Chris Harlan stories, Page 96

The WPIAL’s football survey produced mixed results on some topics, but a clear majority of schools want to keep six separate playoff brackets. “So we’re going to go with that approach,” WPIAL associate executive director Amy Scheuneman said. WPIAL schools also overwhelmingly opposed the idea of every football team making...

Add Aliquippa to the list of football teams that might be forced into a higher classification next season. The Quips already are voluntarily playing up two classifications but they could be moved to Class 4A under a PIAA competitive-balance rule that targets postseason success and transfers. That possibility came as...

Charles “Ace” Heberling, who directed the WPIAL for more than two decades and is credited with making the league what it is today, died Monday. He was 94. The former NFL official became the first full-time administrator of the WPIAL in 1976, a job he held until retiring in 1997....

As the WPIAL’s leading receiver, Upper St. Clair’s David Pantelis earned the attention of WPIAL defensive coordinators all across Class 5A. Now, after a standout junior season, it’s college coaches who seem to be focusing on Pantelis. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound wide receiver and defensive back announced a Division I offer...

HERSHEY — Momentum might be a myth to some, but Central Valley believes in it wholeheartedly. “One hundred percent, yes,” senior Reed FitzSimmons said with no hesitation. “You saw it right out there.” Wyoming Area’s offense was stagnant and scoreless for three quarters but scored touchdowns on three consecutive fourth-quarter...

Southern Columbia has no equal in Class 2A football, a lesson Avonworth learned Friday. The small-school power celebrated its fourth PIAA title in five years at Hersheypark Stadium, but the record-setting state champion and a few other top football teams might be forced into a higher classification next season. Archbishop...

Avonworth coach Duke Johncour acknowledges the apparent mismatch his football team is walking into Friday when the Antelopes make their first state championship appearance. Waiting for them at Hersheypark Stadium will be nine-time PIAA champion Southern Columbia, a team that’s won 47 games in a row and has players committed...

Instead of heading home after last week’s semifinal win, Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak and a few assistants drove two hours from Hollidaysburg to Danville to watch Dallas win the other state semifinal. The road trip let them scout an opponent from the other side of the state, but the...

Ambridge boys basketball coach Mark Jula started to question his passion for the job, so he retired a week before the season opener. “I’ve coached primarily on passion more than anything,” said Jula, who was about to start his eighth season at his alma mater. “When that passion starts to...

HOLLIDAYSBURG — After an 11-year wait, Thomas Jefferson is finally headed back to Hershey, but there wasn’t much suspense in the victory that made it happen. Thomas Jefferson scored on its first three possessions and later added three more touchdowns in the third quarter to rout Lampeter-Strasburg, 44-2, Friday afternoon...

National rankings list St. Joseph’s Prep as one of the best high school football teams not only in Pennsylvania but in the entire country. The team’s roster features Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jeremiah Trotter Jr., sons of former NFL stars. Its schedule started with games against powerhouse programs in Florida,...

Archbishop Wood had a four-star recruit two years ago when the Philadelphia Catholic League power walloped Gateway in a lopsided state championship game. This time, it’s Gateway that has the biggest name. Or, at least the Gators hope they do. Gateway junior Derrick Davis, the team’s top rusher and a...

Conference champion Thomas Jefferson had eight players earn first-team all-conference honors in the Big Eight, and quarterback Shane Stump was named Offensive Player of the Year in a vote of coaches. Belle Vernon also had eight first-team picks. West Mifflin junior Nahki Johnson was named as the conference’s top defensive...

Beaver Falls running back Josh Hough and Keystone Oaks quarterback Logan Schrubb shared Offensive MVP honors in the Tri-County West in a vote of conference coaches. Aliquippa linebacker Zuriah Fisher was named the top defensive player. Conference champion Central Valley led all schools with 11 first-team players. FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE Name,...

Burgettstown completed its second consecutive undefeated regular season and was rewarded by Three Rivers coaches with nine players on the all-conference first team. The list includes Jake Lounder and Riley Kemper, who also earned individual awards. Lounder was offensive MVP and Kemper was the top lineman. Blue Devils coach Mark...

Clairton and Jeannette, the top two teams in the Eastern, had 19 players combined earn first-team all-conference honors in a vote of coaches. The two Class A rivals also swept the individual awards with Clairton’s Brendan Parsons winning offensive MVP and Jeannette’s Justin Cramer named as the conference’s top defensive...

West Greene running back Ben Jackson, who became the first WPIAL rusher to top 3,000 yards in a season, was among the players recognized by coaches in the Class A Tri-County South. Conference coaches didn’t choose a traditional all-conference team but instead selected a list of 44 players. Jackson finished...

Undefeated conference champion Avonworth dominated the all-conference voting this season by claiming 14 of the available 28 first-team spots. Antelopes players Josh Elm, Kevin Felter, Jax Miller and coach Duke Johncour also won individual awards in a vote of conference coaches. Apollo-Ridge’s Logan Harmon was named offensive MVP. FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE...

Cornell earned a share of the Big Seven title and a home playoff game for only the second time in school history, accomplishments that shaped all-conference voting. As a result, Raiders quarterback Zaier Harrison was named as the conference’s offensive MVP and Ed Dawson was named the top coach in...