High School category, Page 440
With young roster, Charleroi sets goal to be competitive in every game
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...
With full complement of starters back, new Bentworth coach looks to build brand
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...
After solid season, California working to reach next level
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...
2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the safeties
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 school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 23, 2023
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...
Moe Rosensteel Award watch list for WPIAL’s top girls soccer player announced
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...
Countdown to kickoff: Handful of WPIAL teams still playing Saturday home games
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...
Deep senior class ready to lead the charge for OLSH
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...
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...
