Paul Schofield stories, Page 46

It’s one of the biggest questions asked by casual high school football fans in Westmoreland County: Why can’t Hempfield be a consistent winner? Why can’t the largest school in the county be successful? The school has been very successful in other sports such as baseball, basketball, softball, cross country, track...

Class 4A Big Seven Conference Laurel Highlands (2-2, 0-1) at Latrobe (2-2, 0-1) 7 p.m., Friday, Memorial Stadium, Latrobe Both teams are coming off conference opening losses. Laurel Highlands was blanked by McKeesport, 33-0, and Latrobe was beaten by Thomas Jefferson, 31-21. The Wildcats have dropped their past two games....

Adam Lacarte Belle Vernon, Jr., S The 6-foot junior is one of the leading tacklers for the Leopards. Lacarte has 21 tackles and broke up one pass from his free safety position. Nick Lonas Ligonier Valley, Sr., SB/LB Lonas has rushed for 120 yards on 17 carries and leads the...

Penn-Trafford’s field hockey team opened section play by defeating Latrobe, 4-2, and Fox Chapel, 2-1. Against Fox Chapel, Emily Bloom and Ava Hershberger scored goals. Hershberger and Maddy Keenan had assists. Against Latrobe, Keenan tied the score before Hershberger tallied a hat trick. Penn-Trafford finished a strong nonsection schedule, defeating...

Helped by a freshman sensation, the Penn-Trafford girls tennis team is having one of its best seasons. The Warriors (4-1) are in a position to qualify for the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs if they can win the rest of their matches, including a first-place showdown with Franklin Regional (5-0) on...

The Franklin Regional girls tennis team finds itself in a familiar spot as the regular season nears its midway point — atop Section 1-3A. The Panthers (5-0, 4-0) have defeated returning section champion Latrobe, 4-1, and are eyeing a big match Sept. 23 against Penn-Trafford, which features section singles champion...

It took Greensburg Salem a few series before it found its rhythm against Deer Lakes on Friday. But, once it did, it rolled to a third-consecutive victory. And it was the running of senior quarterback Cody Rubrecht and sophomore running back Kai Brunot that carried the Golden Lions (3-1) to...

Penn-Trafford freshman Mia Williams celebrated the retirement of her favorite tennis player Roger Federer on Thursday by winning the Section 1-3A singles title. Williams did it in impressive fashion as she didn’t lose a game against four opponents over the two days. She defeated Latrobe senior Avery Massaro, 6-0, 6-0,...

Elijah Binakonsky Hempfield, Sr., RB/LB Binakonsky rushed for two touchdowns in the first half against Latrobe last week and spearheaded a defense that limited Latrobe running back Bobby Fulton to 40 yards. Amari Mack Greensburg Central Catholic, Sr., WR/LB Mack caught touchdown passes of 22 and 29 yards from Tyree...

Class 5A Big East 1-Gateway (3-0, 0-0) vs. Franklin Regional (1-1, 0-0) 7 p.m. Friday, Panthers Stadium, Murrysville Top-ranked Gateway survived a scare at winless North Hills, winning 20-17. Franklin Regional bounced back from an overtime loss to defeat Connellsville, 40-0. … Gators kicker Cole Plaskon booted two field goals,...

Don’t tell players from the Penn-Trafford and Belle Vernon football teams that Friday’s nonconference game isn’t important. It might not count in the conference standings, but when two Westmoreland County schools that rank among the top teams in the state get together, expect a hard-hitting and exciting game. Penn-Trafford visits...

Robert Morris released its men’s basketball schedule for the 2022-23 season, and it features two trips to Ohio in November. The Colonials open the season at Ohio State from the Big Ten Conference on Nov. 7. Following homes games against Division III Pitt-Greensburg on Nov. 9 and Division II West...

The Penn-Trafford boys golf team finished second in the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association tournament Sept. 2 at the Latrobe Elks. Norwin took top honors with a 403 score. The Warriors and Franklin Regional tied for second with a 406. Junior Nick Turowski finished second with a 1-over par 73. The...

It’s been an unusual start of the field hockey season for Penn-Trafford coach Cindy Dutt. Illnesses have kept numerous players and coach Cindy Dutt away from practices. Despite the absences, Penn-Trafford is 2-1 with wins against Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon, both Class 3A teams, before falling to Class 3A...

It would be understandable if the Franklin Regional girls golf team struggled at the start of the season after losing its top two players. The opposite, however, has occurred. The Panthers are sitting at a familiar spot in Section 3-3A — on top. The Panthers are 7-0 and coach Kane...

There were a lot of happy faces in the Hempfield locker room following Friday’s nonconference game at Latrobe Memorial Stadium. The Spartan players were posing for photos and music was blaring after their convincing 49-14 victory against Latrobe in a battle of the unbeaten — and they should be happy,...

Here are Westmoreland County’s high school football players to watch for Week 2. Kai Brunot Greensburg Salem, So., RB/DB The sophomore rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown in helping the Golden Lions defeat Derry, 26-17, last week. He’s expected to be the team’s top running back. Daevon Burke Monessen,...

The buzz around central Westmoreland County isn’t coming from honey bee hives. It’s the chatter from fans of the Hempfield and Latrobe football teams. The 2-0 start by each team has created a buzz as they prepare to face each other in a nonconference battle at 7 p.m. Friday at...

Nonconference Class 3A No. 1 Belle Vernon (1-0) at Class 4A No. 2 McKeesport (2-0) 7 p.m. Friday, Weigle-Schaeffer Stadium, McKeesport Belle Vernon opened the season with a 41-20 win over Laurel Highlands as standout running back Quinton Martin, the top recruit in Pennsylvania for the junior class, ran for...

Penn-Trafford’s field hockey team opened the season with a 4-2 victory against Peters Township on Aug. 30. Ava Hershberger scored two goals and added an assist on Ella Morocco’s goal. Early in the fourth quarter, Megan McBarron scored off a reset. Golfers bounce back after loss The Warriors golf team...

When the Penn-Trafford girls golf team began the season, veteran coach Ed Herbst had hope for success. With six players returning, including five who saw starting action in 2021 and three who have started since they were freshmen, there was reason to be optimistic. “When we started, I could see...

Robert Fulton scored on a 5-yard run in the second overtime, and Latrobe won its second game of the season by defeating Franklin Regional, 36-33. Fulton rushed for 252 yards and four touchdowns. He also scored on runs of 2, 92 and 73 yards. The senior transfer now has rushed...

There’s something to be said for home course advantage. Derry senior Hunter Jurica’s home course is the Latrobe Elks Golf Course, and he took advantage of his knowledge of the tricky greens to capture the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association boys golf title Friday. Jurica used seven birdies, four on the...

Robert Fulton Latrobe, Sr., RB/OLB The 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior began his Wildcats career with a bang Friday night. The Central Catholic transfer rushed for 209 yards and five touchdowns in helping Latrobe defeat Derry, 55-0. Payton Molter Jeannette, Jr., QB The 5-9, 174-yard junior had a solid first game against...

Which is more beneficial for a high school football team in Week Zero: playing an actual game or participating in a scrimmage? The PIAA gives schools the option, and most play a game. A few don’t. One of the big questions heading into Friday’s nonconference matchup between Latrobe and Franklin...