High School category, Page 235
The Birdie tells A-K Valley seniors to take a bow, or hit a Griddy, in Week Zero
At this time of year, high school football players, especially seniors, often are admonished by old folks to appreciate what they have before it’s gone. There will be a Facebook post with a picture of an empty field, usually a little bit of fog, and the text will tell athletes...
2024 Trib HSSN WPIAL preseason football rankings
WPIAL preseason football rankings Class 6A Rank, Team, 2023 record 1. North Allegheny, 13-2 2. Central Catholic, 10-2 3. Canon-McMillan, 6-5 4. Seneca Valley, 3-7 5. Norwin, 3-7 Class 5A 1. Peters Township, 15-1 2. Pine-Richland, 9-4 3. Woodland Hills, 6-4 4. Penn Hills, 9-3 5. Upper St. Clair, 9-2...
2024 Western Pa. high school football schedule for Week Zero
Friday 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 at Brownsville, 7 p.m. Bethel Park at Seneca...
Westmoreland County high school football players to watch for 2024 Week Zero
Kyle Dupill Franklin Regional, sr., RB The 5-foot-7, 189-pound senior had a strong junior season, rushing for 1,175 yards and 14 touchdowns. He rushed for 240 yards and scored five touchdowns against Plum last year. Brock Heisler Hempfield, Jr., LT/DT The 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior will be part of a huge...
What’s in a name when rivals Norwin, Penn-Trafford collide?
Even though it’s a rivalry, the Penn-Trafford/Norwin series has no name. Does it need one? Pitt and West Virginia have the “Backyard Brawl.” Monessen and Charleroi and Monaca and Rochester had the “Battle of the Bridge.’ Derry and Ligonier Valley have the “Riot on the Ridge.” What should this game...
Westmoreland County high school football matchups for 2024 Week Zero
Here’s a look at the don’t-miss matchups for Westmoreland County in Week Zero of the 2024 season: Nonconference Albert Gallatin at Greensburg Salem 7 p.m. Friday, Offutt Field, Greensburg Last year’s result: Did not play Greensburg Salem will kick off its new season in Class 3A with a matchup against...
When it comes to Westmoreland County high school football picks, The Birdie always delivers
Last season: 109-29 (79%) The Birdie wanted to make some extra money this summer so he did some DoorDash work. His venture only lasted a week, though, because customers were reporting their food was arriving tampered with or half-eaten. “Don’t look at me,” Birdie said. “That pizza was only a...
After long hiatus, Kiski Area, Knoch renew rivalry for Week Zero matchup
It’s been a while since the Kiski Area and Knoch football teams shared the same field for a game. The year was 1989, and both the Cavaliers and Knights were members of the Greater Allegheny Conference. Now, despite being in difference conferences and in different classifications, the teams will reunite...
A-K Valley boys soccer preview: Deer Lakes opens season with chip on its shoulder
It was another strong regular season for the Deer Lakes boys soccer team that concluded with a section title, but its reign as defending WPIAL champs didn’t last as long as they wanted. The Lancers were stunned 4-0 by Hopewell in the first round of the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs....
Tackling machine Ethan Shawley brings snarl to Southmoreland defense
Southmoreland’s senior tackling savant makes backyards look nicer in the summer as a landscaper. Come the fall, he demolishes backfields. Disruptive, elusive and violent, Ethan Shawley is a senior middle linebacker whose motivation grows out of being undersized and wanting to be a play ahead of everybody else on the...
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...
Bigger roster aids Monessen in quest to return to postseason
The refrain has become a familiar one: Monessen enters football season with a small roster, comes dangerously close to not having enough players some weeks then, somehow, manages to qualify for the WPIAL Class A playoffs. It has happened in each of coach Wade Brown’s three seasons at the helm,...
Cornell looking to take program to new heights despite tough conference schedule
Not too long ago, the Cornell football program was shut down. From 2012-15, it was part of a co-op with Quaker Valley. Since then, Cornell coach Ed Dawson has been along for the ride. After a breakthrough 9-2 campaign in 2019, the football program was on the rise. In three...
New coach means new opportunity for Chartiers-Houston
No one said being a high school football coach was easy. From restructuring the playbook to keeping team morale high, newly minted Chartiers-Houston coach Dan Lis has been presented with many tasks to help revive his alma mater’s football program. “It’s how much I have to do outside of football....
Burgettstown looks to use toughness to make another trip to playoffs
When Burgettstown seemed to be down and out last season, the Blue Devils made a push and made the playoffs, using their physicality and aggression. Burgettstown defeated OLSH, Carlynton, and Avella in a row to earn a postseason berth. “We may not be the fastest guys, we might not be...
Bishop Canevin’s goal: Keep playing ’til it’s cold outside
Bishop Canevin’s football program continues to achieve success, going 40-9 under coach Rich Johnson. Last season, Bishop Canevin went 10-2 and was 6-1 in conference play, advancing to the WPIAL semifinals before falling to eventual champion Fort Cherry. The Crusaders, who won a WPIAL title in 2021, are now looking...
Matt Sieg leads championship-caliber team at Fort Cherry
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. Due to production schedule conflicts, the Serra Catholic preview will be published later in the week. The moment the clock hit zeroes at the PIAA Class A...
Burrell hires former assistant Steve Ansani as head wrestling coach
Steve Ansani was approved Tuesday as Burrell’s new wrestling coach by the school board. Ansani was an assistant coach under Josh Shields, who resigned after the season to spend time with his family. Ansani, a 1978 Valley graduate, coached at his alma mater. He also coached at the Mat Factory...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 20, 2024
High schools Golf Tuesday’s results Boys Class 3A Section 1 Kiski Area 193, Penn-Trafford 203 Medalists: Max Mottura, Trey Roberts (KA) 36; Anthony Barilla (PT) 37 Latrobe 203, Hempfield 239 Medalists: Jack Sacriponte (L) 38; Brady Wossel (H) 45 Section 2 Belle Vernon 199, Connellsville 217 Medalists: Jordan Mocello (BV)...
Penn-Trafford’s depth along offensive, defensive lines inspires optimism in coach Ruane
Penn-Trafford football coach John Ruane likes the makeup of his team, which returns several skilled players from a squad that went 5-6 in 2023. But what really excites him is what is occurring with his offensive and defensive lines. He’s not the only one excited. So are running backs Tasso...
WPIAL girls soccer preview: Defending state champ Moon again among teams to beat
WPIAL girls soccer preview Class 4A Defending champion: Fox Chapel Runner-up: North Allegheny PIAA champion: Pennridge Team to beat: North Allegheny, which went on to reach the PIAA semifinals after a loss in the WPIAL final, is coming off a 22-win season. Junior Emma Shupansky and senior Madison Miller will...
Riverview senior Cam Long is eager to lead, teach football teammates
The Riverview football team scrimmaged Brashear last Saturday, and though senior Cam Long didn’t suit up, the senior offensive guard and nose tackle’s presence still was felt on the field. Long was right there helping coach his teammates and taking in the action from a different perspective, one he said...
After turnaround season, West Greene looks to leaders to keep team on track
West Greene experienced quite a turnaround in 2023. Six more wins, 20 fewer points per game allowed on average and a trip to the WPIAL postseason — all in their young head coach’s first season at the helm. But now the challenge for the Pioneers is how to continue to...
With good health, Mapletown could climb back into contention in Tri-County South
George Messich has made a lifetime of good memories in his 41 years on the sidelines at Mapletown, but 2023 ended up being a season he’d rather forget. The Maples, coming off an 11-1 season and WPIAL quarterfinal appearance a year prior, stumbled last fall, finishing 3-7 and with only...
Jefferson-Morgan hopes to build on momentum of breakthrough season
Jefferson-Morgan skyrocketed to success last season. The Rockets started out 1-3 but won four straight games and made the WPIAL Class A playoffs. Jefferson-Morgan lost in the first round, but finished 6-5, having its first winning season and first playoff appearance since 2012. “Our team fights every day to get...
