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

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


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: , , , , , , , , , , ,

More High School Football

Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school football rankings for Oct. 15, 2024
Ringgold completes investigation, allows football team to resume season
Trib HSSN High School Football Team of the Week for Oct. 14, 2024
WPIAL launches investigations into Baldwin, Imani Christian over ‘possible recruiting violations’
Trib HSSN football player of the week for Oct. 13, 2024