Football

North Allegheny coach Art Walker talks with officials before a game against Central Catholic on Sept. 22.

North Allegheny trying to make most of calm before the playoff storm

November 5, 2023

The North Allegheny football team didn’t have a game in the first week of the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers took a week off.

Hampton ball carrier Brock Borgo (22) runs the ball as Highlands defender Aaran Randolph (4) goes in for the tackle on Oct. 27.

‘Challenging’ season ends with Hampton football on wrong side of playoff tiebreaker

The Hampton football season began with an injury and ended with an insult.

Penn Hills quarterback Julian Dugger throws a pass against Pine-Richland on Sept. 8.

Penn Hills wins conference title, rivalry trophy to head into playoffs with momentum

The Penn Hills football team was crowned “King of the Hills’ by beating Woodland Hills to end the regular season. The winner of the game being awarded a trophy caught Indians coach Charles Morris off guard.

Young coaches get their football fix on Norwin staff

Anthony Giansante and Jackson Pruitt were supposed to be playing college football this fall.

Latrobe’s Cody Krall celebrates with John Wetzel after Wetzel’s second-quarter touchdown run in Friday’s WPIAL playoff win over West Allegheny.

WPIAL announces sites, times for Friday’s football playoff games

November 4, 2023

WPIAL football playoffs

Moon’s Josh Bladel (48) runs the ball through Gateway defenders Friday.

No. 5 Moon thwarts final drive, runs past Gateway in WPIAL 5A quarterfinals

Moon ran the football almost 70 times Friday night, and Gateway coach Don Holl marveled that not once were the Tigers flagged for holding.

Mars’ Evan Wright works out on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Mars.

WPIAL football playoffs roundup: Evan Wright’s 4 TDs lift Mars past Chartiers Valley

Evan Wright ran for 159 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 4 Mars to a 44-19 victory over No. 13 Chartiers Valley (3-8) in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A football playoffs Friday night.

Pine-Richland players huddle after beating Bethel Park in the WPIAL Class 5A opening round Nov. 3, 2023, at Pine-Richland.

Pine-Richland slams Bethel Park in playoff opener

November 3, 2023

Winners of four straight games and six of its last seven, Pine-Richland entered Friday evening’s home WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal matchup against Bethel Park looking to keep the good times rolling.

Trinity players take the field before their game against North Catholic on Nov. 3, 2023, at South Fayette.

No. 10 Trinity rolls past North Catholic for 1st playoff win since 2007

Despite winning three of its last four games, including a win over perennial power Thomas Jefferson, which had just beaten 3A state champion Belle Vernon, the Trinity Hillers finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Big Seven Conference. Tiebreaker points and head-to-head results later, the Hillers ended up seeded 10th in the Class 4A postseason.

Players from West Mifflin and Mt. Pleasant meet for the coin toss before their playoff game Nov. 3, 2023, at West Mifflin.

Freshman RB Armand Hill shines again as West Mifflin tops Mt. Pleasant in 1st round

It’s been no secret over the past three weeks that West Mifflin running back Armand Hill has emerged as one of the top names across Western Pennsylvania.

Captains from West Greene and Greensburg Central Catholic meet for the coin toss before their game Nov. 3, 2023, at Plum.

Big plays help Greensburg Central Catholic top West Greene, end playoff drought

Establishing a running game, hitting some long scoring plays and sending a message early on defense, Greensburg Central Catholic erased a nuisance of a playoff drought.

Franklin Regional and Peters Township meet before their WPIAL Class 5A first-round game Friday.

Stout Peters Township defense blanks Franklin Regional in Class 5A opener

All season, Peters Township has created havoc for opposing teams in the WPIAL. Franklin Regional got its crack at trying to slay the WPIAL Class 5A giant Friday night.

Thomas Jefferson’s Sean Sullivan makes a touchdown catch as Kiski Area’s Terry Martin defends in a WPIAL Class 4A first-round playoff game Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

Thomas Jefferson rolls past Kiski Area in WPIAL Class 4A playoffs

After an early season loss to Trinity, Thomas Jefferson had a quick response, defeating its next two opponents by a 132-0 margin.

South Park players warm up before playing Knoch on Nov. 3, 2023, at Knoch Knights Stadium.

South Park dispatches Knoch in WPIAL 1st round

South Park came to Saxonburg Friday night with a clear objective to run the ball and got a special performance from running back Eric Doerue.

Mohawk’s Dante Retort (9) catches a receiver screen for a 34-yard gain against Burrell on Nov. 3, 2023, at Mohawk.

Mohawk’s quick-strike offense stings Burrell in Class 2A 1st round

Mohawk’s offense was quick and efficient in its 42-0 first-round win over No. 12 Burrell in the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs.

Players from Bishop Canevin and Leechburg meet for the coin toss before their WPIAL Class A playoff game Nov. 3, 2023, at North Allegheny.

Bishop Canevin begins quest for another WPIAL title with rout of Leechburg

The third-seeded Bishop Canevin Crusaders began their quest to reclaim WPIAL gold with a dominant 49-6 win over the No. 14 Leechburg Blue Devils in a Class A first-round matchup Friday night at North Allegheny.