High School category, Page 247
Expectations high for talent-laden Elizabeth Forward
You’ll have to excuse Elizabeth Forward head coach John DeMarco for smiling so much as he oversees practices this fall. That’s because his Warriors team is loaded with talent all over the field and is aiming to get back on top of Class 3A’s Interstate Conference. South Allegheny is out...
New set of conference opponents set to stare down vaunted McKeesport flexbone
After reaching the WPIAL championship game last season, the McKeesport Tigers are hoping for a repeat trip. Only this time, the Tigers are looking to get over the Aliquippa hump and bring home a title to their city. McKeesport has shifted conferences in the new-look Class 4A. The Tigers will...
With new coach, young talent, ‘There’s a pulse at Ringgold’
Given that the Ringgold football program hasn’t won in 25 games, it goes without saying that some fresh air could be beneficial for the team, and new coach Robert “Bean” Heller is looking to be just that. A Ringgold graduate and former football player at Waynesburg University, Heller has always...
Bentworth puts focus on finishing games to contend in Tri-County South
Despite going 3-7 last year, Bentworth head coach Dave Pordash sees a lot of positives coming into the 2024 season. Three of those seven losses were decided by seven points or less, so learning how to finish games and increasing their football IQ are two things Pordash and his coaching...
Offseason growth boosts expectations for Laurel
Brian Cooper cited growth as the biggest area of improvement for his 2024 Laurel football team. That term is two-fold in that the Spartans are a more mature team, showing growth in the mental part of the game and gaining a year of experience, something important for a young squad...
2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the specialists
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top kickers and punters for the 2024 season. 1. Peter Notaro North Allegheny Senior, 5-11, 180 Notaro, a first-team all-conference kicker in 6A, committed to Alabama this summer...
Summit Academy looks to benefit from more experienced roster
Anthony Becoate has done lots of teaching and coaching during training camp workouts the past two weeks, trying to get his Summit Academy players up to speed in time for their Week Zero matchup with Frazier. The third-year coach is working with a mostly inexperienced group of players and is...
Despite changes, goals remain the same for Neshannock
Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Friday. New head coach, new conference, lots of new faces. The 2024 season brings about plenty of change for Neshannock football, but the goal remains the same. “I...
South Side football ‘hungry’ after reaching WPIAL finals
South Side football players keep wanting to take the next step. Over the past three years, they’ve accomplished that goal. This year, it will be even tougher to achieve. In 2021, South Side advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals before falling to Steel Valley, 28-12. The 2022 season ended with a...
Shenango hopes to overcome injuries to contend in Big Seven Conference
Shenango football coach Jimmy Graham cited staying healthy as a key component to competing in the rugged Class A Big Seven Conference. With a roster of 28 players and five dealing with injuries through training camp, the Wildcats were happy to get through their scrimmage mostly intact ahead of the...
With RB Antonio Laure back in fold, Rochester eyes success in Big 7 Conference
Antonio Laure is looking forward to stepping back on a football field, breaking through a wall of defenders and scampering into the end zone. It’s something he does better than most Western Pennsylvania ball carriers in Class A. Rochester’s standout senior running back missed most of last season with a...
Northgate hopes bigger roster translates to more wins, elusive playoff berth
Northgate’s football roster was hovering in the mid-teens five seasons ago. The limited numbers made it a challenge to compete. As the numbers crept up, the wins followed. There were four wins in 2022 and five last fall. This season, there are 43 players on the Flames’ roster, enough that...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 21, 2024
High schools Football Friday’s schedule Nonconference Albert Gallatin at Greensburg Salem, 7 p.m. Allderdice at Fox Chapel, 7 p.m. Apollo-Ridge at Leechburg, 7 p.m. Armstrong at Highlands, 7 p.m. Avella at Mapletown, 7 p.m. Avonworth at Burrell, 7:30 p.m. Beaver Falls at Blackhawk, 7 p.m. Bentworth vs. Brownsville at Charleroi,...
Robbins, Abaray set tone for young Springdale football team
As a freshman, Noah Robbins didn’t see the field that much in varsity games. But he gained valuable experience watching a seasoned group of Springdale players, including 16 seniors, lead the way to the WPIAL Class A playoffs and a first-round victory. Fast forward three years later, and Robbins now...
Westmoreland boys soccer preview: Belle Vernon ready for challenge of jump to 3A
A jump in classification can be less daunting if a team has a lot coming back. Belle Vernon boys soccer is a prime example. The Leopards have a number of key players returning as they go from Class 2A to 3A. That includes standout goal scorer Trevor Kovatch, who has...
Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school football rankings for Aug. 21, 2024
Welcome to the 2024 high school football season, which kicks off for most schools across the state with Week Zero games this weekend. Before this season starts, here is a quick refresher course on the six 2023 PIAA champions. St. Joseph’s Prep won its second straight Class 6A crown and...
A-K Valley high school football players to watch for 2024 Week Zero
Jayden Floyd Leechburg, sr., QB/FS Floyd became just the 17th signal caller in WPIAL history to both throw and run for 1,000 yards in a single season last fall. He accounted for 26 touchdowns — 18 rushing, eight passing — and 2,624 combined yards as the Blue Devils reached the...
A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2024 Week Zero
Nonconference Allderdice at Fox Chapel 7 p.m. Friday, Burke Stadium, Fox Chapel Last year’s result: Did not play • Fox Chapel will be playing a City League team for the first time in the school’s 64-year history. The Foxes, who went 0-10 last season, are looking to end a 21-game...
The Birdie tells A-K Valley seniors to take a bow, or hit a Griddy, in Week Zero
At this time of year, high school football players, especially seniors, often are admonished by old folks to appreciate what they have before it’s gone. There will be a Facebook post with a picture of an empty field, usually a little bit of fog, and the text will tell athletes...
2024 Trib HSSN WPIAL preseason football rankings
WPIAL preseason football rankings Class 6A Rank, Team, 2023 record 1. North Allegheny, 13-2 2. Central Catholic, 10-2 3. Canon-McMillan, 6-5 4. Seneca Valley, 3-7 5. Norwin, 3-7 Class 5A 1. Peters Township, 15-1 2. Pine-Richland, 9-4 3. Woodland Hills, 6-4 4. Penn Hills, 9-3 5. Upper St. Clair, 9-2...
2024 Western Pa. high school football schedule for Week Zero
Friday Nonconference Albert Gallatin at Greensburg Salem, 7 p.m. Allderdice at Fox Chapel, 7 p.m. Apollo-Ridge at Leechburg, 7 p.m. Armstrong at Highlands, 7 p.m. Avella at Mapletown, 7 p.m. Avonworth at Burrell, 7:30 p.m. Beaver Falls at Blackhawk, 7 p.m. Bentworth at Brownsville, 7 p.m. Bethel Park at Seneca...
Westmoreland County high school football players to watch for 2024 Week Zero
Kyle Dupill Franklin Regional, sr., RB The 5-foot-7, 189-pound senior had a strong junior season, rushing for 1,175 yards and 14 touchdowns. He rushed for 240 yards and scored five touchdowns against Plum last year. Brock Heisler Hempfield, Jr., LT/DT The 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior will be part of a huge...
What’s in a name when rivals Norwin, Penn-Trafford collide?
Even though it’s a rivalry, the Penn-Trafford/Norwin series has no name. Does it need one? Pitt and West Virginia have the “Backyard Brawl.” Monessen and Charleroi and Monaca and Rochester had the “Battle of the Bridge.’ Derry and Ligonier Valley have the “Riot on the Ridge.” What should this game...
Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2024 Week Zero
Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for Westmoreland County in Week Zero of the 2024 season: Nonconference Albert Gallatin at Greensburg Salem 7 p.m. Friday, Offutt Field, Greensburg Last year’s result: Did not play Greensburg Salem will kick off its new season in Class 3A with a matchup against...
When it comes to Westmoreland County high school football picks, The Birdie always delivers
Last season: 109-29 (79%) The Birdie wanted to make some extra money this summer so he did some DoorDash work. His venture only lasted a week, though, because customers were reporting their food was arriving tampered with or half-eaten. “Don’t look at me,” Birdie said. “That pizza was only a...
