High School category, Page 805
Talented California lineup in position to defend conference title
As California enters the 2021 season, the Trojans and veteran coach Ed Woods face a lot of juicy storylines. Can the Trojans win back-to-back titles in the Tri-County South? Can they get over the hump and win in the playoffs after losing their last two postseason games by a combined...
After making statement last season, McKeesport back for more in Class 4A
McKeesport coach Matt Miller believes his team sent a message in its return to Class 4A last season. Battling in the ultra-competitive Big Eight Conference with the likes of Belle Vernon and Thomas Jefferson, the Tigers posted a 6-2 overall mark, including a 5-1 record in conference action. McKeesport began...
After title game appearance, Elizabeth Forward hungry for more
Elizabeth Forward rode its fast and physical style all the way to the WPIAL Class 3A championship game last season, where it ran into the Beaver County buzzsaw in Central Valley. As much as coach Mike Collodi preaches a one-game-at-a-time approach, he knows his team is laser-focused on doing everything...
After lessons learned last season, Charleroi ready to roll
After a tough 2-5 season in 2020, Charleroi is looking forward to better things in 2021. Second-year coach Brady Barbero welcomes a large senior class that includes numerous players who started a year ago. Among the returning starters are quarterback Brendan Harps, running back Nikko Pellegrini and wide receivers Terrance...
With young roster, Bentworth ‘will have to grow up fast’
A year after the covid pandemic wreaked havoc with most high school football schedules, Bentworth coach J.J. Knabb feels his team received a break this season. And he intends to make the most of it. “Our schedule has two scrimmages and then the first two games are nonconference,” Knabb said....
Amidst political candidacy, Valley’s Muzzy Colosimo could be entering final season on sideline
In his 50th year of coaching, could this be the final roundup for Valley’s Muzzy Colosimo? The venerable Vikings coach, now 71, has guided youngsters at many levels, including the high school ranks as a head coach at Valley for eight seasons and at Greensburg Central Catholic for 17 seasons....
Yough’s Tristan Waldier looking to shine at wide receiver
Yough’s Tristan Waldier said he doesn’t like to brag, but he’s expecting a big season if he stays healthy. All the 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior wants is an injury-free season and a chance to show people how good of a wide receiver he can be. Waldier is switching back to wide...
Through the Years: Oakmont’s Chuck Wagner wins debut in 1961
Each Friday 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. Chuck Wagner won the first of 270 games as a head coach as Oakmont defeated Verona, 32-6, at Cribbs Field...
WPIAL football teams welcome return to traditional ‘Friday night lights’ atmosphere
In any other year, there might have been huge crowds at Sarge Alberts Stadium to witness one of the most dominant seasons in WPIAL football history. Instead, like so many other parts of life in a pandemic, the Warriors’ fans celebrated remotely last fall. “They shared in it,” coach Mark...
Chick’s Picks ready for Week Zero, whatever that is
Welcome to Week Zero of the 2021 high school football season. For years now, Chick’s Picks has been trying to decipher the mystery behind Week Zero. What exactly is Week Zero? Does it even really exist? Chick’s Picks has heard of many other zeros — the Zero candy bar, Triple...
2021 WPIAL football preseason rankings
Class 6A Rank, team, 2020 record 1. Central Catholic, 6-2 2. Mt. Lebanon, 4-3 3. North Allegheny, 6-1 4. Seneca Valley, 4-3 5. Canon-McMillan, 3-3 Class 5A 1. Gateway, 5-1 2. Penn-Trafford, 6-2 3. Pine-Richland, 11-0 4. Penn Hills, 4-4 5. Peters Township, 8-1 Class 4A 1. Thomas Jefferson, 10-1...
2021 Western Pa. high school football schedule for Week Zero
Friday Western PA vs. Everyone Showcase At Wolvarena Bishop Sycamore (Ohio) vs. Sto-Rox, 5 p.m. Imhotep vs. Central Catholic, 8 p.m. Nonconference Albert Gallatin at Yough, 7 p.m. Allderdice at North Allegheny, 7:30 p.m. (HSSN) Ambridge at Wheeling Central Catholic (W.Va.), 7 p.m. Armstrong at Freeport, 7 p.m. Avella at...
Cornell embraces positives from trying season
A mere glimpse at the standings could indicate that last season was a disappointing one for Ed Dawson and the Cornell Raiders. However, despite a 1-6 record and a next-to-last finish in Class A’s Big Seven Conference — which followed a 9-2 mark and an appearance in the WPIAL Class...
New coach hopes to help Connellsville get its swagger back
When Bill Maczko took the job as the new head coach of the Connellsville football team back in February, he knew the position would come with plenty of challenges. However, Maczko and his coaching staff are excited to meet those challenges head on as they try to transform the Falcons...
Butler’s major rebuilding project making significant strides
In a move to save the football program, Butler school officials decided to leave the WPIAL for football only after consecutive 0-10 seasons in 2018-2019 and with roster numbers shrinking despite the school’s large enrollment. The Golden Tornado played an independent schedule in 2020 and early indications are looking good...
Independence breeds success for Albert Gallatin
It had been 35 years since the Albert Gallatin football team enjoyed a winning season when school district officials made the decision to leave the WPIAL in football only. The idea was to breathe new life into a program that was not even competing. In 2018, the Colonials finished 0-10...
Union has big goals despite small roster
Union coach Stacy Robinson knows that football can be a numbers game. Right now, however, he just is not seeing the numbers he would like to see. Robinson, entering his 25th season at the helm of Union’s program, will be dealing with a thin roster this season. Union’s enrollment and...
After 2020 emergence, Shenango banking on experience
Jimmy Graham has watched his crop of seniors grow in a major way. And now it may be time for the harvest. Shenango went 1-9 in Graham’s first season in 2018. That was followed by a 6-4 campaign in which the Wildcats fell just short of the postseason. In 2020,...
Well-rounded roster has Rochester back on track
Gene Matsook did not waste much time righting the Rochester ship. And now the final destination is much more in focus. Matsook, Rochester’s 22nd-year coach, led the Rams to a bounce-back season in 2020, going 7-2 and reaching the WPIAL Class A semifinals a year after winning just three games....
Defensive tune-up could get OLSH back in title mix
Very few coaches in the WPIAL have turned around their program like Dan Bradley has at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. But now Bradley, the sixth-year coach of the Chargers, will look to bounce his team back from an up-and-down 2020. It is not as if OLSH was bad....
Northgate’s seniors look to end streak
When Northgate ran the final play of its 2020 season, coach Mike Fulmore looked at his sideline and had to be in near disbelief of what he saw. There were no remaining players available, just the 11 on the field. Poor numbers, followed by injuries, had decimated the Flames. That...
Changes taking hold under 2nd-year coach at Fort Cherry
Tanner Garry enjoyed the offseason. It almost felt normal. After enduring a rocky, covid-impacted first season as head coach at his alma mater in 2020, Garry led Fort Cherry through a full offseason program. Now, he’s excited to see the results. “Even though it’s my second year as a head...
Burgettstown looks to rebound from down season behind 1st-year coach
In searching for a new football coach for the first time in six years, Burgettstown went right next door with the hiring of Greg Marshall. Marshall was an assistant coach at West Allegheny, where he had also played quarterback until his graduation in 2005. Now he takes over for Mark...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 25, 2021
WPIAL Wednesday’s results Golf Boys Class 2A Section 2 Derry 208, Greensburg Central Catholic 225 Medalists: Hunter Jurica, Antonio Hauser (D) 38, Wade Boyle (GCC) 38 Nonsection Butler 208, Knoch 231 Medalists: Parker Worsley (B) 39, Cory Voltz (K) 42 Ringgold 219, Bentworth 275 Medalist: Nathan Coski (B) 46 Valley...
2021 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the safeties
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top safeties for the 2021 season. 1. Ta’Mere Robinson Brashear Junior, 6-3, 220 Robinson may project as an edge rusher in college, but his athleticism makes him a difference-maker...
