Football
Westmoreland County football players to watch in Week Zero
August 21, 2019
Dillon Ferretti
‘Battle of Route 30’ pits Norwin, Penn-Trafford football teams in Week Zero
When the PIAA expanded to six classifications four years ago and decided to move the start of the playoffs up a week, it also allowed schools to eliminate their second scrimmage and play a game during Week Zero.
Westmoreland County high school football don’t-miss matchups for Week Zero
Nonconference
The Birdie opines on Week Zero, Westmoreland County matchups
Four years after its inception, Week Zero remains a confusing proposition, even for Mr. Birdie.
Jeannette moving track resurfacing at McKee Stadium to April
Jeannette will wait until after the busy fall sports season to resurface its track at McKee Stadium, superintendent Matt Jones said.
Ligonier Valley looks to maintain level of success in District 6
Ligonier Valley has been one of the best teams from District 6 over the past four seasons.
Union small in numbers but big on talent
August 20, 2019
Another year, another common scenario for coach Stacy Robinson and the Union Scotties. One of the smallest schools in the WPIAL, Union had just 20 kids arrive for the first day of camp.
Sto-Rox football team returns core of explosive offense
The Sto-Rox football team enters the season with plenty of motivation.
Rochester eager to atone for WPIAL title game loss
Though Rochester came up short against OLSH in the WPIAL Class A championship game last season, coach Gene Matsook does not spend time reflecting on the past.
OLSH football team reloads hoping for another championship run
Last fall, OLSH football enjoyed unprecedented success.
Northgate optimistic after nightmare season in 2018
One season after the Northgate Flames were barely an ember, second-year coach Mike Fulmore is feeling a bit more optimistic.
Experienced Laurel motivated for big season
Ten starters back on offense. Nine starters back on defense. And a team that feels like it should have been in the postseason last year.
Cornell learns from struggles, aims to make history
Zaier Harrison has endured hard times, but he hasn’t been alone.
George Guido: Plenty of milestones to watch for this football season
The stage is set for the 121st high school football season in the Alle-Kiski Valley, and it appears several teams are poised for success in 2019.
Bishop Canevin aims to resume winning tradition
Outside of the locker room at Bishop Canevin, there is a plaque that honors legendary coach Bob Jacoby. The quote on it features six words that showcase what he demanded from his teams: “48 minutes of tough Canevin football.”
With options under center, Penn-Trafford could go off script offensively
Senior Gabe Dunlap and junior Ethan Carr once competed for the starting quarterback spot at Penn-Trafford. The friendly competition brought out the best in each athlete as they pushed each other to improve.
West Greene ready to build off successful 2018 season
If West Greene’s 2018 season was turned into a movie script, producers might shy away from it because it wouldn’t seem realistic.
Monessen looks to build on WPIAL playoff appearance
When Mike Blainfield took the Monessen coaching job in 2017, his goal was to restore pride in a program that had slipped from its accustomed lofty heights.
Coach: ‘This is not the same Mapletown football team’
In his 39 years as a high school football coach — most of them spent as the head man at Mapletown — George Messich has seen plenty of the good, the bad and the ugly. Last season was too much of the latter.
Jefferson-Morgan football team relies on competition to improve
Competition for playing time tends to bring out the best in everyone. Young or less-experienced players give their all to make coaches take notice, and established players, in turn, step up their game to avoid losing playing time.
