High School category, Page 1031
Freeport beats Deer Lakes for 10th consecutive time
Freeport’s recent dominance over Deer Lakes continues. The Yellowjackets defeated the Lancers, 29-7, on Friday in the season opener at Freeport. It was their 10th straight victory in the series between the Class 3A Allegheny Conference rivals. “I am really proud of the boys,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. “We...
Upper St. Clair stays grounded, defeats rival Bethel Park with 5 rushing TDs
Dual-threat quarterback Ethan Dahlem scored twice Friday night, yet Upper St. Clair didn’t need him to carry the load alone anymore. Dahlem was the team’s leading rusher a season ago, but running backs Jaden Keating and Ethan Hiester also reached the end zone in USC’s 34-7 victory over Bethel Park....
Christian Zilli, Mario Perkins help Hempfield past Norwin
Christian Zilli made himself known Friday in his return to football at Hempfield after taking two seasons off. The senior basketball and baseball player threw for one touchdown and ran for another to help Hempfield defeat rival Norwin, 28-14, in the WPIAL Class 6A opener for both squads. The season...
QB Whitlock helps Belle Vernon shut out McKeesport in opener
When the Belle Vernon football team shuts out an opponent, it gets doughnuts from the coaching staff. There may be no better-tasting donuts than the next ones the team will ingest. The Leopards took offense to being an underdog against Class 4A newcomer McKeesport and handed the Tigers a 20-0...
Jake Fello leads Apollo-Ridge to big win in Ligonier Valley’s WPIAL return
With limited parents in the stands and no on-field halftime performances, Ligonier Valley and Apollo-Ridge opened the season in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference, marking the Rams’ first WPIAL game since 1967. The Vikings, however, spoiled the long-awaited return of the longtime District 6 member Friday night by beating Ligonier...
Burrell turns to ground game to hold off rival Valley
Burrell’s “air raid” offense lives by the motto “Play Fast.” But the Bucs reverted to super-slow mode in the second half to emerge with a 22-13 victory over neighboring Valley Friday night at New Kensington’s Memorial Stadium. Burrell ate up 14 minutes, 10 seconds of the final 16:12 of the...
Gateway looks sharp in opener, rolls past Franklin Regional
The start of Gateway’s WPIAL title defense was a dominant display of offense. Senior receiver Chamor Price hit the end zone four times in the first half, and the Gators scored touchdowns on their first six drives on the way to a 41-7 win over Franklin Regional in the season...
Thomas Jefferson starts title defense with win vs. West Mifflin
Defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A champion Thomas Jefferson didn’t miss a beat kicking off 2020 at West Mifflin, scoring 45 points in the first half before completing a 52-0 shutout Friday night. Senior quarterback Jake Pugh threw five touchdown passes to four receivers to start the scoring for No....
Sto-Rox cancels football game 3 hours before kickoff
A few hours before kickoff, Sto-Rox canceled its season-opening football game. Vikings coach and athletic director LaRoi Johnson wrote on Twitter shortly after 4 p.m. Friday that their game at Carlynton was canceled but provided no other details. Around that same time, Carlynton athletic director Nate Milsom received an email...
Trib HSSN has you covered in Week 1
The TribLive High School Sports Network is giving football fans the best seat in the house. Health and safety regulations might prevent fans from being in the stands Friday night, but HSSN has the next best thing with more than 35 broadcasts scheduled for the season’s opening weekend. Friday’s marquee...
Controlling tempo key for Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park in Allegheny 6 opener
Mike Junko doesn’t make his team run gassers, suicide sprints or whatever other name the exhausting workouts are called. He prefers to wear out opponents. With the second-year coach calling plays, Upper St. Clair’s offense has maybe the quickest no-huddle tempo in the WPIAL. So, rather than run sprints all...
High school roundup for Sept. 10, 2020: Franklin Regional golf stays undefeated
Zach Abdallah shot a 1-under 35 and Nolan Shilling an even-par 35 to help Franklin Regional improve to 5-0 with a 185-198 Section 4-AAA boys golf win Thursday at Meadowink GC. Central Catholic’s Rocco Salvitti was match medalist with a 2-under 34. Norwin 188, Penn-Trafford 189 – Sal Cerilli shot...
Gateway girls soccer aims to peak early in season
The Gateway girls soccer team came within penalty kicks of ousting No. 2 Plum in the first round of last year’s WPIAL Class AAA playoffs. But the Mustangs prevailed 2-1, dealing the Gators a heartbreaking end to their season. Coach Kelly Bender had a more optimistic tone when talking about...
Gateway boys soccer to rely on deep senior class in quest for playoff berth
The Gateway boys soccer team is focused on a return to the WPIAL playoffs for the first time four seasons. With a sizable group of returning starters and other contributors, the Gators are optimistic they can get the job done. “There has been a lot of talk about a lot...
Shaler volleyball hopes to ride experience into postseason
Sierra Ricci knows this isn’t the type of year she can ease back into the lineup. The defensive specialist for the Shaler Area girls volleyball team is returning to the lineup after missing last season with an ACL tear. But because of covid-19, the Titans will only play Section 1-4A...
Wilkins steps into No. 1 singles role for Shaler tennis
Olivia Wilkins didn’t want to come into her senior tennis season unprepared. She took private lessons a few days a week over the summer to prepare for the daunting task of taking over the No. 1 singles spot on the Shaler Area girls tennis team. Wilkins knew taking the top...
Signal Item girls soccer preview: Chartiers Valley chasing playoff berth in competitive section
Girls high school soccer teams that succeeded last fall begin this season trying to build on that momentum while those who stumbled look to a new year as a building block. Such it is for the Chartiers Valley girls soccer team. Last season, the Colts missed the playoff for a...
Signal Item boys soccer preview: Carlynton has championship potential
The 2020 high school sports season is underway. A season once thought to be in jeopardy of being canceled or possibly moved to the spring has kicked off for athletes playing football, field hockey, volleyball, golf, tennis, cross-country and soccer. Four area boys soccer teams reached the WPIAL playoffs a...
Thomas Jefferson boys soccer to rely on depth, defense in move to Section 3-3A
The overriding factor in all facets surrounding the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer program — as at all area schools — is the coronavirus pandemic. “Up to this point, everyone is healthy and ready to play,” coach Michael “Doc” Kulish said. “We follow all state and district policies from the beginning...
Chapla, Johnston return to lead Baldwin girls volleyball
Two mainstays in the Baldwin girls volleyball team are Alexa Chapla and Heidi Johnston. Both are juniors and third-year varsity players. Chapla and Johnston are the only returning starters from the 2019 playoff team; seven seniors graduated from that squad. “I am excited about the team this year,” coach Chris...
Penn-Trafford boys golf looks to contend for section title
At the midpoint of WPIAL golf season, the Penn-Trafford boys team was in the thick of the Section 1-AAA race after defeating Latrobe and Indiana. After losing to Norwin in a first-place showdown Sept. 10 to fall to 4-2, the Warriors were just behind the Knights (5-1) and Indiana (4-1)....
Return of rivalries energizes Penn Hills girls soccer program
The Penn Hills girls soccer program is optimistic heading into the season as the Indians look to see how their mix of seasoned veterans with an influx of young talent will fare against new competition. The Indians, who finished with 5-11-2 overall and 1-10-1 in Section 3-AAAA last season, will...
Interest in Penn Hills boys soccer on the rise
The Penn Hills boys soccer team might not have experienced success in recent years in the win column. However, the Indians believe they’ve turned the corner as interest in the program is at its highest in recent times. The Indians, who finished 2-7 overall and 1-13 in Section 3-AAA action...
Pine-Richland girls soccer coming together under new coach
With Villanova commit Megan Donnelly leading the offense, four-year starting goaltender Katherine Kelly in net and nearly a full cast of returning starters, Pine-Richland feels good about its chances to build on last season’s playoff appearance. Their new coach, Rachelle Dixon, also has them thinking positively. “Coming into a new...
Late-season success breeds optimism in Pine-Richland boys soccer program
For all of the growing pains Pine-Richland endured a year ago, the team showed just as much promise during coach Jordan Wiegand’s first season. The Rams believe they can be contenders, but know they can’t have a slow start like last season’s 1-4 section record, a hole too big to...
