Football

South Park’s Robert Lenzi intercepts a pass intended for South Allegheny’s Drew Cook last month.

5 things we learned in high school football Week 7: Class 2A has new look

October 12, 2024

In some WPIAL football classifications, the names near the top of the conference standings don’t change too much from year to year.

Deaubre Lightfoot and his Belle Vernon teammates entered the Class 4A rankings this week.

WPIAL football rankings: Week ending Oct. 13, 2024

Class 6A

Knoch’s Codi Mullen completed 11 of 18 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns, ran the ball 23 times for 246 yards and intercepted two passes on homecoming.

Knoch’s Mullen is 1-man wrecking crew in remarkable game

Tim Burchett has been a high school football coach for 14 years including the past two-plus seasons at Knoch, and he said he can’t remember many single-game performances like the one senior quarterback and defensive back Codi Mullen put on Friday in a 38-14 victory over Hampton on homecoming at Knoch Knights Stadium.

Rich Bowen coached several schools, including Hempfield and, most recently, Greensburg Salem.

Westmoreland high school football notebook: Greensburg Salem honors Rich Bowen

Greensburg Salem wore special helmet decals Friday night to honor late assistant coach Rich Bowen, who died Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

Riverview’s Dom Williams (left) and Prince Govan run, holding imaginary swords, to celebrate Govan’s pick-6 in the first quarter against Frazier on Saturday.

Riverview gets back on track with rout of Frazier

Prince Govan saw a celebration on TikTok he liked and planned to employ it when he scored. The Riverview junior defensive back had his opportunity Saturday afternoon at Riverside Park against Frazier.

Fox Chapel’s Victor Nernberg scores against Allderdice on Aug. 23.

Fox Chapel football sees opportunity in closing weeks of season

Fox Chapel coach Dave Leasure equated the Foxes’ football schedule to being like a mountain. There were a few games for Fox Chapel to prepare for the climb, followed by an arduous journey to the top while playing against some of the best teams in Class 5A.

Players from Peters Township take the field before their game against South Fayette on Oct. 11, 2024, at Peters Township.

Dominant Peters Township defense stops South Fayette cold

Peters Township put on a dominant defensive display Friday night, defeating South Fayette, 38-3, in a Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference clash.

Belle Vernon’s Curtis Wade throws as Laurel Highlands’ Joel Hertlein defends Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.

Belle Vernon grinds out victory over Laurel Highlands

October 11, 2024

A week after hitting big play after big play, the Belle Vernon Area football team showed it can be methodical if needed.

Derry’s Trojan Stadium before the host Trojans took on Greensburg Salem on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.

Greensburg Salem making playoff push with victory over Derry

Ty George’s second season as Greensburg Salem’s football coach is developing into a potential game-changer for the playoff-starved Golden Lions program.

Mt. Pleasant’s Stephen Predajna (45) tackles Southmoreland’s Elliot Premus (10) during their game Oct. 11, 2024, at Mt. Pleasant.

Southmoreland’s Anthony Smith throws for 3 TDs as Scotties top Mt. Pleasant, move closer to title

Southmoreland moved closer to its first conference title since 1979 with a sound victory over rival Mt. Pleasant in the teams’ 50th meeting.

Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle at a preseason practice.

Seneca Valley beats Hempfield in pivotal Class 6A matchup

Seneca Valley won a crucial Class 6A contest Friday night, defeating Hempfield, 27-15.

Yough’s Raidon Kuroda looks for yardage as Elizabeth Forward’s Jace Brown closes in for the tackle Friday.

Elizabeth Forward uses big plays to pull away from Yough

Elizabeth Forward has spent the past two weeks trying to put the Interstate Conference on notice after feeling overlooked early in the season, and Friday night was no different as the Warriors dominated Yough, 45-7, to move to 3-0 in the conference.

Burrell’s Trey Coury (22) is wrapped up by the Highlands defense in the first half Friday.

Highlands bottles up Burrell star Trey Coury, rolls to victory

At halftime of Friday’s Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference showdown between Burrell and Highlands, the Golden Rams marching band played Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”

Captains for Kiski Area and Armstrong meet before their game Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.

Kiski Area keeps playoff hopes alive, beats Armstrong

With three weeks remaining in the regular season, and Kiski Area and Armstrong positioned at the bottom of the 5A Big East Conference standings, Friday’s contest presented as a must-win for the Cavaliers or the River Hawks have any postseason aspirations.

Greensburg Salem will wear helmet decals to honor assistant coach Rich Bowen, who died Oct. 8, 2024.

Greensburg Salem to wear helmet decals to honor late assistant coach Rich Bowen

Greensburg Salem football players will wear special helmet decals on their helmets Friday night at Derry to honor assistant coach Rich Bowen, who died earlier this week after a battle with rectal cancer.

Seton LaSalle’s Logan King runs during a preseason practice.

What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 10, 2024: Seton LaSalle kicks off football weekend

October 9, 2024

On the 10th day of the 10th month of the year, we have an early start to Week 7 of the high school football season with not one, not two, but three area games Thursday.