Football
CTK 2013 – WPIAL Triple-A Parkway Conference Preview
August 15, 2013
While repeats have been the story in the WPIAL in the last few years with Clairton winning five consecutive Class A titles, two straight Class AA titles for Aliquippa and three straight titles for North Allegheny in Quad A, there have been no repeat champion in Class AAA.However, a team from the Parkway Conference has claimed the last four AAA trophies, with West Allegheny as the defending champion. In fact, five of the nine coaches in the conference has won a WPIAL championship, those coaches have combined for 13 gold medals for their teams since 1991.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Quad-A Southeastern Conference Preview
August 14, 2013
Four teams finished within a game of each other at the top of the Southeastern Conference last year. It could be a great race for the title again this year.Coming into this season, many coaches inside and outside the conference are predicting strength in numbers for the Southeastern this season. Woodland Hills, Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park appear to be strong this year, and Mount Lebanon could make some waves. Peters Township could be a sleeper, while Canon-McMillan, Baldwin and Plum have new coaches who want to make a mark.A year ago, Upper St. Clair and Mount Lebanon tied for the conference title while Woodland Hills and Bethel Park were only one game back. Look for much of the same this season.Here is a look at the Southeastern Conference:CTK 2013 – WPIAL Quad-A Foothills Conference Preview
August 13, 2013
The Foothills Conference is made up of nine schools who played a lot of young players in 2012. While that led to a competitive conference and some exciting football a year ago, it also led to an 1-6 record in the postseason with only conference champion Gateway picking up a postseason victory in the 2012 WPIAL football playoffs.There is an effort up and down the conference to shed that ‘weak link’ reputation the Foothills has when compared to the other Class AAAA conferences. In the 32-year history of WPIAL Quad-A football, Foothills Conference teams have captured gold only four times: Gateway in 1986, Connellsville in 1991, McKeesport in 1994 and only once since the turn of the century, when the Tigers won it again in 2005.CTK 2013 – WPIAL Quad-A Northern Eight Conference Preview
August 12, 2013
The Northern Eight Conference has gone young – at least in terms of coaching experience. Heading into this season, maybe the most interesting storyline is who is leading the teams. Jack McCurry, the third-winningest coach in WPIAL history, retired in the offseason after 35 seasons as North Hills’ coach. Pat Carey, longtime defensive coordinator for North Hills and a former Indian player, takes over. At Pine-Richland, longtime coach Clair Altemus stepped down. Offensive coordinator Eric Kasperowicz takes over. He also is a former North Hills player. Elsewhere in the conference, there are young coaches. Eric Ravotti is in his third season at Fox Chapel. Chris Siegle is in his second season at Shaler.CTK 2013 – MSA SPORTS PRESEASON ELITE ELEVEN
The leading rusher and leading passer in the WPIAL are back this season – and also lead the MSA Sports preseason Elite 11 team. The Elite 11 is a list of the top elite players in the WPIAL heading into the 2013 season. It is picked by the MSA Sports staff and players are selected regardless of position. The leading rusher returning from last year is Washington’s Shai McKenzie. The leading passer is South Fayette quarterback Brett Brumbaugh. Brumbaugh is the only junior on the preseason Elite 11. This year’s Elite 11 also includes three players (Mike Grimm, Malik Hooker and Chase Winovich) who already have made commitments to Division I colleges, as well as other players who are being heavily recruited.CTK 2013 – WPIAL/Pgh City League Week One Scrimmages
August 11, 2013
FINALLY! High school football camps throughout Pennsylvania open for business on Monday. That means teams have less than a week of practice before they hit the field for the first of two scrimmages in preparation for the season lid-lifter on Friday, August 30th and Saturday, August 31st. Scrimmage number one takes place this Saturday, August 17th on fields around Southwestern Pennsylvania. Here is a rundown of all the first week scrimmages involving WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League high school football teams.WPIAL vs Pittsburgh City League:Perry Commodores AT North Allegheny Tigers at 9:30amBrashear Bulls AT Seton-LaSalle Rebels at 10:00amCarrick Raiders AT Shady Side Academy Indians at 10:00amCTK 2013 – WPIAL Class A Players to Watch
August 9, 2013
Countdown to Kickoff 2013 continues with a four-day look at some of the top high school football talent in the WPIAL for this upcoming season. As always, this list just scratches the surface. We ask for your help in building a complete rundown of candidates. You can nominate a top player by clicking on the contact button at the top right of this page, then clicking Submit Scores/Schedule Corrections/Updates. Here is a look at some of the players to watch this 2013 campaign in Class A.OFFENSE:Quarterback:Lenny Williams – Sto-RoxCharles Manack - FrazierKaleb Susko - Chartiers-HoustonErnie Burkes - NeshannockRunning Back:Justin Vickless – BrentwoodCTK 2013 – Complete WPIAL & Pgh City League Saturday Football Schedule
Then there were five. There is little doubt that high school football is king on Friday nights in Western Pennsylvania. Two more schools (South Side and Shenango) who played their homes games on Saturday have moved to Friday nights in an effort to capture that special excitement. However it's not ALL about Friday nights. There are still those five WPIAL high schools that play a majority of their home games under the sun on Saturday afternoons. Here is a complete rundown of the Saturday schedule for high school football action in the WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League this season.WEEK 1: SATURDAY, AUGUST 31st:Ambridge Bridgers AT Aliquippa Quips at 7:00pmCTK 2013 – WPIAL Class AA Players to Watch
Countdown to Kickoff 2013 continues with a four-day look at some of the top high school football talent in the WPIAL for this upcoming season. As always, this list just scratches the surface. We ask for your help in building a complete rundown of candidates. You can nominate a top player by clicking on the contact button at the top right of this page, then clicking Submit Scores/Schedule Corrections/Updates. Here is a look at some of the players to watch this 2013 campaign in Class AA.OFFENSE:Quarterback:Brett Brumbaugh - South FayetteChase Keller - Greensburg Central CatholicDan Stratton - Beaver FallsRyan Gumbita - Mount PleasantTyler Donahue - YoughRunning Back:CTK 2013 – WPIAL Class AAA Players to Watch
Countdown to Kickoff 2013 continues with a four-day look at some of the top high school football talent in the WPIAL for this upcoming season. As always, this list just scratches the surface. We ask for your help in building a complete rundown of candidates. You can nominate a top player by clicking on the contact button at the top right of this page, then clicking Submit Scores/Schedule Corrections/Updates. Here is a look at some of the players to watch this 2013 campaign in Class AAA.OFFENSE:Quarterback:Chandler Kincade - BlackhawkTory Delmonico - West AlleghenyJaQuan Davidson - Elizabeth ForwardCharan Singh - Franklin RegionalNate Climo - Central ValleyXavier Ellis - UniontownCTK 2013 – WPIAL Class AAAA Players to Watch
August 8, 2013
Countdown to Kickoff 2013 continues with a four-day look at some of the top high school football talent in the WPIAL for this upcoming season. As always, this list just scratches the surface. We ask for your help in building a complete rundown of candidates. You can nominate a top player by clicking on the contact button at the top right of this page, then clicking Submit Scores/Schedule Corrections/Updates. Here is a look at some of the players to watch this 2013 campaign in Class AAAA.OFFENSE:Quarterback:J.J. Consentino - Pittsburgh Central CatholicTy George - HempfieldJade Maher - ConnellsvilleRunning Back:Luigi Lista-Brinza - Pittsburgh Central CatholicCTK 2013 – 2012 Pittsburgh City League Football Flashback
It was leaner and trimmer Pittsburgh City League in 2012 with the first year of only SIX teams taking part in District 8 football. After winning it all in their very first year of competition in 2011, University Prep made it back to the City League Championship Game for a second straight season. However the Panthers were schools by the old dominant team in City League football, the Perry Commodores, who captured their second title in three years.2012 Pittsburgh City League Football Regular Season Standings:# - Clinched at least a share of the conference title * - Clinched playoff spotPITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE:Imani Christian Football Status for 2013 in Question
August 7, 2013
Less than a week before high school football camps open up, the status of the Imani Christian football team is up in the air for the 2013 season.School officials notified the WPIAL a few weeks ago that they would not be able to field a team this season. District officials in turn told the school that since schedules had already been distributed, they should do everything they can to field a team this fall.Official word is expected on Monday, August 19th whether the Saints will fulfill their schedule.CTK 2013 – WPIAL 2012 Single-A Football Flashback
The beat continued for the Big Bad Bears in Class A. It seemed every time Clairton took the field, another record would fall after yet another victory. The Bears once put together their third straight perfect 16-0 season while winning a record fifth straight WPIAL crown as well as a fourth consecutive PIAA state championship. Clairton's state title game win was their WPIAL and PIAA record setting 63rd consecutive win and is the longest current win streak in the nation. The flip-side was West Shamokin snapping a WPIAL record 47-game losing skid with a Week 3 victory over the Riverview Raiders en route to a 3-victory season for the Wolves.2012 WPIAL Single-A Football Regular Season Standings:CTK 2013 – WPIAL 2012 Double-A Football Flashback
August 6, 2013
It was strange to see South Allegheny in the playoffs and Ford City home for the postseason. But there was nothing strange about the end result in Class AA as Aliquippa won a second straight WPIAL championship with another dominating campaign. The title was the third in five year for the Quips, who soundly beat a Washington team that was back in the title picture for the first time in over a decade thanks to superstar junior running back Shai McKenzie.2012 WPIAL Double-A Football Regular Season Standings:# - Clinched at least a share of the conference title * - Clinched playoff spot x - Eliminated from playoff chaseWPIAL CLASS AA:Midwestern Conference:CTK 2013 – WPIAL 2012 Triple-A Football Flashback
August 5, 2013
It was another banner year for Parkway Conference. For the fourth straight year, the WPIAL Class AAA champion came from arguably the 'toughest conference in the state." West Allegheny won their sixth WPIAL championship and second in four years despite the fact they finished in a three-way tie for the Parkway Conference title with 2010 winner Central Valley and 2011 district champion Montour. Meanwhile despite finishing behind Thomas Jefferson AGAIN in the Big Nine Conference, West Mifflin rebounded with a strong playoff run that put the Titans back in the title game for the first time since 2004.2012 WPIAL Triple-A Football Regular Season Standings:CTK 2013 – WPIAL 2012 Quad-A Football Flashback
August 3, 2013
North Allegheny capped off a three-peat in perfect fashion. The Tigers became the first school to win three straight WPIAL Quad-A championships by going undefeated and capping off their historic run with a PIAA state championship. we don't know if the run as ended for NA, but we do know 2012 was the end of three great coaching runs as Jack McCurry retired at North Hills, Clair Altemus retired at Pine-Richland and Terry Smith took a college coaching job after turning his alma-mater Gateway into a perennial power in Class AAAA this past decade.2012 WPIAL Quad-A Football Regular Season Standings:# - Clinched at least a share of the conference title * - Clinched playoff spot x - Eliminated from playoff chaseCTK 2013 – New High School Football Rules for 2013
A good way to kick off the high school football season is with a look at the rules and especially the rule changes for the 2013 season.Two of the biggest changes involve pass interference and enforcement of the penalty. When the defensive team commits the foul, it is not necessarily a first down. While it is still a 15 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage and replay the down, the offensive team must make the sticks to be awarded a first down. For example, it is third down and 22 for the offensive at the opponents 45, after a pass interference penalty against the defense, it will now be third down and 7 from the 30 yard line as the penalty yardage was not enough to make the sticks.CTK 2013 – New WPIAL Football Head Coaches
August 2, 2013
New Faces - New Places - New Hopes - New Dreams. While there was one fewer coaching change this off-season then before the 2012 campaign, there are many big name and legendary coaches who will be missing from the sidelines this upcoming season. Gone are long-time successful coaches Jack McCurray, Clair Altemus, Terry Smith, John Menhart and Bob Jacoby while one championship winning coach has come back-to-the-future. There are a lot of rookie head coaches getting their first crack, and some coaches who are just changing hats and addresses. In all, there 26 coaching changes that began days after the 2012 season ended and concluded with the last hiring last month. Here are the new football coaches that will be running the sidelines in the WPIAL this fall.CTK 2013 – 7:00pm Kickoffs in WPIAL
There are 125 schools in the WPIAL that field a high school football team and 119 of them play a majority of their home games on a Friday night. While there are still a good number of teams that kickoff at the 'traditional' time of 7:30pm, for the first time ever, that number is in the minority. in 2013, 65 schools will kickoff their home football games at 7:00pm. Here is a list of schools that will get the thirty minute head start on Friday nights.CLASS AAAA Foothills:Altoona Mountain LionsConnellsville FalconsHempfield SpartansMcKeesport TigersCLASS AAAA Northern Eight:Fox Chapel FoxesCLASS AAAA Southeastern:Plum Mustangs
