Paul Schofield stories, Page 53
Belle Vernon shuts down Freeport in Class 3A to return to WPIAL championship game
Belle Vernon is headed back to the WPIAL championship game looking to reverse a trend. The top-ranked Leopards scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and rolled over No. 4 Freeport, 42-0, on Friday in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals at Gateway’s Antimarino Stadium. The Leopards (9-2) will face No....
WPIAL’s youngest coach leads Greensburg Salem boys into Class 4A
The youngest boys basketball coach in the WPIAL couldn’t wait to get started. He wants to bring energy to a struggling program that went 3-32 the past two seasons in Class 6A. That’s what Greensburg Salem coach Cam Auld said Friday on the first official day of winter sports practice....
Greensburg Salem girls look to stay healthy, compete in new Class 4A section
Things were going well for the Greensburg Salem girls basketball team at the start of the 2021-22 season. The Golden Lions won their first eight games on the way to a 9-1 start. But during their game against Franklin Regional, sophomore center Kaitlyn Mankins went down with a season-ending injury...
Mt. Pleasant girls soccer team comes up short in PIAA semis
Mt. Pleasant’s dream run to the PIAA Class 2A girls soccer championship ended Wednesday at Slippery Rock. A stifling defense and a lucky bounce off the post helped District 10 runner-up General McLane to a 3-0 victory in the semifinals. General McLane (16-5-1) will face Central Columbia at 10 a.m....
Students learn leadership at 13th annual WPIAL Sportsmanship Summit
Becoming role models and difference-makers at your school and community was the theme of the 13th annual WPIAL Sportsmanship Summit on Wednesday at the Heinz History Center and Sports Museum. At least four students from 62 high schools attended the event and listened to numerous speakers urging them to create...
Belle Vernon, Freeport ground games thrive in old-school football weather
It didn’t take Belle Vernon or Freeport long to shake off the rust after receiving a first-round bye in the WPIAL Class 3A football playoffs last Friday. Even though the remnants of Hurricane Nicole made things difficult to throw the ball, dominant running games were featured, and both teams easily...
Derry girls basketball relying on team effort to replace star scorer
If the Derry girls basketball team is to have a successful season, the word “team” needs to be emphasized. The Trojans relied on Tiana Moracco to lead the offense the past few seasons, but Moracco took her 23 points per game average to Pitt-Greensburg. “We need everyone to improve their...
Derry boys basketball team eyes step forward after down season
Things are looking up for the Derry boys basketball team. After a disappointing season in 2021-22 that saw the Trojans finish 6-13 overall and 1-11 in Section 1 (Class 4A), veteran coach Tom Esposito has his team looking to turn things around. Esposito begins his 25th season as coach, 16th...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Field hockey team falls in PIAA playoffs
A win in the PIAA playoffs is coming for the Penn-Trafford field hockey team. Even though the squad dropped a 2-1 decision to Twin Valley in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs Nov. 8, the Warriors are closing the gap on the teams from the eastern part of the...
Penn-Trafford ends frustrating football season with playoff loss
High school football season at Penn-Trafford ended earlier than expected with a first-round loss to Pine-Richland in the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs Nov. 4. It was an unusual season for the Warriors, the reigning WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A champions. Many felt the Warriors were primed for another run at...
Thomas Jefferson runs over Latrobe, gives coach Bill Cherpak 300th win
The remnants of Hurricane Nicole on Friday night forced Thomas Jefferson to go back to what it has done successfully under Bill Cherpak’s reign as coach: old-school football. Thomas Jefferson used a strong running game and an overwhelming defense to defeat Latrobe, 21-6, in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals. Latrobe...
Westinghouse blows by Berlin Brothersvalley to claim region title
SOMERSET – The District 5-8 Class 2A Championship game was moved up a day to avoid the remnants and stormy weather of Hurricane Nicole. But the storm that blew through Somerset County on Thursday was created by the Pittsburgh City League champions Westinghouse. The Bulldogs (11-0) used their speed to...
Latrobe aims for different outcome in rematch with Thomas Jefferson
A lot has changed since Latrobe and Thomas Jefferson played Sept. 16. The Jaguars prevailed 31-21 in a game Latrobe coach Ron Prady said he felt his team could have won. “It was back-and-forth before they pulled away with a late score,” Prady said. “We played well and were in...
North Catholic overcomes slow start to eliminate Latrobe from PIAA girls volleyball playoffs
When facing one of the top girls volleyball teams in the state, the goal is to put them on the defensive. That’s what Latrobe did Tuesday in its PIAA Class 3A first-round match against WPIAL champion North Catholic. But North Catholic is ranked No. 1 for a reason, and the...
Steelers All-Pro LB Watt surprises McKeesport football team with visit to practice
It started out as a normal Tuesday practice for the McKeesport football team as it was preparing for Friday’s WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal game at Armstrong. Then things changed after McKeesport coach Matt Miller brought his team to midfield to talk. Miller turned away from his players as a man...
Penn-Trafford girls volleyball ends rewarding season
Penn-Trafford’s girls volleyball season came to an end Nov. 1 in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals when the Warriors dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 1 North Allegheny. The Warriors put up a good fight and had their highlights during the second and third games. North Allegheny (18-0) has not...
Brownsville’s Jolena Quarzo, Pine-Richland’s Natalie McLean win PIAA cross country gold
Brownsville senior Jolena Quarzo can scratch winning a PIAA cross country title off her bucket list. Quarzo, a three-time WPIAL Class 2A champion, turned in an impressive run Saturday in earning her first state title at Hershey. Quarzo has won multiple PIAA in track and field. Her time was 18...
Cahill eases East Allegheny past Mt. Pleasant
East Allegheny coach Dom Pecora said earlier this week that junior quarterback Mike Cahill had to be great if the Wildcats were to defeat Mt. Pleasant on the road in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. Cahill was better than great. He threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Steve Yusko in...
After reaching playoffs, Mt. Pleasant, East Allegheny set new goal: A postseason win
One of the goals for almost every high school football team is to qualify for the playoffs. The next goal is to advance. That’s what No. 9 East Allegheny and No. 8 Mt. Pleasant will be attempting Friday during the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs at Mt....
Westmoreland County football players to watch in 2022 Week 10
Da’sjon Craggette Greensburg Central Catholic, Jr., RB The junior has come on strong this season, rushing for 1,067 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also has caught seven passes for 72 yards. GCC opens the WPIAL playoffs Friday against Rochester. Dan Dozier Monessen, So., QB He threw for 137 yards and...
North Allegheny girls volleyball sweeps Penn-Trafford, returns to WPIAL finals
The Penn-Trafford girls volleyball ran into a finely tuned machine Tuesday during the semifinals of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs. That machine is North Allegheny, which has not lost so much as a game in 18 straight matches. The Tigers rolled to a 3-0 victory over Penn-Trafford, 25-13, 25-20, 25-16....
Penn-Trafford girls soccer gives Mars a scare before bowing out of playoffs
Penn-Trafford’s girls soccer season ended Oct. 24, but not without a valiant effort. The Warriors’ battle against No. 1-seeded Mars went into overtime before the second-ranked team in the country pulled out a 1-0 victory. The Planets averaged 6.8 goals per game this season, but the Warriors used a defensive...
Penn-Trafford notebook: Hockey team earns shootout win in rivalry game
Penn-Trafford improved to 2-1 in the PIHL by defeating Hempfield, 5-4, in a shootout. The Warriors grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second period on goals by Bryce Kropczynski, Colin Paterson and Noah Moffa, but Hempfield used three power-play goals in the third period to tie the score. Cam Kiste...
Playoffs begin for real for reigning WPIAL champion Penn-Trafford, Westmoreland County teams
The WPIAL released the pairings for the upcoming football playoffs Saturday, but the playoffs had already started for Penn-Trafford with its huge win against Franklin Regional on Friday. The Warriors (6-4) rallied late to defeat Franklin Regional, 28-21, in overtime in a must-win game. Now the real playoffs begin Friday...
Penn-Trafford rallies for overtime win, clinches playoff spot
Things didn’t look good for the Penn-Trafford football team midway through the fourth quarter Friday. In a game they needed to win to make the playoffs, the Warriors trailed Franklin Regional by a touchdown and had just turned the ball over. But Penn-Trafford reverted to the form that won it...
