Bill Beckner stories, Page 35

Franklin Regional figured if Norwin was going to play single coverage on its receivers, it would take some shots downfield. When you have a player like Ayden Hudock, the potential reward is worth the risk. An underrated college prospect, Hudock continued to show his athleticism and playmaking ability as he...

While she used to come out sprinting at the start of a cross country race, Annie Czajkowski is more methodical now, pacing herself before a late push to pass. “I used to have nothing left at the end,” she said. Serenity is also part of the plan. A sophomore at...

While the math doesn’t seem to add up, defensive play equates to one-sided play. Through 11 games, Franklin Regional had scored just 20 goals, one of the lowest totals among teams with winning records in WPIAL Class 3A. But on the other side, the Panthers had surrendered just eight goals...

Franklin Regional remained in the Big East playoff hunt. Norwin still is looking to start as well as it finishes. Ayden Hudock and Chase Lemke made the offense go, and the Panthers held off a furious second-half rally by Norwin for a 37-29 victory Friday night at Panther Stadium. Hudock...

Mt. Pleasant ran its winning streak to six but not before a somewhat painstaking final push at McGuffey. The Vikings pelted the visitors with 18 shots, challenging goalkeeper Sam Stout from a number of angles, before punching in a late goal to finally grant tense home fans some relief. Senior...

Recruiting is beginning to ramp up for Peyton Murray. The senior shot put and discus thrower at Hempfield has been contacted by a number of Division I college programs and has drawn four scholarship offers with more likely on the way. Indiana was his first offer, followed by Iowa. This...

Fierce rivals Penn-Trafford and Gateway appear to be rounding into form just in time for another encounter. The Warriors (3-3, 2-0) will host Gateway (3-3, 3-0) in the annual “Battle for the Bell” game at 7:30 Friday night. This will be one of the few times where, at least in...

The Jeannette girls soccer team did something Wednesday night it had not done since 2019: It won a game. Lindsay Jordan and Grace Stein each scored two goals as the Jayhawks defeated Valley, 4-1, in a nonsection game in New Kensington. Jeannette dumped a winless streak that had reached 52...

Class 5A Big East Conference Gateway (3-3, 3-0) at Penn-Trafford (3-3, 2-0) 7:30 p.m., Friday, Warrior Stadium, Harrison City Last week: Gateway 63, Hempfield 21; Penn-Trafford 56, Norwin 28 Last year’s result: Gateway 21, Penn-Trafford 10 Who will get to ring the bell after this game? It’s the annual “Battle...

Sophomore Mya Morgan had to miss a tryout for a school musical because she was competing in the WPIAL girls golf championship. Instead, Morgan landed the starring role on the golf course Wednesday. The musical is “Big Fish.” Her performance was more like something out of “Jaws.” Morgan, a sophomore...

Mt. Pleasant boys soccer players don’t do a lot of trash talking during games. In fact, they don’t do a lot of talking at all. Floyd Snyder, the team’s 16th-year coach, called them a “reserved group.” But he loves their approach. “They are not showboaters,” Snyder said. “They are bring-your-lunch-pail-to-work,...

It started with an innocent throw-in by Greensburg Central Catholic deep in Ligonier Valley territory. It ended with junior Jackson Vacanti delivering a nominee for goal of the year. His game-winner that propelled the Centurions to a 2-1 victory came with seven seconds left in regulation. GCC coach Ryan Kanner...

Everything seemed to be going right for Latrobe, until it wasn’t. Visiting Plum erupted for three second-half goals to avoid an upset and overcome the Wildcats in a 3-2 Section 4-3A boys soccer victory Tuesday night. Plum recovered nicely from its first 2-0 deficit of the season, staging a great...

Greensburg Central Catholic’s girls soccer team will play a game for the first time since Sept. 20 when it visits Seton LaSalle on Wednesday night. The Centurions (5-1), ranked No. 3 in the WPIAL and No. 6 in the state in Class A, had to postpone three consecutive games —...

There is a new No. 1 team in Class 2A. Mt. Pleasant (10-2), which has won 10 straight — all shutouts — since a 2-0 loss to 3A No. 2 Moon, slid ahead of North Catholic and Avonworth. A result between those teams also led to the Vikings’ ascent to...

A local trio with on- and off-the-field smarts are up for one of college football’s major awards. Lehigh senior offensive lineman Christian Jablonski (Ligonier Valley), Allegheny senior wide receiver Declan O’Brien (Norwin) and Washington & Jefferson senior linebacker Justin Johns (Franklin Regional) are on a list of 201 semifinalists for...

Penn-Trafford senior Nick Turowski is primed to become a two-time WPIAL golf champion. And if he wins Monday, he will join elite company. Turowski would become just the second two-time winner from Westmoreland County. He could live like a King for a day. Latrobe’s Arnold Palmer won back-to-back titles in...

Taylor Doppelheuer School: Southmoreland Class: Junior Sport: Volleyball Claim to fame: Doppelheuer has been a dominant force on the front line for the undefeated Scotties (11-0), who are tearing past opponents. They are No. 6 in the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class 2A rankings. The 6-foot middle hitter had...

Noah Sanders’ stat line Friday night looked like this: Six carries, 151 yards, two touchdowns, one arm. The Jeannette senior running back has been playing with his right forearm in a thick, black cast. He broke his thumb in the Charleroi game in Week 4. “My thumb got pushed back...

Once the odds-on favorite most weeks, Jeannette is more dark horse these days as the football team continues to heal from a couple of thin years. But that is fine with the Jayhawks, who are regaining their footing week by week, game by game and win by win. Don’t look...

Once the odds-on favorite most weeks, Jeannette is more dark horse these days as the football team continues to heal from a couple of thin years. But that is fine with the Jayhawks, who are regaining their footing week by week, game by game and win by win. Don’t look...

Both boys soccer teams had given up 10 goals coming into their latest Section 2-4A matchup. But only one of them kept that total intact. Canon-McMillan, led by its coach with Westmoreland County ties, notched a goal in each half and locked down on defense throughout in a 2-0 upset...

Peering across the field and trying to get a win against his buddies will be an interesting proposition for John DeMarco. There was a time when Southmoreland losing was the last thing he wanted to see. DeMarco, the first-year football coach at Elizabeth Forward, will lead his No. 2 Warriors...

Franklin Regional had eight players arrive late for Wednesday night’s warmups because of a National Honor Society event. As a result, kickoff was delayed 10 minutes. The Panthers probably didn’t need the extra time to loosen up. They looked ready from the start. Junior Abby Paterline had the only goal...

Class 5A Big East Conference Franklin Regional (3-2, 0-1) at Plum (2-3, 0-2) 7 p.m. Friday, Mustang Stadium, Plum Last week: Franklin Regional 55, Shaler 7; Gateway 49, Plum 14 Last year’s result: Franklin Regional 31, Plum 28 Neighboring teams usually fight for the last word when they meet on...