Sports
This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 12/01/2014
December 1, 2014
The Road to Hershey continues this week as we welcome in both the month of December and the 2014-2015 winter scholastic sports season this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We have ALL four WPIAL football champions in action in the PIAA Semifinals right here on The Network, along with plenty of PIHL high school hockey, men's college basketball and the debut of WPIAL high school boys and girls basketball and scholastic wrestling, plus the debut editions of Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle and the PIHL Power Play Show here at MSAsports.net Monday, December 1st: TALK SHOW - Inside the WPIAL Wrestling Circle at 7:00pm on MSAsports.netPIAA Quarterfinals Weekend Recaps
November 29, 2014
It was a great start for the WPIAL as all four of its champions won going away. With an average margin of victory of 26 points, Pine-Richland, Central Valley, South Fayette and Clairton are all on their way to the State Semifinals. Here are recaps from the three games played on Friday and the one contest played Saturday on Quarterfinals Weekend in the PIAA Football Playoffs. A special thanks to Mike Azadian, Bob Gregg and Lou Rood for their help on these recaps.District College Football Recap for Saturday, November 29th
In the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, the W & J Presidents ran into a buzz saw known as the Mount Union Purple Raiders. The 11-time champions scored 38 points in the second quarter to claim a 67-0 victory on their home field in Alliance, Ohio. Kevin Burke, the returning Division III player of the year, threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns in the win, three to Roman Namdar. The Purple Raiders, the D-III leader in total offense, posted 703 yards while shutting down the Presidents, who were also a top 10 offense, to just 252 yards. Mount Union advances to the quarterfinals, where they will meet John Carroll, a 14-12 victor over Wheaton, that game will be next Saturday, likely at Mount Union.MSA Sports Frozen Fab Five – PIHL Hockey – 11/28/2014
November 28, 2014
Here are the initial MSA Sports Sports Frozen Fab Five rankings of PIHL hockey teams in each of the five classifications for the 2014-2015 high school hockey season. Don't miss the latest PIHL rankings every Wednesday during the regular season, plus starting in December, it's 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 audio and video high school hockey coverage, the MSA Sports Network at www.MSAsports.net PIHL CLASS AAA: 1) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (7-1-1) (Last Week #1) 2) PETERS TOWNSHIP INDIANS (7-1-0) (Last Week #2)District College Football Preview for Saturday, November 29th
November 27, 2014
And then there was one, only a single team remains on the field in the final week of November in the local area. W & J has a tough test on the road for the second straight week against one of the most recognizable programs in Division III and across the country. Here is a preview of the game, which can be heard right here on the Network: NCAA Division III Playoffs/Second Round W & J (10-1) at Mount Union (11-0) Noon on WJPA 1450-AM and the MSA Sports Network The Presidents intercepted a school record eight passes in a 41-25 road victory over NCAC champion Wittenburg last Saturday. W & J has not advanced to the second round since 2008.Big Game Hunting – Week Fourteen 2014
November 26, 2014
The four WPIAL champions venture into the PIAA tournament this coming weekend carrying the District 7 banner with them. These teams hold the hopes of garnering state titles 36-39 for the WPIAL firmly in their hearts. MSA Sports follows each team in the PIAA Quarters. The WPIAL champs enter the PIAA tournament with a combined five state titles, Clairton owns four and South Fayette one. Good news is that no quarter-final opponent has ever won a PIAA championship. A pair of District 7 quarterbacks could potentially break all-time state records in this tournament. We continue to go Big Game Hunting!WPIAL Plays of the Week – WPIAL Championships 2014
On Friday, four WPIAL Champions were crowned at Heinz Field on the North Shore. Rivalries, big plays, late scores and massive individual performances highlighted a stellar day for District 7 at Heinz Field. Congratulations to Central Valley, Pine-Richland, South Fayette and Clairton on winning WPIAL crowns. Next up is the Road to Hershey. But first, let’s take one last look back at the top plays from the WPIAL Football Championships.Scholastic Notebook – 11/23/2014
November 23, 2014
There was the WPIAL regular season, then the playoffs, and now another season begins for four WPIAL teams. The four WPIAL champions begin the PIAA playoffs next weekend with four quarterfinal games. Sites and times have been determined for all of the games. Here is a look at the matchups for the WPIAL champs: CLASS AAAA - PINE-RICHLAND VS. STATE COLLEGE – This game will be played Saturday at Mansion Park in Altoona at 1 p.m. State College’s record certainly isn’t impressive. The Little Lions are only 6-6. But they are fresh off a terrific defensive performance against McDowell Saturday night.This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 11/23/2014
Now that the journey on the Highway to Heinz has ended, it's time to take a spin on the Road to Hershey this week here on the MSA Sports Network. All four WPIAL football champions will be in action in the PIAA Quarterfinals and all four games are right here on The Network.2014 WPIAL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RESULTS
The two things this years District 7 football champions all had in common were they had previously won a title at Heinz Field and that they won this years crown with a perfect record. South Fayette successfully repeated in Class AA, Clairton made it six championships in seven years in Class A, Central Valley captured their second title in the schools five years of existence and Pine-Richland is golden again for the first time since 2003. Three top-seed and the Bears as a #2-seed prevail in a postseason where there were few surprises and only the strong survived. Here are ALL of the final results from the 2014 WPIAL Football Playoffs.District College Football Recap for Saturday, November 22nd
November 22, 2014
As the local college football season winds down, it’s time for playoff action in both D-II and D-III with two local teams in action. The ECAC held their annual bowl games with two more local teams involved and the NEC winds down conference play with a pair of local games. Here are recaps from ALL the games, including one heard on the Network:
Central Valley Ends West Allegheny Reign in AAA
In what was an instant classic -- but what would anyone expect from two Parkway Conference teams -- the Central Valley Warriors scored in the final minute to defeat the West Allegheny Indians 35-28 to claim their second WPIAL Class AAA championship in the school’s five year history. The win also continues the dream of a perfect season for the Warriors, now 13-0. (Picture left: CV Warriors from left Kurt Reinstadtler, B.J. Powell, John George & Dante Lucci celebrate gold in locker room)
South Fayette Repeats With Another Victory Over Aliquippa
November 21, 2014
The South Fayette Lions successfully defended their WPIAL title, as they knocked off Aliquippa 31-22 in the Class AA Championship at Heinz Field on Friday.
Pine-Richland ‘Blows’ Past Central Catholic 21-13
The last time the Pine-Richland Rams tasted WPIAL Championship gold was 2003 when it was still a Class AAA team. The mass exodus of the Allegheny population from the Pittsburgh city limits worked to the school's advantage, warranting the WPIAL to raise the Rams' status to Quad-A competition beginning in 2010. Since that time, the program had experienced quite a few growing pains as they assimilated themselves to the competition...until now! Pine-Richland beat defending champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic Friday 21-13 at Heinz Field. (Picture above: Usually he's throwing touchdown passes, above Ben DiNucci catches a TD toss that put the Rams up 14-0)
Golden Bears Back on Top With WPIAL Class A Win
After a one year hiatus, the WPIAL Class A championship is coming back to Clairton. The Bears improved to 13-0 and won their sixth district title in the last seven years with a convincing 46-14 triumph over the Avonworth Antelopes Friday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Picture left: Ryan Williams launces one of his five touchdown passes) The first quarter of the WPIAL Class A finals started as a back-and-forth battle of heavyweights throwing haymakers. On the second play of their second possession, Lamont Wade scored on a 54-yard run. The standard two-point conversion attempt by the Bears was no good on an incomplete pass.MSA Sports Frozen Fab Five – PIHL Hockey – 11/20/2014
November 20, 2014
Here are the initial MSA Sports Sports Frozen Fab Five rankings of PIHL hockey teams in each of the five classifications for the 2014-2015 high school hockey season...including a NEW #1 team in Class AAA. Don't miss the latest PIHL rankings every Wednesday during the regular season, plus starting in December, it's 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 audio and video high school hockey coverage, the MSA Sports Network at www.MSAsports.net PIHL CLASS AAA: 1) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (7-1-0) (Last Week #3) 2) PETERS TOWNSHIP INDIANS (6-1-0) (Last Week #1)Chicks Picks – Championship Friday
Welcome to Week 13 of the high school football season. As Chick’s Picks began research for Championship Friday, she quickly realized all of the familiar faces that will be at Heinz Field again this year—Central Catholic, Central Valley, West Allegheny, South Fayette, Aliquippa, and Clairton. Similarly, Chick’s Picks took a moment to reflect on the many familiar faces at the MSA Sports Network that she has had the pleasure of knowing over the years.District College Football Preview for Saturday, November 22nd
The NEC winds up regular season action with the annual Steel Bowl, but the focus shifts to playoff action in both Division II and III with two tournament games and a pair of ECAC bowl games. Here are previews of ALL the games, including one on the Network: NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS/FIRST ROUND W & J(9-1) at Wittenberg(9-1) Noon on WJPA 1450-AM and the MSA Sports Network It’s the 24th trip and third straight to the NCAA playoffs for the Presidents. The Presidents fell to Waynesburg 31-28 last week in overtime, ending dreams of an unbeaten season. W & J led the PAC in scoring at 45 points per game.Big Game Hunting – Week Thirteen 2014
November 19, 2014
Championship Friday on a work day for WPIAL football fans, it will be interesting to see what that does to attendance at Heinz Field. The MSA Sports gang will be there in full force and will have you covered from every angle with updates, interviews, videos, pictures, and game stories. Everything you need to enjoy Championship Friday completely will be at www.msasports.net. The larger classifications feature rematches from this regular season. AA features a rematch of last year’s championship game and in single A the Bears are back after a year away. Let’s go Big Game Hunting.WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Twelve 2014
November 18, 2014
For all practical purposes, the Highway to Heinz is over. Up next is the WPIAL Football Championships at Heinz Field. The Steelers are scoring points at a blistering rate over their last three games at the big ketchup bottle. If the WPIAL Semifinals are indication, we could be in for a track meet on Friday. The Semis saw a rare challenge for the Bears of Clairton, a rare knockoff of the defending Class A State Champions and much, much more. So before we bundle up and make our way to the North Shore, let’s take one last look at the top plays from the WPIAL Football Semifinals:
