High School category, Page 854
Motivated Mapletown hunting for playoff berth
Mapletown football coach George Messich believes this year’s team is the most motivated group he’s had during his time at the school. The Maples, who finished 2-5 last season, return nine starters on offense and defense leading into its season-opener against Avella at home. “Our goal every year is to...
New coach stresses preparation at Jefferson-Morgan
Brent Baker won’t necessarily have to build from the ground up as he takes over the Jefferson-Morgan football program. The first-year head coach spent the past three years as an assistant coach and worked at all levels of the program. Baker has been an assistant coach at three programs —...
Carmichaels seeks playoff return after hard-luck miss
Carmichaels won its first five games last year before dropping two in a row to end the season. Most years, the Mikes, who tied for second place in the Tri-County South Conference with a 5-2 record, would have been heading to the WPIAL Class A playoffs. But with spots limited...
Avella looks to keep ball rolling after breakthrough season
For Avella coach Ryan Cecchini, last year’s run to the playoffs showed that even if his program doesn’t always have the biggest roster, it can compete in the WPIAL. The Eagles surprised a lot of people by finishing second in the Tri-County South and earning their first playoff berth since...
5 things to watch in WPIAL football Week Zero: On opening night, teams have options
“Week Zero” is back. The optional week on the football calendar was eliminated from last year’s pandemic-shortened schedule but returns this fall in full force. In so-called “Week Zero,” teams can replace their second preseason scrimmage with a regular-season contest. A five-game showcase at the Wolvarena highlights this weekend’s slate,...
Westmoreland County high school football notes: Franklin Regional to rotate QBs
The quarterback competition at Franklin Regional will remain just that as it stretches into the regular season. New coach Lance Getsy plans to rotate a pair of quarterbacks in Friday night’s season opener against visiting Plum as he looks for a firm starter. Junior Roman Sarnic and senior Connor Donnelly...
After close call, Frazier motivated to claim playoff spot
As the 2020 football season unfolded, the Frazier Commodores found themselves wondering what each week would hold. The coronavirus restrictions that limited offseason workouts and forced game cancellations across the state had a profound negative impact on many teams trying to plow their way through a disjointed season. The Commodores...
2021 City League preview: Westinghouse chasing 3-peat but elite talent is everywhere
Some of the top football prospects in Western Pa. will display their talents on the Cupples Stadium turf this season, and plenty of eyes will be on the City League. Perry’s Tyreese Fearbry and Brashear’s Ta’Mere Robinson are highly regarded four-star prospects, but many other elite players are set to...
Trib HSSN don’t-miss high school football matchups for Week Zero 2021
The 2021 high school football season kicks off this weekend with Week Zero games. All of the contests are nonconference. Here is a look at some of the top matchups in each class. Final records from 2020 are in parenthesis. Class 6A vs 5A Class 6A No. 2 Mt. Lebanon...
This week on Trib HSSN: Week of Aug. 26, 2021
Let the games begin! We kick off another season with August high school football for the first time in two years this weekend on the TribLive High School Sports Network. Trib HSSN has video and audio coverage of Week Zero of the new scholastic gridiron season with 33 WPIAL and...
Loaded Serra Catholic has big goals: ’16-0 or bust’
The expectations shared by those in the football locker room at Serra Catholic are the same this season: Win a conference title, claim a WPIAL championship and capture a state title. “We want to go all the way, 16-0 or bust,” Serra Catholic coach Jose Regus said. “We want to...
Ringgold looking to surprise in Big Eight Conference
For third-year Ringgold head coach Darwin Manges, the formula for his program is starting to become clear and he’s hoping this is the season it all comes together. The Rams return nine starters on offense and eight defensively, and Manges thinks his team is ready to make some noise in...
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...
