High School category, Page 234
With improved passing game, Raidon Kuroda hopes to be a dominant force for Yough
The football hung in the air for about three seconds. It was thrown without too much arc and wasn’t a bullet pass. It was on a perfect line. Off of play action, the receiver broke away from his defender at the 50-yard line, caught the ball in stride and coasted...
Westmoreland County girls soccer preview: Mt. Pleasant motivated to make title run
Mt. Pleasant is going into a new girls soccer season with a mind eraser. A team that has the talent to make a title run like it did two years ago when it finished as the runner-up, the Vikings stewed over a stunning playoff loss. The team was dealt a...
Through the years: Kittanning played at night despite request from U.S. Dept. of War
Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look at the players, coaches and events that shaped our scholastic legacy. Kittanning High School was permitted to continue night football games by the federal government for the 1944 season at Gilpin Field. During World...
Trib HSSN changes access for some broadcasts
As it enters its 25th year, Trib HSSN will rely on sponsorships and business partnerships to bring free broadcasts to its loyal viewers. For more than two decades, HSSN brought live coverage to viewers free of charge, and we remain committed to that cause. However, in cases where sponsorships are...
Veteran skill players lead Serra Catholic into new conference, classification
Serra Catholic may be dropping from Class 2A to Class A, but the path to making a deep postseason run will be just as difficult, if not more, with its new schedule. The Eagles will a Black Hills Conference made up of WPIAL champion Fort Cherry, district semifinalist Bishop Canevin,...
Despite heavy graduation loss, standard remains same for California
Coach Ed Woods is entering his seventh year at California, and the relationship has been fruitful for both sides with plenty of success in the regular season and playoffs. Before trying to continue their climb in the Class A ranks, the Trojans have to replace 10 seniors from a squad...
Charleroi hopes to benefit from experience in Ty Aeschbacher’s 2nd season at helm
After fighting hard but failing to win a game last season, the Charleroi football program will enter Year 2 of head coach Ty Aeschbacher at the helm with more experience and continuity that they’re hoping will translate to success. The Cougars finished 0-9 in the Century Conference, and their new...
Expectations high for talent-laden Elizabeth Forward
You’ll have to excuse Elizabeth Forward head coach John DeMarco for smiling so much as he oversees practices this fall. That’s because his Warriors team is loaded with talent all over the field and is aiming to get back on top of Class 3A’s Interstate Conference. South Allegheny is out...
New set of conference opponents set to stare down vaunted McKeesport flexbone
After reaching the WPIAL championship game last season, the McKeesport Tigers are hoping for a repeat trip. Only this time, the Tigers are looking to get over the Aliquippa hump and bring home a title to their city. McKeesport has shifted conferences in the new-look Class 4A. The Tigers will...
With new coach, young talent, ‘There’s a pulse at Ringgold’
Given that the Ringgold football program hasn’t won in 25 games, it goes without saying that some fresh air could be beneficial for the team, and new coach Robert “Bean” Heller is looking to be just that. A Ringgold graduate and former football player at Waynesburg University, Heller has always...
Bentworth puts focus on finishing games to contend in Tri-County South
Despite going 3-7 last year, Bentworth head coach Dave Pordash sees a lot of positives coming into the 2024 season. Three of those seven losses were decided by seven points or less, so learning how to finish games and increasing their football IQ are two things Pordash and his coaching...
Offseason growth boosts expectations for Laurel
Brian Cooper cited growth as the biggest area of improvement for his 2024 Laurel football team. That term is two-fold in that the Spartans are a more mature team, showing growth in the mental part of the game and gaining a year of experience, something important for a young squad...
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...
Summit Academy looks to benefit from more experienced roster
Anthony Becoate has done lots of teaching and coaching during training camp workouts the past two weeks, trying to get his Summit Academy players up to speed in time for their Week Zero matchup with Frazier. The third-year coach is working with a mostly inexperienced group of players and is...
Despite changes, goals remain the same for Neshannock
Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Friday. New head coach, new conference, lots of new faces. The 2024 season brings about plenty of change for Neshannock football, but the goal remains the same. “I...
South Side football ‘hungry’ after reaching WPIAL finals
South Side football players keep wanting to take the next step. Over the past three years, they’ve accomplished that goal. This year, it will be even tougher to achieve. In 2021, South Side advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals before falling to Steel Valley, 28-12. The 2022 season ended with a...
Shenango hopes to overcome injuries to contend in Big Seven Conference
Shenango football coach Jimmy Graham cited staying healthy as a key component to competing in the rugged Class A Big Seven Conference. With a roster of 28 players and five dealing with injuries through training camp, the Wildcats were happy to get through their scrimmage mostly intact ahead of the...
With RB Antonio Laure back in fold, Rochester eyes success in Big 7 Conference
Antonio Laure is looking forward to stepping back on a football field, breaking through a wall of defenders and scampering into the end zone. It’s something he does better than most Western Pennsylvania ball carriers in Class A. Rochester’s standout senior running back missed most of last season with a...
Northgate hopes bigger roster translates to more wins, elusive playoff berth
Northgate’s football roster was hovering in the mid-teens five seasons ago. The limited numbers made it a challenge to compete. As the numbers crept up, the wins followed. There were four wins in 2022 and five last fall. This season, there are 43 players on the Flames’ roster, enough that...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 21, 2024
High schools Football Friday’s schedule Nonconference Albert Gallatin at Greensburg Salem, 7 p.m. Allderdice at Fox Chapel, 7 p.m. Apollo-Ridge at Leechburg, 7 p.m. Armstrong at Highlands, 7 p.m. Avella at Mapletown, 7 p.m. Avonworth at Burrell, 7:30 p.m. Beaver Falls at Blackhawk, 7 p.m. Bentworth vs. Brownsville at Charleroi,...
Robbins, Abaray set tone for young Springdale football team
As a freshman, Noah Robbins didn’t see the field that much in varsity games. But he gained valuable experience watching a seasoned group of Springdale players, including 16 seniors, lead the way to the WPIAL Class A playoffs and a first-round victory. Fast forward three years later, and Robbins now...
Westmoreland boys soccer preview: Belle Vernon ready for challenge of jump to 3A
A jump in classification can be less daunting if a team has a lot coming back. Belle Vernon boys soccer is a prime example. The Leopards have a number of key players returning as they go from Class 2A to 3A. That includes standout goal scorer Trevor Kovatch, who has...
Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school football rankings for Aug. 21, 2024
Welcome to the 2024 high school football season, which kicks off for most schools across the state with Week Zero games this weekend. Before this season starts, here is a quick refresher course on the six 2023 PIAA champions. St. Joseph’s Prep won its second straight Class 6A crown and...
A-K Valley high school football players to watch for 2024 Week Zero
Jayden Floyd Leechburg, sr., QB/FS Floyd became just the 17th signal caller in WPIAL history to both throw and run for 1,000 yards in a single season last fall. He accounted for 26 touchdowns — 18 rushing, eight passing — and 2,624 combined yards as the Blue Devils reached the...
A-K Valley high school football matchups for 2024 Week Zero
Nonconference Allderdice at Fox Chapel 7 p.m. Friday, Burke Stadium, Fox Chapel Last year’s result: Did not play • Fox Chapel will be playing a City League team for the first time in the school’s 64-year history. The Foxes, who went 0-10 last season, are looking to end a 21-game...
