Football
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 7Chicks 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.WPIAL Friday Football Scores – 11/13/2015
The eleventh week of the WPIAL high school football season fell on Friday the 13th. For 16 teams that avoided black cats, didn't walk on cracks and sashay around any ladders they saw, victory was theirs and they continue to cruise on the Highway to Heinz to the Final Four. The 16 other teams will felt like victims of Freddy Krueger or Jason or Chuckie as their dreams of district gold were laid to rest. Here are all the final results. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Quarterfinals: Woodland Hills Wolverines 40 - Bethel Park Black Hawks 20 (F) Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 31 - North Allegheny Tigers 17 (F) Penn-Trafford Warriors 39 - McKeesport Tigers 32 (F-OT) Pine-Richland Rams 42 - Mount Lebanon Blue Devils 13 (F)District 5, 6, 9 & 10 High School Football
November 12, 2015
While the WPIAL football playoffs reached the Quarterfinals stage, other district postseason action kicked off around Western Pennsylvania this weekend. The next two weeks will help shape the eventual playoff field for the PIAA postseason. Here is a rundown of the results from Friday and Saturday in District 5, District 6, District 9 and District 10 along with a couple of multi-district matchups which included the Pittsburgh City League and District 8. District 5 & 8 CLASS AA Semifinals: Chestnut Ridge Lions 14 - Westinghouse Bulldogs 6 {Winner plays vs Bedford on 11/20} District 5 CLASS A Quarterfinals:Chicks Picks – Week 11 – 2015
Welcome to Week 11 of the high school football season. The atmosphere at MSA Sports World Headquarters was full of excitement last Friday night as we began our exclusive coverage of the WPIAL playoffs. Things seemed to be running smoothly; that is, until Chick’s Picks overheard an unsettling statement during one of the broadcasts. The color commentator said, “This team should utilize that standout running back some more. He’s really getting it done out there tonight.” The play-by-play announcer called the next play, “That running back just went 80 yards for a touchdown! Way to go, color commentator guy. You called it. It was almost as though you used that trusty crystal ball of Chick’s Picks’, and you saw that play coming.”WPIAL Big Game Hunting – Quarterfinals
November 11, 2015
Quarter-finals week on the MSA Sports Network after a pretty chalk first round, really a very chalk first round just four upsets by seed and three of those in the eight – nine games, the other a ten seed over a seven seed. This Friday, I think you will see the chalk go by the wayside as I predict upsets will be the order of the weekend, but hey I know nothing, we’ve gone out of our way to make that abundantly clear here week after week. Just 16 games on this Friday night make sure you get out to one or listen to one here on the MSA Sports Network, even better if you do both of those things. Here are my picks for Week 11 of Big Game Hunting.
WPIAL Alum Q&A – J.P. Holtz
November 9, 2015
As the University of Pittsburgh football team has enjoyed a resurgence this season, several former WPIAL competitors have been crucial to the success. Perhaps nobody has meant more to the Panthers over the past four seasons, however, than tight end J.P. Holtz. Holtz enjoyed a stellar high school career for the Shaler Area Titans, playing a variety of positions. He scored 15 touchdowns as a senior, and helped guide the Titans to the playoffs. He also was a four-year letterwinner on the Titans’ basketball squad that made an appearance in the state postseason in 2012.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 11/08/2015
November 8, 2015
When it comes to delivering playoff and championship high school action, we are season veterans! Adn while we take time this week to salute the true hero's, America's Veterans, we also gear up for another ride on the Highway to Heinz this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have ALL 16 Quarterfinals WPIAL Football Playoff games Friday night starting with the MSA Sports Pregame Show and concluding later that night with the WPIAL Football Scoreboard Show.
Back To Back For The Brashear Bulls
November 7, 2015
For the fourth time in school history, the Brashear Bulls claim back to back title with a 21-6 victory over the Allderdice Dragons in the Pittsburgh City League championship game at Cupples Stadium. Quarterback Therran Coleman threw 3 touchdown passes, two to Devaughn McNary in the second quarter that pushed the Bulls to a 14-0 halftime advantage. The Bulls also did the job defensively, forcing 6 Allderdice turnovers. Brashear defeated Allderdice 42-14 in last year’s title game. The win gives Brashear their 11th City League title and a berth in the PiAA playoffs in two weeks.WPIAL Friday Night HighLights – First Round
The lights are just a little bit brighter as 64 teams entered the district postseason three wins away from reaching every teams ultimate goal, a spot on the parking list for Championship Saturday at Heinz Field. There is no question that in the ultimate team sport, you need everybody in to win and advance at this point, but sometimes you need a player to step up and take control with an outstanding performance to keep your season alive at least for another week. So we tip our playoff caps to these ten players who were shining bright on a clear and crisp tenth Friday of the 2015 football season. Phil Jurkovec - Pine-Richland
Highway to Heinz – First Round Recaps
The cones were removed and the pylons picked up as the ribbon was cut Friday at 7:30pm to open up the 2015 version of the Highway to Heinz. Like many motorists who have been frustrated by ramp closures to the Parkway recently, there was a logjam at the first exit as 32 teams were forced to exit. You can listen to any of the 32 archives on MSA Sports or check out any of the 32 recaps from the First Round of the WPIAL Football Playoffs.Scholastic Notebook – 11/06/2015
November 6, 2015
The WPIAL football playoffs start Friday night. Does that mean the Tri-County South Conference turns into the Tri-County Sour bunch once again? The Tri-County South in Class A hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2010 season. Since then, Tri-County South teams are 0-16 in the postseason. But maybe there is hope to end the postseason drought this year. Frazier finished the regular season with a 9-0 record and the Commodores were given the No. 4 seed. Frazier led the entire WPIAL in fewest points allowed this season and it plays host to South Side in a first-round game.
