What to watch for in high school sports on Sept. 18, 2025: City League action kicks off weekend

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 11:43 PM

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Week 4 of the high school football season and the final weekend of games of the summer kicks off with an old City League rivalry renewed on the South Side of Pittsburgh.

The first of two District 8 contests over the next two days at Cupples Stadium pits Allderdice against Brashear at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Eight years ago, these programs clashed for the City League championship.

It was a memorable game as Allderdice defeated Brashear, 35-7, ending the Dragons’ 50-year championship drought.

Allderdice used that 2017 title to begin a little championship run that included City League gold three times in five years. The Dragons also won District 8 crowns in 2018 and 2021.

Brashear has won 11 City League football championships, but none since going back to back in 2014 and 2015.

The Bulls have hit hard times this season, sitting at 0-1 in the City League and 0-4 overall.

Brashear has been outscored in its four losses, 157-73.

On the flip side, Allderdice is 1-0 in district play and 3-1 for the season.

The Dragons have wins over Fox Chapel, Perry and Uniontown while their lone loss was to Hollidaysburg from District 6.

On Friday at “The Cup,” University Prep (1-0, 1-2) goes up against Perry (0-2, 0-4).

First at the halfway mark

The top three teams in Section 1-4A WPIAL boys soccer have yet to lose a section match as we near the midway point of the regular season.

Two of those teams collide Thursday when Plum visits Norwin.

Both teams are 3-0-1 in section, with the ties coming against Central Catholic. The Vikings are 2-0-2 going into their home game match Penn Hills.

The Mustangs are 8-1-1 overall and have won five in a row since tying Central Catholic and losing to Peters Township.

The Knights are 4-3-2 for the season and are 4-0-1 in their last five matches.

There are four other battles for outright first place in boys soccer Thursday.

• In Section 4-2A, Mt. Pleasant (6-0, 7-2) visits Charleroi (5-0, 6-2)

• In Section 1-A, Beaver County Christian (3-0, 6-0) hosts Sewickley Academy (3-0, 5-1)

• In Section 3-A, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (4-0, 6-0) travels to play Aquinas Academy (4-0, 6-2)

• In Section 4-A, Springdale (4-0, 5-1) welcomes Winchester Thurston (3-0-1, 4-4-1)

Thursday on the court

It’s another busy Thursday of WPIAL girls volleyball action with section matches up and down the four classifications.

Three matches stand out with undisputed first place in their sections up for grabs.

In Section 3-3A, Thomas Jefferson and Laurel Highlands are a combined 7-0 in the section and 9-2 overall.

The Jaguars are 4-0 with section wins over Uniontown, Belle Vernon, Albert Gallatin and Ringgold.

The Mustangs are 3-0 with section triumphs over Belle Vernon, Albert Gallatin and Elizabeth Forward.

The two collide when Laurel Highlands visits Thomas Jefferson.

Here are the other two showdown matches:

• In Section 5-2A, Burrell (3-0, 6-1) travels to Deer Lakes (3-0, 5-2)

• In Section 5-A, Fort Cherry (3-0. 5-1) welcomes Eden Christian Academy (2-0, 5-2)

Serving for gold

Two WPIAL girls tennis players are one victory away from winning a third straight WPIAL girls tennis singles championship.

Top seeds Meriwether McCargo of Shady Side Academy and Gabrielle Dusi of Belle Vernon look to three-peat on Thursday.

The junior McCargo will battle senior No. 2 seed Amelia Williams of Penn-Trafford in the finals.

In the 3A third-place match, senior Cami Fisher of Bethel Park faces freshman Brianna Kuczinski of Upper St. Clair.

Both McCargo and Williams won their semifinals matches Wednesday by identical 6-1, 6-0 scores.

In 2A, the senior Dusi meets No. 2 seed Avery Allan of Quaker Valley.

In the 2A consolation match, junior Mollie Sclichter of Oakland Catholic faces surprise semifinalist freshman Veronica Zinski of Winchester Thurston.

Zinski was the tournament’s No. 13 seed but pulled off upset wins in both the first round and quarterfinals before falling to Dusi in straight sets in the semifinals.

Both the championship and consolation finals are set for 1 p.m. Thursday at North Allegheny.