High School category, Page 417

Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that have shaped local scholastic history. Kiski Area christened Richard J. Dilts Stadium on the school’s campus with a 24-9 victory over defending City League champion Allderdice...

Two seasons removed from winning a WPIAL championship, Serra Catholic will be leaning on its returning experience and strong line play to once again soar to those heights. There are obvious concerns because dynamic skill players like quarterback Elijah Ward and wide receiver Amire Spencer graduated, but coach Jose Regus...

Sometimes when a team falls on hard times and is at the bottom of the standings, the only way to look is up. Second-year Ringgold coach Marcus McCullough is hoping to rebound from a winless campaign in 2022 and start an upward climb in Class 4A. “No doubt, it was...

Every year, McKeesport heads into a new campaign with the goal of winning a conference title and having success in the WPIAL playoffs. The Tigers have to replace key contributors on both sides of the ball, but that doesn’t lessen the expectations surrounding the group of players returning for the...

While there’s a new leader at the helm of the Elizabeth Forward football program, expectations aren’t going to change for the Warriors. “They’ve been on a roll, and they’ve had a lot of success, so I don’t see that stopping now,” said John DeMarco, who enters his first season as...

Playing under its third coach in as many years, Charleroi is hoping to move in a more positive direction after collecting just two wins in each of the last two seasons. “We’ve talked a lot about just getting 1% better every day, and I think the guys have been doing...

First-year coach David Pordash knows the rebuild at Bentworth is going to be a long process, but the former Bearcat is excited for the task at hand this fall. “We have 38 kids in camp and their participation has been tremendous,” said Pordash, who played football at Waynesburg University. “There...

Veteran coach Ed Woods knows the makeup of a successful team and what a winner looks like at the high school level. He believes California’s 2023 football squad has all the makings for a special season. “I just love the work ethic of these kids,” said Woods, who is entering...

TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top safeties for the 2023 season. 1. Jason Cross Bishop Canevin Senior, 6-1, 170 The West Virginia recruit reached the WPIAL finals as a sophomore and junior, and will...

High schools Golf Wednesday’s results Boys Class 3A Section 7 Moon 198, Chartiers Valley 222 Medalists: Alex Koch (M) 38, Jake Federouch (CV) 40 Section 8 Shaler 193, Hampton 202 Medalist: Jacob Crissman (S) 34 Class 2A Section 4 Keystone Oaks 217, Chartiers-Houston 233 Medalist: Ethan Shartle (KO) 40 Nonsection...

The 2023 Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year watch list is here, just a few days before the start of the high school season. This is the fifth year for the award, which is named for the late Katelyn “Moe” Rosensteel and goes to the top girls soccer player in...

With the onslaught of high school stadium renovations over the last two decades, the number of WPIAL schools that play their home games on Saturday afternoons because they have no lights at their facility has shrunk to only three. Western Beaver, Riverview and Summit Academy are the only teams that...

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s Brazell twins have been collecting motivation over the past couple of seasons. In 2021, it was a WPIAL Class A championship game loss to Bishop Canevin. Last year, it was a first-round playoff loss to Clairton. Now, Brandon and Brady are joined by 12...

Ever since suffering through a winless season four years ago, Fort Cherry has been on an upward trajectory. Last year, the Rangers won eight games and picked up a playoff victory to boot. Fort Cherry’s offense made a statement last year, scoring over 40 points seven times and averaging 37...

In the past two season finales, the Cornell Raiders fell short a yard or two short in matchups against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Last year’s 27-26 loss kept the Raiders from advancing to the WPIAL Class A playoffs. Being that close to returning to the postseason motivated the...

Chartiers-Houston lineman Jack Heiser knows the Buccaneers are equipped to keep moving forward this season. Up and down the roster, Chartiers-Houston has been building strength to push forward. The Buccaneers slipped back to the pack last season, compiling a 5-5 overall record, which included a 2-5 mark in the Black...

The Class A Black Hills Conference wasn’t a friendly environment for Carlynton last season. The Cougars went 0-7 in conference play and 0-10 overall. Fourth-year coach Rich Piccinini resigned, and John Tortorea has taken over. Tortorea was head coach at Quaker Valley from 2011-16, compiling a 30-29 record. The Quakers’...

Burgettstown has a new head coach, but he’s no stranger to the Blue Devils sideline. Mark Druga is back after a two-year absence. He led Burgettstown to a 38-21 record from 2015-20. “I resigned the last time when my mother passed away, and I was the executor (of her estate),”...

Bishop Canevin coach Rich Johnson believes his team will be boring at times this season, and he’s excited to see it. The duller the better. “We need to get better at boring football,” said Johnson, entering his fourth season. “We come out here (on the practice field) and we’re exciting....

Avella carries one of the smallest rosters in WPIAL football. The Eagles’ personnel can change greatly year by year due to the small numbers, but the Eagles always come motivated despite those challenges. Ryan Cecchini, coach since 2011, said that there’s been an outstanding turnout during summer camp — better...

Friday Nonconference Albert Gallatin at Connellsville, 7 p.m. Allderdice at North Allegheny, 7:30 p.m. Apollo-Ridge at Leechburg, 7 p.m. Avonworth at Grove City, 7 p.m. Bethel Park at North Hills, 7 p.m. Blackhawk at Beaver Falls, 7 p.m. Brashear at Baldwin, 7 p.m. Brentwood at Ellwood City, 7 p.m. Brownsville...

Chase Weihrauch made his starting quarterback debut in last year’s Week Zero game against Ligonier Valley. The Springdale senior then suffered an ankle injury during the week before the Dynamos’ Week 1 contest against Northgate and had to sit out several games. “It was so frustrating,” Weihrauch said. “I saw...

Here’s a look at four Westmoreland County football players to watch in Week Zero: Cole Chatfield Mt. Pleasant, Jr., QB This is Chatfield’s third season as a starter for the Vikings. He completed 66 of 123 passes for 1,212 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Chatfield may utilize his legs...

Ty George was a sophomore at Hempfield the last time Greensburg Salem was victorious in this historic series. Now the 2014 Hempfield graduate, the new Greensburg Salem coach, is trying to devise a plan to end the Spartans’ current six-game winning streak in the series between the neighboring school districts...

Nonconference Mt. Pleasant at Greensburg Central Catholic 7 p.m. Friday, Centurion Stadium, Carbon Last year’s meeting: Greensburg C.C. 56, Mt. Pleasant 35 After a shootout last year, plenty of points are expected between a pair of county teams with some key offensive weapons back. … Mt. Pleasant has a host...