High School category, Page 431
Defending WPIAL champion Hampton runners focusing on Hershey
The two-time defending WPIAL Class 2A champion Hampton boys cross country team is aiming to take another step forward. “The WPIAL is something that we definitely want to win again, but the big focus is improving the placing at the state meet,” said senior Dale Hall, the Talbots’ top runner...
Flexible lineup helps Fox Chapel girls tennis team succeed
Sophia Carvelli wasn’t disappointed to have to make an adjustment during her senior season. With some nagging shoulder pain slowing her down, Carvelli switched from playing No. 3 singles to doubles to ease some of the workload. Partnering with fellow senior Maria Marasco has been fun for Carvelli. Playing doubles...
Fox Chapel working hard, making adjustments to move past early season struggles
Building confidence was never going to be easy for first-year Fox Chapel football coach Dave Leasure. When the Foxes scrimmaged Hempfield, the program got a jolt. Fox Chapel scored three touchdowns and didn’t give up any. But when they started regular season play, the Foxes quickly had to make adjustments....
Norwin notebook: Volleyball team honored to again take part in outdoor game
Mary Ellen Ferragonio knew her team was taking part in an event that was as unique as it was celebratory. And it still felt special, even though Norwin had played in it two times before. The third Pack the Park outdoor girls volleyball match was played in perfect weather conditions...
North Allegheny reloads lineup in quest for 7th straight PIAA volleyball title
First-time starters on the North Allegheny girls volleyball team surely have more seasoning than most since they’ve practiced for years against a state championship lineup. The six-time defending champions sure hope so, because they’re relying on new faces in their quest for seven. “We’re lucky because our second side is...
North Allegheny notebook: Tigers girls soccer stays unbeaten
Emma Schupansky and Ally Ruiz found the back of the net to guide North Allegheny’s girls soccer team to a 2-0 win over Butler in a Section 1-4A game Aug. 6. The Tigers improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in section play. They have outscored opponents 27-5 this season, including...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Sept. 8, 2023
High schools WPIAL Football Friday’s results WPIAL Class 6A Canon-McMillan 38, Seneca Valley 0 Class 5A Allegheny Six Upper St. Clair 42, Baldwin 34 Northeast Penn Hills 26, Pine-Richland 20 Nonconference Aliquippa 33, North Catholic 7 Armstrong 49, New Castle 19 Avella 14, Mapletown 7 Avonworth 41, Sto-Rox 6 Beaver...
Quarterback Julian Dugger shows his versatility as No. 1 Penn Hills holds off No. 2 Pine-Richland
It’s no exaggeration when Penn Hills quarterback Julian Dugger says he did everything he could to win this one. After Dugger passed for two touchdowns, rushed for two more and served as the team’s punter, he joined the defense in the final seconds when the Indians were shorthanded in the...
High school football roundup for Sept. 8, 2023: Payton Wehner contributes 7 TDs in Central Catholic win
Payton Wehner threw for 298 yards and five touchdowns and added two TDs on the ground to lead Class 6A No. 2 Central Catholic to a 62-46 win against Class 5A No. 4 Bethel Park (1-2) in a nonconference football game Friday night. Vernon Settles caught five passes for 130...
Monessen football team rights ship, beats Frazier
Last fall, Monessen started the season 0-2 but got a boost in Week 3 with a lopsided victory over Frazier. The Greyhounds had the same recipe cooking in 2023 as Monessen rolled up 376 yards and collected a 48-19 win Friday night at Memorial Stadium. After the win over Frazier...
Trib HSSN’s 2023 Week 2 top performers for passing, rushing, receiving
Top performers for Week 2 of high school football in Western Pennsylvania. Passing 298 - Payton Wehner, Central Catholic (17 of 20) 289 - Tanner Pfeuffer, Bethel Park (13 of 22) 282 - Keegan Smetanka, Shaler (16 of 24) 273 - Jake Wolfe, Montour (17 of 27) 255 - Nico...
Montour stages big rally in second half to defeat South Fayette
Montour rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat South Fayette, 42-35, thanks to scoring the game’s final 24 points at Thomas J. Birko Memorial Stadium at Montour High School. The Spartans won on a 6-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Jake Wolfe. Montour’s defense, meanwhile, held the Lions to seven points...
Belle Vernon withstands McKeesport in overtime
Friday night’s game against McKeesport seemed eerily similar to last season’s game for Belle Vernon coach Matt Humbert. But in the end, the Leopards found themselves right at home — with their backs on their goal line in crunch time. Twice. The Leopards defense did it again, this time keeping...
Canon-McMillan logs valuable early win against Seneca Valley
Going into Friday’s home opener — a rematch of the game that decided the final playoff team in Class 6A last season — Canon-McMillan coach Mike Evans said he felt good. He and his staff were confident about the matchup and their team’s execution. It proved true, as the Big...
Kiski Area victory tempered by injury to Laurel Highlands standout Antwan Black Jr.
Kiski Area scored the winning touchdown with less than a minute to play to defeat Laurel Highlands, 28-24, on Friday at Richard A. Dilts Stadium. But the high-intensity contest was marred by a late injury to Laurel Highlands star Antwan Black Jr. After catching a pass near midfield with 34...
Yough pulls off 20-14 win over Charleroi for first victory
When Yough scored its second touchdown of the game to bring its deficit to two points and quickly got the ball back from Charleroi, it seemed like Yough was in control as a few minutes remained in the third quarter of Friday night’s nonconference contest at Charleroi. Yough’s Julian Varrenti...
Late turnover seals Penn-Trafford’s 1st win of season
Throughout Friday night, it was nearly impossible to stop the rejuvenated Penn-Trafford run game. Trailing by two points, Woodland Hills came up with the biggest stop of the game on its own 12-yard line. With the ball in their hands and less than a minute remaining, all the Wolverines had...
Latrobe gallops to win over Hempfield
Hempfield’s marching band played the fan favorite “The Horse” during its pregame performance. But it was Latrobe’s football team that relied on its trio of thoroughbreds to defeat the Spartans, 27-7, in a nonconference game Friday at Bill Abraham Field at Spartan Stadium. The Wildcats’ backfield trio of quarterback John...
Greensburg Salem jumps on Ligonier Valley, gives coach his 1st win
It’s been 23 years since Greensburg Salem has won a WPIAL playoff game in football, long enough for Ty George maybe to remember. After failing to qualify in 2022, the Golden Lions are attempting to make it back to the postseason in George’s first year as their coach. They took...
Kaylor’s field goals, Craggette’s runs help Southmoreland top Derry Area
Jake Kaylor kicked field goals of 25 and 32 yards in the final quarter to lead Southmoreland (3-0) to a 24-21 win over Derry Area (1-2) on Friday night. Kaylor initially missed from 32 yards, but Derry had called timeout before the snap. Instead of “icing” Kaylor, it gave him...
Shaler uses big second half to topple Plum
The Shaler and Plum football teams entered Friday’s game undefeated, looking to take a big step forward in the Class 5A playoff picture. Opportunistic and explosive Shaler scored three second-half touchdowns to claim a 28-14 victory. Shaler started the game with a bang as senior quarterback Keegan Smetanka found receiver...
Running game, special teams help Franklin Regional blank Connellsville
With its special teams unit flying to the football and setting field position and its running game in high gear, Franklin Regional handed upstart Connellsville a humbling 38-0 defeat in a nonconference matchup Friday night at Panther Stadium in Murrysville. Franklin Regional (2-1) stuffed the Falcons’ running attack and got...
Highlands overcomes penalties to beat Chartiers Valley
When Chartiers Valley and Highlands met for the first time last year, they played a tight contest with the Golden Rams prevailing by eight points. Friday night was not as close as last year’s contest but had all the excitement and tenacity a Class 4A showdown brings. Highlands (3-0) remained...
Devin Beattie’s big game helps Burrell beat Valley for 300th win in program history
Burrell’s Devin Beattie wasn’t going to miss his final chance to play Valley. The senior running back was injured last week against Deer Lakes but rehabbed all week to be ready. And he made a huge impact in another win over their biggest rival and a major milestone in the...
Deer Lakes football settles down in rout of Apollo-Ridge
After Apollo-Ridge went right down the field on its opening drive, it looked like Deer Lakes was in for a long night. However, the Lancers (2-1) scored four unanswered touchdowns led by their ground attack as they raced to a 49-21 win over Apollo-Ridge in nonconference play at Owens Field...
