Chris Harlan stories, Page 26

The traditional style of a Central Catholic vs. North Allegheny game was always defined by the defenses. Just a year ago, they combined for a 7-3 score in a field-position battle. But that’s not necessarily the case anymore, since both offenses now rank among the highest scoring in the WPIAL....

This was just another week of practice for Peters Township’s football team, exactly like any of the others the Indians had this season. At least that was the idea. It’s hard to do in the days leading up to a WPIAL championship game, but coach T.J. Plack tried his best....

Pine-Richland will eat breakfast together a few hours before kickoff, part of a pregame routine Saturday that differs from most weeks. That’s because the WPIAL scheduled them with a noon kickoff, which Pine-Richland coach Jon LeDonne admits is a little unusual for his team. But rather than fret about the...

The four WPIAL football championship games held at Acrisure Stadium will be televised this year, thanks to support from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the WPIAL announced Tuesday. The Class A, 2A, 3A and 4A finals on Nov. 24 will be televised by KDKA+, which previously was known as Pittsburgh’s CW. The...

The WPIAL Field Hockey Coaches Association announced postseason honors Monday, including all-stars for each classification and a 24-person all-WPIAL team. Pine-Richland teammates Jessica Albertson, Madeline Mill and Georgia Rottinghaus were among the all-WPIAL honors after winning the Class 3A title. Penn-Trafford teammates Ava Hershberger and Mackenzie Keenan were named all-WPIAL...

Farrell athletic director and football coach Anthony Pegues calls himself “a WPIAL guy,” since the Steelers played here in the WPIAL when he was on the team. He’s ready to come back. The Farrell school board took a step in that direction Monday night by voting 8-1 to transfer its...

Some teams are penciled into the semifinals before the WPIAL playoffs even start. Aliquippa, after winning Friday, will make its 17th straight appearance in the final four. But, this year, have an eraser handy for some other regulars. A couple of teams with semifinal streaks lost Friday night in the...

WPIAL football playoffs Class 6A Saturday’s final No. 1 Central Catholic (10-1) vs. No. 2 North Allegheny (10-1) at Norwin, 6 p.m. Class 5A Saturday’s final No. 1 Peters Township (12-0) vs. No. 3 Pine-Richland (9-3) at Norwin, noon Class 4A Friday’s semifinals No. 1 Aliquippa (10-0) vs. No. 4...

Pine-Richland was two seconds away from a season-ending loss when freshman Aaron “Oobi” Strader narrowly crossed the goal line on a touchdown run that has the defending champion headed back to the WPIAL finals. “If there’s time on the clock, there’s a chance,” coach Jon LeDonne said. But time was...

About two months ago, Penn Hills coach Charles Morris made a prediction before he left the field at Pine-Richland’s stadium. He was right. “If people remember, after the game, I said, ‘I know we’re going to see these guys again,’” said Morris, whose Indians will get that rematch Friday night....

The WPIAL will have a role in resolving the dispute between Burrell and Mohawk, whose football teams played a game marred by allegations of racial slurs. The WPIAL Equity Council for Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Competency is reviewing information submitted by the schools and will make a recommendation to the...

The WPIAL is hopeful Mohawk and Burrell can resolve allegations of racial taunts involving their football teams without the league’s intervention. “The schools did their own investigations and are sharing information with each other,” WPIAL administrator Vince Sortino said Wednesday. “The schools are handling the situation.” Sortino said members of...

A federal judge has granted Jonna Burke’s request for a preliminary injunction, a legal victory that lets the Shady Side Academy girls basketball coach avoid a PIAA suspension for now. Burke was serving a one-year ban for an alleged recruiting violation before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Reed Eddy ruled in...

Burrell football coach Shawn Liotta said his players were targeted with racial slurs in a game Friday against Mohawk and that he was ejected after confronting game officials about it. “Their kids were repeatedly using racist remarks toward our kids,” said Liotta, a sixth-year coach at Burrell. “Our coaches and...

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. “We were going to do everything we could to make the most of the extra time,” NA coach Art Walker said. “We wanted to...

The wildcat formation is almost as old as WPIAL football itself, but the run-oriented offense is proving hard to stop. What makes it work? “It’s the mentality of our line and our team in general,” said Moon running back Josh Bladel, who’s becoming a wildcat expert. “We want to play...

WPIAL football playoffs All games at 7 p.m. Friday Class 6A Semifinals No. 4 Mt. Lebanon (5-5) vs. No. 1 Central Catholic (9-1) at Fox Chapel No. 3 Canon-McMillan (6-4) at No. 2 North Allegheny (9-1) Class 5A Semifinals No. 1 Peters Township (11-0) vs. No. 5 Moon (6-5) at...

Moon ran the football almost 70 times Friday night, and Gateway coach Don Holl marveled that not once were the Tigers flagged for holding. It was a compliment, but one surely coated with some sarcasm. Moon rolled out an old-school offense that at times used 10 blockers and a wildcat...

The WPIAL ruled North Catholic junior Jake McKee ineligible for the upcoming baseball season after transferring from New Brighton. The WPIAL held a hearing Thursday. WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said the hearing panel found validity in testimony from New Brighton that indicated McKee’s transfer was at least partially motivated...

The run-pass option is a staple for offenses nowadays and this year’s WPIAL Class 5A bracket is one big RPO. Among the eight playoff teams in 5A, some have a run-first offense while others have quarterback-driven attacks. The divide in styles is more obvious this week since they’re matched head-to-head...

Joe Rossi says his wife, Karley, should teach a course for coaches’ wives. The Rossis have four kids, they’re all involved in sports, and he was often busy as South Fayette’s football coach. “I’m watching her try to drive to Jersey on a Friday, come back on Saturday, drive the...

The WPIAL will have more Class 6A football teams next season with Hempfield and Norwin set to join the league’s big-school classification. Butler also could rejoin WPIAL football next season, giving the league another 6A team, but the decision to return hasn’t been made yet. The PIAA on Tuesday released...

Hopewell football coach Matt Weiss resigned Monday after five seasons with the Vikings, a program that has struggled significantly for more than a decade. Weiss went 8-37 as coach. Hopewell finished this fall with a 1-9 record overall and 0-6 in the Class 3A Western Hills Conference. Weiss, a former...

West Allegheny’s football team rode on a bus for more than an hour a year ago when the Indians opened the WPIAL playoffs in Fayette County. The drive was 70 miles each way. “I’m just thinking of the toll it took on our kids going out to Laurel Highlands,” coach...

Favorite: Central Catholic reached the WPIAL finals in nine of the past 10 seasons, winning five titles in that span. This year’s team outscored conference opponents 190-35, led by senior QB Payton Wehner (2,300 yards, 31 TDs). WR Peter Gonzalez (Penn State), LB/TE Cole Sullivan (Wisconsin) and LB Anthony Speca...