High School category, Page 948
A-K Valley football players to watch for Week 8
Preston Sunday Plum, sr., RB/LB Sunday has been a difference maker on Fridays for the undefeated Mustangs. His 55 tackles through seven games lead the team with fellow senior Max Matolcsy (54). He was all over the field with 22 stops, including four for a loss, in a 20-7 Greater...
The Birdie treats his readers to Westmoreland County playoff picks
Last week: 9-0 (100 %) Season: 64-21 (75.3 %) Halloween is the Birdie’s favorite holiday, A. Because he gets candy, B. Because he gets candy, and C. Because it means playoff time. The Birdie, fresh off a perfect week, has a question for the Halloween steering committee: “Do we have...
Familiar foes Plum, McKeesport set for marquee opening-round matchup
The playoffs are a time when some teams are meeting for the first time, but when No. 3 Plum and No. 6 McKeesport face off in the opening round of the WPIAL Class 4A football playoffs Friday, that won’t be the case. Although they haven’t played this season, the Mustangs...
‘Tis the season for playoff football in the A-K Valley and the Birdie is psyched
Last week: 10-2 (83%) Overall record: 59-11 (84%) The Birdie entered the weekly Zoom call on Monday with his best Ric Flair impersonation. “WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!” See, the first week of playoff time is like Christmas morning for the Birdie. He even wore his Santa suit for the meeting. “I’m gonna deliver...
High school football schedule, broadcasts for Week 8
Thursday WPIAL Nonconference Riverview at Carlynton, 7 p.m. Shady Side Academy at Valley, 6 p.m. District 8 City League University Prep at Allderdice, 7 p.m. Friday WPIAL Playoffs Class 6A Semifinals No. 4 Seneca Valley (4-2) at No. 1 North Allegheny (5-0), 7 p.m. (HSSN) No. 3 Central Catholic (4-2)...
Westmoreland County football players to watch for Week 8
Ian Maloney Belle Vernon, sr., WR/OLB The 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior is one of the top tacklers on a team that has recorded four shutouts and allowed only 56 points this season, including 42 in a lost to Thomas Jefferson on Sept. 25. He also has four catches for 98 yards...
Chick’s Picks relies on superpowers for WPIAL playoff picks
Welcome to Week 8 of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks looks forward to Halloween each year, mostly because she likes candy, but also because she enjoys coming up with creative costumes. This year, Chick’s Picks decided to dress up as Baby Yoda — one of the main characters...
PIAA approves covid-19 guidelines for winter, remains ‘cautiously optimistic’
PIAA basketball teams should limit the number of individuals on their bench to maintain a social distance of six feet or more when possible. If need be, add rows of chairs. The PIAA on Wednesday approved that recommendation and many other covid-19 guidelines for winter sports as executive director Bob...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Oct. 28, 2020
Cross country Boys Wednesday’s results WPIAL championships At White Oak Park Class AA Individual results 1. Mike Formica, Knoch, 16:15; 2. Ryan Pajak, Ringgold, 16:17; 3. Quintin Gatons, Greensburg Salem, 16:22; 4. Joel Beckwith, Indiana, 16:24; 5. Will Lamb, Beaver, 16:27; 6. Lucas Pajak, Ringgold, 16:31; 7. Ben Daerr, Ringgold,...
Shenango senior captures second WPIAL Class A cross country crownVideo
Shenango senior Carmen Medvit captured her second WPIAL Class A cross country championship Wednesday by breezing to a victory at White Oak Park. Medvit broke away from Greensburg Central Catholic junior Corinn Brewer and the rest of the field coming up the hill at the one-mile mark. She ran a...
High school roundup for Oct. 28, 2020: West Allegheny boys stop Moon in overtime
Joseph Pustover scored on a header in overtime to lead No. 3 West Allegheny (15-1) to a 2-1 victory over No. 6 Moon (12-4) in a Class 3A boys soccer quarterfinal Wednesday night. Johnny Dragisich scored and Connor Blazer and Tyler Rosborough had assists for West Allegheny, which will meet...
Greensburg Central Catholic girls soccer follows script, advances to WPIAL semifinals
For a high school soccer program not used to early playoff exits, the Greensburg Central Catholic girls team continues to follow the script to a tee. Sara Felder, Tatum Gretz and Jessica Nemeth scored two goals apiece, and top-seeded GCC stayed unbeaten while advancing to the WPIAL Class A semifinals...
Anthony DiFalco, Franklin Regional too much for Indiana in Class 3A WPIAL soccer quarters
At a time when most people are talking about the presidential election, Indiana coach Todd Myers might have cast his vote for boys soccer player of the year. Franklin Regional junior Anthony DiFalco continues to showcase his talent for the No. 2-seeded Panthers, not only as a goal scorer but...
GCC’s Corinn Brewer, Riverview’s Mason Ochs take second at WPIAL Class A cross country meet
Corinn Brewer knew early. Wednesday wasn’t going to be her day. The Greensburg Central Catholic junior started strong at the WPIAL Class A cross country championships at White Oak Park, but then her body starting to send her warning signs. “I don’t know what’s up. My forearms got really tight...
Pay to play? PIAA board discusses fee for state playoff qualifiers
The PIAA might someday charge schools a fee to compete in the state playoffs, creating an alternate source of income as the coronavirus pandemic batters its budget. The PIAA board discussed that idea in general terms Wednesday but took no action during its online meeting. The PIAA is surviving financially,...
Military parents of Franklin Regional, Indiana soccer players watch playoff match together overseasVideo
Parents of opposing players watched Wednesday night’s WPIAL Class 3A boys soccer playoff game in Murrysville from more than 6,500 miles away — in Kuwait. Megan Dawson, the stepmother of Franklin Regional sophomore midfielder/defender Sam Dawson, and John Fefolt, the father of Indiana senior goalkeeper Sam Fefolt, are stationed at...
WPIAL soccer playoff preview capsules: Oct. 29
Today’s games Girls Class 4A Quarterfinals 5-North Allegheny (8-2) at 4-Norwin (9-2-1) 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Norwin Knights Stadium, North Huntingdon Winner plays: Winner of 1-Peters Township (10-1-1) vs. 8-Seneca Valley (8-3) in semifinals 6:30 p.m. Monday (site TBD). Hat tricks: Norwin, seeking a sixth consecutive appearance in the semifinals, is...
Trib 10: Upset knocks Thomas Jefferson down a few pegs in power rankings
The same 10 teams have once again earned spot in this week’s HSSN football power rankings. However one big eyebrow raiser did shuffle the deck a bit as the regular season concluded and the district postseason is set to begin. McKeesport going to Thomas Jefferson and ending the defending WPIAL...
WPIAL moves Class AAA cross country to Friday
The WPIAL announced that Thursday’s WPIAL Class AAA Cross Country Championship has been moved to Friday because of a possibility of heavy rain. Class AA and Class A ran their championships Wednesday at White Oak Park. The Class AAA teams will begin at 1 p.m. with a fast heat of...
Knoch’s Formica wins WPIAL Class AA cross country title; GS boys victoriousVideo
Mike Formica celebrated his 18th birthday in style. The Knoch senior bested the field in the boys race at Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AA cross country championships at White Oak Park. He posted a winning time of 16 minutes, 15 seconds. “It was pretty amazing to come out here and win,”...
Top-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer empties bench, survives scare
The way Tyler Solis sees it, what happened Tuesday night was a win-win-win situation for his Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer team. For one, the Centurions won their first-round playoff game to advance in the WPIAL Class A playoffs. Secondly, Solis got to empty his bench and give younger players...
Brownsville runner keeps WPIAL Class 2A cross country gold in family
As a freshman last year, Brownsville’s Jolena Quarzo earned a silver medal at the WPIAL Class AA cross country championships at Cal U (Pa.) as older sister Gionna dominated the field to claim gold. With a new setting for this year’s championship meet and Gionna now running at N.C. State,...
Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Rematches loom for playoff teams
Rematches always are something to look forward to in the WPIAL football postseason. Westmoreland County teams could get their share of them in the coming weeks. While coaches don’t like to look ahead — some bristle at the thought — they had to glance farther down the brackets to see...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Oct. 27, 2020
Field hockey WPIAL playoffs Class 3A Semifinals Wednesday’s schedule Mt. Lebanon at Pine-Richland, 6:30 p.m.; North Allegheny at Peters Township, 6:30 p.m. Class 2A Semifinals Tuesday’s results Penn-Trafford 1, Upper St. Clair 0 (Upper St. Clair forfeit) Latrobe at Fox Chapel (n) Championship Nov. 2 schedule Penn-Trafford vs. Fox Chapel/Latrobe...
High school roundup for Oct. 27, 2020: Joey Moeller lifts Baldwin boys soccer to elusive playoff win
Joey Moeller scored a pair of second-half goals to lift No. 9 Baldwin (8-6-1) to a 2-0 victory over No. 8 Central Catholic (9-3) in a Class 4A boys soccer first-round match Tuesday night. It was the first playoff win for the Highlanders since a 2007 first-round victory over Norwin....
