News
November 2022
Cocalico becomes the first 12 seed to win Districts as they pound Exeter for the 5A title
November 25, 2022 | Carl Frederick
Photos by Bill Snook “From 3-4 to here now as District Champs is incredible” Cocalico Head Coach Bryan Strohl said after his Cocalico Eagles stomped the previously undefeated Exeter Eagles 34-14. Quarterback Josh Meyer had two rushing touchdowns of his own, Aaryn Longenecker had two interceptions as Cocalico continues its Cinderella run onto states. Everything […]
Garnet Valley Goes Back to Back, Win District 1 Title 35 to 7 over CB West
November 25, 2022 | James Middleton
(All photos are courtesy of PFN’s Brendan Ricciardi) Concord, PA: Late in the first quarter, the Jaguars were driving, and a run by quarterback Matt Mesaros got the Jags down to the 26-yard line. On the next play, Mesaros dropped back to pass and connected with reliable tight end Drew Van Horn for a 26-yard touchdown pass. […]
Bishop McDevitt wins the District 3, 4A Championship
November 25, 2022 | Bill and Jen Wintermyer
The Bishop McDevitt Crusaders roll past the Manheim Central Barons 40-0 in the District 3, 4A Championship game. Next week they’ll face either Bonner-Prendie or Crestwood in the Eastern final. Manheim Central received the opening kick-off, but the quarter started off slow. Both teams controlled the line of scrimmage, and neither was able to make […]
Belle Vernon Gets Over the Hump in 24-7 WPIAL Title Win over Avonworth
November 25, 2022 | Nate Grella
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 […]
Steel Valley defeats Beaver Falls to win WPIAL 2A Championship
November 25, 2022 | Andrew Schaffer
It was big plays and defense that won the game for Steel Valley in their 34-14 win over Beaver Falls. “Some people throw long passes, some people have long runs that’s how we’ve been winning, they come through that line and they’re gone” said Coach Braszo. The first quarter was certainly a wild one. Steel […]
Union Shocks the State in WPIAL Championship Upset of Bishop Canevin 26-0
November 25, 2022 | Nate Grella
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 […]
The FINAL Mountain Leagues Coaches All-Stars
November 25, 2022 | Billy Splain
2021 Mountain League Football Coaches’ All-Star Teams 1st Team Offense Position Name Number Grade School Center Eric Myers 51 12th Clearfield Guard Braden Ewing 72 11th Tyrone Guard Zach Billotte 73 12th Clearfield Tackle Eric Clark 77 11th BEA Tackle Isaac Samsel 51 12th Clearfield Tight End Joe Knee 88 12th Clearfield Wide Receiver Miles […]
BG/Southern to battle in clash of defending champions
November 25, 2022 | Billy Splain
Bishop Guilfoyle vs Southern Columbia @ Mansion Park in Altoona Both teams are familiar with playing in the state quarterfinals. As a matter of fact, both teams have won many quarterfinal games as well as state championships. This, however, is different. Neither has faced a defending state champion in their quarterfinal round. Because BG moved […]
Protime Panel hopes for a big weekend, but the crystal ball says “nope, you cant catch Protime”
November 25, 2022 | Billy Splain
With just a couple weeks left, it looks like the Protime Panel is definitely battling for second place. They vow to come back next year and figure out the head guessers secret. This weeks quarterfinals round has some interesting games and the panel agreed on quite a few of their picks. Did they pick your […]
South Philly’s Razon Parker scores three times but Neumann Goretti gets the Thanksgiving win
November 25, 2022 | Billy Splain
Razon Parker had a nice day on Thanksgiving, scoring on runs of 20 and 69 but it was the Saints that got the win in the City’s oldest Turkey day game, 26-20. Coach Crosby’s team will now gear up for a state playoff game. Gallery by Roger Barone.
PIAA Class 1A State Playoff Quarter-Final Preview: Northern Lehigh Bulldogs vs Steelton-Highspire Rollers 11.26.2022 1pm
November 25, 2022 | Daniel Reed
PIAA Class 1A State Playoff Quarter-Final Northern Lehigh Bulldogs(12-1) vs Steelton-Highspire Rollers(11-1) LOOK OUT! This game features a team that’s large and forceful on the line going against a team that is athletic and fast. It’s power vs. speed. Run vs pass. This game, on paper, has the potential to be a great game. For […]
PIAA Class 2A State Playoff Quarter-Final Preview: Executive Education Academy Charter Raptors vs Trinity Shamrocks 11.25.2022 7pm
November 25, 2022 | Daniel Reed
PIAA CLASS 2A STATE QUARTER-FINAL Executive Education Academy Charter Raptors(8-3) vs Trinity Shamrocks(9-4) This may be one of the most interesting games on the slate this weekend. These two teams are mirror images of each other. EEAC is in their second year of playing football and loaded up with any team they could find to […]
Hollywood’s Cutting Room Floor-6A Playoff Edition St. Joe’s Prep vs Parkland
November 25, 2022 | Brian "Hollywood" Ptashinski
Parkland Trojans Look to Reverse Recent Trend Versus District 12 and State Power St. Joe’s Prep. 10-1 St. Joe’s Prep Hawks (Tim Roken 4th year 49-6) vs 9-4 Parkland Trojans (Tim Moncman 7th year 62-20) Saturday 1pm at Bethlehem School District Stadium, Bethelehem, PA St. Joe’s Prep comes into Saturday’s contest with Parkland as the […]
Second half surge sends Ridley to Turkey Bowl win over Interboro
November 25, 2022 | Brendan Ricciardi
FOLSOM, PA. — It was a relatively quiet first half in the 53rd annual Turkey Bowl between Interboro and Ridley, but Ridley changed that in the second half as they exploded for 40 points en route to a 47-7 victory. It was a picture perfect day for football at Ridley’s Phil Marion field, with sunny […]
State College and North Allegheny to battle for 6A semifinal spot
November 24, 2022 | Billy Splain
State College v North Allegheny The trip to the title usually ends in this round. State College hasn’t beaten a District 7 team in many years in the playoffs. A victory here would be something Matt Lintal has never had, a win to advance in the playoffs against a WPIAL team. As a matter of […]
54th Annual Sun Valley vs. Chichester Turkey Bowl, Sun Valley Hoists the Trophy
November 24, 2022 | Dylan Johnson
All photos in this article are courtesy of Gabriel Palmarini. ASTON PA – In Delaware County, one thing is prevalent throughout time, tradition. This instance was the annual Turkey Bowl between two cross-town rivals. In the 54th meeting, the home team was the Sun Valley Vanguards (6-6). The Vanguards put together their best season in […]
PIAA Class 5A Playoff Preview – Cathedral Prep at Pine-Richland
November 24, 2022 | Phil Myers
Cathedral Prep Ramblers 8-2 @ Pine-Richland Rams 10-3 on Friday Nov. 25 at 7 P.M. – This game features two of the real heavyweights in PA high school football. Cathedral Prep comes into the game having not played since the end of October. They are the de facto D-10 Class 5A champs and are riding […]
Belle Vernon Looking to Continue Momentum against Avonworth in 3A WPIAL Title Game
November 24, 2022 | Nate Grella
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 […]
PIAA Class 4A Playoff Preview – Meadville vs Allentown Central Catholic
November 24, 2022 | Ed Weaver
It’s East meets West in Centre County at Bald Eagle Area High School on Friday as the Bulldogs take on the Vikings.
Canevin Hoping to Go Back to Back in 1A WPIAL Championship
November 24, 2022 | Nate Grella
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 […]
PIAA Class 1A Playoff Preview – Reynolds vs. Port Allegany
November 24, 2022 | Phil Myers
Reynolds Raiders 11-1 vs. Port Allegheny Gators 11-1 @ Bradford on Friday Nov. 25 at 7 P.M. The Reynolds Raiders invade Bradford to take on the Port Allegany Gators this Friday. The Raiders are the D-10 champs by virtue of their comeback victory over Eisenhower 28-14. Reynolds has won 9 games in a row since […]
Aliquippa and Central Valley Ready for Historic Rematch in 4A WPIAL Title At Acrisure
November 24, 2022 | Nate Grella
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 […]
Wyomissing travels to Danville in battle of Unbeatens
November 24, 2022 | Mason Eddinger
Wyomissing vs Danville 2020, Wyomissing won 44-14 12-0 vs 12-0, what can be better than this? Star Players on both sides of the ball, a QB with over 30 TDs, a WR with over 20TDs, and the #1 player in the entirety of Pennsylvania. It’s safe to say we are in for a treat […]
Backyard Football News Podcast: WPIAL Championship Preview: The Tiger Pit
November 24, 2022 | Nate Grella
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 […]
Protime Predictions (Protime Falls)
November 24, 2022 | Phil Myers
Over the years Protime has fallen into things, he’s fallen down, he’s fallen up, and he’s fallen for things. You’ve heard the lingo these days about a football player who’s pretty good. They say, “he’s a baller.” Well, Protime is a faller. Twice this year Protime missed a step coming out of the press box […]
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