Chris Harlan stories, Page 20
5 things we learned in Week 2 of WPIAL football: Ringgold finally gets back in win column
Ringgold was ready to snap the longest active losing streak in the WPIAL when the Rams went for two in overtime a week ago. But the gamble failed in a heartbreaking 14-13 loss. The streak grew to 27 games. “I was down in the dumps,” first-year coach Robert Heller said....
Trib HSSN WPIAL football rankings: Week ending Sept. 8, 2024
Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 3-0, 1 2. Central Catholic, 1-2, 2 3. Norwin, 2-1, 3 4. Hempfield, 1-2, NR 5. Seneca Valley, 0-2, 5 Out: Canon-McMillan (0-3, 4) Class 5A 1. Peters Township, 3-0, 1 2. Pine-Richland, 2-0, 2 3. Upper St. Clair, 3-0, 3...
North Allegheny boys soccer focused on unfinished business
A WPIAL title slipped away on penalty kicks and a trip to the state finals fell two rounds short. It’s easy to understand why “unfinished business” was the motto North Allegheny’s boys soccer team adopted this year. In this, coach Manuel Montero’s third season, the Tigers want to accomplish more....
Central Catholic forgets about 0-2 start with mercy rule win over Woodland Hills
The PA announcer at the Wolvarena encouraged fans to travel home safely and never talk about this game again. Central Catholic left the stadium pleased to have quieted talk about its winless start. Vikings quarterback Jy’Aire Walls passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more, the defense was dominant...
5 things to watch in Week 2: NFL encroaches on Friday night high school football tradition
The storied tradition of Friday night football adds another chapter this week with high school games all across Pennsylvania. But might a game played in South America keep some fans home, especially on the other side of the state? That’s in question because the NFL has scheduled a rare Friday...
Transfer Devin Harris eligible to quarterback Penn Hills in WPIAL playoffs
If Penn Hills makes the football playoffs as the Indians hope, quarterback Devin Harris is eligible to lead them. The WPIAL has granted postseason eligibility to Harris, a junior who transferred from Shady Side Academy, said WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer. The WPIAL held postseason eligibility hearings Tuesday for Harris,...
Wrestling standout Dylan Pitzer ineligible after transfer from Mt. Pleasant to Derry
Wrestling standout Dylan Pitzer, a WPIAL runner-up last winter, could miss his junior season after transferring from Mt. Pleasant to Derry. The WPIAL on Tuesday tentatively denied him eligibility in wrestling for one year based on transfer paperwork submitted by the schools, WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said. Mt. Pleasant...
5 things we learned in high school football Week 1: Weather throws teams for loop
Thunderstorms barreled into Allegheny and Beaver counties Friday night causing lengthy lightning delays at games from Aliquippa to Avonworth. Nearly a dozen games were suspended, and many never finished. “About five minutes into halftime, it just opened up and people were running everywhere to get to some cover,” said West...
WPIAL football rankings: Week ending Sept. 1, 2024
Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 2-0, 1 2. Central Catholic, 0-2, 2 3. Norwin, 2-0, 3 4. Canon-McMillan, 0-2, 4 5. Seneca Valley, 0-2, 5 Out: none Class 5A 1. Peters Township, 2-0, 1 2. Pine-Richland, 2-0, 2 3. Upper St. Clair, 2-0, 3 4. Woodland...
North Allegheny girls volleyball chasing 8th straight PIAA title
Here is an easy way to put a state championship streak in perspective. Molly Robertson and Alicia Mokube, who started for North Allegheny in the PIAA finals last fall, were in elementary school when the girls volleyball team’s streak started. That was seven years ago, meaning the two current sophomores...
Peters Township punishes McKeesport with defense, running game
Peters Township knows a little about running the football, too. Hosting a McKeesport team that usually thrives on the ground, Peters Township ran the ball close to 50 times and mixed in some quarterback draws Friday night in a 42-7 nonconference win that ended with a running clock. The Indians,...
Peters Township draws matchup with McKeesport’s triple-option in Week 1 nonconference clash
McKeesport runs an offense that’s rather unique in the WPIAL, leading opponents to scheme up new ways to defend against the triple-option. That uniqueness would seem to benefit the Tigers most weeks, but it also can put them at a scouting disadvantage when breaking down video of opponents. Many teams...
Kraft Heinz, Aliquippa breaking ground on athletic, academic center near school’s football stadium
A year after Aliquippa announced a partnership with Kraft Heinz, the two will break ground Friday on a new athletic and academic center near the school’s football stadium. The center will include offices, an indoor training facility, a locker room, weight room and a collaborative workspace for students, athletes and...
5 things to watch in Week 1: Aliquippa’s new coach debuts in battle of state champions
Some coaching jobs come with more pressure than others. Consider that Aliquippa’s Vashawn Patrick is the new head coach of a team coming off a state championship season, and his first game is against another defending state champion. There is no easing into his job. Aliquippa hosts Belle Vernon at...
‘He related to everybody:’ Friends, coaches, athletes mourn Baldwin track and field coach Ed Helbig
Ed Helbig didn’t need to yell or get loud to motivate his athletes, yet the longtime Baldwin coach’s voice was certainly the biggest in WPIAL track and field. A Baldwin track coach for 49 years and chairman of the WPIAL committee overseeing the sport, Helbig died Tuesday. His calming demeanor...
Mars boys basketball coach Rob Carmody resigns after 26 years
Once Rob Carmody decided now was the time to resign as Mars’ boys basketball coach, his son Robby had a request. “He said, ‘Dad, I want to get in the gym with you one more time before this all happens,’” said Carmody, who fulfilled that wish over the weekend. “We...
Nationally ranked St. Frances Academy tops Central Catholic in showcase at Wolvarena
There was no surprise about the talent Central Catholic’s opponent brought to town. Ranked 13th nationally by USA Today, St. Frances Academy lived up to the program’s lofty reputation with a 44-16 victory over the Vikings in a Week Zero showcase Saturday at the Wolvarena. South Florida-bound senior Jeremiah Koger...
5 things we learned in high school football Week Zero: Kick returns liven up openers
The spread offense. The no-huddle. The Gatorade shower. High school football has borrowed plenty of trends from the college and pro ranks, but the NFL’s new kickoff format is one that traditionalists hope never makes its way to Friday nights. They say a long kickoff return nowadays is a rare...
WPIAL football rankings: Week ending Aug. 25, 2024
Class 6A Rank, Team, W-L, Last 1. North Allegheny, 1-0, 1 2. Central Catholic, 0-1, 2 3. Norwin, 1-0, 5 4. Canon-McMillan, 0-1, 4 5. Seneca Valley, 0-1, 5 Out: none Class 5A 1. Peters Township, 1-0, 1 2. Pine-Richland, 1-0, 2 3. Upper St. Clair, 1-0, 5 4. Woodland...
Montour defense stands tall against Central Valley rushing attack in Week Zero victory
Breaking long runs can be a big part of Central Valley’s offense, especially with a 200-pound running back that has a hard-to-tackle reputation. Yet the biggest plays on this night belonged to a Montour defense that schemed for this matchup for a while. Central Valley running back Jance Henry Jr....
2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the coaches
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top coaching changes for the 2024 season. 1. Vashawn Patrick Aliquippa Patrick took over one of the WPIAL’s most successful programs when Mike Warfield stepped away in July....
Central Valley, Montour maintain ‘really healthy rivalry’ with Week Zero rematch
One point was the margin last year when Montour and Central Valley met in a conference game, so how could they not have a rematch? Realignment split the rivals into separate classifications this fall, but their coaches wanted to keep the game somewhere on the schedule. As a result, Montour...
5 things to watch in Week Zero: Wolvarena showcase includes visit by national powerhouse
St. Frances Academy, a traditionally talented high school football team from Baltimore, has a schedule dotted with national powers. Ranked 13th in the country by USA Today, St. Frances visits No. 1-ranked Mater Dei next month in Santa Ana, Calif., and hosts No. 2 IMG Academy in October. But first,...
2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the specialists
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top kickers and punters for the 2024 season. 1. Peter Notaro North Allegheny Senior, 5-11, 180 Notaro, a first-team all-conference kicker in 6A, committed to Alabama this summer...
2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the safeties
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top safeties for the 2024 season. 1. John Wetzel Latrobe Senior, 6-1, 205 Penn State-bound linebacker Alex Tatsch isn’t the only stopper on Latrobe’s defense. Wetzel, a standout...
