Through the years: In 1998, Highlands crushed Kittanning for 1st perfect season

By: George Guido
Thursday, November 2, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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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.

Highlands recorded its first undefeated and untied season with a convincing 40-0 win over Kittanning on Oct. 30, 1998. Jarrod Sleppy passed for 111 yards and a touchdown and scored twice more on rushing plays.

75 years ago

• It’s over! Ken High’s 24-game unbeaten streak came to an end with Vandergrift’s 20-14 victory. Lou Cherre’s 7-yard run with eight minutes left in the game ended the Red Raiders’ quest for a third consecutive WPIAL title before 7,381 fans.

• Freeport extended its unbeaten streak to 16 games with a 33-7 victory over Springdale. Don Secrist scored two Yellowjackets touchdowns.

60 years ago

• Freeport punched its ticket to the WPIAL title game with a 21-7 win over Leechburg. Chip Young scored two TDs for the 9-0 Yellowjackets.

• Verona won its seventh straight game with a 19-6 victory over Knoch at Cribbs Field. A 15-yard run by Ed Lyons got the scoring underway for the Panthers, winners of 36 of their last 40 games.

50 years ago

• One day after Springdale’s soccer team secured a WPIAL title, the football Dynamos clinched their first WPIAL playoff berth in 27 years with a 42-14 victory at Apollo-Ridge. Sam Sack scored four touchdowns and added a 2-point conversion run.

• Deer Lakes played its final game at Braves Stadium, a 14-0 loss to Knoch. The Lancers were on track to move into their new school and new stadium in 1974.

40 years ago

• Riverview appeared to be out of the WPIAL playoff running until Clairton had to forfeit six games for using an ineligible player. The Raiders took advantage of the situation with a 12-6 victory at Brentwood to seal a postseason berth.

• Fox Chapel secured a conference title with a 22-7 win at Highlands. An 85-yard kickoff return by Milt Sloan gave the Foxes the lead for good.

25 years ago

• Valley earned a first-round bye in the playoffs with a 10-7 win over Burrell. A 10-yard keeper by Dom Girardi and a 30-yard field goal by Tim Feroce paced the Vikings.

10 years ago

• Apollo-Ridge’s 66-mile jaunt to Beth-Center proved fruitful as the Vikings pounded the Bulldogs, 42-28. Jesse Zelonka ran for two touchdowns and threw for three more in A-R’s second playoff win.

• The Allegheny Conference’s playoff troubles persisted as Valley fell to Mt. Pleasant, 48-14. The conference was 1-11 in the past three seasons.

Five years ago

• Despite losing a 24-21 decision to Armstrong, Kiski Area qualified as a wild card for the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. Cavaliers linebacker Jack Colecchi returned an interception 100 yards late in the first half.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Knoch, Leechburg, Riverview, Springdale, Valley