Through the Years: In 1962, Verona made last-minute grab at Gardner points

By: George Guido
Thursday, November 10, 2022 | 11:01 AM

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.

Verona defeated East Huntingdon, 14-7, in a hastily arranged game to get the Panthers enough Gardner Points for a berth in the WPIAL title game. Garry Lyle and Wayne Gent scored the Verona touchdowns, and Harold Mauro set a school record with 25 tackles Nov. 10, 1962.

75 years ago

• Defending WPIAL champion Ken High finished its third consecutive undefeated Class 2A season with a 38-6 pounding of Sharon. Harold Vestrand scored four touchdowns for the Red Raiders.

• Freeport school officials declared a day off for students after the Yellowjackets finished their Class B season undefeated by virtue of a 19-0 win over East Deer. Ultimately, Freeport didn’t have enough Gardner Points and Masontown beat Chartiers Township for the WPIAL title.

60 years ago

• Franklin Regional ended its first season with a 56-13 rout of Elders Ridge. Future Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bob Moose scored a touchdown for the Panthers.

50 years ago

• Leechburg and Deer Lakes battled to a 22-22 tie in the AIC Bowl at Kittanning. Dave Csonka passed to Blue Devils teammate Randy Tira with no time left on the clock, then passed to Mike Phillips for the 2-point conversion to earn the stalemate.

• Kiski Area earned the right to play Gateway in the WPIAL semifinals, thanks to Hopewell’s 35-0 win over previously undefeated Beaver Falls. Tony Dorsett scored three Hopewell touchdowns in his final high school appearance.

40 years ago

• Burrell won its first home playoff game with a 21-7 victory over Greensburg Central Catholic. Tom Brown rushed for 189 yards on 33 carries, intercepted a pass and scored on a 55-yard run.

• Plum won a playoff game for the first time, defeating Chartiers Valley, 28-7. Frank Sacco returned the opening kickoff 93 yards to give the Mustangs an early lead.

25 years ago

• Riverview became the first A-K Valley team to reach the semifinals four straight seasons by knocking off California in a mudbath 29-7. Lucas Heakins returned a punt 72 yards for a key score.

• Chad Killian scored three touchdowns and Sean Barbour two as Fox Chapel blasted North Allegheny, 35-6, in a Class 4A playoff.

10 years ago

• Burrell’s James Liput set a school record with 23 pass completions, but it wasn’t enough as the Bucs fell to Mt. Pleasant, 48-28, in an opening-round playoff game at Valley High School.

Five years ago

• Lionel “Train” Deanes ran for five touchdowns as Seton La Salle took the measure of Freeport, 35-18, in a Class 3A playoff game at Dormont Stadium. Luke Kennedy had two Yellowjackets TDs.

Tags: Burrell, California, Chartiers Valley, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Freeport, Greensburg C.C., Kiski Area, Leechburg, Mt. Pleasant, North Allegheny, Plum, Riverview, Seton La Salle