Sports

Norwin’s Riley Zimmerman battles Seneca Valley’s Zachary LaValle for the ball during the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals last season.

Norwin boys soccer ready for another playoff run

September 19, 2020

After a lengthy first-round playoff drought, Norwin broke through and reached at least the WPIAL boys soccer quarterfinals two years in a row.

North Hills girls volleyball coach Vicky Danko is in her second season on the bench.

Fast start provides boost to North Hills girls volleyball team

Getting on the court was a victory in itself, but the North Hills girls volleyball team took it a step further when it kicked off its season Sept. 15.

Rick Kabbert was hired to coach the North Hills girls soccer team prior to the 2020 season.

Under new leadership, North Hills girls soccer optimistic for success

Rick Kabbert was leery he’d face some skepticism.

Pine-Richland quarterback Cole Spencer looks to pass during the first quarter Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, at Upper St. Clair.

Trib HSSN’s Week 2 top performers for passing, rushing, receiving

Top performers for Week 2 high school football in Western Pennsylvania.

High school scores, summaries and schedules for Sept. 18, 2020

Football

WPIAL Class A roundup: Laure rushes for 5 TDs to lead Rochester past Union

Sal Laure ran for 226 yards and five touchdowns to lead Rochester to a 54-24 victory against Union (0-2, 0-2) in the Class A Big Seven Conference on Friday night.

Fullback Tyler Jones (front) and running back Shileak Livingston prepare to run a play during a practice at Beaver Falls High School.

WPIAL Class 2A roundup: No. 1 Beaver Falls runs past Laurel

Josh Hough ran for 202 yards and two touchdowns and Shileak Livingstone added 103 rushing yards and two TDs as top-ranked Beaver Falls stayed unbeaten with a 29-14 victory over Laurel (1-1, 1-1) in the Class 2A Midwestern Conference on Friday night.

Southmoreland quarterbacks Zach Cernuto and Kadin Keefer, background, work on passing drills during a heat acclamation practice on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020 at Southmoreland High School.

WPIAL Class 3A roundup: Southmoreland edges South Allegheny in Interstate Conference

Zach Cernuto threw for 129 yards and a touchdown as Southmoreland scored a 28-21 victory over South Allegheny (0-2, 0-2) in Class 3A Interstate Conference play Friday night.

Gateway Derrick Davis during workouts Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at Gateway High School.

WPIAL Class 5A roundup: Derrick Davis scores 4 times as Gateway tops Bethel Park

Carsen Engleka threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns to lead Class 5A No. 2 Gateway to a 55-14 victory over Bethel Park (0-2) in Class 5A nonconference play Friday.

Pine-Richland’s Caden Schweiger scores during the second quarter Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, at Upper St. Clair.

Top-ranked Pine-Richland wastes no time in victory over No. 4 Upper St. Clair

Pine-Richland quarterback Cole Spencer had the football in his hands so often Friday night that he felt like he’d left a half-dozen touchdowns on the field.

Canon-McMillan’s Chris Davis pulls in a pass duing a preseason practice.

WPIAL Class 6A roundup: Canon-McMillan storms back to beat Mt. Lebanon

After falling behind early, Chris Davis’ 90-yard kickoff return sparked Canon-McMillan to a 24-17 comeback win over Mt. Lebanon in Class 6A play Friday night.

Laurel Highlands’ Rodney Gallagher throws during workouts Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 at Laurel Highlands High School.

WPIAL Class 4A roundup: Rodney Gallagher lifts Laurel Highlands past Ringgold

Joe Chambers threw for 187 yards and a touchdown as Laurel Highlands captured a 16-12 victory over Ringgold (0-2, 0-2) in the Class 4A Big Eight Conference on Friday night.

Thomas Jefferson’s Preston Zandier collides with Trinity Anthony Phillips on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020.

‘Sloppy’ Thomas Jefferson beats Trinity, sets up matchup against Belle Vernon

September 18, 2020

For the second consecutive week, Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak watched as his team once again was on the positive side of a lopsided outcome.

McGuffey’s Rocco Falosk caries the ball against Charleroi on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020.

No letdown for McGuffey after big win; Highlanders rout Charleroi

McGuffey coach Ed Dalton had to wonder how his team would respond after defeating Washington — one of their biggest wins in recent history — 7-6 last week. Early in a Century Conference game against Charleroi, Dalton probably was worried.

Belle Vernon’s Devin Whitlock (1) runs past West Mifflin’s Diondre Jefferson (5) on Sept. 18, 2020, at Belle Vernon.

Belle Vernon shuts out West Mifflin for Big 8 victory

After a big win, Belle Vernon coach Matt Humbert usually tells his team to enjoy it for a day or two before returning to practice the following week.

The Seneca Valley football team breaks the pre-game huddle before playing Hempfield on Sept. 18, 2020, at Spartans Stadium.

Seneca Valley makes waves in debut, routs Hempfield

The wait was a bit longer than expected, but when Seneca Valley finally was able to take the field for its football opener Friday night, the Raiders did not disappoint.

Chartiers Valley players celebrate after defeating South Fayette on Sept. 18, 2020, at Chartiers Valley.

Knause’s faith in players helps Chartiers Valley knock off South Fayette

Even if things hadn’t always gone to plan Friday, Chartiers Valley coach Dan Knause had faith in his players.

Woodland Hills’ Deontae Williams (6) looks to pass during their game against Penn Hills at the Wolvarena in Turtle Creek on Sept. 18, 2020.

Woodland Hills rolls over Penn Hills in renewal of rivalry

Rivals who took a five-year hiatus, Penn Hills and Woodland Hills met once again at the Wolverena on Friday night. After giving up the opening score, the Wolverines scored 26 unanswered points to defeat the Indians, 26-7, in WPIAL Class 5A nonconference play.