High School category, Page 183

Concerned but not flustered after letting up a goal just before halftime, Franklin Regional rallied for three second-half goals and ripped past Penn-Trafford, 3-1, in Section 3-3A boys soccer Thursday night at Panther Stadium. “We just knew we had to lock in and play better,” said Danny Christafano, who scored...

The best javelin thrower in the state has made a choice about her future. Derry senior Sophia Mazzoni committed to Auburn of the SEC. Mazzoni is a two-time WPIAL Class 2A champion and returning PIAA champion. Her winning throw, a personal record, at the state meet was 161 feet, 10...

Welcome to Week 5 of the 2024 WPIAL football regular season and the midway point of the regular season. Friday night finally marks the start of section play for five district conferences. Conference action kicks off in all three Class 4A conferences. In the first five weeks of the season,...

With only three returning starters and a move up from Class 3A to 4A, it was a bit unknown coming into the season how the Plum boys soccer team would adjust. Through the first half of section play, it’s gone pretty well. The Mustangs have built on their recent history...

Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look at the players, coaches and events that shaped our scholastic legacy. Kiski Area won the 300th game in school history with a 21-17 decision at Hampton on Sept. 27, 2019. Kenny Blake scored all...

Anthony Smith’s progression has been fast, his development swift, as the freshman quarterback leads the Southmoreland football team in his first season. Smith, who had the look of a can’t-miss prospect over the summer and in camp, has not disappointed through five weeks. He is leading Westmoreland County in passing...

High schools Football Thursday’s schedule City League Westinghouse at Allderdice, 7 p.m. Friday’s schedule WPIAL Class 6A Hempfield at Canon-McMillan, 7 p.m. North Allegheny at Central Catholic, 7 p.m. Seneca Valley at Mt. Lebanon, 7 p.m. Class 5A Allegheny Six Baldwin at South Fayette, 7 p.m. Moon at Bethel Park,...

Camryn Klein converted a penalty kick and Milena Gill and Julia Spergel also scored as Peters Township (10-0-1, 5-0-1) strengthened its hold on first place in Section 2-4A girls soccer with a 3-1 win over Canon-McMillan (7-2-1, 3-2-1) on Wednesday. Ambridge 1, Hopewell 1 – Norah Marchionda scored for Ambridge...

Almost one year to the day — on the same field, against the same opponent — Alexis Brown had a full-circle experience. It came with nerves and tension, as well as adrenaline and relief. But it also came with a brace, much different than the one on her knee. Brown,...

The Week 5 weekend of high school football begins Thursday with what is expected to be one of the top regular season contests in the City League this season. First place in District 8 is at stake at Cupples Stadium on Thursday when two-time defending champion Westinghouse squares off against...

Derry javelin thrower Sophia Mazzoni, an elite talent with state and national titles, committed Wednesday to Auburn. The senior announced her college decision on social media. Mazzoni won a PIAA Class 2A title in May with a personal-best throw of 161 feet, 10 inches at the state meet in Shippensburg....

The 10 teams ranked in last week’s HSSN power rankings were a collective 9-1 in Week 4. However, that one loss was a headline maker. The No. 1 team throughout the 2023 season lost for the first time in 16 games and suffered its first regular season loss since 2021...

Player of the week Amos Glenn Freeport, jr., RB/DB Glenn is making the most out of a breakout season for the Freeport football team. The shifty and speedy tailback again was a big factor in the Yellowjackets’ offensive game plan last Friday as he contributed to a 42-0 rout of...

The Deer Lakes and Highlands football teams have met four times, with the most recent matchup coming in 2015 when the Lancers and Golden Rams competed in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference. Highlands got the better of Deer Lakes in 2014 and 2015 as well as the games in 2000...

Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for the A-K Valley in Week 5 of the 2024 season: Class 5A Big East Conference Kiski Area (1-4, 0-2) at Franklin Regional (4-1, 2-0) 7 p.m. Friday at Franklin Regional Panther Stadium, Murrysville Last week’s result: Penn-Trafford 33, Kiski Area 7; Franklin...

Last week: 8-3 Season: 34-16 (68%) With the season reaching its halfway point, The Birdie was making some notes where he always makes his notes: on the back of a foil Sheetz wrapper. Just then it hit him. He could combine both his passions and sum up the first half...

Thursday City League Westinghouse at Allderdice, 7 p.m. Friday WPIAL Class 6A Hempfield at Canon-McMillan, 7 p.m. North Allegheny at Central Catholic, 7 p.m. Seneca Valley at Mt. Lebanon, 7 p.m. Class 5A Allegheny Six Baldwin at South Fayette, 7 p.m. Moon at Bethel Park, 7 p.m. Peters Township at...

Player of the week Kyle Dupill Franklin Regional, sr., RB The 5-foot-7, 189-pound senior rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers defeated Gateway, 36-34, last Friday. He has rushed for 783 yards and seven touchdowns this season. The Panthers host Kiski Area on Friday night in a...

There isn’t much of a football tradition at Southmoreland High School. After the first team in school history in 1964 went 8-0, the Scotties’ best records since were 7-1-1 in 1968 and 7-2-1 in 1979, when they won their only conference title. They have had only 17 seasons in which...

Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for Westmoreland County in Week 5 of the 2024 season: Class 6A Hempfield (1-4, 0-2) at Canon-McMillan (2-3, 1-0) 7 p.m. Friday, Canon-McMillan Stadium, Canonsburg Last week’s result: Central Catholic 42, Hempfield 0; Canon-McMillan 17, Mt. Lebanon 14 (OT) Last year’s meeting: Did...

Last week: 11-4 (73%) Season: 45-18 (71%) Neighbors reported “bright flashing lights” coming from a third-floor window of the newspaper building Friday night, but authorities said it was “not a distress signal.” That was a news brief The Birdie read to Mrs. Birdie at breakfast this week. He had a...

Deer Lakes girls soccer coach Frank Accetta said he, his coaches and his players were surprised when the new two-year cycle alignments came out in the winter. and the Lancers no longer would be facing familiar opponents Freeport, Knoch, Shady Side Academy and Burrell. Instead, they were grouped with unfamiliar...

Connecting on crisp passes is the key to any good build-up at any level of soccer. Franklin Regional can make it look easy at times. Take last week’s game against Allderdice. In an impressive, 2-0 shutout in a key Section 3-3A game, the Panthers moved the ball with purpose, sending...

The girls soccer programs at Sewickley Academy and Quaker Valley have enjoyed the results of the first half of the 2024 season. Sewickley stood at 5-0-1 in Section 3-A and 5-1-1 overall. The Panthers scored 30 goals and surrendered 11 in seven games. “Our season has gone fairly well so...

It’s showtime for the Sewickley Academy and Quaker Valley girls soccer teams. The players on both sides have been patiently waiting for Friday to arrive. On that date, the Quakers play the Panthers at 4 p.m. in nonsection action. It’s a significant game for both teams. “Growing up in Sewickley...