Through the Years: 60 years ago, Oakmont rallied for 2nd WPIAL title

By: George Guido
Thursday, November 27, 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.

Oakmont captured its second WPIAL title in school history with a 26-13 victory over Apollo on Nov. 19, 1965. Rick Springer ran for three Oakmont touchdowns from 3, 26 and 2 yards. The Oaks had to erase a 7-6 first-half deficit and fell behind 13-12 in the third period when Wally Aungst put the Striped Tigers ahead with a 26-yard run — his second TD of the game. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Springer scored on a 2-yard burst and the scoring was climaxed by a 15-yard pitchout from Rob Erdeljac to Sherron Monague.

Two-way lineman Ron Cecil, who played with a special brace on his broken left arm, received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd when he was pulled late in the game.

The win at Ken High Memorial Stadium augmented the 1928 WPIAL crown won by Oakmont. The contest was one of six WPIAL title games played over the years at the New Kensington facility.

100 years ago

• A showdown on the final week of the season pitted second-year school Har-Brack against Tarentum. The first game between the schools the previous season resulted in a 6-0 Har-Brack victory.

The buildup to the game was downright bitter. Principals W.A. Swick of Tarentum and Prof. O.T. Balantine of Har-Brack pleaded with fans to cool it. But a major fight between students from both schools took place in downtown Tarentum two nights before the game. A 15-year-old boy had the left side of his face disfigured, according to the Valley Daily News. Pop bottles and clubs were utilized until police from three municipalities quelled the outbreak.

When game day finally arrived, 5,000 fans watched as a 2-yard run by Tarentum’s Paul Miles provide the game’s only score. As Miles crossed the goal line, a temporary set of bleachers used by excited Tarentum fans collapsed, sending three people to Allegheny Valley Hospital for lengthy stays and injuring 20 others.

A blocked Har-Brack punt recovered by George Nease at the Har-Brack 2 preserved the victory and the undefeated and unscored-upon season.

The three ties on the Tarentum schedule meant the team was ineligible for WPIAL title consideration, and Washington won the championship with a 26-0 victory over Wilkinsburg.

50 years ago

• In what would be its only WPIAL title game appearance, Kittanning lost to Beth-Center, 13-0, before a capacity crowd at Mt. Lebanon Stadium. Kittanning’s deepest penetration was the Bulldogs’ 30 in the third period.

40 years ago

• For the second time in nine seasons, the lights went out at Valley High Memorial Stadium while Butler was engaging in a WPIAL playoff game. The lights came back on, but the Golden Tornado dropped a 32-3 decision to Gateway in legendary coach Art Bernardi’s career finale.

25 years ago

• Aliquippa scored on all five first-half possessions in a 45-13 rout over Shady Side Academy in a Class 2A quarterfinal. Current Pine-Richland coach Jon LeDonne returned an interception 18 yards for a Quips touchdown.

10 years ago

• Freeport’s quest for a WPIAL title shot came up short with a 36-14 setback against Aliquippa in a Class 2A semifinal at Seneca Valley’s NexTier Stadium. Three turnovers sealed Freeport’s fate. It proved to be the final game for an A-K Valley team before the PIAA went to six classifications the following season.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Freeport, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, Valley