What to watch for in high school sports on Sept. 5, 2024: Allderdice, Perry kick off City League play

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 | 10:30 PM

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While conference play kicks off for most teams in the WPIAL next week, head-to-head football battles begin this weekend in the City League.

The District 8 opener is Thursday at George Cupples Stadium as Allderdice faces Perry.

While Westinghouse has been so close, losing in the PIAA 2A championship game to Southern Columbia the last two years, this season marks the 35th anniversary of the one and only state football championship won by a team from the City League.

In only the second year of the PIAA football playoffs, Perry defeated defending champion Berwick to win the 1989 Class 3A title.

On the game’s final play and with the Bulldogs down six but with the ball deep in Commodores territory, Darnell Farrow picked off a pass and returned it 100 yards to seal the deal for Perry, 20-8.

However, the Commodores have fallen on hard times lately, winning only one game last year and having to bow out of their Week Zero game this season due to low roster numbers.

That one win last year came against Allderdice in Week 3, 14-8.

The Dragons also won only one game in 2023, but it was enough to get them back into the City League playoffs as both Perry and Allderdice finished tied with Brashear for the final two playoff spots and the tiebreaker kept the Bulls home.

This season, Allderdice defeated Fox Chapel in Week Zero before being blanked by Hollidaysburg last week.

Perry lost its season opener a week ago to Uniontown, 34-6.

The other City League game this weekend has Westinghouse taking on Brashear on Friday evening.

4A frays begin

Section play begins Thursday in WPIAL Class 4A boys soccer with three matches in each of the three sections.

The only match that pits 2023 playoff teams against each other is a battle of rivals in Section 3-4A when Butler hosts Seneca Valley.

The Raiders have the most wins of any 4A team heading into section play with four wins in five matches.

The Golden Tornado are 2-1-1 with three of their first four contests going to overtime.

One interesting match is a clash of eastern rivals when Penn Hills visits Gateway.

The teams are a combined 1-5 this season, but last year, they were section foes in Class 3A.

Another match of note Thursday is a battle for first place in Section 2-3A when Ringgold hosts Trinity.

Both teams are 2-0 early in section play. The Rams are a perfect 3-0 overall while the Hillers are 2-1-1.

Four for first

It’s early days in WPIAL girls volleyball, but two matches set for Thursday will help mold the pecking order in Section 2-2A.

The four section-opener winners on Tuesday all square off as a four-way tie for first place is about to be cut in half to two teams on top.

South Allegheny, Keystone Oaks, Seton LaSalle and South Park were all winners Tuesday. Now they meet for a share of first place when the Gladiators host the Golden Eagles and the Rebels visit the Eagles.

Some other early season fights for first include Albert Gallatin at Thomas Jefferson in Section 3-3A, Indiana hosting Franklin Regional in Section 5-3A, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart home to Avonworth.

Title rematch

In an early season field hockey showdown, the teams that met for district gold square off Thursday.

Penn-Trafford is currently tied for first place with Peters Township in Class 2A. Both teams are 1-0 while Fox Chapel is playing its first 2A game of the season.

Last year in the WPIAL 2A championship finals, the Warriors shut out the Foxes, 4-0.

It was the eighth straight title for Penn-Trafford.