Chris Harlan stories, Page 87
Explosive Sto-Rox offense, Western Beaver’s big-play defense share Week 6 limelight
The lights above Sto-Rox’s football field aren’t new, but they might feel a little brighter this week. Big games have that effect. The stadium in Stowe Township will host two Class 2A contenders from the Three Rivers Conference when Western Beaver (5-0, 3-0) visits Sto-Rox (4-1, 2-1) at 7 p.m....
WPIAL reveals postseason plans, awards home games to higher seeds
If playoff qualifiers can’t be determined from the standings, the WPIAL steering committee for each sport will decide who makes the postseason this fall. That surely will be the most scrutinized change the WPIAL board approved Wednesday while finalizing plans for an unprecedented postseason under covid-19 conditions. Among its other...
Baldwin, Seneca Valley delay football game to Saturday
Baldwin and Seneca Valley have delayed this week’s football game to Saturday. The WPIAL Class 6A schools were scheduled to play Friday night but the game was delayed after Baldwin briefly paused workouts to test its players for coronavirus. All players tested negative, superintendent Randal Lutz said Wednesday in a...
PIAA flexibility lets Blackhawk, New Castle reschedule football game Oct. 30
Blackhawk and New Castle rescheduled their postponed football game for Oct. 30, the first week of the WPIAL playoffs, taking advantage of a PIAA decision to let teams extend the regular season. Neither New Castle (0-4, 0-2) nor Blackhawk (2-3, 1-2) is in position to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs...
WPIAL football rankings for Week 5
Class 6A 1. North Allegheny, 4-0, 1 2. Mt. Lebanon, 2-2, 5 3. Central Catholic, 3-2, 2 4. Seneca Valley, 3-1, 4 5. Canon-McMillan, 2-2, 3 Out: none Class 5A 1. Pine-Richland, 4-0, 1 2. Gateway, 2-0, 2 3. Peters Township, *3-0, 3 4. Penn-Trafford, 3-1, 4 5. South Fayette,...
5 things we learned in WPIAL Week 5
How will the WPIAL decide which football teams make the playoffs since covid-19 cancellations made the standings unbalanced? Week 5 didn’t make the answer any easier. The WPIAL football steering committee met last week and discussed that question at length, but the group’s recommendations won’t be revealed until after the...
After strong section season, North Allegheny runners prepare for championship meets
When North Allegheny’s runners walked to the starting line wearing masks for their early-September scrimmage, coach John Neff wasn’t sure what to expect from cross country season under covid-19 conditions. Looking back, it all went fairly well. “It was not as different as I was afraid of, to be honest...
Small-school Aliquippa shows big-play ability in victory over Chartiers ValleyVideo
Aliquippa is a small school known for its big plays. Chartiers Valley came to Aschman Stadium determined to limit them Friday night, but that strategy ran into trouble after just 13 seconds. Vernon Redd returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and Aliquippa added to its big-play reputation...
Covid-19 case forces New Castle to shut down football activities for 2 weeks
New Castle is shutting down its football program for two weeks after a varsity player tested positive for coronavirus, costing the Red Hurricanes at least two games, athletic director Sam Flora said Friday. The team was scheduled to host Beaver on Friday night and Blackhawk on Oct. 16. “This is...
5 things to watch in Week 5: Gateway returns to ‘normal’
After a two-week coronavirus hiatus, Gateway’s football team is getting back to normal. Or as close to normal as possible in a week that starts on Wednesday and ends with a game Sunday night. “It’s not normal but nothing’s been normal, right?” Gateway coach Don Holl said. “We’re just going...
Aliquippa, Chartiers Valley follow different routes to Parkway clash in Class 4A
Anthony Collura heard stories about the horse, the rider and the flaming spear that arrives at Aliquippa football games, but the Chartiers Valley senior wasn’t sure they were true. “So, I went right onto YouTube,” he said, “and I saw that horse for real.” Now, Collura can’t wait to see...
PIAA tweaks fall playoff brackets, cross country qualifiers for state championship
The PIAA made changes to its fall postseason plans Wednesday including a move that lets more WPIAL runners into the state cross country championships. Also, the playoff brackets for team sports were altered to remove the Pittsburgh City League, which opted out, and add District 12, after the Philadelphia Catholic...
PIAA readies covid-19 guidelines for winter, intends to start seasons as scheduled
As fall sports approach the postseason, the PIAA is turning its attention to winter. Covid-19 guidelines for basketball, wrestling and all other winter sports will be produced soon, PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi said, adding that the PIAA intends to start those seasons next month as scheduled. The PIAA board...
New attendance limits remove some stress for WPIAL schools
High school administrators across the PIAA were verifying the number of seats in their stadiums and gymnasiums Tuesday after Gov. Tom Wolf eased limits on gathering sizes. The governor’s new formula is based on a percentage of a facility’s capacity rather than the 25-person indoor and 250-person outdoor restrictions previously...
Steelers allowing 5,500 fans at Heinz Field for Sunday’s game
The Pittsburgh Steelers will allow fans at Heinz Field on Sunday for the first time this season. Shortly after Gov. Tom Wolf eased statewide restrictions on gathering limits, the Steelers on Tuesday announced plans to admit 5,500 spectators into the stadium for their game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The team...
2 WPIAL teams earn national recognition from High School Football America
Two WPIAL football teams are earning national attention. North Allegheny and Pine-Richland were among four Pennsylvania schools receiving spots in the Top 100 rankings High School Football America released Sunday. North Allegheny was ranked 35th and Pine-Richland 85th in the first list for this season. Also included was St. Joseph’s...
Gateway, Penn-Trafford choose Sunday night kickoff for football game
Sunday night football is coming to the WPIAL. Conference rivals Gateway and Penn-Trafford agreed to move this week’s game to 7 p.m. Sunday to give the Gators time to recover from their covid-19 shutdown. The game is at Gateway’s Antimarino Stadium. The Gators were forced to cancel last week’s game...
10 members of WPIAL Diversity & Inclusion Council bring varied experiences
When Loran Cooley met the other individuals chosen for the first WPIAL Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council, he noticed a long list of doctorates. “I’m probably the least qualified,” he said, laughing. Not hardly. As an African American and former head football coach at Baldwin, Cooley understands the racial landscape...
4 WPIAL football teams maintain long conference streaks as Penn Hills’ ends
One of WPIAL football’s longest active conference winning streaks ended Saturday, leaving four double-digit streaks intact. Penn Hills had won 15 consecutive conference games before Saturday night’s 43-0 loss to Pine-Richland in the Class 5A Northeast. It was the first time the team lost to a conference foe since joining...
5 things we learned in Week 4: Zero tolerance works for Elizabeth Forward
If the other team doesn’t score, it can’t win. Elizabeth Forward’s football coach Mike Collodi has shared that simple philosophy with his defense, and they’ve taken it to heart. After Week 4, Shenango, Central Valley and Washington rank among the stingiest defenses in the WPIAL. But top honors belong to...
WPIAL Football Rankings for Week 4
Here’s a look at this week’s WPIAL football rankings: Class 6A Team, record, previous 1. North Allegheny, 3-0, 1 2. Central Catholic, 3-1, 2 3. Canon-McMillan, 2-1, 4 4. Seneca Valley, 2-1, 3 5. Mt. Lebanon, 1-2, NR Out: Baldwin (1-1, 5) Class 5A 1. Pine-Richland*, 2-0, 1 2. Gateway,...
Gannon Carothers’ versatility helps No. 2 Central Catholic defeat No. 3 Seneca ValleyVideo
Gannon Carothers’ coaches say the junior plays five positions for Central Catholic, a versatility that seemed invaluable Friday night. With three running backs injured, second-ranked Central Catholic turned the backfield over to Carothers, who rushed for 171 yards and scored twice in a 33-7 victory over No. 3 Seneca Valley...
Gov. Wolf: Spectator situation ‘confusing’ for schools, no updated guidance yet
The gathering limits ruled unconstitutional two weeks ago are back in place statewide, leaving some high school athletic directors to ask: Now what? “It is confusing, I acknowledge that,” Gov. Tom Wolf said Friday, “and I’m working really hard and as quickly as I possibly can to come up with...
Spectators again restricted at high school sports but Gov. Wolf says ‘stay tuned’
North Allegheny will have a socially distant student section at Friday’s football game, and Norwin is moving forward with its homecoming festivities as planned. Gathering limits on high school football games, volleyball matches and all other fall sports sprung back to life Thursday after the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of...
Kiski Area running back Kenneth Blake commits to AlbanyVideo
Kiski Area’s Kenneth Blake will play college football in New York for a team with Western Pennsylvania connections. The senior announced his commitment Friday to Albany, a Division I FCS program coached by Seton LaSalle graduate Greg Gattuso, who is entering his seventh year at Albany, a member of the...
