What to watch for in Western Pennsylvania high school sports on Sept. 21, 2023: ‘Dice vs. ‘House in City League football

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 | 11:13 PM

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They are the two most dominant football programs in recent City League history and on Thursday, they meet to open up Week 4 of the high school football season.

It’s the ‘Dice battling the ‘House.

Since 2017, Allderdice and Westinghouse have combined to win all six City League football championships.

The Dragons won District 8 gold in 2017, 2018 and 2021 while the Bulldogs captured titles in 2019, 2020 and 2022.

In those six years, these teams have met four times in the City League championship game with Allderdice beating Westinghouse in 2018 and in 2021 and the Bulldogs knocking off the Dragons in 2020 and 2022.

This season, the teams are heading in different directions so far.

Allderdice is 0-4 overall and lost its City League opener last week to Perry, 14-8. The Dragons have been outscored 157-43 in their four losses.

Westinghouse is 3-0 and 2-0 in its City League schedule with wins over Perry (52-6) and University Prep (34-18).

The Bulldogs can pretty much seal the deal on the City League regular season title with a win. Westinghouse only has one more City League game after Thursday, a meeting with Brashear on Oct. 12.

2nd half on the pitch begins

Tuesday marked the end of the first half of section play in WPIAL boys soccer; now the second half begins Thursday.

There are three matches with a share of first place at stake.

In Section 1-3A, Hampton visits Mars. The Talbots are 5-0-1 atop the section and enjoy a one-game lead over the Fightin’ Planets at 4-1-1.

The teams played to a 1-1 tie in their first meeting at Hampton in late August.

Also in Class 3A, Thomas Jefferson hosts Bethel Park in Section 3. The Jaguars are 5-1 in the section, trailing by one game in the loss column to the Black Hawks, who completed the first half with a perfect 7-0 section record.

Bethel Park edged visiting Thomas Jefferson in the first meeting earlier this season, 2-1.

Finally in Section 1-A, Eden Christian Academy travels to Sewickley Academy for a clash between two of the top three teams in the section.

The Warriors are 4-1-1 and the front-running Panthers are 5-0-1. Also in the fight for the section lead is Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at 5-1.

On Aug. 29, Sewickley Academy and Eden Christian Academy played to a 2-2 tie.

Let there be light

Once a year, the Riverview school district brings the portable lights to Riverside Park so their soccer and football teams, which usually play all their homes games in the afternoon, can play under the lights.

On Thursday, the Riverview girls and boys soccer teams will face rival Springdale in a doubleheader under the lights.

The girls match features two of the top teams in Section 1-A with the Dynamos in first place at 5-0 in the section and the Raiders a game back at 4-1.

In the boys game, Springdale is tied for first place with Burrell at 5-1, a half-game ahead of 4-1 Trinity Christian. Riverview is in sixth place at 1-5.

On Friday, the Riverview football team (0-1, 2-2) will try to end a two-game losing streak when it hosts Frazier (0-1, 0-4) in a Class A Eastern Conference game.

Front runners collide on court

Four teams that own perfect records in their sections are set to battle for first place in WPIAL volleyball Thursday.

In Section 2-4A, Upper St. Clair visits Canon-McMillan. Both teams are 3-0 in the section. The Panthers are still undefeated overall at 7-0 while the Big Macs are 6-1 and have won four straight since their only loss of the season to Seneca Valley.

In Section 4-3A, North Catholic hosts Knoch. The Trojans and Knights are tied at 4-0 in the section and are a combined 13-2 overall. North Catholic is coming off its only blemish of the season Tuesday, a five-set loss to North Allegheny.

These programs are no stranger to finishing first. The Trojans have won three straight WPIAL girls volleyball championships while Knoch captured three straight district crowns from 2017-2019.