High School category, Page 782
Freeport takes advantage of Valley mistakes
On the night Valley honored its undefeated 1996 team, the current Vikings had an opportunity to capture their first win of the season. However, they were bitten by the turnover bug in the second half. The Vikings (0-6, 0-3) started the second half trailing Freeport, 7-0, but four costly turnovers...
Franklin Regional blanks Connellsville to end losing streak
Franklin Regional took advantage of Connellsville’s mistakes and the Panthers’ defense was up to the task in a 36-0 victory Friday in the Big East Conference opener for both teams. Following a scoreless first quarter where neither team’s offense could get anything going, Franklin Regional (2-4, 1-0) cracked the scoreboard...
Leechburg wins at Jeannette for first time
Leechburg’s superb season continued Friday night against one of the WPIAL’s winningest programs. It was a sweet outcome for the Blue Devils, who routed Jeannette, 53-7, in a WPIAL Class A Eastern Conference game for their first victory at storied McKee Stadium. This isn’t your average Leechburg football team. The...
Plum edges Highlands for conference victory
It was Military Appreciation night Friday at Highlands’ Golden Rams Stadium, night but Plum showed up for a car show. The Mustangs started fast and needed a kick at the end from freshman Angelo Baleno as Plum outlasted Highlands to pull out a thrilling 23-21 Class 4A Allegheny Conference win....
Hampton routs Greensburg Salem in battle for first place
Greensburg Salem and Hampton are from different counties, separated by about 40 miles, but they play in the same conference. The teams were a lot further apart when they met in a first-place matchup Friday night. No. 5 Hampton dominated the Golden Lions, showing its speed and depth on both...
Devin Whitlock shines but sophomore shares spotlight as Belle Vernon tops Laurel Highlands
If this matchup was meant to decide the most-dangerous playmaker in the Big Eight, Devin Whitlock certainly made his case. The Belle Vernon senior delivered another astonishing play Friday night when he returned a punt 67 yards untouched to the end zone for one of his three touchdowns in a...
GCC coach’s memorable day includes shutout victory over Springdale
Friday was a big day for Greensburg Central Catholic coach Marko Thomas. He became a father to baby boy Devin, and his Centurions later won a key game against an Eastern Conference playoff contender. Greensburg Central broke open a close game with big plays in the third quarter en route...
Division I interest growing for Belle Vernon’s Devin Whitlock after statement win
Devin Whitlock is doing everything he can to land Division I college offers. Now, the colleges are starting to bite. As they say, the film doesn’t lie. Whitlock, the dynamic senior quarterback/defensive back at Belle Vernon whose game-winning run against Thomas Jefferson went viral, attracted attention from at least two...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Sept. 30, 2021
High schools Field hockey Thursday’s results Class 3A Pine-Richland 7, Hempfield 1 Class 2A Penn-Trafford 4, Latrobe 1 Upper St. Clair at Fox Chapel, (n) Nonsection Oakland Catholic at Shady Side Academy, (n) Friday’s schedule Class A Aquinas Academy at Ellis School, 4 p.m. Nonsection Shady Side Academy at Peters...
High school roundup for Sept. 30, 2021: GCC girls soccer avenges only loss
Sara Felder had a hat trick as Greensburg Central Catholic avenged its only loss of the season with a 4-2 Section 1-A girls soccer victory over Springdale on Thursday. Antonia Stickle also scored, and Tatum Gretz recorded a pair of assists for the Centurions (6-1, 5-1). Grace Gent and Briana...
Late defensive stand, long scoring drive help North Hills edge Kiski Area
North Hills was in a precarious position late in the fourth quarter of its Northeast Conference opener with Kiski Area on Friday. The Indians trailed by three and were backed up into the shadow of their end zone. But the defense forced a turnover on downs, and quarterback John Green...
Laurel Highlands steps into spotlight for marquee matchup with Belle Vernon
It’s been a long time coming for the Laurel Highlands football program. Sitting at 5-0 on the season, the best start in program history, the Mustangs have strived to reach moments like the one they’ll be in Friday night. Rodney Gallagher and the gang travel into Rostraver Township to face...
Latrobe girls soccer after sweep of Norwin: ‘We’re the real deal’
Regan Reilly funneled the soccer ball to the middle of the attack, but shifted gears and sent a pass wide and through a pack of Norwin defenders closing in around her. There, waiting out of the corner of her eye, was Ella Bulava. When the ball touched her foot, she...
5 things to watch in high school football’s Week 5
Greensburg Salem, Laurel Highlands and Steel Valley lead a collection of WPIAL football teams enjoying a revival this fall. Combined, the three went 4-16 last season before quickly shutting the door on a difficult 2020. This year, the trio already has celebrated 13 wins with only one loss. Greensburg Salem’s...
Westmoreland football notebook: BVA’s Whitlock, Laurel Highlands’ Gallagher similarly electric, effective
A few months ago, people lined up to watch Devin Whitlock and Rodney Gallagher play basketball against each other in a local summer league. On Friday night, fans can buy a ticket to see them go head-to-head on the football field. It’s a main attraction in a matchup of unbeaten...
Underdog Brian McDonnell of Eden Christian claims WPIAL Class 2A golf title
Eden Christian senior Brian McDonnell wasn’t a favorite coming into Thursday’s WPIAL Class 2A golf championship. He placed fifth in his section and was in the middle of the pack in the pairings at Allegheny Country Club. But at the end of the day, it was McDonnell’s name sitting atop...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 5
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 5: Nehemiah Azeem OLSH, Jr., QB/FS Azeem completed 17 of 25 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score as OLSH (4-0, 2-0) defeated Fort Cherry, 27-6, in a Class A Big Seven...
Trib HSSN don’t-miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 5
WPIAL football now enters prime time. October football begins in Week 5 and yes, nearly all of the games are played in the evening. But prime time in this instance is conference play. For the final five weeks of the regular season starting on Friday, all 17 conferences in WPIAL...
Through the years: 50 years ago, Springdale edged Knoch on 2-point conversion
Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that are part of local scholastic history. Springdale went to 4-1 on the season with a thrilling, 21-20 victory over Knoch on Oct. 2, 1971. After Billy...
‘Phone a Friend’ comes in handy when Chick’s Picks prognosticates high school football games
Welcome to Week 5. As part of her ongoing effort to be more transparent to her loyal supporters, Chick’s Picks decided to give her fans an inside look at one of the many skills that go into her prognosticating each week. Many moons ago, the popular game show “Who Wants...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Sept. 29, 2021
High schools Field hockey Wednesday’s results Class 3A North Allegheny 2, Mt. Lebanon 0 Allderdice at Norwin, (n) Nonsection Ellis School 2, Peters Township 0 Thursday’s schedule Class 3A Pine-Richland at Hempfield, 7:30 p.m. Class 2A Penn-Trafford at Latrobe, 8 p.m. Upper St. Clair at Fox Chapel, 5:30 p.m. Nonsection...
High school roundup for Sept. 29, 2021: West Allegheny boys soccer stays unbeaten
Johnny Dragisich netted a hat trick and Logan Mackey had a goal and an assist to lead West Allegheny to a 4-1 victory over Moon (9-1, 8-1) in a battle for first place in Section 2-3A boys soccer Wednesday. Keegan Amos and Joseph Pustover each tallied an assist for West...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Sept. 30, 2021: Golf gold up for grabs
To highlight the final day of September, the district is set to distribute golf gold on Thursday as the WPIAL Class 2A boys individual golf championships tee off at the Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley. Seventy-three district golfers hit the links with the hopes of winning a WPIAL championship. The...
Trib 10: New team takes over top spot in WPIAL power rankings
As we hit the midway point of the regular season and September turns to October, there is change in the air in the weekly Trib 10 power rankings. After Belle Vernon scrambled back for two late touchdowns to edge top-ranked Thomas Jefferson, 28-21, in a Week 4 classic, there is...
For Birdie, defining taunting proves daunting in Westmoreland County football
Last week: 8-4 (66.7%) Season: 40-20 (66.7%) ^ After descaling his Keurig a few days ago so he could make a fresh cup of pumpkin spiced coffee, the Birdie became flustered when the blinking light would not go off. He shook the machine. It fell off the counter onto the...
