Football

2015 WPIAL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS Results
November 29, 2015
Three of this years champs are partying like its 2008. Seven years ago, Clairton, Aliquippa and Thomas Jefferson also won WPIAL titles while it was Bethel Park and not Pittsburgh Central Catholic wining Quad-A gold. We discovered two things on what it took to win this year. First, be ranked #1 in the MSA Sports Preseason Top Ten like Central Catholic, Thomas Jefferson and Clairton were all top ranked by The Network with Aliquippa #2 behind South Fayette. The second thing would be to reach Heinz Field and run the ball while shutting down the other teams ground attack.

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This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 11/29/2015
We make the move from The Highway to Heinz to the Road to Hershey while also making the move from fall sports to winter sports as November turns into December this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We follow all four of the 2015 WPIAL champions as they play PIAA Quarterfinals state football playoff games. We also tip off the WPIAL boys and girls high school basketball and scholastic wrestling seasons along with several PIHL high school hockey games and men's and women's college basketball featuring Carlow University, plus the final edition of This Week in the WPIAL and the first edition of The PIHL Power Play Show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, November 30th:

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Thomas Jefferson Shuts Down Central Valley to Win AAA Gold
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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)

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

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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

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