High School category, Page 783
Pine-Richland gets 2nd win by upsetting Gateway
Things didn’t start the way Steve Campos would’ve liked after replacing Eric Kasperowicz as Pine-Richland’s coach. An 0-3 start to the season had the Rams in an unfamiliar position. That could be changing as Pine-Richland earned a second straight win by defeating No. 2-ranked Gateway, 21-7, in a Class 5A...
Whitlock’s big play lifts Belle Vernon over Thomas Jefferson in game that lives up to hype
The Big 8 Conference battle between Belle Vernon Area and Thomas Jefferson lived up to every bit of the hype. The big-play Leopards and the powerful Jaguars spent everything they had battling on “The Beach” at James Weir Stadium. In the end, it was Devin Whitlock doing Devin Whitlock things....
Greensburg Salem outlasts Indiana for homecoming winVideo
Greensburg Salem football coach Dave Keefer issued a challenge to his team at halftime of Friday’s homecoming game against Indiana. For the first time in a few years, Keefer’s challenge was met. Greensburg Salem scored three second-half touchdowns and pulled away for a 35-14 victory at Offutt Field in a...
Central Catholic tops North Allegheny in rematch of WPIAL Class 6A championship
Central Catholic has a new-look offense with ties to an NFL coach, but the Vikings haven’t abandoned what made them two-time defending WPIAL champions. Gannon Carothers rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns Friday night and the defense didn’t allow a point after halftime as top-ranked Central Catholic defeated No....
Ligonier Valley goes to 5-0 with rout of Carrick despite another key injury
Ligonier Valley spent another Friday night tuning up for what’s next: The games that count. The Rams, ranked No. 5 in WPIAL Class 2A, open Allegheny Conference play in a week at Steel Valley with what coach Roger Beitel said following Friday night’s 62-12 rout of visiting Carrick will be...
Leechburg strikes early, often to beat Eastern Conference rival Springdale
Leechburg didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard against visiting Springdale in an Eastern Conference matchup Friday at Veterans Memorial Field. On a flea flicker, Blue Devils quarterback Thomas Burke found a wide open Logan Kline for a 55-yard score. Just like that, Leechburg had the lead. “We told...
Labuda, Reese return to lineup, fuel Mt. Pleasant victory over Southmoreland
Teams that won’t give one another the pleasure of using their real names, “Alverton” met “Norvelt” on Friday night in a throwback game that first put down roots in 1964. The advantage went to Norvelt … ahem … Mt. Pleasant, in the latest chapter of the longtime rivalry. Big-time advantage....
Kiski Area off to best start since 1986 after edging West Allegheny
The sixth time turned out to be the charm for Kiski Area. After failing to score the first five times they reached West Allegheny territory, Brock Wilkins made sure the final trip was worth it for the Cavaliers. Wilkins broke free for a 37-yard score midway through the fourth quarter,...
Hampton ground game too much for Highlands as Talbots roll to 5-0
Hampton’s running back-by-committee is continuing to work out well. The Talbots played ball-control football and rolled to a 27-7 victory Friday over Highlands at Golden Rams Stadium. Christian Liberto, Brock Borgo and quarterback Matt DeMatteo combined for 156 yards on 25 carries, chiefly on plays that kept the clock running....
Nick Curci scores 5 TDs as Apollo-Ridge gets back on track with win over Burrell
The key to victory for Apollo-Ridge heading into their matchup was at least to slow down Burrell’s senior running back Caden DiCaprio. The Vikings successfully kept DiCaprio in check in the first half and took a three-score lead into halftime as Apollo-Ridge (1-3) defeated Burrell (0-5), 35-17, in nonconference action...
Deer Lakes makes lone TD count in win vs. Valley
It was a game that had more twists and turns than Crawford Run Road and offered more turnovers than a fall bake sale, but the Lancers pulled it off. Backed by senior running back Cody Scarentine’s 122-yard, one-touchdown performance, Deer Lakes pulled out a 6-0 win over Valley on Friday...
Bethel Park’s Gorman defends WPIAL singles title; Sewickley Academy’s Close wins in Class 2A
Once was nice for Bethel Park’s Mia Gorman. Twice is much better. The senior standout captured her second straight WPIAL Class AAA championship Friday afternoon at North Allegheny with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Peters Township junior Kat Wang. “It’s exciting. Senior year. Two in a row,” Gorman said. “It’s...
Central Catholic, North Allegheny meet in rematch of WPIAL Class 6A championship
North Allegheny maybe isn’t the trendy pick in WPIAL championship talk, but the next few weeks could change that discussion. At least, the Tigers hope so. Central Catholic and Mt. Lebanon remain the top teams in Class 6A, but NA faces them in back-to-back weeks. “The way we look at...
Covid cases force Burgettstown to forfeit Week 4 game to Rochester
A fifth WPIAL Week 4 football game was canceled Friday morning, just hours before the contest was scheduled to begin. Burgettstown was forced to forfeit its Class A Big Seven Conference game at Rochester due to covid cases and quarantine within the Burgettstown program. In a statement, Burgettstown Superintendent Stephen...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Sept. 23, 2021
High schools Field hockey Thursday’s results Class 3A Section 1 North Allegheny 5, Norwin 0 Nonsection Penn-Trafford 1, Peters Township 0 Pine-Richland 4, Fox Chapel 0 Football Thursday’s results District 8 City League Allderdice 27, University Prep 15 Friday’s schedule WPIAL Class 6A Baldwin at Canon-McMillan, 7 p.m. Central Catholic...
High school roundup for Sept. 23, 2021: Canon-Mac knocks off unbeaten Peters Township
Mason Le scored the winning goal in overtime to give Canon-McMillan (6-1-1, 4-0-1) a 3-2 victory in Section 2-4A Thursday night, handing Peters Township (7-1, 5-1) its first loss of the season. Alex Grim and Nick Magee scored for Peters Township. Bentworth 9, Beth-Center 1 — Jerzy Timlin, Julian Hays...
Norwin tops rival Penn-Trafford for 6th straight victory as Yuricha nets pair
Since a loss to Seneca Valley two games into the season, Norwin has been a brick wall. The Knights boys soccer team is keeping the net sealed on the defensive end and winning games with a gritty approach that has allowed offense to come in the flow of games, rather...
Showdown between Thomas Jefferson, Belle Vernon has big-game feel
There will be no better place to be tonight for a high school football fan than James Weir Stadium. The long-awaited showdown between Thomas Jefferson and Belle Vernon kicks off at 7 p.m. on the gold turf, with an inside track to a Big 8 Conference title on the line....
5 things to watch in WPIAL football Week 4: Covid cancellations not always ‘no-contest’
The WPIAL’s message is clear: Not every covid-related cancellation will be excused as no-contest. Many, if not most, will be forfeits. So far, only four football games met the threshold for a “no-contest” designation this fall, said WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman, while at least seven others will go down...
Westmoreland County football notebook: Monessen making major strides
There were people who didn’t think Monessen, with its small roster and overall lack of experience, would score 50 points all season, let alone in one game. But the Greyhounds cruised by Bentworth, 50-7, last week for their second straight win. Monessen scored 33 total points in seven games last...
Trib HSSN don’t-miss high school football matchups for 2021 Week 4
For some district football teams, it’s the second week of conference play. For others, it is the final tune-up before conference play is underway for all 17 WPIAL conferences. Welcome to Week 4 of the 2021 high school football season. There is a pair of huge matchups as No. 1...
Trib HSSN football players to watch for 2021 Week 4
Here are four WPIAL high school football players to watch in Week 4: Shane Cornali Fort Cherry, Fr., DB/K Cornali scored on interception returns of 61 and 50 yards, made seven tackles and also kicked five extra points in last week’s 35-7 victory over Shenango as the Rangers improved to...
In advance of Week 4, Chick’s Picks takes victory lap as Western Pa.’s top prognosticator
Welcome to Week 4. Chick’s Picks had the privilege of attending the Emmy Awards this past weekend. It was no surprise, of course, that she was nominated for the prestigious Top Prognosticator in the World award. Other nominees included ESPN’s well-known college football prognosticator Lee Corso, the most famous psychic...
First-year quarterbacks learning the ropes, making plays in Westmoreland County
Playing quarterback at the varsity level always intrigued Anthony Govern, but the senior at Southmoreland is finding out for himself just how the position works, how important it is and how enjoyable it can be — especially when the Scotties are winning. “I love it. This is the most fun...
Through the years: West Deer sent coach off with win in 1961
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. Dave Nagy ran for a touchdown and scored another on an interception as West Deer won the 1961 “Battle of...
