Through the years: 60 years ago, Frank Cignetti delivered WPIAL gold to Leechburg

By: George Guido
Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look at the players, coaches and events that shaped our scholastic legacy.

Leechburg garnered the school’s second WPIAL title with a 37-7 victory over California on Nov. 19, 1965. Fullback Gene Yajko and split end John Banichar scored a pair of touchdowns each for the Blue Devils. Bob Solonicke and Carl Defilippi tallied the other Blue Devils scores.

Frank Cignetti, 28 at the time, remains one of the youngest coaches to win a WPIAL title. The game was televised live by WQED Channel 13 from Wilkinsburg’s Graham Field. Hanging around the team that season was 4-year-old Curt Cignetti, currently the coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, the nation’s No. 2 team.

75 years ago

• Ken High ended its season on a winning note with a 6-0 victory over Vandergrift. A 46-yard pass from Sam Carnabucci to Ron Murray was all the Red Raiders needed.

• Leechburg ended the season at 10-0 with a 26-7 decision over Evans City. Vic Kolenik’s 53-yard interception return for a TD propelled the Blue Devils, but the team didn’t have enough Gardner Points to qualify for the WPIAL title game.

60 years ago

• Oakmont earned a berth in the WPIAL Class B title game with a 25-7 win over Avella at Riverside Park. Rob Erdeljac’s fumble recovery was followed by his 22-yard scoring pass to John Wilcox gave the Oaks the lead for good.

50 years ago

• Richland halfback John Falvo had one of the best days in WPIAL history at the time, running for 310 yards and five touchdowns as the Rams belted Deer Lakes, 48-22.

40 years ago

• In a total quagmire at Butler High Stadium, Freeport and Riverside sloshed through four quarters of football only to see the Panthers push across an overtime tally to post a 6-0 Class 2A semifinal victory. It proved to be Yellowjackets coach Don Earley’s final game with 200 career victories. Earley remains in the No. 3 spot in local career wins behind Chuck Wagner and Dick Dilts.

25 years ago

• After coming back five times in the second half during the season, the Valley Vikings’ the magic ran out and they dropped a 24-10 decision to Thomas Jefferson in a Class 3A quarterfinal. Tom Jura’s 75-yard run and 27-yard pass interception return made the difference.

10 years ago

• Sixth-seeded Freeport advanced to the WPIAL semifinals for the first time in 25 seasons with a 24-14 upset over Washington at Hempfield’s Spartan Stadium. Ryan Weigold threw two scoring passes, and Logan Thimons led the defense with 10 tackles.

Five years ago

• For the first time in 34 years, none of the WPIAL finals were played at either Three Rivers Stadium or Heinz Field because of covid restrictions. One example was Jeannette defeating Clairton, 45-14, at West View’s Martorelli Stadium for Class A honors.

Tags: Freeport, Leechburg, Riverview, Valley