High School category, Page 615
In showdown with Greensburg Central Catholic, Leechburg looks for share of conference crown
Much has been made over the past several seasons about Leechburg football’s to-do list. There still are some boxes to be checked. On Friday night, the Blue Devils have a chance to earn at least a share of their first conference title since winning the AIC North in 1978. Should...
A-K Valley don’t miss high school football matchups for 2022 Week 9
Class 5A Northeast Fox Chapel (0-9, 0-4) at Shaler (4-5, 1-3) 7 p.m. Friday, Louis C. Martig Field at Titans Stadium, Glenshaw Fox Chapel is hoping to avoid a winless season for the first time since 1968. The Foxes suffered a 50-13 loss to Kiski Area last Friday as the...
Birdie gives twisted history lesson, Week 9 A-K Valley football picks
Last week: 9-2 Overall: 88-14 (86.3%) Settle in for a little history lesson with The Birdie. “I promise this lesson will relate to the upcoming WPIAL football playoffs,” Birdie said, pushing his wire-rimmed glasses up from the tip of his beak. “Just stay with me.” It’s early summer 1755. British...
2022 Western Pa. high school football schedule, broadcasts for Week 9
Thursday WPIAL Class A Tri-County South Bentworth at California, 7 p.m. Nonconference Sto-Rox at Seton LaSalle, 7 p.m. Independent Carrick at Uniontown, 7 p.m. Friday Class 6A Canon-McMillan at Mt. Lebanon, 7 p.m. (HSSN*, 95.3 FM) Seneca Valley at North Allegheny, 7:30 p.m. (HSSN) Class 5A Allegheny Six Moon at...
Westmoreland County football players to watch in 2022 Week 9
Bailey Kennedy Southmoreland, Sr., OL/MLB Kennedy is a team captain and has 47 tackles for the Scotties this season. He also had 5.5 quarterback sacks and is strong on the offensive line. Michael Mason Jeannette, Jr., RB/OLB Mason has 25 solo tackles and 21 assists. He has forced two fumbles...
With eye on wild-card berth, Penn-Trafford faces Franklin Regional with ‘just win’ mindset
Late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis had a motto: Just win, baby. Penn-Trafford football coach John Ruane will be adopting that adage for the regular-season finale against first-place Franklin Regional. “That’s our mindset Friday: Just win,” Ruane said. The reigning WPIAL and PIAA 5A champions need a victory at home...
Westmoreland County don’t miss high school football matchups for 2022 Week 9
Class 5A Big East Norwin (1-8, 0-4) at Hempfield (5-4, 1-3) 7 p.m. Friday, Spartan Stadium, Hempfield Township Neither team is heading to the WPIAL postseason, so this matchup is for pride. Norwin suffered its sixth straight loss, falling 42-10 to Gateway. Nick Urey, one of four quarterbacks the Knights...
While the Birdie waits for an NIL deal, he’ll make his Week 9 Westmoreland County picks
The Birdie Last week: 13-1 (92.9%) Season: 88-21 (80.7%) The Birdie gets paid to predict football games. When he found out high school players might be getting paid for endorsements, he nearly fainted in the break room. He never thought he would see the day. He even missed his pickleball...
A-K Valley soccer playoff preview capsules for games of Oct. 27, 2022
Thursday’s games Boys Class 2A Quarterfinals 12-West Mifflin (12-6-1) at 4-Deer Lakes (17-2) 6:30 p.m., Lancers Stadium, West Deer Winner plays: Winner of 1-South Park (18-0)/8-McGuffey (13-5-1) in semifinals Monday (time, site TBD) Players to watch: Fynn McCracken, GK, West Mifflin; Nate Litrun, D, Deer Lakes Corner kicks: Senior forward...
WPIAL bracketology: Don Rebel, Chris Harlan forecast 2022 football playoff pairings
Bracketology before the playoff field is set is a curious idea. One that some might think gives solid insight into what the WPIAL football steering committee might do when they meet on Saturday. Or it may be looked at with folly by others who see the ramblings of two guys...
Westmoreland WPIAL soccer playoff capsules: Games for Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022
WPIAL soccer playoffs preview Girls Class 3A Quarterfinals 5-Latrobe (11-2-2) at 4-Thomas Jefferson (17-2) 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Thomas Jefferson Stadium, Jefferson Hills Winner plays: Winner of 9-Franklin Regional (11-5-2)/1-Mars (15-0), 8 p.m. Tuesday in semifinals (site TBD) Players to watch: Robin Reilly, MF, Latrobe; Bella Vozar, MF, Thomas Jefferson Corner...
Trio of runners aim to defend titles at WPIAL cross country championships
The WPIAL cross country championships will be held Thursday at Cal (Pa.)’s Roadman Park. The course is known for its treacherous hill between mile markers 1 and 2. Those who can navigate the climb will have the best chance to advance to Hershey for the PIAA championship meet Nov. 5....
Once a critic of PIAA competitive-balance rule, state rep from Beaver County supports overhaul
The PIAA’s plan to remove the transfer criteria from its competitive-balance formula received support Tuesday from a Beaver County legislator who was an outspoken critic of the current rule. State Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Beaver County) wrote a critical letter to the PIAA last December when the Aliquippa football team was...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Oct. 25, 2022
High schools Field hockey WPIAL playoffs Semifinals Thursday’s schedule Class 3A Mt. Lebanon at Pine-Richland, 6 p.m. North Allegheny vs. Peters Township at Pine-Richland, 7:30 p.m. Class 2A Oakland Catholic at Penn-Trafford, 6 p.m. Latrobe vs. Fox Chapel, 7:30 p.m. Class A Winchester Thurston at Ellis School, 6 p.m. Aquinas...
High school roundup for Oct. 25, 2022: Second-half goal lifts Serra Catholic past Burrell
AJ Mejalli scored with just under 17 minutes remaining in the second half to propel No. 10 Serra Catholic to a 1-0 upset win over No. 7 Burrell in a WPIAL Class A boys soccer first-round match Tuesday night. The Bucs (14-4) controlled much of the possession throughout, but Noah...
Freshman Morgan Gesinski scores 7 goals in Mt. Pleasant’s rout of West Mifflin in Class 2A
When teams open the WPIAL soccer playoffs, they immediately look to take the pressure off. It’s about that first clean shift, that first productive possession and that all-important opening goal. Ultimately, it can all add up to the first win, like it did Tuesday night for the Mt. Pleasant girls....
Dave Anderson happy with decision to pull double coaching duty at Kiski Area
Dave Anderson will be front and center Wednesday evening as a varsity assistant for the Kiski Area boys soccer team as it hosts Montour at 6:30 in a WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal at Richard Dilts Stadium. On Monday, he was in command as the head coach of the Cavaliers girls...
Billy Lawrence records hat trick as Springdale rolls past Carlynton in WPIAL Class A 1st round
Springdale coach Paul Palo credits a good portion of his team’s attack to the instincts and natural talent among an experienced group of midfielders and forwards. Led by junior Billy Lawrence, that talent was on full display in their WPIAL Class A playoff opener Tuesday night. Lawrence had a hat...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 26, 2022: Upset winners look for next victory
A year ago, the top eight seeds in the WPIAL boys soccer Class 3A playoffs all advanced to the quarterfinals. This season though, two double-digit seeds were opening-round winners to deny a second straight year of the favorites gathering in the second round. One of the bigger surprises on the...
A-K Valley soccer playoff preview capsules for games of Oct. 26, 2022
Wednesday’s games Boys Class 3A Quarterfinals 13-Montour (11-4-4) at 5-Kiski Area (16-3) 8 p.m., Richard Dilts Stadium, Allegheny Township Winner plays: Winner of 1-Moon (17-0-1)/8-Bethel Park (14-5) in semifinals Monday (time, site TBD) Players to watch: Andrew Prunier, MF, Montour; Maddox Anderson, GK, Kiski Area Corner kicks: Montour opened the...
Trib HSSN State Football Rankings for Oct. 25, 2022
Call it the regular season calm before the postseason storm. The best 30 PIAA football teams across the state as ranked in the latest Trib HSSN state rankings were a near perfect 26-1 in Week 8 with three teams not playing. The lone team to taste defeat was Class A...
Westmoreland WPIAL soccer playoff capsules: Games for Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022
Girls Class A Quarterfinals 5-Greensburg Central Catholic (12-4) at 4-Chartiers-Houston (15-2) 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Buccaneer Stadium, Houston Winner plays: Winner of 9-Seton LaSalle (12-4)/1-Freedom (14-4) 8 p.m. Monday (site TBD) in semifinals Players to watch: Riley Kerr, MF, Greensburg CC; Haley Siege, MF, Chartiers-Houston Corner kicks: Greensburg Central Catholic advanced...
Football fans lining up for coveted Central Valley vs. Aliquippa tickets
The hottest ticket in Beaver County isn’t for a British pop star or an 80’s rock band back on tour. The top ticket is for a high school football game between rivals Aliquippa and Central Valley, two undefeated state champions who’ll play for a conference title Friday night. When Aliquippa...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Oct. 24, 2022
High schools Field hockey WPIAL playoffs Semifinals Thursday’s schedule Class 3A Mt. Lebanon at Pine-Richland, 6 p.m. North Allegheny vs. Peters Township at Pine-Richland, 7:30 p.m. Class 2A Oakland Catholic at Penn-Trafford, 6 p.m. Latrobe vs. Fox Chapel, 7:30 p.m. Class A Winchester Thurston at Ellis School, 6 p.m. Aquinas...
High school roundup for Oct. 24, 2022: Mars girls need OT to finish Penn-Trafford, get out of 1st round
Top-seeded Mars ran its winning streak to 78 consecutive games with a victory in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A girls soccer playoffs, but it wasn’t easy. Gwen Howell scored the game-winner in the first overtime to lift the Fightin’ Planets to a 1-0 victory over No. 16...
