Sports

Steel Valley’s Cruce Brookins takes off on a 65-yard touchdown run in the first half against Serra Catholic on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.

2022 WPIAL statistical leaders for rushing, passing, receiving in Week 9

October 29, 2022

Top performers for Week 9 of high school football in Western Pennsylvania.

Bethel Park players salute their fans after defeating Peters Township on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.

Bethel Park completes breakout regular season with win over rival Peters Township

Two seasons ago, Bethel Park went winless.

Thomas Jefferson’s Matthew Martinis runs the ball against McKeesport on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.

Thomas Jefferson ends regular season by beating McKeesport

Thomas Jefferson has been a completely different football team over the past few weeks, and it capped off that turnaround by traveling to McKeesport and handing it its first loss in a 20-10 Big 7 Conference matchup Friday night.

Steel Valley’s Cruce Brookins (7) comes down with the interception in the end zone in the first quarter of a game Friday at Serra Catholic.

Cruce Brookins steals the show as Steel Valley bests Serra Catholic

It was the Cruce Brookins show atop “The Nest” at Serra Catholic on Friday night.

Mars gets past North Catholic, grabs playoff spot

October 28, 2022

Mars needed a victory Friday against North Catholic, and it also needed to secure the proper amount of Gardner points.

Belle Vernon’s Quinton Martin scores his fourth touchdown of the game Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, against Elizabeth Forward.

Quinton Martin scores 5 TDs as Belle Vernon dominates Elizabeth Forward

It’s the season for trick or treat, and Friday night it was Belle Vernon reaping the treats and causing Elizabeth Forward nightmares days before Halloween.

Members of the Mt. Lebanon band take the field during a game against Canon-McMillan on Oct. 28, 2022, at Mt. Lebanon.

Mt. Lebanon punches playoff ticket with shutout win

Mt. Lebanon punched its ticket to the Class 6A playoffs Friday night. The Blue Devils downed the beat-up Canon-Mac Big Macs, 31-0.

Hampton and Highlands players meet for the coin toss on Oct. 28, 2022, at Hampton’s Fridley Field.

Highlands defense shuts down Hampton, but Talbots still qualify for playoffs

In a game with playoff implications in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference, Highlands defeated Hampton, 19-7, Friday night.

Penn-Trafford’s Carmen Metcalfe pulls in a pass over Franklin Regional’s Chase Lemke on Friday. The Warriors won 28-21 in overtime to clinch a playoff spot in Class 5A.

WPIAL football playoff field set

Here’s a look at the teams that have qualified for the WPIAL football playoffs. The playoffs begin next Friday, and pairings will announced at 2 p.m. Saturday on Trib HSSN.

The Hempfield band plays the national anthem before a football game against Norwin on Friday.

Gino Caesar passes 1,000-yard mark, leads Hempfield past Norwin

Their football playoff aspirations dashed, Hempfield and Norwin entered their 2022 season finales having been reduced to playing for the latest bragging rights in this storied Route 30 rivalry.

Penn-Trafford’s Daniel Tarabrella celebrates with Carmen Metcalfe (2) after Metcalfe’s touchdown against Franklin Regional in the second quarter Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, at Penn-Trafford High School.

Penn-Trafford rallies for overtime win, clinches playoff spot

Things didn’t look good for the Penn-Trafford football team midway through the fourth quarter Friday.

Mt. Pleasant grabs momentum, rolls past Southmoreland

Mt. Pleasant traded a Southmoreland field goal for a touchdown to take control late in the first half and rode that momentum into the second for a 42-17 victory over the homestanding Scotties on Friday evening in Interstate Conference play at Russ Grimm Field in Alverton.