High School category, Page 982
Greensburg Salem seeks right chemistry in pursuit of 700th win
Don’t get too used to the starting lineup Greensburg Salem football coach Dave Keefer rolls out in the opening game. Or, the following week. Or, maybe even the one after that. “We are going to try a lot of things and move guys around until we find something that works,”...
Move to Class 4A feels like perfect fit for Hampton
Dawson Dietz says it’s a perfect fit. After several seasons competing as one of the smallest teams in Class 5A, Hampton dropped down to Class 4A, and it landed among similar programs in terms of both size and geography. “Mars Week 1, that’s going to be the most exciting game...
Highlands looks to pick up where it left off
Toward the end of last football season, Highlands started to hit a stride. In their final three games, the Golden Rams went 1-2, but losses to South Fayette and Latrobe came by a combined five points. They also produced three of their five highest-scoring outputs of the season. Despite losing...
With rising numbers, Indiana sees bright future
As Brandon Overdorff begins his third season as coach at Indiana High School, he’s starting to see an improving future. “When I took over, our numbers were in the 30s,” Overdorff said. “Now we’re close to 60, and I’m excited about the future. The offseason was really good until the...
Realignment lets Knoch reunite with familiar foes
The Knoch football team has a clear goal in mind this season. The Knights are focused on returning to the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2014, and with a core group of starters back along with others ready to make an impact, coach Brandon Mowry is optimistic his...
With Teddy Ruffner in backfield, Mars targets postseason success
In 2005, Mars finished with a 5-5 record after a Class AA first-round playoff loss to Burrell. That was the last time the Fightin’ Planets had a non-winning season. Lately, however, Mars has mastered regular season success, but the Planets aren’t aligning come playoff time. From 2006-15, Mars was able...
Plum hopes to make a splash in move to new classification
After several years of play in WPIAL Class 5A, Plum turns its attention to a new venture this season. The Mustangs are one of the several teams to make the move to Class 4A, and coach Matt Morgan said the change, along with a large group of starters back, presents...
High school roundup for Sept. 2, 2020: Fox Chapel golfers sweep
Fox Chapel’s top five players all broke 40 in a tri-match victory over Hampton and Knoch at Pittsburgh Field Club on Wednesday. The Foxes shot 191, Hampton 205 and Knoch 234. Eli Yofan and Owen Delaney shared medalist honors at 1-over 37. Aiden Oehrle, David Fuhrer and Zach Paper shot...
Belle Vernon linebacker’s name starting to carry weight with college recruiters
Cole Weightman sees himself playing on a big college stage some day, maybe digging in behind the defensive line, his speed gauge set to downhill, with an eye toward ruining Saturdays for opposing quarterbacks. But the emerging linebacker at Belle Vernon also might have a career as a salesman. Watch...
Norwin honored for unified sports programs
Unified sports allow students with and without disabilities to compete in an inclusive environment. Norwin has one of the top unified programs in the state with its track and field and indoor bocce teams, and the district has been recognized for its efforts. Add Special Olympics Unified Champion Banner School...
After WPIAL title game appearance, Sto-Rox enters new class with new quarterback
In LaRoi Johnson’s first year as head coach at Sto-Rox in 2018, the Vikings improved from the previous year to finish 6-4 but missed out on the Class A playoffs. The next step in the program’s growth under Johnson last year was more like a giant leap. Sto-Rox ended up...
Brentwood breaking in new starters after breakthrough season
Brentwood was close to having a golden season in 2019. The Spartans finished 10-3 overall with all three losses coming down to the wire. Brentwood lost its season opener to Keystone Oaks, 26-21, fell to Burgettstown for the Three Rivers Conference crown, 16-13, in Week 8 and then was eliminated...
Carlynton looks to end playoff drought behind experienced line
The Carlynton football team won its season opener for a second straight year in 2019 and was actually sitting in first place at 2-0 after outscoring Bishop Canevin and Fort Cherry by a combined score of 77-20. Then a seven-game losing streak derailed its playoff hopes … again. With Southmoreland...
Seton LaSalle looks to keep building in Zmijanac’s 2nd season
It wouldn’t have been surprising if coach Mike Zmijanac said he made changes to his coaching style when he arrived at Seton LaSalle. After all, Seton LaSalle is a Catholic school with a small roster. Aliquippa is a big-roster public school in a football-mad town where he won six WPIAL...
Putting pressure on defenses, South Side in position for another playoff season
At this time of year, most high school football coaches will profess a desire to get the ball into the hands of a variety of players. South Side’s Luke Travelpiece actually means it. Last season, the Rams had four players with at least 650 yards from scrimmage, but no one...
Western Beaver boasts experienced roster, championship coach
The last time Western Beaver athletic director and assistant principal Ryan Matsook found himself on the sidelines as a high school football coach was in 2016. He was dressed in black and orange and he was at the helm of a Beaver Falls team that only lost one game all...
High school roundup for Sept. 1, 2020: Pine-Richland golfers grab win
Mark Terchick was medalist with a 35 and Sam Perry carded a 39 to lead Pine-Richland to a 196-215 Section 3-AAA boys golf win at Butler CC on Tuesday. Colin Patterson and Ryan Porch shot 41 for Butler. Steel Valley 259, East Allegheny 290 – Jordan Fisher shot a 46...
Terrelle Pryor, Rodney Gallagher sit down and chat on YouTube show
Picture this. WPIAL generational talent Terrelle Pryor and young Rodney Gallagher, a fast-rising athlete of growing reputation, eye-to-eye in a barber shop setting, discussing the nuances of being dual-sport athletes, the pressures of staying at their hometown schools, what it’s like to lose a parent and how to maintain focus...
Almost every member school will play fall sports, WPIAL survey says
The results of the WPIAL survey are clear: Almost everyone is playing fall sports. Only two schools told the WPIAL they are shutting down fall sports entirely: Summit Academy and Neighborhood Academy, according to WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman. Summit Academy sponsors football and boys golf. Neighborhood Academy has only...
Kiski Area forced to postpone football opener after covid-19 exposure
Kiski Area has joined the list of WPIAL football programs postponing their first game of the season. The Cavaliers postponed their Sept. 11 game against Penn Hills on Tuesday afternoon after reporting they identified a coronavirus exposure and suspended football activities until Sept. 10. Kiski Area also canceled its preseason...
PIAA rejects Thursday kickoff request for WPIAL football season
High school football season won’t start on a Thursday night. The WPIAL had hoped to let some teams kickoff one day early — on Sept. 10 — but the PIAA denied that request, WPIAL executive director Amy Scheuneman said Tuesday. The first date football teams can play a regular-season game...
Freeport Area School District to play fall sports
Freeport Area School Board unanimously voted to approve fall sports with covid-19 guidelines in place. The school board opened its Tuesday meeting with several messages from parents who said their children needed sports for their mental and physical health, college recruitment opportunities and socialization. “Kids are not as resilient as...
Despite young roster, bump up in class, Aliquippa still thinking WPIAL title
It took a pandemic to end one of the most impressive streaks in WPIAL football history. Every year since 2008, Aliquippa has played for a WPIAL football championship at Heinz Field. The Quips’ 12 straight trips to the North Shore are more than every NFL team outside of the AFC...
Beaver motivated to move past rare losing season
For a 10-year span, there were few football programs in the WPIAL consistently better than Beaver. From 2010-18, the Bobcats were a combined 70-27. Although they never made it to a WPIAL championship game, they never won fewer than seven games in that nine-year stretch. Then the dam of success...
Blackhawk reloads, sets sights on joining Class 4A elite
Blackhawk coach Zach Hayward has a motto that his players hear most every time they step on the practice field or in the weight room. “We want Heinz Field effort,” Hayward said. “That’s been the motto since Day 1, that I want Heinz Field effort. If we don’t make it...
