Chris Harlan stories, Page 104
WPIAL leading receiver David Pantelis announces offer from Duquesne
As the WPIAL’s leading receiver, Upper St. Clair’s David Pantelis earned the attention of WPIAL defensive coordinators all across Class 5A. Now, after a standout junior season, it’s college coaches who seem to be focusing on Pantelis. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound wide receiver and defensive back announced a Division I offer...
Wyoming Area’s late rally stuns Central Valley in PIAA championship
HERSHEY — Momentum might be a myth to some, but Central Valley believes in it wholeheartedly. “One hundred percent, yes,” senior Reed FitzSimmons said with no hesitation. “You saw it right out there.” Wyoming Area’s offense was stagnant and scoreless for three quarters but scored touchdowns on three consecutive fourth-quarter...
Going up? PIAA could force Southern Columbia, others into higher football classification
Southern Columbia has no equal in Class 2A football, a lesson Avonworth learned Friday. The small-school power celebrated its fourth PIAA title in five years at Hersheypark Stadium, but the record-setting state champion and a few other top football teams might be forced into a higher classification next season. Archbishop...
Southern Columbia routs Avonworth in record-setting PIAA championshipVideo
HERSHEY — Avonworth’s Park Penrod and Trevor Faulkner connected for an electric 43-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession Friday, and for more than 4 minutes, the Antelopes led the state championship. Maybe this wasn’t the mismatch many expected? That question didn’t linger long. District 4 champion Southern Columbia answered...
Thomas Jefferson dominates Dallas, celebrates 4th PIAA titleVideo
HERSHEY — Thomas Jefferson’s Bill Cherpak had coached 24 seasons, won seven WPIAL titles and celebrated three state championships before this year. Needless to say, Cherpak has some fond memories. But as TJ marched toward Hershey, he insisted for weeks that this season was the most fun he’d ever had...
Avonworth will ‘relish’ underdog role against 9-time PIAA champion Southern Columbia
Avonworth coach Duke Johncour acknowledges the apparent mismatch his football team is walking into Friday when the Antelopes make their first state championship appearance. Waiting for them at Hersheypark Stadium will be nine-time PIAA champion Southern Columbia, a team that’s won 47 games in a row and has players committed...
Thomas Jefferson sees ‘mirror image’ in state championship opponent Dallas
Instead of heading home after last week’s semifinal win, Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak and a few assistants drove two hours from Hollidaysburg to Danville to watch Dallas win the other state semifinal. The road trip let them scout an opponent from the other side of the state, but the...
Ambridge basketball coach Mark Jula retires week before season opener
Ambridge boys basketball coach Mark Jula started to question his passion for the job, so he retired a week before the season opener. “I’ve coached primarily on passion more than anything,” said Jula, who was about to start his eighth season at his alma mater. “When that passion starts to...
Central Catholic loses in overtime to nationally ranked St. Joseph’s PrepVideo
ALTOONA — Nationally ranked St. Joseph’s Prep needed overtime Saturday to defeat Central Catholic, 31-24, but the WPIAL champion didn’t leave Mansion Park Stadium satisfied with just coming close. The Vikings knew they could have won — maybe even should have won — and they couldn’t hide their hurt. “We...
Fast start leads Thomas Jefferson to PIAA semifinal victory over Lampeter-Strasburg
HOLLIDAYSBURG — After an 11-year wait, Thomas Jefferson is finally headed back to Hershey, but there wasn’t much suspense in the victory that made it happen. Thomas Jefferson scored on its first three possessions and later added three more touchdowns in the third quarter to rout Lampeter-Strasburg, 44-2, Friday afternoon...
Central Catholic ‘not awestruck’ by nationally ranked St. Joseph’s Prep
National rankings list St. Joseph’s Prep as one of the best high school football teams not only in Pennsylvania but in the entire country. The team’s roster features Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., sons of former NFL stars. Its schedule started with games against powerhouse programs in Florida,...
Gateway star Derrick Davis ‘game-time decision’ as Gators draw rematch with Archbishop Wood
Archbishop Wood had a four-star recruit two years ago when the Philadelphia Catholic League power walloped Gateway in a lopsided state championship game. This time, it’s Gateway that has the biggest name. Or, at least the Gators hope they do. Gateway junior Derrick Davis, the team’s top rusher and a...
Thomas Jefferson, Belle Vernon lead Big Eight all-conference with 8 players each
Conference champion Thomas Jefferson had eight players earn first-team all-conference honors in the Big Eight, and quarterback Shane Stump was named Offensive Player of the Year in a vote of coaches. Belle Vernon also had eight first-team picks. West Mifflin junior Nahki Johnson was named as the conference’s top defensive...
Central Valley tops Tri-County West with 11 all-conference selections
Beaver Falls running back Josh Hough and Keystone Oaks quarterback Logan Schrubb shared Offensive MVP honors in the Tri-County West in a vote of conference coaches. Aliquippa linebacker Zuriah Fisher was named the top defensive player. Conference champion Central Valley led all schools with 11 first-team players. FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE Name,...
Burgettstown tops Three Rivers all-conference with 9 on 1st team
Burgettstown completed its second consecutive undefeated regular season and was rewarded by Three Rivers coaches with nine players on the all-conference first team. The list includes Jake Lounder and Riley Kemper, who also earned individual awards. Lounder was offensive MVP and Kemper was the top lineman. Blue Devils coach Mark...
Clairton’s Brendan Parsons, Jeannette’s Justin Cramer lead Eastern all-conference team
Clairton and Jeannette, the top two teams in the Eastern, had 19 players combined earn first-team all-conference honors in a vote of coaches. The two Class A rivals also swept the individual awards with Clairton’s Brendan Parsons winning offensive MVP and Jeannette’s Justin Cramer named as the conference’s top defensive...
West Greene record-setter Ben Jackson leads Tri-County South all-conference
West Greene running back Ben Jackson, who became the first WPIAL rusher to top 3,000 yards in a season, was among the players recognized by coaches in the Class A Tri-County South. Conference coaches didn’t choose a traditional all-conference team but instead selected a list of 44 players. Jackson finished...
Undefeated Avonworth earns 14 spots on all-conference 1st team in Allegheny
Undefeated conference champion Avonworth dominated the all-conference voting this season by claiming 14 of the available 28 first-team spots. Antelopes players Josh Elm, Kevin Felter, Jax Miller and coach Duke Johncour also won individual awards in a vote of conference coaches. Apollo-Ridge’s Logan Harmon was named offensive MVP. FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE...
Cornell, Laurel sweep individual awards on Big 7 all-conference team
Cornell earned a share of the Big Seven title and a home playoff game for only the second time in school history, accomplishments that shaped all-conference voting. As a result, Raiders quarterback Zaier Harrison was named as the conference’s offensive MVP and Ed Dawson was named the top coach in...
WPIAL bans West Mifflin from 2020 football playoffs for using ineligible playerVideo
The West Mifflin football team used an ineligible player all season, so the Titans are banned from the postseason next year, the WPIAL decided Monday. “They entered (the playoffs) this year ineligibly, so next year someone gets to play in their place,” associate executive director Amy Scheuneman said following a...
Gateway wins field-position battle with Peters Township for 7th WPIAL titleVideo
Gateway didn’t score a point in the final 20 minutes Saturday night, but ultimately they didn’t need any. Senior quarterback Bryson Venanzio built a lead with two first-half touchdowns and then watched his Gators play championship-caliber defense to defeat Peters Township, 21-20, in a rain-drenched WPIAL Class 5A final at...
Gateway, Peters Township big-play offenses will test 5A’s stingiest defenses
Gateway’s Derrick Davis can take a screen pass to the end zone at any time, and Peters Township’s Josh Casilli is just as dangerous with the football in his hands. Combined, they have 50 touchdowns. Their big-play offenses will share the field at 6 p.m. Saturday for what could be...
Thomas Jefferson finally clears Cathedral Prep hurdle
The referee held his hands only a few inches apart. Facing fourth and inches at its own 40, that was the distance Thomas Jefferson needed for a first down late in Friday night’s fourth quarter. It also represented just how close the Jaguars were to finally defeating three-time defending state...
WPIAL Class 5A football final primer: Gateway vs. Peters Township
WPIAL Class 5A championship No. 2 Gateway (11-2) vs. No. 5 Peters Township (12-1) 6 p.m. Saturday, Norwin Knights Stadium On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com; 95.3 FM Coaches: Don Holl, Gateway; T.J. Plack, Peters Township Winner plays: The winner of District 12 champion Archbishop Wood (9-3) in the PIAA semifinals Nov....
WPIAL survey asks: Should every football team make the playoffs?
Would you be interested in every WPIAL football team making the playoffs? That’s one of nine questions the WPIAL asked member schools in a survey that will shape schedules, conferences and playoff formats for the 2020 and 2021 football seasons. Today was the deadline to respond. The WPIAL would need...
