High School category, Page 615
With 3rd straight WPIAL title secured, Central Valley’s goals don’t change
The Heinz Field clock was ticking down last fall on Central Valley’s third consecutive WPIAL title when coach Mark Lyons was approached by longtime assistant Shawn McCreary. Lyons says he prefers to live in the moment, but his friend urged him to reflect on the past. “He said, ‘Listen, you...
Blackhawk looking to reverse close losses, return to playoffs
Blackhawk football is a storied program that has won four WPIAL championships. Although the Cougars had recent success making the playoffs in 2018 and 2019, they fell short of that goal the past two seasons. Coach Zack Hayward, who played quarterback on the 2006 and 2008 Blackhawk teams that made...
Expectations soar as defending state champ Aliquippa brings back loaded roster
After winning WPIAL and state championships, expectations couldn’t be any higher for an Aliquippa football team that brings almost everyone back. Yet, in Mike Warfield’s first four seasons as the Quips’ coach, he says he found that practice is far more important than predictions. “My first year, there was great...
With losing streak snapped, Ambridge turns attention to playoff win
Ambridge ended a 28-game losing streak by defeating Hopewell, 35-9, on Oct. 1 last season. The victory was a big step in the right direction for the Bridgers. Former Aliquippa coach and Ohio University wide receiver Sherm McBride took over the coaching duties last season. The Bridgers finished 2-9, along...
Experience puts Montour in the mix as a challenger in deep Class 4A field
For the last 17 years under Lou Cerro, the Montour football program has always competed. Even in years the Spartans finished under .500 or didn’t make the playoffs, they had a competitive team that usually is alive for the playoffs until the final week of the regular season. Staring at...
After injuries derailed last season, West Allegheny brings back experienced roster
Every football team has to deal with injuries. Some are able to stop the bleeding and continue toward a successful campaign, while others watch as the snowball becomes an avalanche and derails all the hopes for a season. Such was the case for West Allegheny in 2021. The Indians won...
Chartiers Valley hopes to be a Payne for Parkway Conference foes
When he was hired in April to replace Dan Knause as head coach of the Chartiers Valley football program, one of the first thoughts Aaron Fitzpatrick had was, ‘It’s go time.’ ‘Go time’ is just around the corner now as the first-year head coach prepares his Colts for a challenging...
High school sports scores for Aug. 12, 2022
High schools WPIAL Golf Boys Friday’s results Tri-County Athletic Director’s Association championship At Chippewa Golf Course, Par 70 Individual results 1. Colton Lusk, Peters Township, 68; 2. Austin Malley, Peters Township, 74; 3. Mason Lapana, Carmichaels, 75; 4t. Griffin Hansberry, Peters Township, 76; 4t. Nick Haught, Peters Township, 76; 4t....
Allegheny Conference flush with abundance of talent
Allegheny Conference football teams are again ready to contend for a WPIAL title in 2022. And no one should be surprised if one of them brings home Class 2A gold or at least makes it to a WPIAL title game. In the last five seasons, teams from the realigned conference...
Dom Patrick, Derry seniors passionate about returning to playoff contention
Dom Patrick is embarrassed. So are his teammates. After all, this is a Derry program just three years removed from a fourth-in-a-row WPIAL playoff appearance. The situation had deteriorated fast. With a new coach on board and interest in the program rising, Patrick’s passion has begun to overshadow his abashment....
New Penn Hills coach wants to ramp up aggressiveness
Penn Hills coach Charles Morris isn’t so worried about X’s and O’s for his first season in charge. The foundation for the Indians’ success on the field has been shaped over the previous few years by the players and coaching staff. Morris, a Penn Hills graduate, wants to know that...
North Hills with plenty of ‘untold stories’ entering 2022
Coming off its best season since 2010, North Hills is ready to begin writing a fresh chapter. But, right now, the authors are a bit unknown. The Indians finished 7-4 last year and claimed a three-way split of the Class 5A Northeast Conference title, falling to Peters Township in a...
After taste of playoff success, Fox Chapel back for more
Fox Chapel won five games in the 2021 football season — and one of those victories was quite significant. The Foxes won their first WPIAL playoff game since 1997, a 13-10 victory at Upper St. Clair, a school with one of the highest winning percentages in WPIAL history at .702,...
Woodland Hills still running with the big dogs in Class 5A
Woodland Hills could’ve dropped down two classifications this season because of a statewide change in how enrollment numbers are counted, but the Wolverines declined. Instead of joining smaller schools in Class 3A, Woodland Hills voluntarily stayed in 5A. “To me, us going to 3A is almost like a slap in...
Shaler looks to learn lessons from losing streak
There was a real opportunity last season for the Shaler football team to get off to a 3-0 start. But after two double-digit wins to open the season, the Titans were tripped up by Hampton by three points. What followed that loss is something Shaler coach Jim Ryan hopes another...
New Pine-Richland coach wants to play ‘Western Pa. football’
As the Jon LeDonne era begins at Pine-Richland, one element that he wants to add into the program is more physicality. With an experienced offensive line and running back, the Rams will be looking to win the battle in the trenches this fall. “They’ve had success the last eight to...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 11, 2022
High schools WPIAL Golf Boys Thursday’s results Nonsection North Allegheny 194, Hampton 211 Medalists: Colin Wang, Chris Hoffman (NA) 37. Peter Kramer (H) 38. Freeport 220, Armstrong 261 Medalists: Lillie Snow (FR) 42. Dylan Morris (A) 48. Mars 200, Blackhawk 213 Medalists: Ryan Steigerwald, Will Campbell (M) 38. Jake Sheesly...
Strong junior class aims to carry Belle Vernon across finish line
The past five seasons of Belle Vernon football have been equal parts scintillating and frustrating. The Leopards proved they were one of the best teams in Class 4A, reaching the WPIAL title game twice and the semifinals three times. The down side? There are no gold trophies in the case...
Penn-Trafford ready to tackle the challenge of staying on top
Penn-Trafford football coach John Ruane is faced with something he’s never encountered before: preparing a team to defend a WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championship. It’s a challenge Ruane will embrace. Penn-Trafford celebrated the school’s 50th anniversary by winning its first WPIAL and PIAA titles last season. Now Ruane said...
Bolstered by improved offensive line, Gateway builds confidence for run at WPIAL title
Gateway’s offensive line was pushed around at times last season by some of the best defensive fronts in the WPIAL, but the Gators say they’re ready to bite back. “The big thing for us was definitely confidence,” said senior tackle Matt Brooks, a Duquesne recruit. “We didn’t have that confidence...
Franklin Regional hopes last year’s learning experience benefits returning players
Injuries to two key players derailed Franklin Regional’s 2021 football season. But those injuries could provide a boost to the 2022 campaign. Those injuries forced then first-year Franklin Regional coach Lance Getsy to play more freshmen and sophomores than he wanted. The Panthers finished with a disappointing 3-8 record, which...
Added depth, drop to Class 5A fuel optimism at Hempfield
Dropping to Class 5A means little to Hempfield, at least on paper. To second-year coach Mike Brown, the move — and accompanying chatter that things might ease up for the Spartans — are about as useful as a broken elevator. Going up or down doesn’t matter. “It’s all outside noise,”...
Plum hoping to carry momentum from strong finish into new season
Plum football coach Matt Morgan watched a young group of players mature on the fly to win three of their last five games and earn a playoff berth last season. Now a year older, they’ll have a new challenge ahead of them as the Mustangs bump up from Class 4A...
Norwin has postseason aspirations amidst field of new 5A opponents
Dave Brozeski stops short of using air quotes when he talks about Norwin “dropping down” to Class 5A this football season. But his sentiment still is clear. Big picture: the change is inconsequential to the Knights. “If nothing else, it’s better for us in terms of the locality of opponents...
South Fayette looks to turn hard-luck losses into conference wins
There was a zero in the wins column, but South Fayette’s conference record didn’t tell the entire story. Yes, the Lions finished 0-5. But as they start this season, they’re still confident they’re a team that can compete in the rugged Allegheny Six, even if the conference standings from last...
