The week that was, plus PIAA Championships Preview
December 9, 2022
Nathan and Ethan do a full breakdown of the Central-Belle Vernon game. The boys discuss every game from the PIAA semifinals, then discuss each PIAA Championship game and give their predictions! Our AMIGOS OF THE WEEK Nathan: Jeff Hoenstine, Central Ethan: Braden Laux, Belle Vernon Who’s On Amigo Watch Next Week?: Nathan: Jake Gedekoh, Belle […]
Belle Vernon to play in State Championship for the first time
December 9, 2022
Belle Vernon Leopards Head Coach Matt Humbert From the outside looking in, one would assume it’s been the Quinton Martin show for Leopards this season. Last week proved that is not necessarily the case. The Central Dragons shut down the Leopards star runner in the PIAA 3A semifinals, meaning the Leopards would have to rely […]
Belle Vernon Grinds out 21-17 Win over Central to Clinch State Title Berth
December 3, 2022
It wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done. The Belle Vernon Leopards were able to piecemeal together a close 21-17 in a hard-fought game against Central Martinsburg. Braden Laux rushed for two touchdowns to pull ahead of Central Martinsburg in the second half. Jeff Hoenstine had two touchdowns for Central as well, one on […]
Belle Vernon and Central to Clash for Berth in State Championship
December 2, 2022
The Belle Vernon Leopards got the monkey off their back last Friday with a win over Avonworth 24-7. The win gave the Leopards their first WPIAL title since 1995 after 5 years of knocking on the door. Now the Leopards will face off against a team that has also been knocking on the door, but […]
Backyard Football News Podcast: PIAA Semifinals Preview
November 29, 2022
Nathan and Ethan break down each WPIAL Championship game including full discussions on the Belle Vernon and Bishop Canevin result. After recapping the games, the boys discuss and preview each semifinal game in the PIAA, and get more in depth on each WPIAL matchup. Our AMIGOS OF THE WEEK Nathan: Quinton Martin, Belle Vernon […]
Belle Vernon Gets Over the Hump in 24-7 WPIAL Title Win over Avonworth
November 25, 2022
Snakebitten no more. The Belle Vernon Leopards are the WPIAL champions. Behind a three touchdown performance by star athlete Quinton Martin, the Leopards are finally doing something they haven’t done in more than 20 years, playing in December. It didn’t come easy, especially in the first half. Avonworth opened the game stout on defense, forcing […]
Union Shocks the State in WPIAL Championship Upset of Bishop Canevin 26-0
November 25, 2022
Last season Kim Niedbala won the 6A WPIAL championship with coach Bob Palko’s Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils. A year later, he’s a champion once again, and emphatically. Now a head man, Niedbala’s Union Scotties took down the defending WPIAL Champion Bishop Canevin Crusaders 26-0. Dressed in all Union blue and sporting a big grin watching […]
Belle Vernon Looking to Continue Momentum against Avonworth in 3A WPIAL Title Game
November 24, 2022
Is it finally time? After years of grinding in the WPIAl playoffs and heartbreaking losses to Thomas Jefferson and Aliquippa, is this finally the year of the Leopards? There hasn’t been a 3A team that has even come close to them. That’s how the season has been for the Belle Vernon Leopards. With their only […]
Canevin Hoping to Go Back to Back in 1A WPIAL Championship
November 24, 2022
By Ethan Spozarski Last season Bishop Canevin won their first ever WPIAL championship. The Crusaders look to make it two in the last two years this Friday when they take on the Union Scotties at Acrisure Stadium. This season like last, Bishop Canevin has been the team to beat in 1A except this year they’re […]
Aliquippa and Central Valley Ready for Historic Rematch in 4A WPIAL Title At Acrisure
November 24, 2022
The biggest game on the biggest stage. How else can you describe two schools that are six miles apart from each other that have four state championships between them in the last four seasons, and seven WPIAL titles? The last team each of these teams met with each other in the WPIAL title game was […]
Backyard Football News Podcast: WPIAL Championship Preview: The Tiger Pit
November 24, 2022
Nathan and Ethan are back and break down the WPIAL Semifinal and 5A and 6A Title action! How did Aliquippa look so dominant in a big win over McKeesport? In the Preview, the boys take a full look at the Game of the Week between Avonworth and Belle Vernon. How do the Lopes take down […]
North Allegheny Takes Down Central Catholic in WPIAL 6A Title Game 35-21
November 20, 2022
By Ethan Spozarski The North Allegheny Tigers defeated the Central Catholic Vikings 35-21 Saturday night in the WPIAL 6A Championship. The win completed a two year long revenge tour for the Tigers after losing to the Vikings two years prior in the 6A Championship. Coming out of the gate both teams would punt off their […]
Pine Richland’s Rushing Attack Too Much For Upper St. Clair in WPIAL 5A Championship 34-3
November 19, 2022
For More Pictures, Click This Link! The Unstoppable Force vs the Immovable Object. A metaphor that is likely overused in football circles, but perfectly describes what the 5A WPIAL championship matchup was. Pine Richland’s dominant rushing attack against the Panthers powerful defense. In the end, it was Ryan Palmieri, Ethan Pillar, and the Rams multi-faceted […]
Aliquippa Makes it 15 Championship Appearances in a Row with 42-7 Win over McKeesport
November 19, 2022
15 years. In one year, the Aliquippa consecutive championship streak will be able to get their driver’s license. The Quips kept the streak alive with a 42-7 drubbing of five seed McKeesport. In 2021, it took two overtimes for a winner to be decided between McKeesport and Aliquippa. 2022 went quite differently for a Quips […]
Canevin Takes Down South Side 49-21 to Head to WPIAL Title Game for Second Year in a Row
November 19, 2022
By Ethan Spozarski Bishop Canevin defeated the South Side Rams 49-21 in a dominant fashion on Friday. The Crusaders only ran 16 offensive snaps, and scored 5 touchdowns. Bishop Canevin came out hot scoring on their first offensive drive. In fact, it took only two minutes and twenty seven seconds. It was a 51-yard touchdown […]
Central Valley and Thomas Jefferson Set to Face Off in Battle of WPIAL Titans
November 18, 2022
It’s almost like looking in a mirror. The similar trajectory between Central Valley and Thomas Jefferson in recent years has been astounding. Programs that have been built on legacy, offensive firepower, dominance in the trenches, and bone-crushing defense. And now they get to face off with everything on the line. Two teams. Two legendary coaches. […]
Pittsburgh Central Catholic and North Allegheny to Square Off in WPIAL 6A Championship
November 18, 2022
By Ethan Spozarski Central Catholic started out their season by losing 4 of their first seven games, and 0-2 conference play. Since then they have won four-straight and scored 28+ points in all those games. Central Catholic finished 9-3 on the year and 6-1 in conference. This puts Central at the number three seed. Despite […]
McKeesport and Aliquippa Prepare for Epic Semifinal Rematch
November 18, 2022
14 years. That’s how long it’s been since Aliquippa has not played in the WPIAL championship. Some semi-finals have been closer than others, but one thing has been set in stone every year for more than the last decade, write Aliquippa in pen at Heinz Field. But like a new name change at the WPIAL […]
WPIAL Class 5A Title Game: Upper St. Clair v Pine-Richland
November 18, 2022
Ever since Ryan Palmieri came in at QB midseason for Pine Richland it’s been a different season. After dropping three of their first four games of the season, the Rams turned to their best athlete under center, and since then it’s been all Rams. Pine Richland has been riding an eight game winning streak since […]
Top RBs in 3A set to Face off in Freeport-Belle Vernon Semifinal Clash
November 17, 2022
Let’s go over some history. In 2019, Belle Vernon rode a talented senior class for their first WPIAL championship berth in 20 years. The Leopards were outshined by Thomas Jefferson. In 2020, the Leopards lost to TJ in the regular season again, but didn’t even play them in the postseason, falling on the road […]
Shady Side trying to Continue Cinderella Story against Avonworth
November 17, 2022
The Cinderella story is something that can be common in Pennsylvania High School football, however nothing is common between the Avonworth Antelopes and Shady Side Academy Bulldogs seasons. Heading into the year, the Avonworth Antelopes were expected to be right at the top of the 3A WPIAL standings. They met those expectations. Three years removed […]
Big Seven Rematch in Effect in 1A Semifinal Clash between Union Area and Rochester
November 16, 2022
A 10 and a 14 seed in the WPIAL semifinals? That’s the reality in the 1A playoff picture for Big seven rivals the Union Scotties and the Rochester Rams. Out of the final four teams in the 1A WPIAl playoff picture, three of them came out of the 1A Big Seven, and none of […]
Backyard Football News Podcast: Round 2 Review, Round 3 Preview: Onion Scooties
November 15, 2022
Nathan and Ethan break down the WPIAL 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A quarterfinals and the WPIAL 5A and 6A Semifinals! In the second half, they preview EVERY WPIAL PLAYOFF MATCHUP, including a full preview of Aliquippa and McKeesport’s big Semifinal rematch! Our AMIGOS OF THE WEEK Nathan: Cruce Brookins, Steel Valley Ethan: Ben Lane, Freeport […]
South Side Runs all over Mapletown 47-6
November 13, 2022
By Ethan Spozarski The South Side Rams defeated the previously undefeated Mapletown Maples 47-6 last Friday night. South Side dominated time of possession, and just the game overall despite the very rainy wet weather. Junior Ryan Navarra ran in for a one-yard touchdown to kick off the scoring midway through the first quarter. RYAN NAVRRA […]
Upper St. Clair Stuns Bethel 17-7 in Slippery Semifinal Showdown (Gallery Included)
November 12, 2022
Upper St. Clair grinds out 17-7 WPIAL Semifinal win in revenge match. The rain fell and fell at Canon Mac, but the precipitation from tropical storm nicole wasn’t the only thing falling on Friday night. For the Bethel Park Blackhawks, the other shoe dropped. The Blackhawks were stonewalled by a dominant Panthers defense in the […]
