High School category, Page 787
5 things to watch in WPIAL football Week 4: Covid cancellations not always ‘no-contest’
The WPIAL’s message is clear: Not every covid-related cancellation will be excused as no-contest. Many, if not most, will be forfeits. So far, only four football games met the threshold for a “no-contest” designation this fall, said WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman, while at least seven others will go down...
Westmoreland County football notebook: Monessen making major strides
There were people who didn’t think Monessen, with its small roster and overall lack of experience, would score 50 points all season, let alone in one game. But the Greyhounds cruised by Bentworth, 50-7, last week for their second straight win. Monessen scored 33 total points in seven games last...
Trib HSSN don’t-miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 4
For some district football teams, it’s the second week of conference play. For others, it is the final tune-up before conference play is underway for all 17 WPIAL conferences. Welcome to Week 4 of the 2021 high school football season. There is a pair of huge matchups as No. 1...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 4
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 4: Shane Cornali Fort Cherry, Fr., DB/K Cornali scored on interception returns of 61 and 50 yards, made seven tackles and also kicked five extra points in last week’s 35-7 victory over Shenango as the Rangers improved to...
In advance of Week 4, Chick’s Picks takes victory lap as Western Pa.’s top prognosticator
Welcome to Week 4. Chick’s Picks had the privilege of attending the Emmy Awards this past weekend. It was no surprise, of course, that she was nominated for the prestigious Top Prognosticator in the World award. Other nominees included ESPN’s well-known college football prognosticator Lee Corso, the most famous psychic...
First-year quarterbacks learning the ropes, making plays in Westmoreland County
Playing quarterback at the varsity level always intrigued Anthony Govern, but the senior at Southmoreland is finding out for himself just how the position works, how important it is and how enjoyable it can be — especially when the Scotties are winning. “I love it. This is the most fun...
Through the years: West Deer sent coach off with win in 1961
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. Dave Nagy ran for a touchdown and scored another on an interception as West Deer won the 1961 “Battle of...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Sept. 22, 2021
High schools Field hockey Wednesday’s results Class 3A Norwin at North Allegheny, ppd. Allderdice at Hempfield, ppd. Class A Aquinas Academy at Shady Side Academy, (n) Thursday’s schedule Class 3A Norwin at North Allegheny, 6 p.m. Nonsection Peters Township at Penn-Trafford, 7:30 p.m. Fox Chapel at Pine-Richland, 7:30 p.m. Golf...
High school roundup for Sept. 22, 2021: Burrell nets OT winner in Class 2A showdown
Leah Brockett scored the winning goal in overtime to lead Burrell to a 3-2 victory over Deer Lakes in a matchup of top teams in Section 2-2A girls soccer Wednesday night. Lily Householder and Miley Kariotis also scored for the Bucs (6-1, 3-0). Madeline Boulos and Brooke Kostyak scored for...
Waynesburg wrestling coach Joe Throckmorton resigns after arrest
Returning WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA team wrestling champion Waynesburg is searching for a new coach after Joe Throckmorton’s resignation was accepted by the Central Greene School Board on Tuesday. Throckmorton was hired in September of 2009. The search for the new coach will begin with a posting within the...
What to watch for in high school sports on Sept. 23, 2021: City League kicks off Week 4
Ten years ago, the two met in the City League championship game. On Thursday, University Prep and Allderdice square off to kick off Week 4 of the high school football season. The 2011 season was the first year for University Prep after the school was formed upon the closings of...
Trib 10: Friday’s schedule features 2 showdowns between ranked teams
There was little movement in the Trib 10 power rankings after Week 3, but that could change after this weekend. One week after debuting in the Trib 10, McKeesport lost and fell back out, replaced by an Aliquippa team that had been part of the power rankings, exited for a...
Westmoreland County girls soccer notes: Southmoreland star sidelined
It is unclear how long Southmoreland standout Olivia Cernuto will be sidelined with a right leg injury. Cernuto was hurt at the start of the second half of last week’s game at Yough and did not return. She received ice treatment on the area of her knee during and after...
Westmoreland County boys soccer notes: Belle Vernon, TJ to square off on pitch, too
Thomas Jefferson at Belle Vernon is the football game with all the sizzle this week in the WPIAL. But the same teams will play in a key boys soccer game Thursday night at Belle Vernon. The game features two of the top teams in Section 3-3A. Heading into Wednesday, Thomas...
Rivals Southmoreland, Mt. Pleasant set for Interstate Conference showdown
Since Dave Keefer took over the Southmoreland football program in 2018, the Scotties have won two of three meetings with rival Mt. Pleasant. The year before his hiring, the Vikings scored 64 points against the Scotties in winning their 12th straight in the series. Many of those games weren’t close....
The Birdie is running wild while making Week 4 Westmoreland County picks
Last week: 9-5 (64.3 %) Season: 32-16 (66.7%) The Birdie visited his heart doctor the other day and had to go through a stress test. A couple of hours later, he needed an ice bath and a massage. “They had me running like Hempfield in the second half against Franklin...
Westmoreland County don’t miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 4
Class 6A Hempfield (2-2, 0-1) at 2-Mt. Lebanon (4-0, 1-0) 7 p.m. Friday, Mt. Lebanon Stadium Mt. Lebanon continued its sound defensive play as it held back Canon-McMillan for a 37-7 victory. The Blue Devils have three shutouts — also against Bethel Park and Peters Township — and have allowed...
Westmoreland County football players to watch in 2021 Week 4
Aaron Alakson Mt. Pleasant, Sr., RB/LB The senior running back/linebacker played a solid game against Latrobe. He shares the running duties with Robbie Labuda in the Vikings ground attack. He had a 90-yard touchdown run against Latrobe nullified because of a penalty. He has rushed for 243 yards and four...
Hampton-Highlands clash pits evenly matched, undefeated foes
Friday night’s Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference clash between Highlands and Hampton is about as even as it gets. Both teams are 4-0 for the first time since 2015, both schools needed strong second-half performances Friday in their conference openers, and the schools are knotted at 15-15 in the all-time...
The Birdie might not be a spring chicken, but he still picks A-K Valley football winners
Last week: 8-3 (72.7%) Season: 31-10 (75.6%) Watching Ben Roethlisberger take a beating against the Raiders last Sunday, a truth became painfully obvious: Big Ben isn’t as spry as he once was. Well, join the club. Who is? The Birdie. That’s who. “I’ve been picking high school football games since...
A-K Valley don’t miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 4
Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference Knoch (1-3, 0-1) at Armstrong (2-2, 0-1) 7 p.m. Friday, NexTier Bank Complex, Manor Township The River Hawks went for the win last Friday against Hampton, but a 2-point conversion pass with 39 seconds left fell short in a 21-20 loss to the Talbots …...
A-K Valley football players to watch for 2021 Week 4
Thomas Burke Leechburg, Sr., QB/CB The Blue Devils’ veteran performer had a big game last week against Clairton, throwing for 360 yards and three touchdowns against three interceptions. It was the most passing yardage accumulated in the WPIAL for Week 3. Burke, who hopes to help Leechburg return to the...
Carlynton football cancellation leads to Serra Catholic vs. Freeport matchup Friday
Carlynton canceled its nonconference football game scheduled for Friday against Serra Catholic because of covid-19 cases, but Serra needed little time to find new opponent. Freeport will host Serra Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday. Carlynton athletic director Nate Milsom said the football team didn’t have enough available bodies “with the...
Westmoreland County girls athlete of the week: Latrobe’s Jenna Bell
Jenna Bell School: Latrobe Sport: Tennis Year: Senior Claim to fame: Bell won her third section singles title and second in a row when she defeated teammate Carolina Walters, 6-2, 6-1, in the Section 1-3A championship match Friday at Latrobe. Bell also has won three section doubles titles in her...
Longtime friends Flynn, Hileman looking to coach Hempfield girls volleyball to success
Friends since birth? Well, perhaps not that far back. But close enough. To the best of their recollection, Ashten Flynn and Payton Hileman have been “best friends” since they were 3 years old. “Our parents were good friends, too,” Flynn said. “They did all kinds of things together, and the...
