Chris Harlan stories, Page 66

The PIHL shut down its playoffs before reaching the finals last season, so North Allegheny coach Mike Bagnato told his players to consider themselves the reigning champions. Why not? They were the most recent team to win the Class AAA title. “I started off the season saying, ‘Hey, look, we’re...

Shenango and Rochester tied atop the Big Seven standings and had five players apiece earn first-team all-conference honors in the WPIAL Class A conference. Shenango’s Reis Watkins was named the top offensive player and Rochester’s Sal Laure received the defensive award in a vote of conference coaches. Union’s Aaron Gunn...

California running back Jaeden Zuzak, the WPIAL’s third-leading rusher this season, was among 45 players named all-conference in the Class A Tri-County South. The Trojans led with nine all-conference players. Zuzak rushed for 1,571 yards and 28 touchdowns for California (6-1, 6-0), which went undefeated in the conference. Trojans’ coach...

Apollo-Ridge running back Logan Harmon and lineman Greg Klingensmith were among 10 Vikings who earned first-team all-conference honors in the Class 2A Allegheny. Harmon, Klay Fitzroy and Keighton Reese were recognized on both sides of the ball, giving Apollo-Ridge a conference-leading 13 spots on the first team. Harmon also was...

WPIAL champion Beaver Falls earned seven first-team spots on the Midwestern all-conference team led by senior Josh Hough, who was named offensive player of the year. Hough, Beaver Falls’ Shileak Livingston and Laurel teammates Mitch Miles and Luke McCoy were named first-team all-conference for both offense and defense. Beaver Falls...

McGuffey quarterback Rocco Falosk and lineman Aiden Brookman each earned individual conference honors after leading the Highlanders to the Century title. They were among eight McGuffey players to earn all-conference honors. Falosk was named the conference’s offensive player of the year and Brookman was named the top lineman. The team...

Sto-Rox and Western Beaver, which tied atop the Class 2A Three Rivers standings, led the all-conference voting with six first-team players. Diontae Givens of Sto-Rox and Western Beaver’s Daquan Bradford shared the defensive MVP award in a vote of conference coaches. Sto-Rox’s Josh Jenkins and Brentwood’s Aiden Wardzinski shared the...

Pittsburgh Public Schools has delayed the start of winter sports in the City League until at least January. According to a news release Thursday, the district’s athletic committee met the day before and recommended postponing basketball, wrestling and all other winter sports seasons. The district said the committee will reconvene...

Elizabeth Forward celebrated the second undefeated regular season in school history, an achievement that was rewarded in the all-conference voting. Senior defensive end Chase Whatton was named Defensive MVP in the Class 3A Interstate, and seven teammates also earned first-team honors in a vote of conference coaches. The Warriors’ Mike...

Much like during the season, Central Valley again stood atop the Northwestern Six, this time in the all-conference voting. The undefeated WPIAL and PIAA champions earned 14 first-team spots in the Northwestern Six and swept the individual awards as well in a vote of conference coaches. The Warriors won every...

Chartiers Valley junior Aislin Malcolm already has two wins on her future home court. Malcolm, who won back-to-back WPIAL girls basketball titles at Petersen Events Center, committed Wednesday to Pitt. The 5-foot-10 guard held more than a dozen Division I offers including Penn State, West Virginia and Duke. Malcolm was...

As an athletic trainer for high school sports teams, Dan Summers made it his responsibility to keep Beaver Falls football players safe from coronavirus. Hand sanitizer was taped to the back of his golf cart, and he used a water sprayer to cool athletes from a safe distance during practice....

Belle Vernon’s Devin Whitlock and McKeesport’s Colin Lyons were among seven players who earned first-team all-conference honors on both sides of the football in the Class 4A Big Eight. Along with first-team honors, Whitlock was named as the conference’s top offensive player and Lyons earned the defensive award in a...

Aliquippa’s Vernon Redd and Chartiers Valley’s Anthony Collura earned all-conference honors on both sides of the football in the Class 4A Parkway. Along with first-team honors, Redd was named the conference’s offensive MVP and Collura earned the defensive award in a vote of coaches. Aliquippa and Chartiers Valley claimed eight...

Plum celebrated its first undefeated regular season since 1977, an accomplishment that was rewarded in the all-conference voting by Greater Allegheny coaches. The Mustangs had 10 players earn first-team honors, and Matt Morgan was named the conference’s top coach. Plum’s list of first-team players included Rocco Caprara, Evan Azzara, Ryan...

There was cause to celebrate, but PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi probably didn’t spike the football or exchange high-fives after the state championships finished Saturday night. A high school football season that seemed doomed from the start, a season opposed by no less than the governor himself, made it all...

Penn-Trafford quarterback Ethan Carr was among 10 teammates who earned first-team all-conference honors, and Warriors coach John Ruane earned Coach of the Year honors in the Class 5A Big East this season. Carr was joined by Penn-Trafford players Joe Spadaro, Declan Ochendowski, Cole Darragh, Cade Yacamelli, Chase Vecchio, Tom Wilkie,...

WPIAL champion Central Catholic had eight players earn first-team all-conference honors in Class 6A, including running back Eddy Tillman, who led the largest classification in rushing. Also, Central Catholic’s Terry Totten was named Coach of the Year in 6A after the Vikings won back-to-back WPIAL titles. Joining Tillman were teammates...

A dozen Pine-Richland players earned first-team all-conference honors in the Class 5A Northeast, including the record-setting combination of quarterback Cole Spencer and receiver Eli Jochem. The Rams won WPIAL and PIAA titles this season under coach Eric Kasperowicz, who was named Coach of the Year in the conference. Pine-Richland had...

Peters Township reached the WPIAL finals for the second year in a row and was rewarded with eight first-team spots on the Allegheny Six all-conference team. Indians coach T.J. Plack, who guided the team to an 8-1 record, earned coach of the year honors in the Class 5A Allegheny Six...

HERSHEY — Style points aren’t important to Thomas Jefferson’s football team, or else the Jaguars coaching staff wouldn’t be wearing shorts in 40-degree weather. Saturday’s game wasn’t always pretty, but Thomas Jefferson defended its PIAA title with a 21-14 victory over Jersey Shore in the Class 4A championship in Hershey....

Thomas Jefferson vs. Jersey Shore 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey On the air: TV: PCN; Streaming audio: TribHSSN.triblive.com; Radio: 95.3 FM PIAA titles: Thomas Jefferson 4 (2004, ‘07, ‘08, ‘19); Jersey Shore 0 Thomas Jefferson (9-1) Player to watch: Conner Murga Junior, 6-1, 178, RB/DE Murga and DeRon...

HERSHEY — The second-half clock usually moves lightning quick for Central Valley games, but this time the Warriors insisted it felt excruciatingly slow. Regardless, the celebration was worth the wait. Working to hold a fourth-quarter lead, unlikely hero Brandon Graham made two late interceptions and Central Valley relied on its...

With a laugh, Cathedral Prep coach Mike Mischler brags that his defense hasn’t given up a point in weeks. Technically, he’s right. The District 10 champions reached the PIAA football championships on the heels of two covid-related forfeits. Wyoming Valley West forfeited their quarterfinal game and Upper Dublin forfeited the...