Central Catholic became the first WPIAL team to win four PIAA state championships with their 21-18 victory over Parkland Saturday night. A strong Viking defense kept Parkland from establishing any momentum until it was too late. The Central Catholic offense was boosted by two Vikings running backs rushing for over 100 yards. Junior JJ Younger rushed for 184 yards on 14 carries and scoring a touchdown while senior standout Ronnie Jones added 27 carries for 119 yards and two ... Read More
PIAA Preview: Central Catholic, Aliquippa seek state titles
Immortality awaits the two remaining WPIAL teams in the 2015 PIAA State Playoffs for football. Aliquippa and Central Catholic look to bring back PIAA gold in their respective classes to go along with the WPIAL gold they won last month. Aliquippa returns to the PIAA Class AA Final for the first time since losing in 2012. Many of the seniors on the 2015 edition were on that runner-up Quips team and are looking to capture perfection with a victory on the highest stage for Pennsylvania ... Read More
Pirates set minor league coaching assignments for 2016
The Pittsburgh Pirates finalized coaching assignments for their farm teams for the upcoming 2016 season. Manager Dean Treanor returns for his sixth season at the helm of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The Indians are coming off a season in which they lost in the Governors' Cup championship to the Columbus Clippers. Treanor will be joined by Butch Wynegar at pitching coach and Stan Kyles will be directing the hitters for the Indians. Former major league All-Star Joey Cora will be ... Read More
WPIAL Recap: Central Catholic, Aliquippa earn trips to PIAA Championships
Class AAAA Central Catholic rushed it's way into the PIAA Class AAAA Championship behind a 134 yard rushing performance by Ronnie Jones. The Vikings will face Parkland for the Class AAAA title in Hershey December 19th at 6pm. Central Catholic 24, Cumberland Valley 7 Central Catholic - 7 - 10 - 7 - 0 - -- - 24 Cumberland Valley - 0 - 0 - 0 - 7 - -- - 7 CC -- Troy Fisher 1 run (Jacob Rocchi kick) CC -- Rocchi kick 27 FG CC -- Ronnie Jones 5 run (Rocchi kick) CC -- J.J. Younger 6 run ... Read More
Penn State hires Joe Moorhead as new offensive coordinator
While one Pennsylvania school begins its search for an offensive coordinator, another's search has come to an end. Penn State has named former Fordham Universith head coach, and Pittsburgh native, Joe Moorhead. The Nittany Lions relieved former offensive coordinator John Donovan of his duties shortly after their regular season finale against Michigan State. Head coach James Franklin wasted little time in competing his search for a new offensive coordinator in Moorhead. "We completed an ... Read More
Pirates trade Morton to Phillies
Charlie Morton will be opening the season on the other side of Pennsylvania as the Pittsburgh Pirates dealt the right-handed pitcher to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league pitcher David Whitehead. In seven seasons with the Pirates, Morton battled injuries and inconsistency going 41-62 with a 4.39 ERA. The former 95th overall pick in the 2002 Major League Draft by the Atlanta Braves made his professional debut in 2008 for the Braves before coming to Pittsburgh in a trade that sent Nate ... Read More
PIAA semifinals preview: Only two WPIAL teams remain
Two WPIAL teams are one game away from Hershey and the PIAA State Championships. Central Catholic out of Class AAAA and Aliquippa in Class AA remain after Thomas Jefferson (Class AAA) and Clairton (Class A) saw their seasons end in the PIAA Quarterfinals. We preview the remaining match-ups: Class AAAA Central Catholic Vikings (14-1) vs. Cumberland Valley Eagles (13-2) at Altoona Area High School The Match-Up: Cumberland Valley need seven overtimes to get past Central Dauphin and ... Read More
Clairton, Thomas Jefferson get pounced in PIAA action
PIAA Class AAAA Quarterfinals Central Catholic 19, State College 3 State College - 0 - 0 - 3 - 0 - -- - 3 Central Catholic - 3 - 7 - 3 - 6 - -- - 19 CC -- Jacob Rocchi 31 FG CC -- Vinny Emanuele 4 run (Rocchi kick) SC -- Noah Schwab 35 FG CC -- Rocchi 26 FG CC -- Troy Fisher 2 run (kick failed) TEAM STATISTICS State College - - Central Catholic 6 - First Downs - 18 61 - Rushing Yards - 215 72 - Passing Yards - 76 133 - Total Yards - ... Read More
PIAA quarterfinal preview: WPIAL looks to represent
The Road to Heinz has officially ended with four teams now on the Road to Hershey for state glory. We preview the remaining four WPIAL teams' match-ups this weekend in PIAA Quarterfinal action. Class A Clairton Bears (13-0) vs. Berlin Brothersvalley Mountaineers (12-0) The Match-Up: Both teams come into their PIAA Class A match-up with unblemished records. Berlin Brothersvalley has allowed more than eight points in a single game once this season, in the opening game of the season. ... Read More
Thomas Jefferson captures Class AAA WPIAL crown
There is an old saying in athletics, "Defense wins championships." Last night in the 2015 WPIAL Class AAA Championship, that saying could not have been more true. Thomas Jefferson used a stellar defense holding Central Valley to 126 yards while allowing seven points as it captured the Class AAA title in its 20-7 victory. Jaguars Defense The defensive line for the Jaguars seemed to be all over Central Valley quarterback Chris Callaghan for the entire 48 minutes. The Jaguars amassed 4 sacks ... Read More