High School category, Page 798
Hampton defense stops another foe, dropping Franklin Regional in state quarterfinals
The Franklin Regional boys soccer team suffered the same fate Saturday as every team Hampton has faced thus far in the postseason. The Panthers were shut out. It wasn’t for lack of effort or chances, as the Panthers probed and prodded Hampton for the majority of the match, but they...
Plum girls soccer team tops Mechanicsburg in PIAA quarters
The record-setting season for the Plum girls soccer team continues. The Mustangs trailed District 3 champion Mechanicsburg just two minutes into Saturday’s PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal at Hollidaysburg. But second-half tallies from junior Camryn Rogers and sophomore Ava Weleski lifted Plum into the state semifinals with a 2-1 win over...
George Guido: Leechburg’s Burke completes one of A-K Valley’s top all-time seasons
With Leechburg’s loss in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals Friday, it brought the curtain down on one of the best seasons an A-K Valley quarterback ever has had. Blue Devils senior Thomas Burke III finished the season with 2,213 yards, which is third best in local history. In 2019, Burrell’s...
Norwin notebook: Goalkeeper comes into her own at Ohio U.
Sam Wexell waited her turn to take over the goalkeeping duties at Ohio. Once she got her chance, she shined. Looking like the protector of the net she was at Norwin, Wexell helped led Ohio to the Mid-American Conference Tournament and an 11-5-3 record. She also earned some hardware. Wexell...
North Allegheny notebook: Tigers runners again claim PIAA titles
North Allegheny’s boys and girls cross country teams repeated as team champions Nov. 6 at the PIAA championships in Hershey. The girls captured their fourth consecutive team title and seventh in school history. “This is something,” North Allegheny coach John Neff said about his girls team. “I heard that no...
Franklin Regional, Penn-Trafford eye hockey rematch
Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford, arguably two of the top teams in Class 2A in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League, were scheduled for a first-place showdown Nov. 8. It was a rematch of game played earlier in the season that Franklin Regional (4-0) won 6-4. But the game was postponed and...
Hampton girls volleyball’s ‘amazing’ year highlighted by WPIAL finals trip, PIAA win
The Hampton girls volleyball team found a silver lining in its WPIAL Class 3A runner-up season. “It was amazing,” senior outside hitter Taylor Fiscus said. “I never expected this, but we worked really hard as a team. My freshman year, I didn’t even make the team. These girls are amazing,...
‘Special group’ brings WPIAL boys soccer championship to Hampton
Hampton’s journey to the 2021 WPIAL boys soccer championship began when many of the players were still in elementary school. As 8- and 9-year-olds, they competed on the same Hampton youth soccer teams. They became close friends and grew as teammates. They went undefeated as eighth-graders and reached the 2019...
Another banner year for Shady Side Academy field hockey
It was another outstanding season for the Shady Side Academy field hockey team. The Bulldogs rolled to their fourth consecutive WPIAL title with a 1-0 victory over Aquinas Academy at Washington & Jefferson College’s Cameron Stadium. It was Shady Side’s 11th straight appearance in the WPIAL finals. The season came...
Moon shakes off rust, pushes past Woodland Hills into Class 5A semifinals
The Moon Tigers produced a gritty win Friday night, besting Woodland Hills, 21-13, to clinch a spot in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals. The Tigers scored all 21 of their points in the second quarter. Those points proved to be enough for Moon. “I think the bye week affected us,”...
High school scores, summaries and schedule for Nov. 12, 2021
High schools Field hockey PIAA playoffs Class 3A Quarterfinals Saturday’s schedule Conestoga vs. Cumberland Valley at Exeter Township, noon; Methacton vs. Emmaus at Exeter Township, 10:30 a.m.; Lower Dauphin vs. Downingtown West at Exeter Township, 1:30 p.m.; Wilson vs. Central York at Manheim Township, noon Class 2A Quarterfinals Saturday’s schedule...
WPIAL announces sites for football semifinals
The WPIAL on Saturday revealed host sites for next weekend’s 10 football semifinals. Among them, West Mifflin will host conference rivals Belle Vernon and Thomas Jefferson next Friday in Class 4A. The game is a rematch from Week 4, when Belle Vernon won, 28-21, at home. All semifinal games are...
Familiar feeling to Central Catholic’s semifinal win against Seneca Valley
Central Catholic’s playoff rematch with Seneca Valley left both teams with a feeling of deja vu. The Vikings capitalized on turnovers and powered out to a 21-point first-quarter lead on the way to defeating the Raiders, 42-21, and advancing to their eighth WPIAL final in nine seasons with a win...
Pine-Richland shakes off slow start, beats Peters Township in Class 5A quarterfinals
With a sputtering offense, miscues on defense and his team trailing at halftime, Pine-Richland coach Steve Campos didn’t need to do much to inspire his team in the locker room, just a reminder was all that was needed. “It was simple and we talked about it all week,” said Campos....
High school football roundup for Nov. 12, 2021: No. 9 OLSH upsets No. 1 Clairton in quarterfinals
Clairton knocked Our Lady of the Sacred Heart out of the WPIAL Class A playoffs the past two seasons in the quarterfinals. On Friday night, the Chargers got their revenge. Nehemiah Azeem threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as No. 9 OLSH upset top-seeded Clairton, 29-15, in the...
McKeesport plays to strengths in Class 4A win over Armstrong
When it comes to the postseason, teams have to play to their strengths and stay true to their identity. On Friday night in a WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal contest against Armstrong, McKeesport relied on its triple-option rushing attack, hit some big pass plays and was relentless on the pass rush...
Defense, special teams carries Mt. Lebanon past NA, into 1st WPIAL title game since 2000
For the first time since 2000, Mt. Lebanon is headed to the WPIAL championship. No. 1 Mt. Lebanon (11-0) got on the board first and refused to relinquish its lead during a 28-17 victory over No.4 North Allegheny (7-5) to punch its ticket to the Class 6A finals and snap...
2021 WPIAL statistical leaders for rushing, passing, receiving in Week 11
Top performers for Week 11 of high school football in Western Pennsylvania. Passing 411 - Josh Jenkins, Sto-Rox (13 of 14) 342 - Jaren Brickner, Beaver Falls (12 of 26) 333 - Nick Buckley, Keystone Oaks (26 of 49) 307 - Brad Birch, Gateway (22 of 41) 274 - Cadin...
Play from deep in playbook helps Penn Hills get past Gateway
With less than a minute remaining and facing third-and-goal, Penn Hills quarterback Julian Dugger was sent off the field for a play because of an equipment issue, so the Indians had to dial up something they hadn’t done all season. They went to the wildcat with Amir Key. “I just...
Quick-strike Belle Vernon makes big plays, beats New Castle in Class 4A quarterfinals
Concerns about New Castle’s passing game and trick plays ultimately proved groundless for Belle Vernon in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals. It’s a good thing Belle Vernon has a quick-strike offense because it didn’t get many chances to score Friday night. Top-seeded Belle Vernon didn’t need a lot of plays...
Ian Syam scores 6 TDs in 1st half as Avonworth runs over Mt. Pleasant
Ian Syam had himself a Friday night, running for the length of nearly 21⁄2 football fields while playing in just half of a WPIAL playoff game. He touched the ball only nine times and was tackled on just three occasions. The Avonworth senior running back electrified the home crowd, rushing...
Fake punt call sparks Elizabeth Forward past Freeport, into WPIAL 3A semifinals
With Elizabeth Forward facing a 4th-and-7 with 3 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in the first half Friday night, coach Mike Collodi made a call in the hopes of his team some much-needed momentum. Mission accomplished. Charlie Nigut ran for an 18-yard gain on a fake punt and, three plays later,...
Rochester football team pulls away for win over Springdale
Rochester and Springdale were knotted at seven at halftime of Friday’s WPIAL Class A quarterfinal at Freedom’s Jimbo Covert Field. But the Rams grabbed the lead early in the third and added a pair of scores in the fourth to finalize a 27-7 victory. “Springdale is a good football team....
Cornell sends Leechburg home from WPIAL quarterfinals
After winning just one game a year ago, Cornell has won two playoff games in one season for the first time to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary season. The Raiders moved to the Class A semifinals with a 46-18 victory over Leechburg at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium. Cornell (9-2) will...
Thomas Jefferson returns to WPIAL semifinals with dominant win over HamptonVideo
Hampton’s offense had posted extraordinary rushing numbers all season, but Thomas Jefferson knows a little about running the football, too. The Jaguars proved it Friday night. Thomas Jefferson rushed for more than 300 yards, quarterback Joe Lekse scored five times and the Jaguars defeated host Hampton, 42-14, in a run-heavy...
