Posted by: Don Revell
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | 11:42 PM
Seton LaSalle’s Logan King runs during preseason practice.
Week 7 of the high school football season begins early on the 10th of October this year, with not one, not two, but three area games being played on Thursday.
A busy WPIAL schedule begins with a Class 2A nonconference contest as top-ranked and undefeated Seton LaSalle (6-0) visits Shady Side Academy (2-5).
The Rebels sit atop the Class 2A Century Conference with a 4-0 record, one game behind Keystone Oaks, Washington and Waynesburg.
Seton LaSalle has the highest scoring offense in 2A, averaging about 41 points per game, but it also has the stingiest defense, allowing just eight points per game.
The host Bulldogs may need a win to have any hope of a wild card out of the Allegheny Conference. SSA is 1-3 in conference play and ranks sixth in the seven-team conference.
Thursday’s other two area football games are City League nonconference contests.
Alderdice (2-2, 4-3) from District 8 heads north to face independent Butler (3-4) in the playoffs.
The Dragons have lost two in a row after winning three in a row in the City League, but the Golden Tornadoes are coming off a losing streak, dropping three of their last four games.
Perry (1-3, 1-5) will face former City League rival and now independent Carrick (2-4) at George Cupples Stadium on Thursday.
The Commodores won last week against Brashear, ending their losing streak at five and clinching a spot in the City League playoffs.
The Raiders shut out Brownsville last week and have won two of their last three games.
It’s the final week of the City League regular season, and the stage is set for Westinghouse (5-1) to take on University Prep (3-3) on Friday at Couples Stadium to determine the regular season champion. There is.
Both the Bulldogs and Panthers finished tied for first place in District 8 with 3 wins and 0 losses.
The winner will take the regular season title and face Perry in the City League semifinals, while the loser will face Allderdice.
Also on Friday, Brashear (0-7) will look for its first win of the season when it faces District 9 Red Bank Valley (5-2).
Start aiming for the team title
On Thursday, the Top Golf teams competed in the WPIAL Boys and Girls Team Golf Championships, with a district gold medal on the line.
All four team championships will be held at Cedarbrook Golf Course in Belle Vernon.
In the boys 3A field, defending WPIAL 3A champion Peters Township did not advance to Tuesday’s semifinals, but 2023 Class 2A champion Belle Vernon did. The Leopards were promoted to 3A this offseason.
The six finalists are Belle Vernon, Fox Chapel, North Allegheny, Plum, South Fayette, and West Allegheny.
In boys 2A, North Catholic and Quaker Valley will advance in the semifinals and advance to the finals along with four other teams, crowning a new champion.
Joining the Trojans and Quakers are Greensburg Central Catholic, Elizabeth Forward, McGuffey and Shady Side Academy.
Tee times for the boys 3A and 2A teams will be at 10 a.m. at the Cedarbrook Gold Course.
In girls 3A, two-time defending champion Peters Township is among nine teams looking for gold.
The Indians will be joined by Armstrong, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Moon, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and Upper St. Clair.
In girls 2A, the championship field is much smaller, with only four teams participating.
Greensburg Central Catholic, where the Centurions are aiming for their 10th straight district title, is one of those schools.
Challenging them will be Mount Pleasant, North Catholic and Shady Side Academy.
Tee times for the girls 3A and 2A teams will be at 10 a.m. on the Cedarbrook Red Course.
coming down the stretch
With less than a week left in the regular season, WPIAL boys soccer will be busy with on-field activities.
There could still be 12 playoff berths left, as well as the possibility of winning a section title, which is still up in the air.
In Section 1-4A, Plum (9-0, 12-0-3) plays Norwin (8-1, 10-4) on Thursday.
The Mustangs have at least a share of the section title and could win outright with a win or a tie. The Knights need a win to share the sectional championship.
In Section 1-3A, three teams still have a chance of winning the section.
Mars (7-1-2, 11-1-3), Hampton (6-1-3, 9-2-3) and Indiana (8-2, 13-2) are all ranked No. There are two games left.
Hampton visits Indiana and Mars is at Knoch (4-6, 6-9).
In Section 4-A, Winchester Thurston (7-0-1, 10-2-1) takes on Springdale (7-2, 12-3) for outright sectional honors with a win or tie. You can.
2A team tennis quarterfinals
Six of the eight top seeds advanced to Tuesday’s first round of WPIAL Class 2A girls team tennis.
The two exceptions are No. 9 Winchester Thurston defeating No. 8 Black Hawk and No. 10 Indiana defeating No. 7 Mount Pleasant.
Now, the quarterfinals will be decided by these four games in 2A on Thursday.
• No. 9 Winchester Thurston, No. 1 North Catholic at Cranberry Township Park.
• 5th place Oakland Catholic, 4th place Sewickley Academy at Nicholls Court.
• 10th Indiana, 2nd Quaker Valley
• No. 3 Hampton’s No. 6 Beaver at Hampton Community Park.
All four games start at 3 p.m.
The winner advances to the 2A semifinals on Monday at a neutral site.
The Class 3A girls team tennis playoff semifinals are also scheduled for Monday.
