High School category, Page 790
Central Valley seeks 3rd straight WPIAL title, unbeaten North Catholic could spoil plans
When Central Valley takes the field Saturday, this will be the third WPIAL championship appearance in a row for some of the team’s starters. So, they expected to be here. “It’s just another game,” said senior linebacker Matt Merritt, who’s already a two-time WPIAL champion. “It’s another game to prove...
Rematch between Belle Vernon, Aliquippa has more on the line this time around
Saturday is Round 2 between Belle Vernon and Aliquippa, only this time the stakes are a little higher than their last meeting. The Leopards (10-0) and Quips (10-1) will meet at 3 p.m. in the WPIAL Class 4A football championship game at Heinz Field. The game is a rematch of...
Penn-Trafford’s Cade Yacamelli shines under bright lights of WPIAL final
Cade Yacamelli is headed to Wisconsin to play defensive back. The Badgers might want to give him some reps at running back. The film doesn’t lie. The senior from Penn-Trafford put on a show Saturday night in the WPIAL Class 5A championship at Heinz Field, rushing for 136 yards and...
WPIAL Class 2A final by the numbers: Serra Catholic 35, Beaver Falls 12
Serra Catholic 35, Beaver Falls 12 Serra Catholic 7-7-0-21 — 35 Beaver Falls 6-0-0-6 — 12 How they scored BF: Trey Singleton 28 pass from Jaren Brickner (kick failed) SC: Machai Duetrieulle-Brooks 11 run (Caden Bauer kick) SC: Elijah Ward 30 interception return (Bauer kick) BF: Isaiah Aeschbacher 6 run...
Mt. Lebanon rolls into PIAA semifinals behind 3 TDs from Eli Heidenreich
Mt. Lebanon wide receiver/defensive back Eli Heidenreich didn’t see McDowell junior Christian Santiago’s 27-yard touchdown run as a sign of a potential WPIAL Class 6A championship hangover. But the Trojans’ quarterback scoring on a fourth-and-3 gallop on their first possession let the Blue Devils know they weren’t going to sleepwalk...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Nov. 26, 2021
High schools Football WPIAL playoffs Championship Class 5A Saturday’s schedule Moon (12-0) vs. Penn-Trafford (10-2) at Heinz Field, 6 p.m. Class 4A Saturday’s schedule Aliquippa (10-1) vs. Belle Vernon (10-0) at Heinz Field, 3 p.m. Class 3A Saturday’s schedule Central Valley (12-0) vs. North Catholic (12-0) at Heinz Field, noon...
Serra Catholic forces 9 turnovers, wins for coach in WPIAL Class 2A finals
Serra Catholic coach Jose Regus wore a hat at Heinz Field that said “battle,” a brand name of sportswear, but also one word that captures both his determination to coach and his defense’s relentlessness to win. Those battles are intertwined. Motivated by their coach’s health struggles, Serra Catholic forced nine...
WPIAL Class A final by the numbers: Bishop Canevin 42, OLSH 7
Bishop Canevin 42, OLSH 7 OLSH 7-0-0-0 7 Bishop Canevin 0-28-7-7 42 How they scored OLSH: Stephen Greer 6 pass from Nehemiah Azeem (Billy Fryer kick BC: Keyshawn Harris 6 run (Geno DeFrank kick) BC: Xavier Nelson 67 pass from Jason Cross (DeFrank kick) BC: Nelson 46 pass interception return...
With roster reshaped by graduation, Fox Chapel girls look forward to season of growth
Elsie Smith is ready for the bright lights in a central role for the Fox Chapel girls basketball team. A starter and key contributor since her freshman year, Smith, a 6-foot junior forward, said the time is now to step up her game as six seniors, including Valley News Dispatch...
Loaded lineup has Fox Chapel boys basketball team focused on big season ahead
The Fox Chapel boys basketball team T-shirt for this season bears just one word: focus. The “O” is in the shape of a basketball with the Foxes logo, while the “F” and “C” are in red, and the “US” is in white. Coach Zach Skrinjar said “focus” is the simple...
Veteran lineup looking toward big things ahead for Greensburg Salem girls basketball
Rick Klimchock doesn’t need to be reminded of how quickly a basketball season can go south — even with a veteran team. Last year, his Greensburg Salem girls returned four starters, yet the team finished the season under .500. “Last year was a hard year for us,” he said. It...
With bolstered roster, Greensburg Salem boys look to move past difficult season
A year ago, the Greensburg Salem boys basketball team was hit with the “perfect storm” for a winless season with the cancellation of seven games because of covid-19 while moving up to the WPIAL’s highest classification. A year later, coach Mark Zahorchak is hopeful for some calm. “Last year’s struggles...
Xavier Nelson sparks Bishop Canevin to 1st WPIAL title in 31 years
With a chance to play at Heinz Field, Xavier Nelson took the opportunity to look like the All-Pros and Heisman candidates who usually call the stadium home. Nelson scored three long second-quarter touchdowns, which sparked Bishop Canevin to its first WPIAL football title in 31 years with a 42-7 victory...
Westmoreland County athletes of the week: Penn-Trafford’s Nate Loughner, GCC’s Addison Vacanti
Nate Loughner School: Penn-Trafford Sport: Hockey Class: Junior Claim to fame: Loughner, who has 15 points, including seven goals, scored twice to complete a hat trick during a five-goal third period for Penn-Trafford (4-1) in a 7-4 comeback win over Shaler in PIHL Class 2A action Nov. 15. Last season,...
WPIAL Class 4A football championship breakdown: Belle Vernon vs. Aliquippa
No. 1 Belle Vernon vs. No. 2 Aliquippa 3 p.m. Saturday, Heinz Field On the air: TV: WPCW; Audio: TribHSSN.TribLive.com, 1020 AM, 92.1 FM, 1230 AM, 99.3 FM, 1460 AM, 95.3 FM Winner plays: The winner of District 4 champion Jersey Shore and District 10 champion Meadville in the PIAA...
Expect ground-and-pound showdown when Moon, Penn-Trafford clash in WPIAL finals
Don’t be late for Saturday’s WPIAL Class 5A championship game between No. 1 Moon and No. 2 Penn-Trafford. If you do, you may miss it. It’s a game that could take you back in time as both teams mirror each other by playing sound defense and running the ball. “I...
WPIAL Class 5A football championship breakdown: Moon vs. Penn-Trafford
WPIAL Class 5A football championship No. 1 Moon vs. No. 2 Penn-Trafford 6 p.m. Saturday, Heinz Field On the air: TV: WPCW; Audio: TribHSSN.TribLive.com, 1020 AM, 107.1 FM, 92.1 FM, 1230 AM, 99.3 FM, 1460 AM Winner plays: The winner of the District 3 championship game between Governor Mifflin and...
How to watch Friday’s 2021 WPIAL football championships on Trib HSSN
Can’t make it to Heinz Field for the WPIAL football championships? The TribLive High School Sports Network will have exclusive live video stream coverage of Friday’s Class A and 2A finals, as well as audio coverage of Saturday’s Class 3A, 4A and 5A title games, sponsored by Slippery Rock University....
Beaver Falls puts WPIAL Class 2A title on line vs. Serra Catholic
As the Serra Catholic football team prepares to make its first WPIAL championship appearance in 14 years, one thing is for certain: The Eagles aren’t content with simply being in the big game. “Since Day One, we had that goal of getting to Heinz Field,” Serra Catholic coach Jose Regus...
Playoff-regular Deer Lakes returns 4 starters, boasts offensive balance
After making the WPIAL playoffs for a school-record five consecutive seasons, the Deer Lakes boys basketball team doesn’t want to stop at that milestone. The Lancers will start the new season with four returning starters, and the team justifiably is optimistic. Sixth-year coach Terrence Parham welcomes back 6-foot-2 senior Armend...
Chick’s Picks thankful for WPIAL championship football this holiday weekend
Welcome to Week 13. Chick’s Picks doesn’t think it’s by chance that our final stop on the Highway to Heinz coincides with Thanksgiving. After all, Chick’s Picks has plenty to be thankful for this season, such as: The Birdie: Chick’s Picks is thankful for The Birdie for sharing the TribLive...
Ruane, Humbert build Penn-Trafford, Belle Vernon into consistent contenders
The local coaches who will try to lead their teams to WPIAL football championships on Saturday at Heinz Field have more in common than a desire to break through. John Ruane of Penn-Trafford and Matt Humbert of Belle Vernon have taken competitive programs to the next level, following similar trajectory...
New coach has Deer Lakes girls looking mentally, physically strong
A coaching change in the Deer Lakes girls basketball program seems to be working out smoothly. Sam Salih replaced David Petruska, who stepped down during the offseason. Salih has the Lancers working on an eighth consecutive WPIAL playoff appearance. “The transition is doing great,” Salih said. “I see the girls...
Westmoreland County football notebook: Penn-Trafford making special plans for Moon matchup
A WPIAL championship would be special to Penn-Trafford. Special teams might play a key role in the Warriors’ quest to win their first title. The Warriors (10-2) have been exceptional at times on special teams this season, particularly in the playoffs. Last week, senior Nathan Schlessinger, one of the WPIAL’s...
With 5 starters returning, Greensburg Central Catholic girls in position to contend
Chris Skatell is a practicing attorney. The new Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball coach hopes his defense doesn’t rest. “We want to mix it up on defense and never give teams the same look,” said Skatell, a former assistant under recent coaches Sam Salih and Joe Eisaman. “If you play...
