscape...
4 WPIAL football teams maintain long conference streaks as Penn Hills’ ends
One of WPIAL football’s longest active conference winning streaks ended Saturday, leaving four double-digit streaks intact. Penn Hills had won 15 consecutive conference games before Saturday night’s 43-0 loss to Pine-Richland in the Class 5A Northeast. It was the first time the team lost to a conference foe since joining...
5 things we learned in Week 4: Zero tolerance works for Elizabeth Forward
If the other team doesn’t score, it can’t win. Elizabeth Forward’s football coach Mike Collodi has shared that simple philosophy with his defense, and they’ve taken it to heart. After Week 4, Shenango, Central Valley and Washington rank among the stingiest defenses in the WPIAL. But top honors belong to...
WPIAL Football Rankings for Week 4
Here’s a look at this week’s WPIAL football rankings: Class 6A Team, record, previous 1. North Allegheny, 3-0, 1 2. Central Catholic, 3-1, 2 3. Canon-McMillan, 2-1, 4 4. Seneca Valley, 2-1, 3 5. Mt. Lebanon, 1-2, NR Out: Baldwin (1-1, 5) Class 5A 1. Pine-Richland*, 2-0, 1 2. Gateway,...
Gannon Carothers’ versatility helps No. 2 Central Catholic defeat No. 3 Seneca ValleyVideo
Gannon Carothers’ coaches say the junior plays five positions for Central Catholic, a versatility that seemed invaluable Friday night. With three running backs injured, second-ranked Central Catholic turned the backfield over to Carothers, who rushed for 171 yards and scored twice in a 33-7 victory over No. 3 Seneca Valley...
Gov. Wolf: Spectator situation ‘confusing’ for schools, no updated guidance yet
The gathering limits ruled unconstitutional two weeks ago are back in place statewide, leaving some high school athletic directors to ask: Now what? “It is confusing, I acknowledge that,” Gov. Tom Wolf said Friday, “and I’m working really hard and as quickly as I possibly can to come up with...
Spectators again restricted at high school sports but Gov. Wolf says ‘stay tuned’
North Allegheny will have a socially distant student section at Friday’s football game, and Norwin is moving forward with its homecoming festivities as planned. Gathering limits on high school football games, volleyball matches and all other fall sports sprung back to life Thursday after the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of...
Kiski Area running back Kenneth Blake commits to AlbanyVideo
Kiski Area’s Kenneth Blake will play college football in New York for a team with Western Pennsylvania connections. The senior announced his commitment Friday to Albany, a Division I FCS program coached by Seton LaSalle graduate Greg Gattuso, who is entering his seventh year at Albany, a member of the...
Clairton cancels Week 4 football game with Bishop Canevin
Clairton football practices are shut down until next week over covid-19 concerns and Saturday’s game against Bishop Canevin was canceled, the school announced Wednesday night. The actions were taken in response to “several athletes showing symptoms that may be related to covid-19,” said a message on the school’s website, calling...
5 things we learned in Week 3: Drop in classification lifts WPIAL teams to 3-0 starts
After years battling as one of the smallest WPIAL schools in Class 5A football, Chartiers Valley this season became one of the largest in 4A — a move that’s had an immediate impact. The proof is in the standings. Coach Dan Knause’s team is 3-0 this year after going 3-7...
WPIAL Football Rankings for Week 3
Class 6A 1. North Allegheny, 2-0, 2 2. Central Catholic, 2-1, 1 3. Seneca Valley, 2-0, 3 4. Canon-McMillan, 1-1, 4 5. Baldwin, 1-0, 5 Out: none Class 5A 1. Pine-Richland, 2-0, 1 2. Gateway, 2-0, 2 3. Peters Township, 2-0, 3 4. Woodland Hills, 3-0, 4 5. Upper St....
Young North Hills boys soccer team looking to build
With almost two dozen sophomores and freshmen on the roster, North Hills boys soccer coach Jared Steigerwald has focused this fall on teaching fundamentals. Start small and work bigger. “We’re working on a lot of combinations in small spaces,” Steigerwald said. “Square drills with up, back and goes, putting it...
North Allegheny answers questions with victory over top-ranked Central CatholicVideo
North Allegheny’s Khalil Dinkins knew there were questions about his untested football team entering Friday’s game with rival Central Catholic. Now, they’ve got answers. Dinkins scored two touchdowns in a little more than a minute Friday night, the second on a 40-yard interception return as the second-ranked Tigers pulled away...
5 things to watch in Week 3: WPIAL No. 1 vs. No. 2 in largest classifications
It’s one vs. two, twice. The WPIAL has a pair of top-ranked matchups on the Week 3 football schedule with No. 2 Gateway visiting No. 1 Pine-Richland in Class 5A and No. 2 North Allegheny facing No. 1 Central Catholic in 6A. Both start at 7 p.m. Friday. The Class...
Central Catholic’s Eddy Tillman gets home-field advantage vs. North Allegheny
Central Catholic’s football team doesn’t have a home field, but running back Eddy Tillman will be close to home Friday night. The top-ranked Vikings are hosting No. 2 North Allegheny at Graham Field in Wilkinsburg, which is a short walk from Tillman’s home. The senior has fond memories of his...
WPIAL football playoffs will have 8-team brackets in most classifications
WPIAL football teams can start counting their Gardner Points now, because some will need them to break ties in about five weeks. The PIAA finalized its state playoff brackets Wednesday, the key piece of information the WPIAL needed to determine its postseason football format. Here’s what is known: WPIAL Class...
PIAA adopts slimmed-down state playoff brackets for fall sports
The state playoffs are now a win-and-get-in scenario. The PIAA board approved slimmed-down state playoff brackets Wednesday that include only the champion from each district. Championship events for individual sports also were reduced to smaller fields. The brackets are a positive sign the PIAA plans to crown state champions this...
Gov. Wolf’s veto of House Bill 2787 stands as state House override falls short
To the dismay of many high school sports fans, Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of House Bill 2787 will stand. The state House on Wednesday fell short of the two-thirds majority vote needed to override Wolf’s veto with only 130 in favor of the override and 71 opposed. The House had...
WPIAL schools start allowing more spectators as governor’s limits become voluntary
Gov. Tom Wolf would prefer schools adhere to his gathering limits at sports events, but acknowledged Tuesday they’re not legally binding “at least for the moment.” A week ago, the state’s gathering limits of 250 individuals outdoors and 25 indoors were ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. On Tuesday, a...
WPIAL chooses alternate site for cross country championships
Cross country runners who competed last week in the Red, White and Blue Classic got an early look at the WPIAL championship course. The WPIAL board agreed Monday to move its championship meet to White Oak Park in White Oak, likely on Oct. 28-29. WPIAL administrators visited the site last...
Gov. Wolf vetoes House Bill 2787, leaving high school sports spectators in limbo
Gov. Tom Wolf followed through on his promise Monday and vetoed legislation that would have let school districts set their own attendance limits for sports. Now what? The primary sponsor of the bill, state Rep. Mike Reese, said he expects the General Assembly to override Wolf’s veto and give schools...
