Sports
Archbishop Wood Wins PIAA Class AAA Football Title
December 14, 2013
Seventh year head coach Steve Devlin knew adjustments needed to be made and made they were in the Class AAA championship game at Hersheypark Stadium on Friday night as the Archbishop Wood Vikings used a pounding, time consuming ground game to defeat the Bishop McDevitt Crusaders to claim their second PIAA football crown with a 22-10 victory. Jarrett McClenton set a PIAA Class AAA title records with 40 carries and 238 yards as the Vikings used a drive that last just over twelve minutes to extend the lead to 14-3 with 4:05 remaining in regulation time. Archbishop Wood possessed the football for almost 33 minutes of a 48 minute regulation game. The defense did their part, holding the Crusaders to just 19 yards and one first down in the second half.Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Wins First PIAA Football Crown in Overtime Thriller
December 13, 2013
It was a fairytale ending for the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans, claiming a 15-14 victory in overtime after rolling the dice. There was no doubt in Head Coach Bob Revenstahl’s mind, he was going for two and the win. It was, afterall, a decision that paid off in an opening season victory over Apollo-Ridge and it paid off with an undefeated season and a PIAA Class A Football Championship on Friday afternoon at Hersheypark Stadium.2013 MSA SPORTS ELITE ELEVEN
The Elite 11 all-star team this year is full of record breakers. The Elite 11 is made up of the top 11 players in the WPIAL, regardless of position. It is picked by the MSA Sports staff. This year’s Elite 11 includes: the all-time leading passer in WPIAL history; another quarterback who is close to records; a running back who is the leading rusher in Aliquippa history; a quarterback who made history this season with his arm and legs; a receiver who set a school record for receiving yards. Here is a look at the 2013 Elite 11: 2013 PLAYER OF THE YEAR CHASE WINOVICH, THOMAS JEFFERSON QB/RB-LB, 6-4, 220, SENIOR Looking for the top player in the WPIAL? The “Chase” is on.MSA Sports Top Ten – WPIAL Wrestling – 12/13/2013
Here are the latest Top 10 rankings in WPIAL Team Wrestling. Every Thursday through January, MSA Sports ranks the top ten teams in both the WPIAL Class AAA and Class AA team wrestling. Don't miss Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle Show every Monday at 7:00pm AND weekly matches broadcast on Wednesday's and select weekends only here on the MSA Sports Network. Section records in parenthesis. WPIAL CLASS AAA: 1. Franklin Regional Panthers (0-0) (Last Week #1) 2. Canon-McMillan Big Macs (1-0) (Last Week #2) 3. Latrobe Wildcats (1-0) (Last Week #3)Big Game Hunting – The Football Fourpack for Week 16
December 11, 2013
The final Big Game Hunting of the 2013 season is here, and we are delighted that we still have three teams to talk about in week sixteen. For the 11th time in the history of the state playoffs District 7 will be represented by three teams. The WPIAL will be looking to add to their lead in the chase for state championships, the WPIAL enters this weekend with 33 state championships, districts 3 and 4 are tied for second place with 11 championships each. MSA Sports will have you covered from Hershey for all three district teams vying for titles.MSA Sports Top Ten – PIHL Hockey – 12/11/2013
Here are the latest MSA Sports Sports Frozen Fab Five rankings of PIHL hockey teams in each of the four classifications...including a NEW #1 team in the Open Class. Don't miss the PIHL Notebook every Monday on our website and the weekly PIHL Power Play Show every Wednesday night at 8:00pm here on the home of the best high school hockey coverage, the MSA Sports Network at www.MSAsports.net PIHL CLASS AAA: 1) PETERS TOWNSHIP INDIANS (7-1-0) (Last Week #1) 2) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (4-2-1) (Last Week #2) 3) SENECA VALLEY RAIDERS (5-3-0) (Last Week #4)Scholastic Notebook – 12/09/2013
December 9, 2013
In 24 hours, basketball player Anthony Richards went from making nothing – to the New Castle record books. It was one of the oddest starts to a season you’ll see from a player, a Jekyll and Hyde thing for Richards, a 5-foot-7 senior guard at New Castle who has been a starter on two WPIAL championship teams. The season started Friday and Richards went scoreless in a victory against West Middlesex. It was hard to believe from one of the best shooters in the WPIAL. He also was 0 for 2 from the free-throw line. But the next night was a totally different story. Richards was “unconscious” from the field, making a school-record nine 3-pointers as New Castle crushed Perry, 88-34. Richards scored all of his 27 points on 3-pointers.PIHL Notebook – 12/09/2013
Welcome to another edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. First up, “Melting the Ice” provides your weekly thermometer of streaking teams around the league. Meanwhile, this week’s “Scoreboard Watch” includes some great action in Class A, highlighted by a blowout upset featuring two former section rivals. Last but not least, we round things out with a preview of three upcoming broadcasts, two of which feature some powerhouses in Class AA. So, let’s light the lamp on this edition of “PIHL Notebook.” Oh, and by the way, Happy Birthday, Mom!This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 12/08/2013
December 8, 2013
Well the weather outside is frightful, but the broadcast schedule for the final week of the high school football season is quite delightful this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have all three remaining WPIAL football champions in action this weekend as the Road to Hershey concludes with the PIAA Football Championship Games at Hersheypark Stadium. We also open up section play in boys and girls high school basketball along with the start of section action on the mats in high school wrestling and men's and women's college basketball as well, plus Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and the PIHL Power Play Show ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, December 9th:Road to Hershey Semifinals Recaps
The three remaining WPIAL football champions on the Road to Hershey have all met their final destination of playing for a state title next weekend at Hersheypark Stadium, two of them based on impressive one-sided victories while the other struggled, but prevailed as Pittsburgh Central Catholic, South Fayette and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic all improved to a perfect 15-0 with PIAA Semifinals on Saturday. PIAA CLASS AAAA: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 45 - Lower Dauphin Falcons 0 In a PIAA Semifinal defensive performance for the ages, WPIAL AAAA Champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic (15-0) pounded District 3 Champion Lower Dauphin 45-0 at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona.2013 PIAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
December 7, 2013
Three WPIAL football champions are now a perfect 15-0 and are moving on to Hershey to play for a state football championship. Pittsburgh Central Catholic in AAAA, South Fayette in AA and Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic in A all registered impressive Semifinals victories on Saturday afternoon and will conclude the Road to Hershey next weekend playing for a state crown at Hersheypark Stadium. Here are ALL of the final results through the State Semifinals on Saturday in the 2013 PIAA Football Playoffs, plus the schedule for the state championships in Hershey with the AA and AAAA title games being bumped back from Saturday to Sunday here on the MSA Sports Network.WPIAL Girls Basketball – 2013-2014 Preview
December 6, 2013
With the exception of Vincentian Academy in Class A, repeating for the 2012-2013 WPIAL girls basketball champions could be a steep up hill climb. Sure, bethel Park, South park and Bishop Canevin are going to be competitors and will be tough outs once the district playoffs start in mid-February, but graduation and injuries have hit those three defending champs hard, possibly leaving the door open for some new faces raising the gold in March. Here is a rundown of WPIAL girls basketball Players to Watch and the Preseason Top Ten in all four classifications. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Players to Watch: Monica Burns - Hempfield Maria Palarino - Penn-Trafford Alayna Gribble - Norwin Erin Mathias - Fox ChapelWPIAL Girls Basketball – 2012-2013 Review
December 5, 2013
The 2012-2013 WPIAL girls basketball championship games had a bit of a southern flavor to them. Five of the eight participants, including two of the eventual champions are from south of the City of Pittsburgh. Bethel Park in AAAA and Bishop Canevin in AA celebrated first ever district girls basketball titles while South Park won for the second time in six years in AAA and Vincentian Academy repeated in A with the Royals third crown in four years. The Eagles and Crusaders followed up their district gold with a PIAA state championship as well. Here is a look back at the standings and results from the WPIAL and PIAA girls basketball playoffs in 2012-2013. 2012-2013 WPIAL GIRLS BASKETBALL STANDINGS:Big Game Hunting – The Football Fourpack for Week 15
December 4, 2013
State semifinals week is here and three district seven teams remain with a seat at the table. We will break down their opponents here in Big Game Hunting week 15. Kudos to West Allegheny as they bow out in week 14 losing to Erie Cathedral Prep here on the MSA Sports Network. Hearing that score and seeing the Indians throughout the regular season makes you just marvel at how good the Ramblers must be. The WPIAL banner remains high aloft, can one, two, or even all three teams, reach week sixteen? PIAA CLASS AAAA: Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings (14-0) vs. Lower Dauphin Falcons (13-1) Saturday December 7th at 1:00 PM @ Mansion Park in Altoona, PA broadcast on the MSA Sports Network by Josh Rowntree and Lou RoodMSA Sports Top Ten – PIHL Hockey – 12/04/2013
Here are the latest MSA Sports Sports Frozen Fab Five rankings of PIHL hockey teams in each of the four classifications. Don't miss the PIHL Notebook every Monday on our website and the weekly PIHL Power Play Show every Wednesday night at 8:00pm here on the home of the best high school hockey coverage, the MSA Sports Network at www.MSAsports.net PIHL CLASS AAA: 1) PETERS TOWNSHIP INDIANS (6-1-0) (Last Week #1) 2) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (4-2-1) (Last Week #2) 3) PENN-TRAFFORD WARRIORS (5-2-0) (Last Week #3) 4) SENECA VALLEY RAIDERS (4-3-0) (Last Week Unranked)WPIAL Boys Basketball – 2013-2014 Preview
The boys basketball gold has been somewhat hoarded the last few years in the WPIAL. Of the twelve championships won over the course of the last three years, five schools (Gateway, New Castle, Montour, Beaver Falls and Vincentian Academy) have won ten of them. Could the 2013-2014 season mark a changing of the guard in District 7 boys hoops, or just more of the same golden antics from those teams listed above? Here is a rundown of WPIAL boys basketball Players to Watch and the Preseason Top Ten in all four classifications. WPIAL CLASS AAAA Players to Watch: Kason Harrell - Hempfield Tony Pilato - Hempfield Matt D'Amico - Fox Chapel Brian Papich - Fox Chapel Tom Kromka - GatewayWPIAL Boys Basketball – 2012-2013 Review
December 3, 2013
It was an historic season for New Castle, as they won a second straight boys basketball district title, this time in Class AAAA after winning gold in the 2011-2012 season in Class AAA. It was also a year to shine for Montour in Class AAA, Beaver Falls for a second straight year in Class AA and Vincentian Academy in Class A. Beaver Falls took their winning seriously as they then went on to be the only WPIAL to win a boys basketball state crown. Here is a look back at the 2012-2013 WPIAL boys basketball season. FINAL 2012-2013 WPIAL BOYS BASKETBALL STANDINGS:WPIAL Wrestling – 2013-2014 Preview
Will a coaching change at Canon-McMillan slow down the Big Macs? Will the Burrell Buccaneers add an eighth straight WPIAL Class AA team title to their bloated wrestling trophy case? Which returning wrestlers and top newcomers will have that golden shine about them this winter? We preview the 2013-2014 WPIAL Wrestling season with a look at some of the top wrestlers in the district and the MSA Sports Preseason Top Ten in both classifications> Don't miss Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle, every Monday night at 7:00pm only here on the MSA Sports Network. WPIAL CLASS AAA:WPIAL Wrestling – 2012-2013 Review
December 2, 2013
The two wrestling dynasties in the WPIAL continued along their golden way a year ago when Canon-McMillan in Class AAA and Burrell in Class AA won district team titles, later matched by a team state championship for the Big Macs. As we prepare for another season of great mat action, here is a look back at the team standings, team playoff results and individual WPIAL and PIAA results from the 2012-2013 season. FINAL 2012-2013 WPIAL Team Wrestling Standings # - Won Section Championship % - Clinched Sub-Section Championship * - Clinched Berth in Section Playoff x - Eliminated From Section PlayoffPIHL Notebook – 12/02/2013
Welcome to the 2013-14 debut edition of “PIHL Notebook,” your weekly companion to “The PIHL Power Play” on the MSA Sports Network. We return this year with two familiar segments while the third gets a facelift. First, we have your weekly thermometer of streaking teams in “Melting the Ice” while also previewing upcoming MSA broadcasts. The “Scoreboard Watch” is also back with a new twist, providing the highlights in more a capsule format while expanding to include the top t here games from each classification during the past week. That means more teams and players get a mention, which is what this little article is all about. So, let’s light the lamp on this season of “PIHL Notebook.”
