Sports

Woodland Hills’ Only Football Coach and AD George Novak Retires

November 16, 2016

The only football coach and athletic director that Woodland Hills High School has ever known submitted his resignation papers Wednesday. George Novak, Pennsylvania’s 14th all-time winningest high school football coach, is stepping down after an illustrious 30-year career. Novak, 66, has won six WPIAL Championships while guiding the Wolverines to 306 wins along the way, the third best mark in WPIAL history. Only former Blackhawk coach Joe Hamilton and current Upper St. Clair coach Jim Render have won more games. “I’ve been blessed,” Novak told MSA Sports on This Week in the WPIAL after his 300th win in September. “I’ve had some great people to work with at Steel Valley and Woodland Hills.”

2016 PIAA Field Hockey State Playoffs

November 15, 2016

The PIAA has been sponsoring state playoffs for girls field hockey since 1974. In the 43 years since Elizabethtown captured gold in the first title match, a team from the WPIAL has never.....ever won a state title. That streak will continue this year as all three WPIAL teams, Fox Chapel, Pine-Richland and Ellis School were eliminated in Round One. Here are all the results through the Semifinals of the 2016 PIAA Field Hockey Playoffs, plus the sites and times for the State Championship Matches on Saturday. 2016 PIAA CLASS 3-A GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:

WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Eleven 2016

As good as the regular season and the first playoff week were, it's likely that this past week's action provided some of the top moments of the entire campaign. With trips at Heinz Field on the line in 3A-6A, and spots in the semifinals in the balance in 1A and 2A, the crucial plays carried even more importance. This week's selection includes a jaw-dropping hook-and-lateral in an improbable win, a clinching block on an extra-point attempt with no time on the clock, a winning touchdown run in the final minute in a classic 3A bout, and a touchdown that put the exclamation point on a Cinderella run in 4A. 1. McKeesport 41, Gateway 38

WPIAL Alum Q&A – Jesse Zubik

November 14, 2016

While the Avonworth football team has been on the WPIAL radar courtesy of some impressive playoff runs in recent years, the play of a former Antelope is also making headlines. Former Avonworth standout Jesse Zubik has produced a monster season as Washington and Jefferson College, putting up some of the best receiving numbers in all of DIII football. Consequently, the latest installment of WPIAL Alum Q&A will take a closer look at Zubik. As a member of the Antelopes in 2012, Zubik notched 330 yards receiving and three touchdowns as a junior. That season, Avonworth concluded its campaign with a record of 5-5, including a first-round playoff loss to Rochester.

This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 11/13/2016

November 13, 2016

The Highway to Heinz comes to an end while the Road to RMU keeps truckin' into the Final Four this week here on the MSA Sports Network. The 2016 WPIAL football postseason continue with complete coverage of ALL four WPIAL championship games at Heinz Field with full day action from the 3-A, 5-Am 4-A and 6-A Finals along with all four WPIAL 2-A and 1-A Semifinals and concluding with a special edition of the WPIAL Scoreboard Show Saturday at 9:30pm. We also have PIAA and District 6 high school football playoff games on Friday and Saturday, plus PIAA boys soccer state playoff action and title game previews during This Week in the WPIAL ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, November 14th: No Broadcasts

MSA Sports Friday Night HighLights for Week Eleven

November 12, 2016

On Friday, we appropriately tipped our caps to all the veterans past and present who have served this great country of ours. So now, we look back to Friday and tip our cap one final time for the standouts of the various postseason gridiron contests from around the district. There were 16 WPIAL playoff games in all, eight of which determined the lineup for the four finals at Heinz Field and eight that decided the Final Four teams in the two smallest classifications. Whatever the case, here are the ten players who shined bright in leading their teams to the big house on the North Shore or into Semifinals Saturday. Jack Cook - Seneca Valley

WPIAL Football Friday Playoff Summaries – 11/12/2016

The first district postseason on different paths continued on Friday with the final stop on the Highway to Heinz for 6-A, 5-A, 4-A and 3-A playing its Semifinals games while the Road to RMU hit the midway point as Quarterfinals Friday set the stage for the Final Four next Saturday. 13 of the 16 games were decided by double digits points with plenty of them ending in mercy rule fashion, however the three nail-biters that literally came down to the final play drummed up enough excitement to carry the night and make this a memorable round. Here are recaps form all 16 games played around the WPIAL on the second Friday of the district postseason.

Scholastic Notebook – 11/11/2016

November 11, 2016

The latest national high school rankings were released earlier this week and there is a WPIAL team at No. 3 in the country. You might be thinking that Pittsburgh Central Catholic is gaining more national acclaim. But this has nothing to do with Central Catholic, or any other WPIAL team. In fact, this has nothing to do with football. We’re talking girls soccer. The Norwin girls are the No. 3 team in the country in the weekly National Soccer Coaches Association of America rankings. Norwin’s impressive season has jumped the Knights up the rankings. They were No. 10 two weeks ago, and No. 4 last week. The only teams ranked ahead of Norwin are Davis High School (Utah) and Glastonbury (Conn.).

WPIAL Football Playoff Scores for Friday 11/11

November 10, 2016

First and foremost on this second Friday of district postseason play, WE SALUTE ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE STEPPED UP AND SERVED THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS!!!! Secondly, the 16 games played Friday around the WPIAL set the final menu for the four title games in 6-A, 5-A, 4-A and 3-A at Heinz Field next Friday as well as filled the Final Four slate in 2-A and 1-A next Saturday. Here are ALL the results of the 16 games, ALL of which can be heard again ONLY here on the MSA Sports Network. ALL games can be heard archived here on the MSA Sports Network. WPIAL CLASS 6-A Semifinals: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 63 - Pine-Richland Rams 34 (F)

Western Pa High School Football District Playoff Results

While the Highway to Heinz and the Road to RMU continued on Friday in the WPIAL football playoffs, high school postseason gridiron action continued elsewhere in other districts this weekend. Here is a rundown of ALL the final high school football playoff scores from District 8, District 5, District 6, District 9 and District 10 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday that will set the stage for Round One of the PIAA Playoffs next weekend. DISTRICT 5: CLASS 2-A Championship: Chestnut Ridge Lions 41 - Berlin-Brothersvalley Mountaineers 7 DISTRICT 5: CLASS 1-A Championship:

Chicks Picks for Week Eleven

Welcome to Week 11 of the high school football season. Despite being 11 weeks into the season, Chick’s Picks is still having difficult time adjusting to the six classification system. At this critical point in the season, Chick’s Picks knew she needed a meeting with the Boss. After a hard day at work, Chick’s Picks stopped by MSA Sports World Headquarters to voice her concerns to the man in charge. “Boss, I hate to admit it, but I’m lost. Between the Highway to Heinz and the Road to RMU, I don’t know which way to go,” the prognosticator confessed.

Big Game Hunting for Week Eleven

November 9, 2016

Call it what you like, redemption Friday, redo Friday, rematch Friday, every single game in the three largest classifications this Friday night is a game that was already played at some point during the regular season. We prefer to call it the semi-finals, and there is no better time to go Big Game Hunting! The suddenness with which the semi-finals jump up on us in 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A is a little unnerving. But hey, we got a new President recently, let’s find out if we are going to get some new champions as well.

WPIAL Alum Q&A – Shavonta Craft

Jeannette's football tradition is nearly unparalleled in the district, and the Jayhawks have produced a bevy of college and even professional players in recent years. While some of those athletes have played football throughout the country, Shavonta Craft continued his career just a few miles from his high school. Craft, a running back, is about to conclude his tenure at St. Vincent College. He's the featured athlete in this week's edition of the WPIAL Alum Q&A.

WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Ten 2016

November 8, 2016

While football realignment made for an unusual format to begin the 2016 playoffs (first round games in 1 and 2A, quarterfinals in 3-6A), the intensity and excitement was still very much present. So, too, were upsets, as the number of lower-seeded teams that prevailed nearly reached double digits. Among the tops plays for the first week of the postseason were a winning field goal nearly as time expired in 6A, a go-ahead touchdown with just seconds left in 1A, a shocker sealed by an interception in 4A, and a team continuing its magical run in 3A by knocking off a perennial powerhouse. Without further ado, here are the best plays from Week 10. 1. Pine-Richland 35, Bethel Park 32

This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 11/06/2016

November 6, 2016

We start to make the slow transition from the fall to the winter high school sports season as the Highway to Heinz and the Road to RMU continues this week here on the MSA Sports Network. The 2016 WPIAL football postseason continue with 16 Semifinals and Quarterfinals games starting with the MSA Sports pregame Show Friday at 6pm and concluding with the Scoreboard Show Friday at 9:30pm. We also have District 6 and District 9 high school football playoff games and PIHL high school hockey, plus This Week in the WPIAL ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, November 7th: PIHL High School Hockey - Armstrong vs Upper St. Clair at 7:00pm on MSAsports.net Tuesday, November 8th:

2016 WPIAL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS Results

Three defending champions had a chance to win more district gold heading into the finals, but only Freeport was able to follow through with another championship in the first postseason with four classifications. Here are ALL the final results from the 2016 WPIAL Girls Volleyball Playoffs. All of the below results that have (MSA0 after are matches you can hear archived at MSAsports.net. All four championship matches can also be viewed on video archive from Baldwin High School. 2016 WPIAL CLASS 4-A GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Seneca Valley Raiders 3 - Baldwin Highlanders 0 (MSA) (27-25, 25-22, 25-21) WPIAL CLASS 4-A Consolation:

2016 WPIAL BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS Results

The 2016 WPIAL boys soccer champions came in a variety of shapes and sizes from a seed perspective with only one thing in common, none of the four winners began the playoffs as the team to beat. A #2-seed, a #3-seed, a #5-seed and a #6-seed did what they needed to do to register four victories and claim district gold. Here are ALL of the results from the 2016 WPIAL Boys Soccer Playoffs. All results with (MSA) after are matches you can hear archived here at MSAsports.net All four championship matches can be viewed as well with the video archive. 2016 WPIAL CLASS 4-A BOYS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: North Allegheny Tigers 2 - Seneca Valley Raiders 1 in Overtime (MSA)

2016 WPIAL GIRLS SOCCER PLAYOFFS Results

In the very first four classification district postseason, three #1-seeds prevailed and the other was a #3-seed that stunned the top-seed in the finals. In winning the first ever 4-A crown, Norwin also became the only girls soccer team to repeat as WPIAL champions. Here are ALL the results from the 2016 WPIAL Girls Soccer Playoffs. All results with (MSA) after are matches you can hear archived here at MSAsports.net. All four championship matches can also be viewed with the video archive. 2016 WPIAL CLASS 4-A GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Norwin Knights 3 - Canon-McMillan Big Macs 1 (MSA) WPIAL CLASS 4-A Consolation:

City League and Other Western Pa District Football Playoffs

While the Highway to Heinz and the Road to RMU opened up this weekend with the start of the expanded WPIAL football playoffs, high school postseason gridiron action started elsewhere in other districts this weekend. Here is a rundown of ALL the final high school football playoff scores in the Pittsburgh City League (District 8), District 5, District 6, District 9 and District 10. DISTRICT 8: PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE Championship Game: University Prep Wildcats 15 - Brashear Bulls 14 (MSA) DISTRICT 5 and 8: CLASS 2-A Semifinals: Berlin-Brothersvalley Mountaineers 21 - Westinghouse Bulldogs 20

WPIAL Football Saturday Playoff Summaries

For the first time in years, there was a Saturday game on opening weekend in the WPIAL Football Playoffs. With both Keystone Oaks and Bishop Canevin earning opening round home games at Dormont Stadium, KO joined 62 other teams in action Friday night while BC hosted California for the 32nd and final football postseason game for the first weekend of scholastic gridiron playoff action. A special thanks to Bob Orkwis for this recap. WPIAL CLASS 1-A First Round:

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