Sports

Hempfield football player Owen Buchholz returns for his senior season after playing with a broken thumb in 2023.

After answering call to arms, Hempfield senior develops into difference maker

August 13, 2024

Football found Owen Buchholz. It wasn’t the other way around like most high school players.

Fox Chapel coach Dave Leasure is hoping to lead his team out of a losing streak that dates to the 2021 season.

Offensive line could be key to ending losing streak for Fox Chapel

The fourth quarter isn’t going to be the time when the Fox Chapel offensive line folds up its tent. The Foxes have spent most of the offseason building their physical capability to push the pace with their opponents.

Fort Cherry quarterback Matt Sieg dives into the end zone to score against South Side during the WPIAL Class A championship game on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at Acrisure Stadium

2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the quarterbacks

Starting today, TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top quarterbacks for the 2024 season.

Quaker Valley’s Jack Diemert works out during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, at Chuck Knox Stadium.

After gaining experience, Quaker Valley looks to take step forward

The 2023 season was a tough grind on a young Quaker Valley football team, much like 2022.

North Catholic quarterback Joey Felitsky works out during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Cranberry.

Rare losing season jolts North Catholic

The drop to Class 3A could have prompted North Catholic to conclude winning will come easier this season.

McGuffey quarterback Logan Carlisle leads the team back to the field after a run during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, at McGuffey High School.

McGuffey’s successful senior class ready to tackle bump up to Class 3A

Logan Carlisle won’t fret too much about the McGuffey football program bumping up to Class 3A this season. The Highlanders have a large senior class with players accustomed to playing both ways.

Hopewell’s Hank Berner works out during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Hopewell.

Hopewell counting on mix of youth, experience to get back on track

Hopewell is no stranger to elite football. Tony Dorsett, Paul Posluszny and WPIAL all-time leading rusher Rushel Shell all roamed the halls of the high school.

Central Valley’s Jance Henry Jr. works out during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Center.

Loaded Central Valley roster poised to return to championship form

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. 23.

Beaver’s Amari Jackson works out during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Beaver.

Beaver has pieces in place to add to program’s storied history

The Beaver Bobcats went 9-3 last year, adding to one of the largest win totals in Pennsylvania high school football history. They’re got 675 victories, good for 25th all-time.

Avonworth quarterback Carson Bellinger throws a pass during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.

WPIAL title-game losses fuel Avonworth

Avonworth knows well the path to Acrisure Stadium.

High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 12, 2024

August 12, 2024

High schools

Deer Lakes’ Zier Williams works out during the during the first day of football practice Monday.

Running back Zier Williams ready to carry bigger load for Deer Lakes

Zier Williams was the workhorse of the Deer Lakes running game last year and helped the Lancers make playoff history.

Shaler’s Logan Schimmel scores past Parkland’s Brady Hayward during the PIAA Class 3A boys volleyball state championship on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Penn State.

WPIAL approves new section alignments for spring sports in 2025, ’26 seasons

Knowing that boys volleyball coaches prefer room in the schedule for tournaments, the WPIAL on Monday approved a new section alignment with that idea in mind.

Cam Auld on the Greensburg Salem sidelines in 2023.

New Norwin boys basketball coach happy to give back to his alma mater

While he stops short of “dream job” territory, Cam Auld admits the idea of coaching at his high school alma mater crossed his mind before.

Springdale senior Noah Abaray runs through a drill Monday Aug. 12, 2024.

‘Everyone is optimistic’ as high school football camps open around the A-K Valley

A small but enthusiastic group of 21 Springdale football players greeted first-year Dynamos coach Chad Walsh on Monday afternoon for the first day of official preseason camp in the shadow of Springdale High School.

Western Beaver quarterback Jaivin Peel throws a pass on during a preseason practice last year.

Record-setting quarterback eligible at Western Beaver after forgoing Central Catholic transfer

Record-setting quarterback Jaivin Peel is fully eligible for his sophomore football season at Western Beaver after a hearing Monday at the WPIAL office in Scott.

Latrobe’s Lucas Kolenc (left) and Tim Myers go at it during practice early in the morning on the first day of high school football camp Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, at Greater Latrobe High School.

Crack of pads, warmth of turf signal start of high school football around Westmoreland County

As a two-time defending WPIAL and PIAA champion, Belle Vernon football must have opened full-contact training camp Monday morning with a sense of entitlement, right?