Sports

Westinghouse’s Donte Taylor tackles Farrell’s Brandon Chambers for a loss during their PIAA Class 2A state quarterfinal Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, at Cupples Stadium.

Westinghouse shuts down Farrell, sets up PIAA semifinal showdown with WPIAL champion

November 26, 2022

Westinghouse fans have a variety of chants and cheers, but “go defense go” seemed to have a little extra enthusiasm Saturday afternoon at Cupples Stadium.

Coach John Skiba and Apollo-Ridge authored the upset of the year when they knocked off Serra Catholic on Oct. 21.

Guido: After memorable season, time to hand out annual football awards

With the unusually quick convergence of the fall sports season with the winter sports, our sports department has been as busy as the guy who runs the fake snowmaking machine for Hallmark Christmas movies.

Belle Vernon head coach Matt Humbert hoists the WPIAL championship trophy with his team after defeating Avonworth in the Class 3A final on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, at Acrisure Stadium.

Belle Vernon’s long-awaited WPIAL football title was product of tireless work

A 30-plus-hour work week was worth it for a WPIAL championship.

North Allegheny’s Lucia Wells plays against Fox Chapel Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022 at North Allegheny High School.

WPIAL girls soccer players lauded with All-America, all-region, all-state honors

A trio of WPIAL girls soccer standouts guided their teams to long postseason runs and now are reaping individual rewards.

Seneca Valley’s Beaux Lizewski controls the ball against Fox Chapel on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, in Jackson.

WPIAL boys earn All-America, all-region, all-state soccer accolades

Beau Lizewski helped lead Seneca Valley (22-1-1) to a PIAA Class 4A championship and a runner-up finish in the WPIAL.

Penn-Trafford’s Olivia Pepple averaged 11 points last season.

Penn-Trafford girls shooting for more consistency on offense

Making open shots. That’s one of the biggest things the Penn-Trafford girls basketball team will be working on this season, veteran coach John Giannikas said.

Penn-Trafford’s Andrew Kessler defends on Greensburg Central Catholic’s Tyree Turner last season.

Young Penn-Trafford boys roster ready to tackle new challenges

Just because the Penn-Trafford boys basketball team dropped from Class 6A to Class 5A this season, it doesn’t mean things will be easier.

Ben DiNucci warms up before a preseason game with the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 24.

Pine-Richland notebook: XFL comes calling for Ben DiNucci

Former Pine-Richland quarterback Ben DiNucci is getting another shot at pro football.

Olivia Gribble takes a shot in practice during her senior year at Norwin.

Norwin notebook: Graduates making impact on women’s college hardwood

Norwin has produced college-level talent before in women’s basketball, but the Lady Knights’ imprint on the game is large this season.

Team West’s Ella Evans of Franklin Regional celebrates after scoring during the WCCA girls volleyball all-star game on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Ligonier Valley High School.

Franklin Regional notebook: Football standouts earn postseason honors

The Big 5/6 Conference, which acknowledges the accomplishments of teams and athletes in the WPIAL’s two largest classifications, announced its all-section teams for football, soccer and volleyball.

The Franklin Regional Youth Football flag team won a Big East championship this season.

Franklin Regional teams win youth football championships

Franklin Regional Youth football was double trouble for opponents in the Big East this season.

Roster depth, move to Class 2A boost Hampton wrestling team

For the first time in program history, the Hampton wrestling team can try to pick on someone its own size.

Hampton’s Ben Sheets competes in the 100 backstroke during the 2022 WPIAL Class 2A swimming championships.

Hampton boys swim team in search of WPIAL 3-peat with new-look roster

The Hampton boys swimming team will need to take a different lane to a third consecutive WPIAL Class 2A title.

Aliquippa’s Tiqwai Hayes carries past Central Valley’s Tyler Ondrusek during the WPIAL Class 4A championship game on Friday at Acrisure Stadium.

WPIAL Class 4A final by the numbers: Aliquippa 34, Central Valley 7

November 25, 2022

Aliquippa 34, Central Valley 7

Unbeaten State College ousts North Allegheny from PIAA playoffs

STATE COLLEGE — For an instant, it appeared Logan Kushner had Khiryn Boyd for the touchdown that would have gotten North Allegheny, trying to rally from a 21-point deficit, back to within a score.

Pine-Richland defensive back Bryce O’Brien (left) celebrates with teammate Tenner Cunningham after hauling in an interception to secure the Rams’ victory over Cathedral Prep in the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals Friday.

Pine-Richland rallies from 2 scores down to beat Cathedral Prep in PIAA quarterfinals

One week removed from the WPIAL Class 5A championship, the Pine-Richland Rams ran their winning streak to 10 with a 21-14 victory over Cathedral Prep in the PIAA quarterfinals Friday night.

Aliquippa’s Tiqwai Hayes (left) and Arison Walker celebrate with the WPIAL championship trophy after defeating Central Vallley in the WPIAL Class 4A championship game on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, at Acrisure Stadium.

Aliquippa rolls past Central Valley to capture 19th WPIAL football title

Aliquippa’s Tiqwai Hayes landed in the end zone after leaping headfirst over his linemen, but the running back was quickly airborne again when guard Neco Eberhardt celebrated by lifting the sophomore off his feet.