High School category, Page 849
Norwin boys soccer team has title run in its sights
Riley Zimmerman played only briefly in the WPIAL Class 4A boys soccer championship three years ago at Highmark Stadium, but the experience resonated with him. Then a Norwin freshman, Zimmerman recalls Knights coach Scott Schuchert telling him to remember the feeling, the atmosphere, the moment — to take it all...
North Allegheny notebook: Tigers defense sparks opening victory
The North Allegheny football team got off to a strong start on Aug. 27, taking down Allderdice, 47-14, in a nonconference home game. The Class 6A No. 3-ranked Tigers (1-0) forced four turnovers. Tyree Alualu recovered a fumble and had an interception. Luke Rumpler recovered a fumble, and Kyrell Hutcherson...
Underclassmen to play key roles for North Allegheny boys soccer
With few returning starters and a roster heavy in sophomores, North Allegheny coach Bobby Vosmaer told his boys soccer team to be ready. Other teams will test their toughness. “I think they’re going throw some guys at us just to kick the crapper out of us, so to speak,” Vosmaer...
Franklin Regional girls soccer has strong base to build on
With nine returning starters, Franklin Regional’s girls soccer team looks like it will have staying power this season. “We only graduated three seniors, so we have a very experienced team returning,” second-year coach Scott Arnold said. “With so many returning players, we are building up on where we finished last...
Top scorer Anthony DiFalco, Franklin Regional boys soccer teammates set lofty goals
Franklin Regional senior Anthony DiFalco has seen just about everything there is to see in high school soccer. He has won two WPIAL titles, finished as a runner-up and played in the PIAA semifinals twice. He’s been All-WPIAL, all-state and All-American. But even the best players want more. They always...
Strong core looks to keep ball rolling for Hampton girls soccer
The Talbots are hoping for more of the same in 2021. Hampton has made the playoffs in girls soccer for five straight years and advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals last fall. During the pandemic-riddled 2020 season, Hampton won its first section title since 2008 and finished 12-3 overall....
Hampton boys cross country under the radar, on the upswing
Hampton’s top three competitors at last year’s WPIAL Class 2A cross country finals were Nathan Garrett, Dale Hall and Michael Belch. All three are back this season. “They have done some good work this summer,” coach Dean Longwell said. “Michael started the (2020) season injured and is coming into this...
Fox Chapel girls tennis has potential to add to trophy case
To no one’s surprise, the Fox Chapel girls tennis team got off to a quick start to the season, winning two of its first three matches, including its Section 3-3A opener. Fox Chapel is one of the WPIAL’s elite programs, and 2021 appears to be yet another strong entry under...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Sept. 4, 2021
High schools Cross country River Trail Invitational Boys Team results: 1. Belle Vernon 43, 2. Quaker Valley 49, 3. McKeesport 93 Individual results: 1. Matt Otto, Quaker Valley, 16:30; 2. Luke Henderson, Belle Vernon, 16:38; 3. Jacob Fisher, McKeesport, 17:30; 4. Troy Teegarden, Belle Vernon, 17:35; 5. John Griffith, Aquinas,...
Week 1 high school football roundup for Sept. 3, 2021: Aliquippa tops Beaver Falls
Isaiah Martinez ran for two 1-yard touchdowns as Class 4A No. 3 Aliquippa earned a 39-25 victory over Class 2A No. 2 Beaver Falls (0-2) in a nonconference football game Friday night at Geneva. Dorius Moreland opened the scoring for Aliquippa (1-0) with a 35-yard fumble return. Tajier Thornton also...
High school roundup for Sept. 3, 2021: Quaker Valley, Mt. Lebanon win at soccer showcase
Keller Chamovitz had a hat trick to lead Quaker Valley to a 4-0 win over Fleetwood at the East-West Classic, an event that matches up top teams from each half of the state. Cam Diggins also scored for Quaker Valley. Rowan Kriebel had three assists. Isaac Waller made five saves...
Central Catholic rights ship with blowout of Penn Hills
Last week, Central Catholic coach Terry Totten felt his defense bent a lot. This week, it corrected course and held Penn Hills to 66 yards in a 48-7 win Friday. The Vikings (1-1) used that defense and pass rush to create offense by winning the field-position battle. Nine Central Catholic...
2021 WPIAL statistical leaders for rushing, passing, receiving in Week 1
Top performers for Week 1 of high school football in Western Pennsylvania. Passing 353 - Connor Roberts, Trinity (20 of 32) 293 - Gavin Miller, West Allegheny (10 of 17) 273 - Cadin Olsen, Armstrong (21 of 32) 262 - Jaren Brickner, Beaver Falls (13 of 22) 261 - Sam...
Big plays help unbeaten Ligonier Valley past Elizabeth Forward
Ligonier Valley made several big plays and turned the momentum to its favor early in taking down Elizabeth Forward 26-14 in nonconference play Friday night. The Rams (2-0) scored a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, a 68-yard touchdown pass from Haden Sierocky to Grant Dowden. Ligonier Valley coach...
Seneca Valley stuns Pine-Richland with late touchdown pass
The adrenaline still was running at maximum for Brandon Ross moments after catching the winning touchdown pass in the final 10 seconds to propel his Seneca Valley Raiders to a 24-20 win over Pine-Richland. “I might have blacked out a little,” Ross said. “I just remember catching it, running on...
Ringgold football runs to shutout of Yough
Ringgold coach Darwin Manges was looking for his Rams to build confidence after last week’s tough loss to Elizabeth Forward. After a dominating display in Friday’s game against Yough at Joe Montana Stadium, Manges and his Rams are full of confidence. The offense was firing on all cylinders, and the...
Alex Tecza, Mt. Lebanon teammates jump on Upper St. Clair to improve to 2-0
So far, so good for the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils in 2021 as they took care of their second straight South Hills rival, defeating Upper St. Clair, 36-13, Friday night at Mt. Lebanon Stadium. For the second straight game, it was a quick start for Mt. Lebanon, which scored 20...
Belle Vernon routs Chartiers Valley behind methodical offense, staunch defense
Belle Vernon Area couldn’t have scripted a better start for its Week 1 nonconference matchup against Chartiers Valley on Friday night. The Leopards received the opening kickoff, and three minutes late, they were in the end zone after a nine-play, 80-yard drive. BVA never looked back, racking up 388 yards...
Senior quarterback steps up, leads Thomas Jefferson past Gateway in battle of top-ranked teamsVideo
Quarterback was considered a big question mark for Thomas Jefferson, so coach Bill Cherpak intended to give a couple of players snaps there. Joe Lekse altered those plans. The senior first-year starter threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another Friday night as Thomas Jefferson defeated host Gateway, 21-16, in...
Penn-Trafford jumps out to early lead in rout of Hempfield
This scoring on the first play of the game thing is catching on at Penn-Trafford. First-year senior quarterback Carter Green did it last week when he scored on a 99-yard run against Norwin. This week it was senior running back Cade Yacamelli who took the first snap from scrimmage to...
Greensburg Salem reverses fortunes in 4th quarter, pulls away from Connellsville
In its opener a week ago, Greensburg Salem folded in the fourth quarter. The Golden Lions didn’t let it happen again on Friday night. Greensburg Salem scored 20 fourth-quarter points to pull away from visiting Connellsville and earn a 36-19 victory. Hayden Teska threw a touchdown pass and rushed for...
Norwin’s Levendosky clutch in final minute of win versus Latrobe
Norwin runs the 2-minute drill almost every day at practice. So with 32 seconds left Friday in a nonconference game against Latrobe, Norwin quarterback Luke Levendosky ran it to perfection. The senior used his arm and legs to drive Norwin to the Latrobe 4, where junior Joe Castle nailed a...
Freeport builds big lead, holds off rival Knoch
Last year’s Freeport and Knoch football game was canceled amid the plethora of schedule changes because of the covid pandemic. The teams resumed their rivalry Friday at Knoch Knights Stadium, and the Yellowjackets raced to a four-touchdown lead at halftime before holding off a Knights comeback attempt for a 28-14...
Big plays leads Highlands past Valley
Highlands quarterback Chandler Thimons made the most of his pass completions Friday night at Valley. The junior completed three passes — all for touchdowns — as the Golden Rams routed the Vikings, 41-6, in a nonconference game at Valley Memorial Stadium. Thimons threw touchdowns of 45 and 40 yards to...
North Hills football easily dispatches PlumVideo
Robert Dickerson stood outside of his locker room, popped a couple of Hot Tamales candies in his mouth and just kept on smiling. And why not? He doesn’t mind bringing the heat. Dickerson, North Hills’ standout senior receiver, was bottled up on offense all night but pulled off a pair...
