High School category, Page 796
Westmoreland high school football notebook: Belle Vernon, Penn-Trafford set to clash
They don’t make nonconference matchups quite like this one. At least they didn’t used to. The WPIAL scheduled cross-classification games this season, meaning Class 5A teams play teams from 4A, among other matchups. It turned out to be a great idea for the league to create such an impressive matchup...
What we learned in Week 1 of H.S. football
More than two dozen WPIAL football teams are off to 2-0 starts, but the most exciting could belong to Shaler Area. The Titans hadn’t started 2-0 since 2009, when coach Neil Gordon still was walking the team’s sideline. In the 11 years since, the program has had one winning season...
Kicker Castle emerges as Norwin football’s secret weaponVideo
How did Norwin junior kicker Joe Castle get credit for four tackles and not hit anyone? Norwin coach Dave Brozeski credits the kicker with a tackle if his kickoff reaches the end zone for a touchback. Four of Castle’s six kickoffs did so Friday against Latrobe. He had a fifth...
George Guido: Leechburg to host 1st game at renovated stadium
The turf is down, and Leechburg (2-0) is set to host its first game at its renovated facility Friday against Brentwood (1-1) in a nonconference game. It’s either the 75th anniversary of Leechburg Veterans Stadium or the 75th year. Take your pick. Here’s what happened: Leechburg Borough, which owns the...
Loaded lineup has Pine-Richland cross country team thinking big
The Pine-Richland girls cross country team is hoping to set a gold standard this fall. With the top eight runners returning from a team that finished as the WPIAL runner-up in Class 3A a season ago, the Rams aspire to win the program’s first WPIAL and PIAA titles. “All of...
New coach means clean slate for powerful Norwin girls soccer program
New Norwin girls soccer coach Diane Metzger does not plan to have a starting lineup selected until a few days before the season opener. And when those starters are selected, their positions won’t be etched in stone. “No guarantees,” said Metzger, a Norwin grad and former Lady Knights player who...
Norwin boys soccer team has title run in its sights
Riley Zimmerman played only briefly in the WPIAL Class 4A boys soccer championship three years ago at Highmark Stadium, but the experience resonated with him. Then a Norwin freshman, Zimmerman recalls Knights coach Scott Schuchert telling him to remember the feeling, the atmosphere, the moment — to take it all...
North Allegheny notebook: Tigers defense sparks opening victory
The North Allegheny football team got off to a strong start on Aug. 27, taking down Allderdice, 47-14, in a nonconference home game. The Class 6A No. 3-ranked Tigers (1-0) forced four turnovers. Tyree Alualu recovered a fumble and had an interception. Luke Rumpler recovered a fumble, and Kyrell Hutcherson...
Underclassmen to play key roles for North Allegheny boys soccer
With few returning starters and a roster heavy in sophomores, North Allegheny coach Bobby Vosmaer told his boys soccer team to be ready. Other teams will test their toughness. “I think they’re going throw some guys at us just to kick the crapper out of us, so to speak,” Vosmaer...
Franklin Regional girls soccer has strong base to build on
With nine returning starters, Franklin Regional’s girls soccer team looks like it will have staying power this season. “We only graduated three seniors, so we have a very experienced team returning,” second-year coach Scott Arnold said. “With so many returning players, we are building up on where we finished last...
Top scorer Anthony DiFalco, Franklin Regional boys soccer teammates set lofty goals
Franklin Regional senior Anthony DiFalco has seen just about everything there is to see in high school soccer. He has won two WPIAL titles, finished as a runner-up and played in the PIAA semifinals twice. He’s been All-WPIAL, all-state and All-American. But even the best players want more. They always...
Strong core looks to keep ball rolling for Hampton girls soccer
The Talbots are hoping for more of the same in 2021. Hampton has made the playoffs in girls soccer for five straight years and advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals last fall. During the pandemic-riddled 2020 season, Hampton won its first section title since 2008 and finished 12-3 overall....
Hampton boys cross country under the radar, on the upswing
Hampton’s top three competitors at last year’s WPIAL Class 2A cross country finals were Nathan Garrett, Dale Hall and Michael Belch. All three are back this season. “They have done some good work this summer,” coach Dean Longwell said. “Michael started the (2020) season injured and is coming into this...
Fox Chapel girls tennis has potential to add to trophy case
To no one’s surprise, the Fox Chapel girls tennis team got off to a quick start to the season, winning two of its first three matches, including its Section 3-3A opener. Fox Chapel is one of the WPIAL’s elite programs, and 2021 appears to be yet another strong entry under...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Sept. 4, 2021
High schools Cross country River Trail Invitational Boys Team results: 1. Belle Vernon 43, 2. Quaker Valley 49, 3. McKeesport 93 Individual results: 1. Matt Otto, Quaker Valley, 16:30; 2. Luke Henderson, Belle Vernon, 16:38; 3. Jacob Fisher, McKeesport, 17:30; 4. Troy Teegarden, Belle Vernon, 17:35; 5. John Griffith, Aquinas,...
Week 1 high school football roundup for Sept. 3, 2021: Aliquippa tops Beaver Falls
Isaiah Martinez ran for two 1-yard touchdowns as Class 4A No. 3 Aliquippa earned a 39-25 victory over Class 2A No. 2 Beaver Falls (0-2) in a nonconference football game Friday night at Geneva. Dorius Moreland opened the scoring for Aliquippa (1-0) with a 35-yard fumble return. Tajier Thornton also...
High school roundup for Sept. 3, 2021: Quaker Valley, Mt. Lebanon win at soccer showcase
Keller Chamovitz had a hat trick to lead Quaker Valley to a 4-0 win over Fleetwood at the East-West Classic, an event that matches up top teams from each half of the state. Cam Diggins also scored for Quaker Valley. Rowan Kriebel had three assists. Isaac Waller made five saves...
Central Catholic rights ship with blowout of Penn Hills
Last week, Central Catholic coach Terry Totten felt his defense bent a lot. This week, it corrected course and held Penn Hills to 66 yards in a 48-7 win Friday. The Vikings (1-1) used that defense and pass rush to create offense by winning the field-position battle. Nine Central Catholic...
2021 WPIAL statistical leaders for rushing, passing, receiving in Week 1
Top performers for Week 1 of high school football in Western Pennsylvania. Passing 353 - Connor Roberts, Trinity (20 of 32) 293 - Gavin Miller, West Allegheny (10 of 17) 273 - Cadin Olsen, Armstrong (21 of 32) 262 - Jaren Brickner, Beaver Falls (13 of 22) 261 - Sam...
Big plays help unbeaten Ligonier Valley past Elizabeth Forward
Ligonier Valley made several big plays and turned the momentum to its favor early in taking down Elizabeth Forward 26-14 in nonconference play Friday night. The Rams (2-0) scored a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, a 68-yard touchdown pass from Haden Sierocky to Grant Dowden. Ligonier Valley coach...
Seneca Valley stuns Pine-Richland with late touchdown pass
The adrenaline still was running at maximum for Brandon Ross moments after catching the winning touchdown pass in the final 10 seconds to propel his Seneca Valley Raiders to a 24-20 win over Pine-Richland. “I might have blacked out a little,” Ross said. “I just remember catching it, running on...
Ringgold football runs to shutout of Yough
Ringgold coach Darwin Manges was looking for his Rams to build confidence after last week’s tough loss to Elizabeth Forward. After a dominating display in Friday’s game against Yough at Joe Montana Stadium, Manges and his Rams are full of confidence. The offense was firing on all cylinders, and the...
Alex Tecza, Mt. Lebanon teammates jump on Upper St. Clair to improve to 2-0
So far, so good for the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils in 2021 as they took care of their second straight South Hills rival, defeating Upper St. Clair, 36-13, Friday night at Mt. Lebanon Stadium. For the second straight game, it was a quick start for Mt. Lebanon, which scored 20...
Belle Vernon routs Chartiers Valley behind methodical offense, staunch defense
Belle Vernon Area couldn’t have scripted a better start for its Week 1 nonconference matchup against Chartiers Valley on Friday night. The Leopards received the opening kickoff, and three minutes late, they were in the end zone after a nine-play, 80-yard drive. BVA never looked back, racking up 388 yards...
Senior quarterback steps up, leads Thomas Jefferson past Gateway in battle of top-ranked teamsVideo
Quarterback was considered a big question mark for Thomas Jefferson, so coach Bill Cherpak intended to give a couple of players snaps there. Joe Lekse altered those plans. The senior first-year starter threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another Friday night as Thomas Jefferson defeated host Gateway, 21-16, in...
