What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 4, 2024: High school football stars to sign on dotted line

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | 10:01 PM

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Wednesday marks the start of the college football early signing period.

High school seniors can sign binding letters of intent to their school of choice between Wednesday and Friday.

The traditional signing period is Feb. 5 through April 1.

The college football transfer portal opens between Dec. 9 and Dec. 28.

Check out HSSN throughout the day as Chris Harlan updates the official signings.

Playoff rematch

A rematch of a first-round WPIAL Class 3A boys basketball playoff game from February highlights the Wednesday schedule of nonsection high school hoops.

Ellwood City finished in third place in Section 1-3A a year ago and drew the No. 9 seed in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.

Washington was a co-champion last season with Yough in Section 4-3A and was given the No. 8 seed.

The Wolverines made the long trip south and came away with a victory, 53-36. EC then fell to eventual champion Deer Lakes in a quarterfinals thriller.

Ellwood City hosts Washington on Wednesday.

The Wolverines are off to a 2-1 start as they adjust to life after Joe Roth. EC lost to Union in the season opener before winning back-to-back games against Rochester and Sto-Rox.

The Little Prexies are playing their second game of the season after opening up the new campaign on Tuesday against Chartiers-Houston.

Neighbors collide

Two schools that saw their football teams end their seasons within the last week and a half collide in a small school vs. big school contest when Thomas Jefferson hosts Clairton.

The Jaguars’ gridiron season ended with WPIAL gold then a loss in the PIAA semifinals to Lampeter-Strasburg on Friday.

The Bears’ football season was perfect until they fell to Fort Cherry in heartbreaking fashion in a WPIAL Class A title game thriller by one point.

While Thomas Jefferson was the Section 1 champion in Class 5A a year ago, Clairton finished in fourth place in Section 3-2A.

Now these Mon Valley neighbors collide on the hardwood.

The Jaguars split their two games in the MVI Shootout Classic, beating Belle Vernon and losing in overtime to Elizabeth Forward. TJ was at Uniontown on Tuesday.

This is the season opener for the Bears.

More neighbors colliding

Some high schools have neighboring school districts that border their own, while others have schools that are literally right next door.

Such is the case in Natrona Heights with Highlands and St. Joseph.

The schools meet Wednesday in a nonsection girls basketball game.

Both the Golden Rams and Spartans are coming off strong seasons in 2023-2024.

Highlands was the No. 4 seed in the Class 4A playoffs but fell to Laurel Highlands in the district quarterfinals.

St. Joseph was the No. 3 seed in Class A and eliminated Bishop Canevin and Aquinas Academy before losing in the WPIAL championship game to Union in overtime, 50-43.

This season, the Golden Rams are 0-1 after falling to Armstrong while the Spartans are 1-0 after beating Apollo-Ridge.