Chris Harlan stories, Page 90
WPIAL sets football playoffs for 2021, but this year’s format clouded by covid-19
Covid-19 uncertainty clouds this year’s playoff picture, but the WPIAL did make a recent decision about the 2021 football postseason. The WPIAL board approved a new formula for determining the number of football teams that qualify. The formula, revealed during its late-August meeting, was overshadowed at the time by covid-19...
WPIAL Class 5A football breakdown: South Fayette, Pine-Richland face new challenges
How long has it been since South Fayette wasn’t a clear conference favorite? That was probably nine years ago, back when the Lions’ senior quarterback would’ve been in third grade. They’ve gone undefeated in the conference every season since, running off a streak of 64 consecutive wins. This year, there...
Gateway junior Patrick Body Jr. becomes 2nd Gators safety with Pitt offerVideo
There’s already a four-star safety in Gateway’s senior class, but now there’s a Power 5 defensive back in the junior class as well. Gateway junior Patrick Body Jr. announced his first Power 5 offer from Pitt on Wednesday, joining senior Derrick Davis as sought-after teammates for the defending WPIAL Class...
One WPIAL football team expects hundreds of fans at its opener: South Fayette
South Fayette’s football team will travel two hours for its season opener, but there is an obvious silver lining. By playing a game out of state, the Lions can have a couple of hundred of their fans in the stands. “It worked out perfect,” coach Joe Rossi said. South Fayette...
Legislation that gives schools say on spectators moves closer to Gov. Wolf’s desk
Before WPIAL football teams kick off next week, state lawmakers may send a bill to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk that would let more spectators attend interscholastic events. “I absolutely think that’s a real possibility,” said state Rep. Mike Reese, R-Westmoreland, the primary sponsor of House Bill 2787. “I think that’s...
Gov. Wolf lifts ban on spectators at interscholastic sportsVideo
Spectators can watch football, soccer and all other high school sports this fall after Gov. Tom Wolf lifted his ban on fans at interscholastic athletics. But Wolf kept strict limits on gathering sizes, meaning many stadium seats and gym bleachers might stay empty. Outdoor events are limited to 250 individuals,...
Almost every member school will play fall sports, WPIAL survey says
The results of the WPIAL survey are clear: Almost everyone is playing fall sports. Only two schools told the WPIAL they are shutting down fall sports entirely: Summit Academy and Neighborhood Academy, according to WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman. Summit Academy sponsors football and boys golf. Neighborhood Academy has only...
PIAA rejects Thursday kickoff request for WPIAL football season
High school football season won’t start on a Thursday night. The WPIAL had hoped to let some teams kickoff one day early — on Sept. 10 — but the PIAA denied that request, WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said Tuesday. The first date football teams can play a regular-season game...
Central Catholic returns 2,000-yard rusher but QB job remains 5-way battle
Central Catholic has five guys competing to play quarterback, and whoever wins the job will practice handing the football to Eddy Tillman. The senior is coming off a 2,000-yard, 26-touchdown season. The 5-foot-8 running back has increased his strength since last season and started drawing Division I interest this summer....
Strong junior class has Mt. Lebanon coach Bob Palko optimistic in Year 2
Mt. Lebanon coach Bob Palko had 14 sophomores earn a varsity letter in his first season with the Blue Devils. That has him excited because those sophomores are now juniors, so he expects to see a discernible jump in their performances. For football players, that transition from 10th grade to...
North Allegheny replaces top rusher, passer, receiver from last year’s lineup
North Allegheny coach Art Walker has always had a go-to guy in the backfield, one running back who’d shoulder the bulk of the carries. Not so, this season. “We’re going to be running back by committee until somebody steps up and takes it,” Walker said. “We could’ve done more evaluation...
Central Catholic football star, Pitt recruit Elliot Donald skipping senior season
The possibility he’d infect his granddad or any other family member with covid-19 was too much risk, said Central Catholic football star Elliot Donald, who decided to skip his senior season. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound defensive tackle is a Pitt commit, one of the WPIAL’s elite players and the nephew of...
Shady Side Academy delays football season until Week 3
Shady Side Academy won’t start football season until Week 3, a decision meant to limit potential exposure to coronavirus. The voluntary delay, which involves all contact sports, was revealed Friday by the school’s administration, coach Chuck DiNardo said. The football team will skip its preseason scrimmage and two regular-season weeks....
Uniontown reinstates football, soccer seasons after initially canceling fall contact sports
Football and soccer seasons were reinstated Friday at Uniontown. Three weeks after the school board voted to cancel contact sports, the school’s athletic department announced that all fall sports seasons will take place. The football team hasn’t trained together since mid-June, coach Cedric Lloyd said, but could resume workouts as...
Peters Township has high-end talent to contend again
Peters Township came within one point of winning the WPIAL Class 5A title last season, but that rain-soaked loss didn’t close the team’s championship window. “We have some good guys coming back,” coach T.J. Plack said. “If we didn’t have (Donovan) McMillon, (Corban) Hondru and some of these others, we’re...
Lack of returning starters doesn’t faze Bethel Park
Bethel Park graduated all 11 starters on offense and 10 on defense, but coach Brian DeLallo won’t call this a “rebuilding” year. “I don’t like using the R-word,” he said. “We’re not building in excuses and saying we’re rebuilding. We’re going to try to reload and get after guys. If...
South Fayette brings cutting-edge offense into Class 5A competition
South Fayette quarterback Naman Alemada was running the New England Patriots offense at times last season, with plays designed for small-but-quick receivers. Charley Rossi, Joey Audia and Ryan McGuire were the WPIAL’s version of Julian Edelman and Co. But this year, offensive coordinator Ben Maracek borrowed ideas from another championship...
Dahlem, Pantelis return to bolster Upper St. Clair aerial attack
Ethan Dahlem and David Pantelis have a quarterback-receiver connection that Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko describes as nearly clairvoyant. The pair combined for 77 receptions and more than 1,100 receiving yards. “It’s almost intuitive,” Junko said. “They are very much in tune. They just know. They’re developing that rhythm...
Online offseason helps West Allegheny, new coach get up to speed
West Allegheny not only has a new head coach but also a new offensive coordinator and an entirely new offense. There was a lot to learn during the team’s twice-weekly video conference calls with everyone trapped at home this spring. Looking back, that online work let the Indians enter summer...
Pittsburgh’s City League teams can start fall sports without delay
There will be City League sports this fall. The school board for Pittsburgh Public Schools voted unanimously Wednesday against a proposal that would’ve postponed sports until the district resumes in-person classes. The school district’s administration recommended the delay earlier this month, but the 9-0 vote reversed that decision, allowing sports...
Covid-19 forces Seneca Valley to cancel football scrimmage, season opener
Concerned that an athlete had direct exposure to covid-19, Seneca Valley shut down football workouts indefinitely Tuesday, meaning it also must cancel its preseason scrimmage and season opener. Teams must have 10 preseason practices before a scrimmage and 15 before a game, thresholds that the Raiders can’t reach, coach Ron...
Would school districts be legally liable for athletes contracting covid-19?
If a school district lets students play sports and one contracts covid-19 with complications, could the school be held legally responsible? Unlikely, says attorney Larry Kelly, a multi-sport coach in the WPIAL who has practiced personal-injury law for 37 years. Kelly studied the question and points to the governmental immunity...
WPIAL sets Sept. 1 deadline for schools to opt out of fall sports
The WPIAL believes a large majority of member schools will play sports this fall, but it’s hoping to know for sure in the next week. School administrators will receive a survey Tuesday asking them to respond if they intend to opt out of any fall sport, WPIAL executive director Amy...
Mt. Lebanon shuts down football workouts, must cancel season opener
A positive covid-19 test caused Mt. Lebanon to shut down football activities until next week, a delay that will force the team to cancel its preseason scrimmage and season opener. The PIAA requires 10 practices before a scrimmage and 15 before the first game, thresholds Mt. Lebanon can’t reach in...
Football coaches fear postponement, transfers could doom City League
City League football coaches are worried about losing their season, but they’re also fearful they could lose the entire league. “If we don’t play football this year, we won’t have City League football in a couple of years,” Allderdice coach Jerry Haslett said. Pittsburgh Public Schools’ administration recommended earlier this...
