The Pitt Panthers, led by freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel, defeated North Carolina State 53-34, totaling 529 yards of offense. Heintschel set a freshman record with 423 passing yards and three touchdowns. The victory marked Pitt's fourth consecutive ACC win, securing bowl eligibility.
Four West Hills high school football teams have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs, set for Halloween night. Moon Area and Bishop Canevin host their games, while Montour and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart travel for their first-round contests. Cornell missed the playoffs after a close loss to Monessen on the last night of the regular season.
Senior running back Caden Halajcio rushed for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns as Montour overpowered West Allegheny, 34-13, Friday night in a key WPIAL Class 4A Parkway Conference game. Meanwhile, Moon Area and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart also posted wins while Cornell dropped a heartbreaker to Monessen.
Montour High School football coach Lou Cerro is optimistic about his team's playoff prospects, emphasizing the critical importance of their upcoming game against West Allegheny. A win would secure a playoff berth and potentially clinch a conference title. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Cornell also need wins.
Moon Area defeated Upper St. Clair 20-13 in overtime, securing a WPIAL playoff spot. Andrew Cross' 1-yard touchdown capped a strong defensive effort, limiting Upper St. Clair' quarterback Ethan Hellmann. Montour, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and Bishop Canevin also achieved significant victories.
The Sto-Rox Vikings, led by second-year coach Brendan Blair, finally secured their first win after going 0-9-1 last season and 0-7 to start this season. They defeated Carlynton 8-6. Despite a challenging season, Blair emphasizes improvement and focus on the mental aspects of the game.
Da’ron Barksdale led Steel Valley to a decisive 38-7 victory over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, showcasing his skills with 128 rushing yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, including a pick six, while the Ironmen's defense excelled.