High School category, Page 440
With star QB returning for sophomore season, Fort Cherry looks to keep climbing
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...
Cornell turns the page after last season’s close call
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 hopes to turn hours in weight room into wins on field
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...
Carlynton hoping for turnaround season under new coach
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’...
It’s back to the future for Burgettstown, coach Mark Druga
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 gets back to basics in quest to return to top of WPIAL Class A heap
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....
Strong offseason breeds optimism at Avella despite small roster
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...
2023 Western Pa. high school football schedule for Week Zero
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...
QB Chase Weihrauch aims to lead Springdale football team to bounce-back season
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...
Westmoreland County football players to watch in 2023 Week Zero
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...
New coaches add spark to Hempfield-Greensburg Salem rivalry
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...
Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2023 Week Zero
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...
The Birdie living up to the hype while picking Westmoreland County games
The Birdie Last season: 107-29 (78.7%) The highlight of the Birdie’s summer came a couple of weeks ago when he high-fived Kenny Pickett as the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback ran onto the practice field at Saint Vincent. (Security pulled Pickett’s mesh jersey out of the Birdie’s claw. It was worth making...
Stop bugging The Birdie as he makes his Week Zero picks in A-K Valley football
The Birdie Last season: 99-18 (84.6%) The Birdie is used to receiving criticism. Comes with the territory. People don’t like it when he picks against their team. People think his jokes are stupid. People shake their fists when he gives their cars an extra hood ornament, to put it as...
Plum, Kiski Area to work out the kinks in Week Zero rivalry matchup
Plum and Kiski Area passed each other last year when the WPIAL realigned its football conferences and classifications. The Mustangs moved up to Class 5A and into the Big East Conference with the likes of Penn-Trafford, Franklin Regional and Gateway, while the Cavaliers moved down to the Class 4A Greater...
A-K Valley football players to watch in 2023 Week Zero
Derek Burk Deer Lakes, sr., QB/S Burk hopes to start out with a strong game Friday at home against Keystone Oaks as the Lancers begin a journey that could ends with a second straight WPIAL playoff trip. Burk finished last season with 1,426 passing yards and nine touchdowns to go...
A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2023 Week Zero
Nonconference Apollo-Ridge at Leechburg 7 p.m. Friday, Veterans Stadium, Leechburg Last year’s meeting: Apollo-Ridge 34, Leechburg 28 Apollo-Ridge gained bragging rights last season when the rivalry renewed after a two-year hiatus. Can the Vikings collect 530 yards of offense this time around? … Apollo-Ridge has a young roster, but senior...
Senior Kadin Keefer flourishes in Southmoreland’s QB-friendly offense
When Tim Bukowski joined the staff as the offensive coordinator at Southmoreland in 2018, he didn’t just put in a new offense. He made it a priority to develop quarterbacks who could run it. Now the second-year head coach of the Scotties, Bukowski appreciates what he sees in the development...
2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the cornerbacks
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top cornerbacks for the 2023 season. 1. Kyshawn Robinson Westinghouse Sophomore, 5-10, 165 As a freshman, Robinson was somewhat overshadowed when Westinghouse reached the state finals with a senior-heavy...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 22, 2023
High schools Golf Tuesday’s results Boys Class 3A Section 1 Penn-Trafford 189, Latrobe 195 Medalists: PJ Germano (L) 35, David Newsom, Bryce Williams (PT) 37 Section 3 Butler 179, North Hills 193 Medalists: Hunter Swidzinski (B) 32, Nathan Patsilevas (NH) 36 Mars 191, Seneca Valley 198 Medalists: Colin Stevenson (M)...
New West Greene coach Beau Jackson spreading youthful enthusiasm
Beau Jackson is taking a rather philosophical approach to being the new West Greene football coach at the tender age of 26. “I think I’d be a little nervous, regardless of the age,” said Jackson, with a chuckle. Jackson replaces Brian Hanson, who left to become South Allegheny’s head coach....
Monessen searches for defense to complement prolific offense
Last season, Monessen boasted one of the most prolific offenses in Class A, putting up 37.4 points per game. In their first-round playoff game, the Greyhounds hung 42 on higher-seeded Fort Cherry. Problem was, coach Wade Brown’s team gave up 56 to the Rangers. “And a legitimate 42 points,” Brown...
Mapletown preparing to defend conference crown
The Mapletown Maples are looking to feed off the mojo from a memorable 2022 season. And who could blame them? Last year, the Maples posted their first undefeated regular season (10-0) since 1968. They recorded the school’s first football playoff victory, defeating Leechburg, 41-28, in their WPIAL Class A opener....
Jefferson-Morgan hoping to build on last year’s successes, take a big step in 2023
“Playoff season, baby!” That was the exclamation from the Jefferson-Morgan receiver group on the first day of camp practice. As with the start of any sports year, optimism abounds, and the Rockets could very well make the Class A playoffs if they can fix what cost them a chance to...
Returning coach brings dose of intensity to Carmichaels program
In 2019, Ryan Krull was seized with a “gut feeling” to step away from coaching football and left a program that had four winning seasons in seven years while he was there. “Coaching high school football was not something I wanted to do anymore,” he said. “It was time for...
