Through the years: Kiski Area opened Richard J. Dilts Stadium with victory

By: George Guido
Thursday, August 24, 2023 | 2:41 PM

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Each week throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that have shaped local scholastic history.

Kiski Area christened Richard J. Dilts Stadium on the school’s campus with a 24-9 victory over defending City League champion Allderdice on Aug. 24, 2018. The Kiski Area defense tackled the Dragons for losses 14 times.

75 years ago

• Bob Sawhook’s 55-yard pass to Gregory Olekszak was the only score of the night as Har-Brack opened the season with a 7-0 victory at Sharon before 7,500 fans.

• Freeport fullback Chuck Dininger’s 62-yard run broke a scoreless tie in the third quarter, and Don Secrist scored two minutes later as the Yellowjackets posted a 20-0 shutout over Ford City.

60 years ago

• Apollo’s Jim Stankus scored two touchdowns from inside the Saltsburg 10 in the first period, and the Striped Tigers were on their way to handing the Trojans their 33rd consecutive loss.

• Paul Killian and Bob Haggerty scored two touchdowns each, and Tom Stabile booted four extra points to give Tarentum a 34-12 victory over rival East Deer-Frazer.

50 years ago

• Two major changes greeted players and fans in 1973. The WPIAL renamed its classifications — Class B is now Class A; Class A is now Class 2A and Class 2A will be known as 3A. Also, conference winners will make the playoffs. For the previous 60 seasons, only undefeated and untied teams were considered for the championship.

40 years ago

• Tom Kyler’s 1-yard burst with 51 seconds to go was enough to give Freeport a 7-0 road victory over Neshannock.

• Kevin Heard’s TD run with 2 minutes, 24 seconds left in the game gave Valley a 14-7 victory over Highlands.

25 years ago

• Defending WPIAL Class A champion Riverview opened the season with a 21-20 victory at South Fayette. A Lucas Heakins interception set up a 5-yard run by Earl Bellisario with 2:06 to go.

• Springdale tallied two touchdowns in a 16-second span — a 4-yard run by Arnie Rehner and a 21-yard pick-6 by sophomore Kenny Headley as the Dynamos downed California, 34-12.

10 years ago

• Burrell’s Cody Wolfe passed for 190 yards and ran for 111 more, and the Bucs defense forced five turnovers in a 46-14 opening win against Brownsville.

• Highlands junior Elijah Jackson snagged an 83-yard touchdown pass and returned an interception 53 yards as the school honored would-be senior Ryan Richards, who died in a traffic accident during the summer.

Five years ago

• Plum’s Hunter Linhart threw for a career-high 299 yards and four TDs to lead the Mustangs to 32-14 triumph over Highlands.