High School category, Page 62
Ambridge focusing on finishing after more competitive season
Through the first month of the 2024 football season, Ambridge looked like it could be in for a special, breakthrough year. And while the Bridgers constructed a far more competitive season with a 4-5 overall record, coach Sherm McBride is focused on one thing as the team enters 2025. “The...
Aliquippa in unfamiliar position of flying under the radar
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 Aug. 22. Aliquippa lost some talented football players to graduation or transfer since last season, so it’s understandable if there were some cracks in the Quips’ confidence. But,...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 8, 2025
High schools Golf Friday’s results Boys TRICADA championship Top 10: 1. Brady Newman, South Fayette, 69. 2. Camden Reyes, Peters Township, 71. 3. Sam Bishop, South Fayette, 72. 4. Tyler Ondrejko, Peters Township, 73. 5. Urijah Teasdale, Jefferson-Morgan, 75. 6. Chase Werthman, Canon-McMillan, 76. 7. Ben Taczak, Canon-McMillan, 77. 8....
Derry appreciates importance of offensive line play
Quarterback Anthony Sacco, meet two-way tackle Aiden Piper. “We’ve met,” Sacco said, dryly. The two Derry juniors exchanged glances. Finally, they flashed what appeared as true smiles Friday on the final day of the PIAA’s mandated preseason heat-acclimatization week for high school football teams. Make no mistake, guys like the...
Leechburg girls coach inherits young squad, sees hope
Rich Marshall has experienced opportunities at every level during his basketball coaching career. He was a Division I men’s assistant at Clemson and Arizona State, and he helped Clemson win the only ACC championship in program history in 1989-90 under head coach Cliff Ellis with standouts Dale Davis and Elden...
Seton LaSalle QB Anthony Smith remains ineligible after PIAA upholds WPIAL decision
Seton LaSalle transfer Anthony Smith, an up-and-coming quarterback with multiple college offers, remains ineligible for his sophomore season after the PIAA denied his appeal Friday. However, an attorney representing Smith and his family said they may challenge the decision in court. “Not over yet … ” Smith wrote in a...
Former Steeler Brett Keisel shares wisdom with legendary WPIAL coaches
Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel played 13 years for the black and gold. A 46, he still looks like he could hold down that position. Keisel was the guest speaker recently at Grandview Golf Club in North Braddock for a gathering of former and current WPIAL coaching legends. The...
‘This is home’: Rob Niederberger set to lead North Allegheny boys basketball team
Rob Niederberger took last season off coaching varsity basketball. During that time, the newly-minted North Allegheny boys basketball coach did color commentary on games for the TribLive High School Sports Network and went to help a few teams work on things in practice. Niederberger’s passion for basketball is his sickness....
After winless season, Baldwin going back to basics
It has been a return to fundamentals for Baldwin, the only team in Class 5A to go winless last season. “We’re back to the basics,” coach Dana Brown said, “getting the kids to truly understand football and wanting to be a football player and not just play football. “Last year...
Bethel Park sets goal to remain among Class 5A elite year in, year out
Only the strongest football programs can graduate a big, talented senior class one year and keep winning the next — a short list that Bethel Park wants to join. For six months, the Black Hawks have talked about having “something to prove,” said third-year coach Phil Peckich. That idea describes...
Peters Township revamps offense in search of another trip to WPIAL finals
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 Aug. 22. There’s a football team in Western Pennsylvania with a revamped passing attack that’ll feature multiple tight ends — and, no, it’s not the Steelers. It’s Peters...
Despite graduation losses, count out Upper St. Clair at your own risk
Yes, Upper St. Clair graduated some all-conference athletes who were stalwarts for the Panthers, multi-year starters now playing college football. But, no, the roster isn’t empty. “We have more back than I think is perceived,” seventh-year coach Mike Junko said. “We have our quarterback back. We have two running backs...
With big-time QB returning, South Fayette ready to tackle Class 5A challenges
Watch out for the little guy. Aside from a handful of schools being required to compete in a higher classification under the PIAA’s competitive-balance rule, South Fayette represents the smallest Class 5A program by male enrollment in the state. That the Lions are aligned with the WPIAL’s powerful Allegheny Six...
With experience at skill positions, Moon ready for another run in rugged Allegheny Six
In eight previous seasons as coach at Moon, Ryan Linn has seen his teams make a habit of flirting with greatness in the highly respected Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference. So, too, have others. And while the conference has had only Peters Township in 2023 win a WPIAL title during...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 7, 2025
High schools Golf Thursday’s results Boys Class 2A Section 2 Greensburg Central Catholic 214, Mt. Pleasant 223 Medalists: Brandon Plunko (GCC) 36; Hunter Snyder (MP) 40 Nonsection Butler 182, Shaler 207 Medalists: Boden Lenyk, Jase Renwick (B) 35; Matt Steliteno (S) 38 Freeport 200, Armstrong 227 Medalists: Ethen Crooks (F)...
Self-described ‘Yough guy’ takes over school’s boys basketball program
As Yough football’s defensive coordinator, Devin Owens knows his way around Cougar Mountain. And while he graduated from Carrick and lives in Donora, he considers himself a “Yough guy.” “There are great kids and really good people here,” Owens said. “(Football) coach Benny (Hoffer) welcomed me with open arms. They...
Mt. Pleasant soccer star changes college plans, picks Robert Morris
Her first shot at the recruiting game hit the post. The second one, however, she slotted home. Mt. Pleasant rising senior soccer standout Morgan Gesinski announced a verbal commitment to Robert Morris on Thursday, about six months after she decommitted from Mercyhurst because of a coaching change. Gesinski, an all-state...
Camp countdown: QB Curtis Wade hopes to show leadership skills for Belle Vernon
When the Belle Vernon football team did its offseason conditioning work, leading the way in most sprints was senior quarterback Curtis Wade. But that is the job for the 6-foot-1, 160-pound senior: being the leader. During his first year as starting quarterback, Wade completed 63 of 108 passes for 1,039...
Norwin punter snags 1st Division I offer
Norwin punter Evan Pfeifer has his first NCAA Division I football opportunity. And he didn’t exactly see it coming. Air Force, an FBS program, extended an offer to the strong-legged senior, who is primed to pin opponents deep this season. Air Force does not offer athletic scholarships, so Pfeifer would...
Penn-Trafford out to challenge for Big East Conference title
During his 15 seasons as Penn-Trafford’s football coach, John Ruane has been known to run plays to make his opponents prepare for anything, whether it be trick plays, fake punts or onside kicks. This year is no different. Ruane has numerous tricks up his sleeves. Penn-Trafford is coming off a...
Under new coach, Kiski Area determined to ‘get ready, be ready, stay ready’
When new Kiski Area coach Colyn Haugh sat down and looked at the team’s film from last year, he saw a team with lot of talent but lacking on details. To correct this, Haugh had his players start very simply on something as innocuous as putting the weights back correctly...
Armstrong football looking to establish footing in 2nd season in Class 5A
The Armstrong football team has put its focus on turning around a disappointing season behind a more experienced roster. It something different than what coach Frank Fabian has become accustomed to with his program. Last season’s 2-8 record was the first losing season for Armstrong since 2019. It was also...
Despite personnel changes, Latrobe holds bar high
Latrobe football fans know the narrative by now. Three consecutive WPIAL playoff appearances have turned around a once downtrodden program and created a fresh wave of interest. The Wildcats are no longer at the back of the line. Now new coach Tom McIntyre wants to make it four in a...
Gateway looking ahead to playoff return after rare postseason miss a year ago
Gateway coach Don Holl doesn’t like his players to dwell on the past, telling them there’s a reason why the windshield is big and the review mirror is small. But the Gators hit a few bumps in the road last season that flattened their tires, potholes they’d still like to...
Franklin Regional rebuilds after heavy graduation losses
As Lance Getsy begins his fifth season at Franklin Regional, he is faced with a retooling job. The Panthers graduated 16 seniors from last year’s team that finished 8-4 overall and 4-2 in Class 5A Big East Conference. There are a lot of starting positions available on the Franklin Regional...
