High School category, Page 1034
Led by a staff of former Lancers, Deer Lakes ready to turn the corner
Deer Lakes football coach Tim Burk found himself in an interesting situation earlier this year. After last season, all of his assistant coaches went in different directions. Two decided to chase opportunities elsewhere, one moved to take over a family business, and the last received a teaching job at another...
Under new leadership, Derry looks to maintain run of success
A change in leadership does not signal a change in style. At Derry, the concept of grinding the opponent down with basic blocking and running the football will continue, albeit with several potential ball carriers who possess varying styles. But a new 4-3 stack defensive scheme initiated by first-year coach...
Led by talented sophomore, junior classes, East Allegheny set to take next step
During his seven years as the football coach at East Allegheny, Dom Pecora has been trying to create a winning tradition. Over the past four years, he’s done just that. The Wildcats have reached the playoffs the last four years and earned a first-round playoff victory over Mohawk in 2017....
Young Freeport hopes to make impression in revamped conference
Youth will be served on the Freeport football team as underclassmen will be featured at several key positions. “There is a lot of good competition, including some younger players, freshmen and sophomores who got some good playing time last year,” said veteran coach John Gaillot, who welcomes back just five...
North Catholic motivated after falling short in WPIAL postseason
The North Catholic football players are motivated by how their 2019 season ended. The Trojans had great expectations last season, and through the regular season, they fulfilled those expectations. They won eight of nine games with their only loss coming against WPIAL Class 3A champion Central Valley. They captured the...
Valley to rely on experience, running game
The Valley Vikings lacked experience last season, and it showed early. They had a first-year starting quarterback, one returning starter on offense and four on defense, and they lacked strong line play. Despite their 1-9 record, the young team started to develop and learn from its mistakes as the season...
High school roundup for Sept. 8, 2020: Oakland Catholic scores tennis win
Isabella Liu-Lopez, Amanda Santora and Abby Santora swept singles competition to lead Oakland Catholic to a 3-2 Section 3-AAA girls tennis victory over Thomas Jefferson on Tuesday. The doubles teams of Katie Sonnett and Casssidy O’Connell and Holly Hannon and Cindy Oberio won three-set matches for Thomas Jefferson. Blackhawk 3,...
WPIAL Class A football breakdown: Defending champ Clairton brimming with confidence, talent
Clairton returned to the top of Class A in 2019, and with numerous key starters returning, many feel the Bears are the team to beat in 2020. Clairton coach Wayne Wade agrees. He also agrees Class A got a little stronger with the addition of Burgettstown, Shenango and Carmichaels, all...
WPIAL Class 3A football breakdown: Scenery changes but Central Valley still team to beat
The WPIAL Class 3A race may look a little different this year, but the winner could be the same. Perennial contender Aliquippa has moved up to Class 4A, and Beaver Falls has moved down to Class 2A after fielding one of its best teams since 2016. The entire classification has...
Westmoreland County girls soccer preview: Good luck keeping up with Norwin
Team speed is a trait often associated with girls soccer at Norwin. Opponents can feel more like track sprinters as they chase the Knights down the field and back. Expect more foot races to the goal again this fall. Of all the skilled teams with wheels that Norwin has trotted...
WPISL opens season with varsity games, JV tournament
The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Softball League kicked off its season over the weekend, and in varsity league play Sunday and Monday, Baldwin, Ellwood City, Seneca Valley and Montour picked up doubleheader sweeps. Baldwin stopped Mt. Pleasant twice, while Ellwood City took its twinbill against Hempfield. The Highlanders and Wolverines averaged...
Burrell looking to ‘seize the moment’ under 3rd-year coach
Since taking over the Burrell football program three years ago, coach Shawn Liotta has been trying to create a buzz around the Bucs. By the end of last season, players, coaches, administrators and fans could hear that buzz as loud as ever. The Bucs recorded their first winning season since...
Coach optimistic Fox Chapel can make strides in Class 5A
Tom Loughran has a keen appreciation for the competition in WPIAL Class 5A. “Let me say first that 5A has the best collection of teams where anyone can beat you on any given night. You have to come ready to play,” the veteran Fox Chapel coach said. “Everybody in our...
After back-to-back playoff trips, Shaler looking to take next step
What a difference a couple of years make. For most of this recent decade, the Shaler football team entered a season just looking to win a game or two. From 2012-17, fans were forgetting the Titans as they struggled to a 2-56 overall record with five winless seasons. However, the...
Veteran QB Cole Spencer leads Pine-Richland into new Class 5A schedule
Pine-Richland quarterback Cole Spencer threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season, but that isn’t the number his coach likes most. “The best thing you can say about a quarterback is, ‘What’s his record?’” coach Eric Kasperowicz said. “Stats lie. You can have a really bad football team and have great...
Noel Roach, Penn Hills eye return to championship game
Noel Roach remembers fondly the run to WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championship in 2018. He and his Penn Hills teammates hope to renew those feelings this fall. “Every day we just want to go in and work hard to get better,” the senior wide receiver and defensive back said....
North Hills to rely on senior class to navigate new-look conference slate
North Hills enters the fall with a football team that’s senior-heavy but light on experience. The way to fix that problem is to let them play. “We need to get this rolling a little bit and see what we have, because we do have to mature over the season,” coach...
WPIAL Class 2A football breakdown: Beaver Falls emerges as Avonworth moves on
Most Class 2A coaches who hope to win a WPIAL championship this season were probably thinking it. Leave it to irrepressible Seton LaSalle coach Mike Zmijanac to say it out loud. “Avonworth, thank God, went to Triple-A,” he said. The Antelopes were a true juggernaut last season, rolling through the...
WPIAL Class 4A football breakdown: Road to title goes through Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson began its 2019 season with a dominant victory over Canon-McMillan and ended it in Hershey with a 46-7 rout of Dallas for the PIAA Class 4A title. In between, the Jaguars rolled in and out of conference play and added their eighth WPIAL title since 2004. They outscored...
A-K Valley boys soccer preview: Plum looking to stand out again
The Plum boys soccer team put together one of its best seasons in recent memory last season, capturing the section title and going undefeated in the regular season. But with the graduation of key seniors such as leading goal scorer Tyler Kolankowski, center back Cole Kelly and midfielder Luke Gildea,...
Defense, running game set to lead Kiski Area
Teams are always in search of their identity, and it took the Kiski Area Cavaliers a little longer than expected to find theirs in 2019. But as the Cavaliers get ready for the 2020 season, they have a better idea of what that identity is going to be, and they...
With new coach, Brownsville focused on running, stopping run
The Brownsville football team hasn’t had a winning season in quite some time, but first-year coach Ramont Small is ready to get the Falcons pointed in the right direction. The Falcons finished 2-8 last season with wins over Bentworth and Beth-Center, but they haven’t had a season with more than...
Chase Whatton set to power Elizabeth Forward attack
While he can’t quite predict the future, Chase Whatton has a promise for Elizabeth Forward football fans. “Our 2020 season is going to be one to remember,” he said. “We have insane athletes. We’re very strong. A lot of our players dedicated themselves to the weight room during quarantine. We...
Mt. Pleasant out to overcome graduation losses, make playoff encore
Mt. Pleasant returned to the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2016 last year and the 26th time in school history. While the Vikings dropped a 42-6 decision to eventual WPIAL Class 3A champion Central Valley, the goal of making the playoffs was achieved. The Vikings won three of...
South Allegheny looks to finish strong under new head coach
It was a different type of offseason for high school football teams across the country, given the restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. At South Allegheny, the challenges spread wider than quarantined workouts, Zoom meetings and an inability to take the field together throughout the spring and early summer...
