High School category, Page 779
5 things to watch in high school football’s Week 5
Greensburg Salem, Laurel Highlands and Steel Valley lead a collection of WPIAL football teams enjoying a revival this fall. Combined, the three went 4-16 last season before quickly shutting the door on a difficult 2020. This year, the trio already has celebrated 13 wins with only one loss. Greensburg Salem’s...
Westmoreland football notebook: BVA’s Whitlock, Laurel Highlands’ Gallagher similarly electric, effective
A few months ago, people lined up to watch Devin Whitlock and Rodney Gallagher play basketball against each other in a local summer league. On Friday night, fans can buy a ticket to see them go head-to-head on the football field. It’s a main attraction in a matchup of unbeaten...
Underdog Brian McDonnell of Eden Christian claims WPIAL Class 2A golf title
Eden Christian senior Brian McDonnell wasn’t a favorite coming into Thursday’s WPIAL Class 2A golf championship. He placed fifth in his section and was in the middle of the pack in the pairings at Allegheny Country Club. But at the end of the day, it was McDonnell’s name sitting atop...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 5
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 5: Nehemiah Azeem OLSH, Jr., QB/FS Azeem completed 17 of 25 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score as OLSH (4-0, 2-0) defeated Fort Cherry, 27-6, in a Class A Big Seven...
Trib HSSN don’t-miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 5
WPIAL football now enters prime time. October football begins in Week 5 and yes, nearly all of the games are played in the evening. But prime time in this instance is conference play. For the final five weeks of the regular season starting on Friday, all 17 conferences in WPIAL...
Through the years: 50 years ago, Springdale edged Knoch on 2-point conversion
Each week 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. Springdale went to 4-1 on the season with a thrilling, 21-20 victory over Knoch on Oct. 2, 1971. After Billy...
‘Phone a Friend’ comes in handy when Chick’s Picks prognosticates high school football games
Welcome to Week 5. As part of her ongoing effort to be more transparent to her loyal supporters, Chick’s Picks decided to give her fans an inside look at one of the many skills that go into her prognosticating each week. Many moons ago, the popular game show “Who Wants...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Sept. 29, 2021
High schools Field hockey Wednesday’s results Class 3A North Allegheny 2, Mt. Lebanon 0 Allderdice at Norwin, (n) Nonsection Ellis School 2, Peters Township 0 Thursday’s schedule Class 3A Pine-Richland at Hempfield, 7:30 p.m. Class 2A Penn-Trafford at Latrobe, 8 p.m. Upper St. Clair at Fox Chapel, 5:30 p.m. Nonsection...
High school roundup for Sept. 29, 2021: West Allegheny boys soccer stays unbeaten
Johnny Dragisich netted a hat trick and Logan Mackey had a goal and an assist to lead West Allegheny to a 4-1 victory over Moon (9-1, 8-1) in a battle for first place in Section 2-3A boys soccer Wednesday. Keegan Amos and Joseph Pustover each tallied an assist for West...
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Sept. 30, 2021: Golf gold up for grabs
To highlight the final day of September, the district is set to distribute golf gold on Thursday as the WPIAL Class 2A boys individual golf championships tee off at the Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley. Seventy-three district golfers hit the links with the hopes of winning a WPIAL championship. The...
Trib 10: New team takes over top spot in WPIAL power rankings
As we hit the midway point of the regular season and September turns to October, there is change in the air in the weekly Trib 10 power rankings. After Belle Vernon scrambled back for two late touchdowns to edge top-ranked Thomas Jefferson, 28-21, in a Week 4 classic, there is...
For Birdie, defining taunting proves daunting in Westmoreland County football
Last week: 8-4 (66.7%) Season: 40-20 (66.7%) ^ After descaling his Keurig a few days ago so he could make a fresh cup of pumpkin spiced coffee, the Birdie became flustered when the blinking light would not go off. He shook the machine. It fell off the counter onto the...
Westmoreland County don’t miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 5
Class 6A Hempfield (2-3, 0-2) at 5-Canon-McMillan (3-2, 1-1) 7 p.m. Friday, Canon-McMillan Stadium, Canonsburg Hempfield allowed 45 or more points for the third time this season as it fell to No. 2 Mt. Lebanon, 48-14. The Spartans trailed 45-0 at the half. Jake Phillips threw second-half touchdown passes to...
Westmoreland County football players to watch in 2021 Week 5
Elijah Binakonsky Hempfield, Sr., LB Binakonsky has scored two defensive touchdowns this season for the Spartans. He has 22 tackles, five tackles for loss, three quarterback sacks and an interception. He’s caught one pass for 5 yards. Owen Sinclair Franklin Regional, So., LB/DE Sinclair has excelled after being moved to...
2021 Western Pa. high school football schedule for Week 5
Thursday District 8 City League University Prep at Westinghouse, 7 p.m. Friday WPIAL Class 6A Hempfield at Canon-McMillan, 7 p.m. North Allegheny at Mt. Lebanon, 7 p.m. (HSSN**) Norwin at Baldwin, 7 p.m. Seneca Valley at Central Catholic, 8 p.m. (HSSN*) Class 5A Allegheny 6 Peters Township at Upper St....
Birdie eyes up the A-K Valley’s biggest stories to watch in football season’s 2nd half
Last week: 8-2 (80%) Overall: 39-12 (76.5%) ^ The Birdie doesn’t want to alarm anyone, but the high school football season is already half over. “Before you know it, I’ll be heading south for the winter faster than the Steelers are heading south in the AFC North standings,” the crestfallen...
A-K Valley don’t miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 5
Class 5A Northeast Shaler (2-3, 0-0) at Fox Chapel (2-3, 0-0) 7 p.m. Friday, at James Burk Complex, O’Hara Township The Foxes hope to bounce back after a 48-28 loss to Class 5A No. 1 Moon last Friday. The setback halted a mini two-game win streak (Plum, Franklin Regional). A...
High-energy defense has Kiski Area unbeaten heading into encounter with North Hills
Some might have thought it was Turn Back the Clock Night last Friday at Dick Dilts Stadium when Kiski Area scored late to defeat West Allegheny, 7-0. It was the lowest-scoring Cavaliers game since Kiski Area beat Altoona by a similar score in 2012. “Back in the day, that’s all...
A-K Valley football players to watch for 2021 Week 5
Nick Curci Apollo-Ridge, Jr., RB/LB Curci returned to the lineup against Burrell and was an impact player in both the running and passing games. He carried the ball 11 times for 150 yards and three touchdowns and added four catches for 126 yards and two scores. Defensively, Curci recorded a...
Westmoreland County girls soccer notebook: Yough star jumps at Robert Morris offer
McKenzie Pritts said the college where she will continue her soccer career checked all the boxes. The standout junior forward from Yough made a verbal commitment over the weekend to Robert Morris. Pritts leads the Cougars, who are ranked No. 2 in WPIAL Class 2A, with 12 goals. “It’s a...
Westmoreland County boys soccer notebook: Pieces fitting together for Norwin
Norwin coach Scott Schuchert thinks his team is rounding into form, on the scoreboard and across the lineup. “We’re finding our identity,” he said after a recent 4-1 victory over Penn-Trafford that kept the third-ranked Knights undefeated in Section 3-4A. “Our back-line guys have really played well for us. We...
Westmoreland County girls athlete of the week: GCC’s Meghan Zambruno
Meghan Zambruno School: Greensburg Central Catholic Sport: Golf Year: Senior Claim to fame: Zambruno, a St. Francis (Pa.) recruit, defended her section championship, shooting a 4-over-par 75 at Pleasant Valley Golf Club to take medalist honors in the Section 1-2A girls golf qualifier Sept. 22. Zambruno’s twin sister, Ella, also...
Greensburg Salem cross country adjusts expectations after championship season
The reigning WPIAL Class 2A boys cross country champs have a nice little trend going. Greensburg Salem has won three titles in the last five years — 2016, ’18 and ’20. But 2021 — the odd year — might again be one that the Golden Lions will not be able...
Knoch’s Bauer aims to rebound at PIAA singles tournament
Ally Bauer won a WPIAL Class 2A doubles championship last year with sister Brooke. The Knoch junior hoped to add singles gold to her portfolio last Friday at North Allegheny High School. But Sewickley Academy’s Ashley Close had other ideas. Close defeated Bauer, 6-3, 6-3, to claim the title. Despite...
Highlands girls volleyball nets long-awaited victory
Over the last couple of weeks Highlands girls volleyball coach Caroline Bain could sense her team was on the cusp of breaking through. When her players walked into the gym Thursday night with a confident look in their eyes it affirmed her belief. “They just came in and said they...
