Scholastic Notebook – 09/04/2015

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 4, 2015 | 3:08 PM

There is only one Friday the 13^th this high school football season and it’s two months away.

But every Friday, there is a Jason that will come out and put some fear into opponents of Riverside High School’s team.

Meet Jason Dambach. His fourth and final sequel to his high school career begins tonight when Riverside plays host to Bishop Canevin. It seems many don’t realize, but if you go just by statistics, Dambach is one of the best quarterbacks returning in the state this year.

Dambach threw for 2,324 yards last season in only 10 games, a school record. He heads into this season with 3,194 yards passing. Another big season and Dambach could become one of only 19 quarterbacks in WPIAL history to throw for 5,500 yards.

Dambach is an excellent athlete also. He plays basketball and baseball at Riverside and was an all-section pick in baseball.

Missing Papa Bear

Clairton, the No. 1-ranked team in WPIAL Class A by MSA Sports, will be without its coach tonight when the Bears open the season against California.

Wayne Wade will not coach because of a one-game suspension. The suspension comes from an incident late in the state championship game last year between Clairton and Bishop Guilfoyle when skirmish broke out between the two teams. The PIAA asked Clairton to impose its own sanctions on the team and also Wade. The school imposed a one-game suspension on Wade and some other sanctions on the team and the PIAA accepted the penalties.

But will it matter that Wade isn’t coaching? It might matter if about eight Clairton starters weren’t playing. Clairton beat California last season, 79-0.

Woodland Hills Policy

Woodland Hills has instituted a new policy for its students attending home games. But some media reports that weren’t exactly correct have created a little confusion.

The policy is this: Any student – high school age or younger – that buys a ticket at the gate, must be accompanied by an adult for admittance to the game. However, any students that buy student tickets at school during the week do not need to be with an adult to gain admittance to the game.

Live TV

There will be two WPIAL games on live television this first night of the season.

WPNT channel 22 will debut its “Friday Night Rivals” series by televising the Penn Hills at Upper St. Clair game. Meanwhile, on PCN, fans can see the Montour at Central Valley game.

Root Sports will not do Thursday night TV games this year. The station plans to telecast games live on Friday nights, beginning in October.

You can watch the video stream of the Pittsburgh Central Catholic at Bethel Park game tonight here on MSA Sports.

Fielding Questions

What WPIAL school has the only football field that isn’t green? And what team is playing its final season at a place called home for 75 years?

Answers: Belle Vernon and Freeport.

Belle Vernon needed a new surface at James Weir Stadium this year. But the school doesn’t go for the “Go Green” fad. Belle Vernon decided to “Go Gold.”

Belle Vernon’s new surface is gold. Green and gold are the Leopards’ colors. Belle Vernon will play host to Trinity tonight.

Meanwhile, Freeport is playing its final season at James Swartz Memorial Stadium. The Yellowjackets have played there since 1940, but plan to move to a new turf field on the school’s campus next season.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Clairton, Freeport, Woodland Hills