Football

Thomas Jefferson Shuts Down Central Valley to Win AAA Gold

November 29, 2015

After Thomas Jefferson dropped its first two contests of the 2015 season, some began to question if the Jaguars had lost their distinction as a powerhouse team. Those questions have been definitively answered, as the Jaguars won 11 straight games from that point, culminating with the WPIAL Class AAA Championship, defeating top-seeded Central Valley 20-7 at Heinz Field. With the triumph, the No. 6 Jaguars captured their sixth championship, and first since 2008, when Thomas Jefferson notched the final of three-consecutive titles.

Aliquippa Wins 16th Crown in Ending South Fayette’s 2-Year Reign

November 28, 2015

Aliquippa has found it tough to dispatch South Fayette in WPIAL Class AA championship games at Heinz Field. After falling to the Lions in the title contest two straight years, the Quips finally emerged victorious this year. But it wasn’t easy. In an incredible game that featured numerous ebbs and flows of emotion and momentum, Aliquippa (13-0) topped South Fayette (12-1) in pulsating fashion by a score of 44-38. In the process, the Quips snapped South Fayette’s 44-game winning streak and captured the school’s 16th WPIAL championship.

Central Catholic Wins 2nd Title In 3 Years With Win Over Penn-Trafford

Using an explosive running back and a defense to make big plays, The Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings claimed their fifth WPIAL championship with a 24-17 victory over the previously unbeaten Penn-Trafford Warriors in the WPIAL Quad-A Championship game at Heinz Field. The Vikings ground out 262 yards, with senior Ronnie Jones gaining 146 of those yards on the way to their tenth straight win. The defense came up big as well, holding the Warriors, who had scored 559 points in their twelve wins, to just 232 offensive yards and 29 points below their season average.

Clairton Caps Decade of Dominance With Rout of Jeannette

Defending champion Clairton wasted no time getting things started in this year’s WPIAL Class A Championship. Senior running back Harrison Dreher took the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. Lamont Wade added a two point conversion to put the Bears up 8-0 just 16 seconds into the game. Jeannette took over at the 36-yard line. Struggling to find an offensive rhythm, Jeannette went three and out on its first possession.

Scholastic Notebook – 11/26/2015

November 26, 2015

The weather has been pretty good the past few days. That means it’s a perfect time to pick a fresh batch of “factoids” from the “factoid tree.” They always go well with the WPIAL football championships, which are Saturday at Heinz Field. **** Just about all of the coaches in the title games have had that championship feeling before. Penn-Trafford’s John Ruane and Jeannette’s Roy Hall are the only coaches who haven’t won a title. Between the other seven, there are 17 championships. Aliquippa’s Mike Zmijanac has won five, Thomas Jefferson’s Bill Cherpak four, South Fayette’s Joe Rossi three, Central Valley’s Mark Lyons two, Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Terry Totten two and Clairton’s Wayne Wade one.

Chicks Picks – Championship Saturday – 11/26/2015

Welcome to Championship Week of the high school football season. Chick’s Picks never understood why the song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” was a Christmas carol, when the title clearly explains WPIAL football Championship Week. First, Thanksgiving. Then, Championship Saturday. What time of year could possibly be more wonderful than that? In the midst of this most wonderful time of the year, Chick’s Picks took a moment to reflect on all that she is thankful for this year. First and foremost, she is thankful for her loved ones that will place the fate of their Thanksgiving dinners in her hands on Thursday.

WPIAL Big Game Hunting – Championship Saturday

A little light reading for your post-turkey dinner relaxation in this week’s Big Game Hunting. This is a pretty epic Championship Saturday. The eight contestants have combined for some astronomic numbers over the years. All-time, this group of teams has combined to win 50 WPIAL football championships. More recently the numbers get even more impressive. Since 2003 there have been 48 WPIAL football championships won, these teams have combined to win 26 of them, that’s 56% of the championships in the last twelve years going to these teams! They know all about Big Game Hunting. Weather, the surface, the bright lights, and injuries all will play a part Saturday.

PIAA Alignment Numbers for 2016 & 2017 – Fall Sports

November 24, 2015

The new alignment list has been released by the PIAA for the 2016 and 2017 fall sports seasons. With the expanded classifications, there are still a lot of questions to be answered by WPIAL school officials and the schools themselves before anything in finalized and conferences are set. School must make a decision by mid-December if they want to remain in their designated classification OR decide to move up in class. A school is not permitted to move down.

This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 11/22/2015

November 22, 2015

The Highway to Heinz is only open for one more week and only eight special teams are allowed to cruise to their final destination on the North Shore of Pittsburgh for a football feast that they are very thankful for this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have wall-to-wall coverage of ALL Four WPIAL Championship Games at Heinz Field all day Saturday along with a PIAA First Round Class AAA state football playoff game. We also have ice action with PIHL high school hockey along with men's and women's college basketball featuring Carlow University, plus a Championship Saturday preview during This Week in the WPIAL ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, November 23rd: No Broadcasts

WPIAL Friday Night HighLights – Semifinals

November 21, 2015

Every team has similar goals when they start camp in the heat of August. One of them is to still be playing and practicing into Thanksgiving Day and beyond. Reaching that fun on Feastday usually means another goal has been reached, playing at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, the home to both the Pitt Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. These eight performances helped make both dreams a reality for Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Penn-Trafford, Central Valley, Thomas Jefferson, South Fayette, Aliquippa, Clairton and Jeannette. Ronnie Jones - Pittsburgh Central Catholic

Scholastic Notebook – 11/20/2015

November 20, 2015

In his first season as a starter, Pine-Richland sophomore quarterback Phil Jurkovec has played his way into the WPIAL spotlight, becoming only the second QB in WPIAL history to throw for 2,000 yards and run for 1,000. But there is another sophomore quarterback at the Class AAAA level who also has made a gigantic impact in his first season as a starter. Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Troy Fisher doesn’t have the jaw-dropping statistics like Jurkovec, but Fisher has uplifted the Vikings’ offense with his passing and running, and also helped the team reach the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals.

WPIAL/City League Friday Football Scores – 11/20/2015

The lines are getting closer to crossing. The WPIAL district playoffs reached the Final Four Friday on the Highway to Heinz while we are one week away from opening up The Road to Hershey and the PIAA football playoffs. Here is a rundown of the eight WPIAL Semifinals contest which were heard only here on the MSA Sports Network as well as a PIAA Class AAAA Preliminary Round contest featuring the Pittsburgh City League champion Brashear Bulls. Here are all the final results from Final Four Friday. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Semifinals: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 24 - Woodland Hills Wolverines 6 (F) (MSA) Penn-Trafford Warriors 38 - Pine-Richland Rams 34 (F) (MSA)

District 5, 6, 9 & 10 High School Football Scores

Like the WPIAL, neighboring Western Pennsylvania districts continue their postseason this weekend with Semifinals action along with a few championship games and some PIAA Preliminary Round high school football playoff contests sprinkled in. Here is the schedule for District 5, District 6, District 9 and District 10 football postseason action on Friday and Saturday with three of the games here on MSA Sports. Here are ALL the final results from Friday and Saturday, setting the stage for the start of the Road to Hershey.. PIAA CLASS AAAA Preliminary Round: Erie McDowell Trojans 42 - Brashear Bulls 2 DISTRICT 5 CLASS AA Championship: Bedford Bisons 42 - Chestnut Ridge Lions 7

Chicks Picks – Week 12 – 2015

November 19, 2015

Welcome to Week 12 of the high school football season. After a rough week of prognosticating the WPIAL quarterfinals, Chick’s Picks decided that a day of relaxation was in order. After all, she needed a clear mind (and crystal ball) as we approach this final stop on the Highway to Heinz. So, Chick’s Picks and her trusty crystal ball headed out to their favorite local spa. Their spa treatment specialists greeted them and showed them to their appointments. An hour later, a much more relaxed Chick’s Picks emerged, awaiting the arrival of her crystal ball. When the specialist arrived, however, Chick’s Picks knew that something was wrong.

WPIAL Big Game Hunting – Semifinals

November 18, 2015

This past Friday night the world was attacked once again by a senseless act of terrorism. I wish I had some words that could make us feel better, but I don’t. I would just encourage you to be kind to one another, and kind to yourselves (easier said than done). We will move on, it is all we can do. The final off-ramp on the Highway to Heinz approaches now, very quickly, who can keep the vehicle on the mainline and make their way around the construction barrels to the North Shore? We find out this Friday night on the MSA Sports Network. 50-50 shot your team is in this week’s Big Game Hunting, if you still have a team in the race. Win this week and you are assured a spot in Big Game Hunting for the as long as your 2015 season continues.

District College Football Playoffs For This Weekend

November 16, 2015

NCAA playoff action is set with three area teams set for action this weekend. In Division II, #9 Slippery Rock (10-1), fresh off a 61-12 pounding of West Chester in the PSAC State Title Game, will host Virginia Union (8-2) at noon on Saturday. It is the first appearance in 24 years in the playoffs for the Panthers, out of the CIAA. Slippery Rock received the #2 seed in Super Region 1 while Virginia Union is the #7 seed. Also in Division II, the 5 seed in the region IUP (8-2) will hit the road for the opening round as the Crimson Hawks travel to West Virginia to meet 4th seeded Charleston (10-1). The Golden Eagles finished second in the MEC, behind #1 seed Shepherd (10-0) and will make their first ever NCAA trip. The matchup is also a noon start on Saturday.

This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 11/15/2015

November 15, 2015

There is only one exit left on the Highway to Heinz as we determine the playing field for Championship Saturday this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have ALL 8 WPIAL Semifinals Football Playoff games Friday night starting with the MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding later that night with the WPIAL Football Scoreboard Show. We also have three District 6 high school football postseason games along with winter sports action with several PIHL high school hockey games along with men's and women's college basketball featuring Carlow University, plus This Week in the WPIAL and this month's edition of Carlow Sports Talk ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, November 16th:

WPIAL Friday Night HighLights – Quarterfinals

November 14, 2015

Most of the teams that advanced to Round Three in the WPIAL football playoffs were expected to be there while others are surprise participants still cruisin' on the Highway to Heinz. Some of the teams dominated their opponents, then there were others caught up in a tight game into the second half before they finally pulled away to victory, while a handful of teams needed to rally to win and advance. Whatever the case, these players we salute were instrumental in leading their teams to a superstitious victory on Quarterfinals Friday the 13th. Brett Laffoon - Penn-Trafford

Highway to Heinz – Quarterfinals Recaps 2015

November 13, 2015

You had to know some strange things would happen when Quarterfinals Friday fell on Friday the 13th. Undefeated teams Belle Vernon in AAA and Washington in AA were upended as was AAA 3rd-seed West Allegheny...Unbeaten Penn-Trafford and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic needed fourth quarter comebacks to pick up their 11th win of the season...and a Tri-County South Conference team is in the Final Four. Strange but true. Here are the summaries from an exciting Round Two as the Highway to Heinz has reached the midway point. A special thanks to Paul Paterra, Mark Uriah, Adam Hoerner, Rick Smith, Brandon Showers, Bob Barrickman, Tom Hays, Cory Campano, Bob Orkwis, Bob Gregg, James Dotson, Mark Schaas Mike Zappone, Randy Gore, Dan Wallace and Adam Gusky for their help on these recaps.

Scholastic Notebook – 11/13/2015

A Steel Valley player made some history last week. Now, the Steel Valley team will try to make some more history Friday night. It went pretty much unnoticed, but Steel Valley running back DeWayne Murray surpassed 4,000 career yards rushing last week in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. Although close to 70 runners have gained 4,000 yards rushing in their careers, it is a noteworthy feat for Murray because he is only a junior and is the first Steel Valley player to reach 4,000 yards. Murray has 4,097 yards on 363 attempts, an impressive 11.3 yards-per-carry average. Because he is only a junior, he has a good chance to next year become the 17th runner in WPIAL history to gain 5,000 career yards.

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