Penn Hills notebook: Charles Morris picks up coach of the year award

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, December 10, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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The Penn Hills football team collected plenty of accolades from the Big 56 Conference. Indians coach Charles Morris was selected as the Northeast Conference’s coach of the Year. Penn Hills had eight players selected to the first team for all-conference.

Julian Dugger and Amir Key were selected to on the first-team offense. On defense, Carter Lance, Naytel Mitchell, Tajuan Bandy, Darrell Banks, Cameron Thomas and Donovan Burnett were chosen.

The Indians won the Northeast Conference championship by finishing 9-3 overall and 5-0 in conference play. Penn Hills beat Penn-Trafford in the first round of the playoffs before bowing to section rival Pine-Richland in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals.

Hepler leads bowlers

All four local bowling teams took a defeat during their first WPIBL match of the season. Both Penn Hills and Redeemer boys and girls team lost to open the season. Penn Hills junior Nick Hepler was the standout performer.

Hepler rolled a 693 series to open the season with a high game of 277. Logan Kenedy also contributed a 519 series and 178 series for Penn Hills. Alex Pappa was Redeemer Lutheran’s top bowler with a 166-high game.

On the girls side, sophomore Brooke Davis led the Indians with a 470 series. She had a top game of 159. Michaelina Andrae was Redeemer Lutheran’s top performer, finishing with a 258 series.

Grimes makes grabs

Penn Hills graduate and Slippery Rock University wide receiver Tony Grimes caught two passes for 16 yards during The Rock’s home loss to Kutztown in the Division II quarterfinals. SRU had won its first two playoff games against East Stroudsburg and Tiffin before falling to the Golden Bears.

The Rock finished the season with a 12-2 record.

Dugger hits portal

Georgetown defensive back Jaden Dugger, a Penn Hills graduate, announced Dec. 4 that he has entered the transfer portal.

In his social media message sharing the news, he reminded college coaches that he’s 6-foot-5, 225 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan and can play any position on defense. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Dugger had a strong sophomore season for the Hoyas. He finished with three sacks and an interception during a season where Georgetown went 5-6. Dugger had 41 total tackles, including four tackles for loss.

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