Sixty-four teams began their playoff journey to Heinz Field three weeks ago, and now only eight remain among the four classes in WPIAL Football. These championships look to be historic in many ways, this will be the final season under the current classifications as the PIAA has elected to go to new classifications for member schools in 2016. These championship games will also serve as the 100th installment of WPIAL Football Championships with the first one being played in 1915 between ... Read More
Archives for November 2015
Pittsburgh Penguins Prospects: 3 Up, 3 Down
Three Up 1. Scott Wilson After a fairly productive 2014–15 professional debut hampered by injury at the midway point, left winger Scott Wilson looked to be a top player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. So far, so good. Wilson ranks second in the AHL with 10 goals and in the top 10 with 17 points in 14 games. UMass-Lowell product notched two goals, including the eventual game winner, in a 5-3 win over the Albany Devils on Saturday to keep the Penguins atop the AHL with a 13-2-0 record. 2. Conor ... Read More
Jamie Dixon leaning on bench in early going
Yes it has only been three games and no the competition hasn't been very good at all, but Pitt head basketball coach Jamie Dixon may be able to do something this season that he hasn't been able to the past few seasons. That would be being able to turn to a bench that has depth and talent. Through the Panthers three contests this season, Dixon has had the opportunity to go 12 deep against some weak competition, but of the 12 that are part of his regular rotation, the seven guys coming off ... Read More
Jamel Artis leads Pitt to blowout win vs. Cornell
Jamel Artis made it a point to be aggressive right from the opening tip. That strategy paid off in a big way as Artis scored 21 points- 18 in the first half- as the Panthers rolled over the visiting Cornell Big Red Bears 93-49 Wednesday night at the Petersen Events Center. Artis made 6-of-11 field goal attempts to pace the Panthers, who shot 52 percent from the floor. The junior forward also chipped in five rebounds and four assists on the night. Junior Michael Young also filled the stat ... Read More
Dukes conclude Gulf Coast Showcase with win over Western Kentucky
Duquesne (5-1) defeated Western Kentucky (3-3) 81-73 in the fifth-place game of the Gulf Coast Showcase at Estero, Fla. this afternoon. Senior guard Derrick Colter scored a game-high 24 points in the win. Senior forward Jeremiah Jones contributed a career-high 17. Senior guard Micah Mason and sophomore forward TySean Powell also figured into the double digits for the Dukes, adding 14 and 10 points, respectively. Mason netted four 3-pointers and led the court with five assists and three ... Read More
Miami vs. Pitt: Preview, analysis, prediction and more
The Pitt Panthers are coming off an impressive 45-34 win over the Louisville Cardinals to push their record to 8-3 (6-1 ACC) and now prepare to finish their regular season when they host the Miami Hurricanes this Friday for a noon kickoff. With a win, the Panthers have an opportunity to reach nine regular season wins for the first time since 2009 and set themselves up for a high-profile bowl bid. Miami comes in with a 7-4 record and have won three of four since firing Al Golden a month ... Read More
Duquesne defeats Milwaukee in overtime
Rallying from a four-point deficit in overtime, Duquesne (4-1) sealed a 96-92 win over Milwaukee (4-3) in the second round of the Gulf Coast Showcase at Estero, Fla. Senior guards Derrick Colter and Micah Mason scored a combined 53 points for the Dukes, with Colter earning a career-high 27 points and Mason finishing with 26. Colter fouled out with 2:36 left in overtime. Duquesne head coach Jim Ferry said his team maintained composure even in foul trouble, specifically with Colter’s ... Read More
With AFC North lead down to two, can Steelers catch Bengals?
So maybe the AFC North race isn't quite over yet after all? That's up for debate considering the 8-2 Cincinnati Bengals hold a two-game lead with six games remaining in the regular season, but after losing to the Arizona Cardinals for their second consecutive defeat Sunday night, what was once considered an insurmountable divisional lead over the 6-4 Pittsburgh Steelers might not be so insurmountable after all. When the teams met at Heinz Field earlier this month, many considered the ... Read More
PIAA unveils new divisions for high school football
With the WPIAL playoffs are set to take place this weekend at Heinz Field, it will likely be the final time the finals are played at the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers. That’s because beginning next season the PIAA, starting next season, will reclassify into six divisions instead of four classes. The divisions are judged by enrollment figures and will look as follows: 6A: North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, Butler, Hempfield, Mt. Lebanon, Central Catholic, Canon-McMillan, ... Read More
Pens need to let the kids play
Proposed fixes seem to be running thin for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The rollercoaster 2015–16 season continued last week with a pair of 4-3 wins over the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche capped with a 3-1 loss to the San José Sharks on Saturday night. Quite simply, the Penguins lack jump. Outlasting opponents works sometimes. So far, 12 out of 20 times to be exact, but something needs to be done to get the team to play with a higher level of intensity. The top six group of ... Read More