Football

CTK ’16 – WPIAL AAAA 2015 Football Flashback

August 4, 2016

Expansion is a big part of this upcoming year, so lets start by going back to the last time the PIAA and thus the WPIAL expanded to four classifications in 1980. While always seeming to be in the playoffs and part of the title discussion each year, it took Pittsburgh Central Catholic 23 years to win a district football title (they did win the first ever PIAA AAAA crown in 1988). However since that WPIAL crown in 2003, the Vikings have been kings of the castle five times now, with the one for the thumb coming last fall. Here is a look back at the WPIAL Quad-A in 2015. 2015 WPIAL QUAD-A HEADLINES:

CTK ’16 – WPIAL Football Alignment Changes

August 2, 2016

We all knew it was coming. A major change to the WPIAL high school sports landscape based on the PIAA's decision last year to increase from four to six classifications in among other sports, high school football. With the increase in classes comes a change in the WPIAL Football Playoff format as well, with eight teams in 6-A, 5-A, 4-A and 3-A making the postseason (top four teams in each conference in 6-A, 5-A and 4-A and the top two teams in each conference plus two wild card teams in 3-A) with three weeks of playoffs and 16 teams qualifying in 2-A and 1-A (top 5 teams in each conference plus a wild card) with four weeks of postseason play. This will also be the alignment for the 2017 football season. Class 6A

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF 2016

August 1, 2016

The countdown to the start of the 2016 high school football season is underway. We have major changes this year with the expansion from four to six classifications and teams having the option to have a second scrimmage on Friday, August 26th/Saturday, August 27th or playing an actual non-conference game that has been labeled Week Zero. Week One is set for Friday, September 2nd/Saturday, September 3rd. Training camps for the new campaign open up in Western Pennsylvania on Monday, August 15th.

This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 07/31/2016

July 31, 2016

The start of August means one thing for high school football fans...the start of Countdown to Kickoff 2016 this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We are live from Kennywood Park on Wednesday with the annual presentation of arrows during the MSA Sports/Kennywood Park Preseason All-Star Team Awards Show preceded by a special season preview during This Week in the WPIAL.

MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – A New Champ Wins Double-A

July 9, 2016

For only the fifth time in the thirteen years of the MSA Sports Cup Class AA chase, the torch has been passed to a new champion. Greensburg Central Catholic won the first three years, followed by a five year run by Shady Side Academy and three of the last four years the AA Cup has gone to Quaker Valley with a one year run at the top by Seton-LaSalle two years ago. Now the AA crown is coming to Beaver County thanks to Beaver High School. After a couple of close calls in recent years, the Bobcats were lifted to the top spot in part because of district championships won in each season...girls tennis in the fall, ice hockey in the winter and a second straight WPIAL title in girls track & field in the spring.

MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – SF Three-peats in Triple-A

July 7, 2016

In the first ten years of the MSA Sports Cup, while there were a couple of dominating schools in the other three classifications, the chase for the Class AAA Cup had been up for grabs with eight different schools earning The Cup. However in the last three years of the season long competition, Triple-A has become the pride of the Lions. After finishing as the runner-up in 2012-2013, South Fayette has staked its claim on top in Class AAA as the Lions are the first school in this classification to win a third consecutive MSA Sports Cup.

MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – NA Remains Perfect in Quad-A

July 6, 2016

Another school year is in the books and another MSA Sports Cup in Class AAAA is headed to North Allegheny High School. NA captured the schools 13th Cup in 13 years since the MSA Sports Network started this school year long competition to determine the top sports programs in each classification. There are 20 sports in which schools can earn points in the competition and the Tigers earned points in 18 of them. While it was not the highest point total or largest margin of victory, North Allegheny still cruised to their final Quad-A Sports Cup as they will move up to 6-A starting this fall. The second place school finished 430 points behind NA.

2015-2016 MSA SPORTS MALE ATHLETE of the YEAR

June 30, 2016

There is a reason why Erick Taylor has that “K” at the end of his name. His father had a best friend who was shot and killed many years ago, and the friend spelled his first name “Erick.” So Garth Taylor decided to give his son the same name in memory of his friend. Almost two decades later, the name Erick Taylor meant something special around WPIAL sports. It defined supreme athlete. Taylor has been named the MSA Sports Athlete of the Year for boys sports in the WPIAL in the 2015-16 school year. The award is selected by the MSA Sports staff.

This Week on the MSA Sports Network – 06/27/2016

June 27, 2016

As the month of June melts into the month of July, we turn our attention to pro baseball this week here on the MSA Sports Network. We are the only place to turn for audio and video coverage of the Washington Wild Things, as this week they return home to CONSOL Energy Field in Washington to host the Gateway Grizzlies and the Florence Freedom in Frontier League action, plus the final high school football all-star game of the summer and a star-spangled edition of Rappin' on Racin' ALL here at MSAsports.net Monday, June 27th: TALK SHOW - Rappin' on Racin' at 6:00pm on MSAsports.net

Scholastic Notebook – 06/12/2016

June 12, 2016

Remember back two years ago when Blackhawk pitcher Brendan McKay’s scoreless streak was one of the biggest stories ever in WPIAL high school baseball? Well, the scoreless streak of Mike Boswell isn’t close to McKay’s, but Boswell’s also belongs as one of the most impressive in WPIAL history. Boswell is a 6-foot, 190-pound senior at Riverside who has played a huge role in getting the Panthers to the PIAA Class AA semifinals tomorrow [Monday]. He has not given up a run in four postseason victories and his scoreless streak, going back to the regular season, now stands at 41 innings. McKay’s streak was 72 1/3 innings, which tied for the second-longest in U.S. high school baseball history.

Scholastic Notebook – 06/04/2016

June 4, 2016

For Morgan Ryan, earning a spot in the WPIAL record book means nothing. As in zero. As in zilch. As in nothing on the scoreboard under the “R” column. Ryan is a junior pitcher for the Hempfield softball team who threw a shutout in a 2-0 victory against Baldwin in the WPIAL Class AAAA championship Friday. A year ago, she threw a one-hitter as Hempfield defeated North Allegheny, 3-0. A check of the scores of WPIAL championship games shows that Ryan is the first pitcher in the history of the WPIAL to throw back-to-back shutouts in championship games. The WPIAL has been staging softball championships for 43 years. So in four-plus decades, there has never been a pitcher like Ryan. By the way, Ryan is a Notre Dame recruit.

Scholastic Notebook – 05/22/2016

May 22, 2016

Plum’s Alex Kirilloff has a good chance to be selected in the first round of the June 9 Major League Baseball draft. Teams love his bat and also like the way he plays the outfield. At Plum, they also love the way he pitches. Kirilloff has a bright future as an outfielder, but at the present, he is one dominating pitcher. He is certainly one of the best hurlers in the WPIAL. When Plum defeated Peters Township, 2-0, in the WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals Thursday, Kirilloff led the way with his hitting – and pitching. He had a double and triple at the plate. But he also pitched six innings , struck out 11 and gave up only one hit.

Scholastic Notebook – 05/13/2016

May 13, 2016

Plum High School’s nickname is Mustangs. But when it comes to athletes, Plum has a thoroughbred in Ashley Amato. The MSA Sports staff doesn’t name a female athlete of the year until late June. But you would think Amato will get serious consideration. There are three-season rooms in houses, but Plum houses a three-sport standout in Amato. And in the spring, she shines brightest. So far this track and field season, Amato has the best 200-meter time in WPIAL Class AAA at 25.3 seconds. She has the third-best 100 hurdles time of 14.69 and is tied for the third-best 100 time at 12.2. She is has the third-best AAA long jump at 18-2 ¾. At the Baldwin Invitational last Friday, Amato won the long jump, was second in the 100 hurdles and sixth in the 200.

Scholastic Notebook – 05/06/2016

May 6, 2016

It was against lowly competition, and each game lasted only five innings. But still, the recent pitching performances of Zach Bowen were ones for the national record book. Bowen is a sophomore at Serra Catholic who pitched back-to-back perfect games. Both games were blowouts and lasted only five innings because of the 10-run rule. Bowen’s first perfect game came April 27 against Clairton in a 17-0 win. Then this past Monday, Bowen pitched another perfect game in another 17-0 win, this time against Geibel Catholic. According to the National Federation of High School Associations record book, only two other pitchers are known to have thrown consecutive perfect games. Mike Bradley of Fort Bragg, Cal., did it in 1991 and Anthony Velasquez of Bayside, N.Y., in 2006.

WPIAL Announces 2016-2017 Championship Sites

April 21, 2016

While major changes will be in the air with a classification increase starting in the 2016-2017 school year, there was concern about where the district would play its championship games with the increase in title games. However outside of a split in football, the WPIAL Finals in several sports will remain at the same venues that have been hosting the title events.

WPIAL Hall of Fame Class of 2016

April 13, 2016

A current NBA player, a former Parade All-American girls basketball player, two dominant teams and four highly successful coaches highlight the WPIAL Hall of Fame class of 2016. This is the 10th class for the WPIAL Hall of Fame, and selections were announced Wednesday at a news conference at the Heinz History Center. Inductees will be honored at a banquet at the Green Tree Doubletree June 10. A Hall of Fame committee selects inductees in five categories: athlete, coach, team, contest official and contributor. The WPIAL also inducts a Heritage Award winner and a Courage Award winner. Here is the 2016 class: ATHLETES

Scholastic Notebook – 04/02/2016

April 2, 2016

The Pittsburgh Central Catholic football team won WPIAL and state titles this past season with a team that had five seniors sign with NCAA Division I-A colleges. Those talented players will never again wear the Vikings blue and gold, but Central Catholic is a must-stop for college recruiters again. It has become apparent that Central Catholic’s 2017 team will again be loaded with another handful of seniors who will play major-college football.

Scholastic Notebook – 03/11/2016

March 11, 2016

Eight WPIAL boys basketball teams are left in the PIAA playoffs. For most of those teams, there is a certain football flavor to them. It’s a neat little storyline that some of the top basketball players on those eight teams were also top football players. Of the eight quarterfinalists from the WPIAL, the two that don’t have top football players are Lincoln Park and Sewickley Academy. But that’s because they don’t have football programs. But there is a common thread among the other six, and that is this: It doesn’t matter the gridiron or the court. Players can excel. In this day and age of athletes wanting to specialize in one sport, these are athletes proving that you can still be good in two.

Scholastic Notebook – 03/04/2016

March 4, 2016

There is always a lot of talk at this time of year about hangovers. Not from too much imbibing. But from winning a WPIAL basketball championship. There is a belief that teams that win WPIAL championships have so much trouble getting back up and ready for state playoff games. Is the WPIAL hangover real? Is it hogwash? Well, the evidence shows there isn’t much to this hangover theory for WPIAL boys champions, except for Class AAAA. A check of the past 10 seasons shows the only class where the WPIAL champion has trouble in the PIAA playoffs is Class AAAA. And that could be because the WPIAL champ has to play tough competition. A look back at the past 10 years showed:

Scholastic Notebook – 02/26/2016

February 26, 2016

For the Aliquippa boys and Norwin girls, Saturday could be a perfect day to walk hand in hand into WPIAL lore. Both the Aliquippa boys and Norwin girls take undefeated records into WPIAL championship games Saturday at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center. If they both win, it will be only the fifth time in WPIAL history that boys and girls teams have won WPIAL titles with perfect records in the same year. The first time it happened was 1983 when Sto-Rox and Mount Alvernia were both undefeated while winning WPIAL titles. The last time it happened was 2012 when Seton-LaSalle and New Castle did it.

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