High School Playbook

GAME OF THE WEEK (WPIAL CLASS AAAA SEMIFINALS)

(2) WOODLAND HILLS 38  (3) BETHEL PARK 35 (OVERTIME)

WPIAL CLASS AAAA SEMIFINALS

(1) GATEWAY 42  (12) NORTH HILLS 20

WPIAL CLASS AAA SEMIFINALS

(2) HOPEWELL 31  (14) HAMPTON 9

(4) WEST ALLEGHENY 28  (1) THOMAS JEFFERSON 21

WPIAL CLASS AA SEMIFINALS

(9) ALIQUIPPA 17  (4) BEAVER FALLS 10

(11) GREENSBURG CENTRAL CATHOLIC 24  (7) KEYSTONE OAKS 19

WPIAL CLASS A SEMIFINALS

(1) ROCHESTER 14  (4) NORTH CATHOLIC 7

(3) CLAIRTON 33  (2) LAUREL 0

PIAA CLASS AAA PRELIMINARY ROUND

SCHENLEY 54  PUNXSUTAWNEY 0

PIAA CLASS AA PRELIMINARY ROUND

BEDFORD 29  WESTINGHOUSE 6

FRED JOHNSON IS A REMARKABLE FOOTBALL PLAYER I HAVEN'T SEEN TALENT LIKE THAT IN ALONG TIME!! UNIONTOWN IS GOING PLACES WITH THAT YOUNG TALENTED PLAYER!! HE HAS 7 TD 4 BLOCKED PUNTS 3 BLOCKED FG AND IS LEADING IN SACKS!! DIVISION 1 SCHOOLS WILL BE CALLING HES ONLY A SOPHMORE???? AND HE GOT UNIONTOWN AN INTERCEPTION AGAINST BVA IN THE 1ST PLAYOFF GAME SINCE 1965!! WOW! GO RED RAIDERS

In last season's WPIAL Class A playoffs the Clairton Bears (9-1) outscored their opponents a combined 117-13 en route to the league championship. In Friday night's first-round playoff matchup against #14 seed South Side Beaver (6-4), they picked up where they left off, outgaining the Rams, 426-38 in total yards for a 61-0 victory.

They hit the ground running on the opening kickoff when junior Deon Ellis went 77 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone early. They then converted a two-point conversion attempt for an 8-0 lead.

South Side Beaver struggled on offense from start to finish in the game, and when running back Luke Shaffer fumbled in the first half, senior defensive lineman Chanze James recovered it and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown, ending it with a somersault over the goal line.

The somersault earned him a personal foul penalty, his second of the game, which resulted in his ejection from the game. According to WPIAL rules, an ejection in a playoff game automatically disqualifies a player for the following game, meaning James will not be eligible until the league semifinals should the Bears win their second round game.

Later in the first half, junior quarterback Desimon Green launched a 4th down pass into the end zone that was hauled in by wide receiver Josh Page for a touchdown and a 27-0 lead on the missed point after attempt. Senior running back Deontae Howard then broke a 20 yard touchdown run and a 35-0 lead with a successful two-point conversion attempt.

Clairton eventually took a 47-0 lead into halftime, and with a running clock in the second half due to the mercy rule, they added on two more touchdowns to close out the scoring. Next week the third-seeded Bears will face the sixth seed Avonworth Antelopes.

More Eat 'n Park Game of the Week:

Week 9: Gateway at McKeesport

Week 8: Sto-Rox at Keystone Oaks

Week 7: West Allegheny at Hopewell

Week 6: Aliquippa at Center

Week 5: Springdale at Avonworth

Week 4: Chartiers Valley at West Mifflin

Week 3: Upper St. Clair at North Allegheny

Week 2: Central Catholic at Canon-McMillan

Week 1: Gateway at Penn Hills

More South Side Beaver:

Avonworth vs, South Side Beaver

Quarterfinals: Monaca vs South Side Beaver

Eat 'n Park Game of the Week Preview

More Clairton:

Clairton Bears

Clairton's Kevin Weatherspoon

Clairton's Kevin Weatherspoon

Clairton's Kevin Weatherspoon

Paige Moody

Clairton's Deontae Howard

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Kevin Weatherspoon Highlights

PIAA Class A Championship

Toyota Play of the Week: PIAA Semifinals

Clairton Bear vs. Farrell Steeles PIAA Semifinals

PIAA Semifinal Highlights: Clairton, Aliquippa

PIAA Semifinals: Clairton vs Farrell

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clairton05

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Eat 'n Park Game of the Week Preview

Clairton WR Verbally Commits To Pitt

Game Of The Week: Clairton Vs. Serra

Football Success Affects Early Basketball Schedule

Clairton Falls In PIAA Class A Title Game, 35-16

WPIAL Football Teams Continue Run Of PIAA Success

Hopewell sophomore running back Rushel Shell helped lead the Vikings football team to a perfect 9-0 record and the second seed in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs. However, he will not be in the lineup for their first round matchup against Derry Area.

Shell has been suspended for Friday night's game due to a violation of school rules. He was reportedly found with chewing tobacco on school grounds.

Shell was the area's leading rusher with 2,043 yards during the regular season, and already has over 3,500 for his career, putting him on pace with the WPIAL's all-time career rushing leader, Mike Vernillo of Fort Cherry.

Hopewell is considered one of the leading contenders for the Class AAA title, along with perennial heavyweight and top-seeded Thomas Jefferson.

More Hopewell:

WA VS HOPEWELL

Hopewell's Rushel Shell

High School Playbook's Josh Taylor with Hopewell's Rushel Shell

Hopewell's Rushel Shell

Home of the Vikings

Hopewell Vikings logo

Clearview Student-Athlete of the Week:Rushel Shell

Human Highlight Reel: Hopewell's Rushel Shell

Eat 'n Park Game of the Week: Hopewell vs West A

Playoffs, Round 1: Hopewell vs Greensburg-Salem

Week 9: Hopewell vs. Moon

Week 2: Hopewell vs. Mars

Clearview Student-Athlete of the Week:Rushel Shell

Eat 'n Park Game Of The Week: Shell Of A Good Time

Week 7 WPIAL & City League Football Highlights

Eat 'n Park Game Of The Week Preview

BATTLE OF THE BACKS: Shell Outruns Indians 34-26

Local Prep Football Players Gaining

GAME OF THE WEEK (WPIAL CLASS A)

CLAIRTON 61  SOUTH SIDE BEAVER 0  (Highlights)

CITY LEAGUE SEMIFINALS

SCHENLEY 14  BRASHEAR 2

WPIAL CLASS AAAA - 1ST ROUND

PENN HILLS 14  UPPER ST. CLAIR 7 (Highlights)

SHALER 23  MT. LEBANON 21

NORTH HILLS 19  MCKEESPORT 7

GATEWAY 49  PLUM 0

WOODLAND HILLS 42  BALDWIN 7

NORTH ALLEGHENY 47  LATROBE 0

BETHEL PARK 49  PENN-TRAFFORD 21

CENTRAL CATHOLIC 35  SENECA VALLEY 0 (Highlights)

WPIAL CLASS AAA - 1ST ROUND

THOMAS JEFFERSON 51  LAUREL HIGHLANDS 7

MARS 17  TRINITY 0

NEW CASTLE 45  GREENSBURG SALEM 38 (Highlights)

WEST ALLEGHENY 31  KNOCH 17

HAMPTON 19  CHARTIERS VALLEY 7

HOPEWELL 28  DERRY 14

UNIONTOWN 21  BELLE VERNON 20

FRANKLIN REGIONAL 35  MONTOUR 20 (Highlights)

WPIAL CLASS AA - 1ST ROUND

KEYSTONE OAKS 27  BURRELL 0

STO-ROX 32  SHADY SIDE ACADEMY 20 (Highlights)

SOUTH FAYETTE 35  BEAVER AREA 15

MOUNT PLEASANT 45  KITTANNING 6

GREENSBURG CENTRAL CATHOLIC 35  FREEPORT 6

CENTER 27  WASHINGTON 0

BEAVER FALLS 42  STEEL VALLEY 14

ALIQUIPPA 27  MCGUFFEY 7 (Highlights)

WPIAL CLASS A - 1ST ROUND

NORTH CATHOLIC 38  JEFFERSON-MORGAN 3

ROCHESTER 40  CARMICHAELS 6

SPRINGDALE 21 MONESSEN 14

BRENTWOOD 22  FORT CHERRY 0

AVONWORTH 27  MONACA 0

BETH-CENTER 38  SERRA CATHOLIC 17

LAUREL 55  BURGETTSTOWN 7

By Josh Taylor, School Coordinator

Run the ball? No problem.

Catch the ball? OK.

Score touchdowns? Sure, why not?

Shaler's Jesse Della Valle has had a lot of different things asked of him this season, but he has never turned any of them down. He has answered the challenge every time with a silent, team-first work ethic that has helped his team succeed this season and earned him this week's Clearview Federal Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Week award.

 WATCH THE CEREMONY

Jesse is a senior wide receiver who has helped the Titans to an 8-1 overall record and second place in the WPIAL's Northern Six Conference this season. Playing the "slotback" position in the offense, a combination of wide receiver and running back, he has rushed and received for over 1,000 combined yards for the second straight year and has scored 20 touchdowns this season.

Jesse rushed for three touchdowns and caught seven passes for 133 yards to lead Shaler to a 29-7 win over Pine-Richland in last week's regular season finale. His 27 receptions, 554 receiving yards and 20.5 yards per catch average are all among the best in the WPIAL.

But when asked about his role, he simply shrugs it off as a reflection on his team.  "Just doing what the team needs me to do to win," he said.

Channel 4 Action News anchor Michelle Wright was in Shaler this week to honor Jesse with this week's award, which he accepted in front of his teammates and the student body. Also in attendance were his parents, as well as his aunt and uncle.

Shaler athletic director Paul Holzshu decided to keep the award a secret, and Jesse had no idea until he was announced during the assembly. It was the perfect surprise and testament to an outstanding athlete who is also an outstanding student with a 3.5 GPA.

Shaler will face Mt. Lebanon at home Friday night for their first round matchup in a rematch of their September 26 game, which the Titans won, 21-12. Jesse is confident about their chances the second time around, and his outlook about the game was simple.

"We beat them before, and we can beat them again," he said.

Previous Honorees:

• Matt McCann, Keystone Oaks
• Rushel Shell, Hopewell
• Alec Schram, Canon-McMillan
• Dom Timbers, Woodland Hills
• Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette
• Wayne Capers, Jr., Chartiers Valley
• Damion Jones-Moore, Central Catholic
• Orne Bey, Gateway

More Shaler:

North Hills vs Shaler 5

North Hills vs Shaler 4

North Hills vs Shaler 3

North Hills vs Shaler 2

North Hills vs Shaler 1

North Hills vs Shaler 5

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Week 8: Shaler vs. North Hills

North Hills Marching Band

Week 8 Football: Shaler vs North Hills

Week 8: Interview with North Hills Coach Carey

Week 2: Shaler vs Hempfield

Shaler Raises First Penguins Cup

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Jessica28

Joe from Shaler

shalerstepmom

ShalerFan2007

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Week 8 WPIAL & City League Football Highlights

Pine-Richland Teacher Earns State Honors

Titans Top North Hills To Claim Conference Crown

North Hills V.S Shaler

High School Playbook Week 2 Highlights

Shaler Stays Perfect

In only his sophomore season, Hopewell's Rushel Shell has become a human highlight reel to admires, and a total nightmare to any defense that gets in his way.

Shell had his best game to date last Friday, thrashing the West Allegheny Indians for 349 yards and three touchdowns in our Eat 'n Park Game of the Week.

(This season has been all smiles for Hopewell's Rushel Shell)

While Shell has had no problem lighting up the scoreboard for the Vikings this season, he also lit a fire under the crowd at Hopewell High School when he was presented with the Clearview Federal Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Week award on Thursday.

WATCH THE CEREMONY

Clearview's Casey Ramsey, a Hopewell graduate, was also on hand to present the school with a check for $250.

Shell has lead the Vikings to a 7-0 record and first place in the WPIAL AAA Parkway Conference this season.

His 1,492 yards ranks tops in the WPIAL and he has rushed for more than 100 yards in every game.

But mowing down opposing defenses is nothing new in Shell's family lineage.

He is the nephew of University of Pittsburgh Heisman Trophy winner and Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl running back Tony Dorsett.

Dorsett also attended Hopewell High School and the football stadium has been named after him.

More Rushel Shell:

Hopewell's Rushel Shell

High School Playbook's Josh Taylor with Hopewell's Rushel Shell

Hopewell's Rushel Shell

Hopewell's Rushel Shell

Rushel Shell, Hopewell

Hopewell's Rushel Shell

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Human Highlight Reel: Hopewell's Rushel Shell   blogs showing 1 to 5 of 5 blog(s).   ------------- Clearview Student-Athlete of the Week:Rushel Shell Eat 'n Park Game Of The Week: Shell Of A Good Time Eat 'n Park Game Of The Week Preview Local Prep Football Players Gaining Attention Shell Wins National Freshman Of The Year

 Previous Honorees:

• Alec Schram, Canon-McMillan
• Dom Timbers, Woodland Hills
• Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette
• Wayne Capers, Jr., Chartiers Valley
• Damion Jones-Moore, Central Catholic
• Orne Bey, Gateway

The Central Catholic Vikings are 6-2 and eyeing a run in the WPIAL playoffs, but on Friday night they paused to remember a friend and teammate they lost last season.

The team honored former running back Kyle Wilson prior to their game against Kiski at Duquesne University.

Wilson's family led the team onto the field, many of them wearing his No. 23.

Following a prayer, balloons representing the team's colors were released into the night sky as the Vikings went on to defeat the Cavaliers 28-7.

Wilson, a junior last season, suffered a stroke while watching a high school football game in October last year.

The Vikings found themselves taking the field for a playoff game a week later, toppling Penn-Trafford 42-0 in a game many said was won for Wilson.

The Vikings conclude their 2009 regular season next Friday against Fox Chapel.

More Kyle Wilson:

Central Catholic Honors Teammate In Playoff Win

Funeral Held For Central Catholic Football Player

Central Catholic Remembers Teammate, Friend

Central Catholic Players Practice With Heavy Heart

Central Catholic Team Prays For Ailing Teammate

More Central Catholic:

Week 5 Football:Woodland Hills vs Central Catholic

Band of the Week: Central Catholic

Week 3: Greensburg Central Catholic vs Washington

Pop Quiz With Central Catholic's DJ Myers

Student-Athlete Of The Week: Damion Jones-Moore

Week 2: Central Catholic vs Canon-McMillan

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High School Playbook Week 2 Highlights

Clearview Student-Athlete: Damion Jones-Moore

Ground Attack Boosts Wolverines Past Vikings 27-3

Vikings Right the Ship with 31-7 Victory

Mt. Lebanon Shocks Central Catholic 36-21

Local Junior Golfers Qualify For Pebble Beach

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYBOOK SCOREBOARD

WEEK 8

GAME OF THE WEEK

KEYSTONE OAKS 27  STO-ROX 20 (Highlights)

WILD CARD GAME OF THE WEEK

SOUTH FAYETTE 21  STEEL VALLEY 0 (Highlights)

CITY LEAGUE

PEABODY 30  WESTINGHOUSE 0

SCHENLEY 35  ALLDERDICE 0 (Highlights)

WPIAL CLASS AAAA

GATEWAY 76  CONNELLSVILLE 0

WOODLAND HILLS 52  PLUM 14

NORTH ALLEGHENY 44  BUTLER 0

MT. LEBANON 24  BALDWIN 12

UPPER ST. CLAIR 31  PETERS TOWNSHIP 7

MCKEESPORT 56  HEMPFIELD 0 (Highlights)

LATROBE 31  NORWIN 28

BETHEL PARK 38  CANON-MCMILLAN 24 (Highlights)

SENECA VALLEY 19  PINE-RICHLAND 17

SHALER 27 NORTH HILLS 17 (Highlights)

CENTRAL CATHOLIC 28 KISKI 7 (Highlights)

WPIAL CLASS AAA

HOPEWELL 30  MONTOUR 23

UNIONTOWN 44  SOUTHMORELAND 14

RINGGOLD 29  WEST MIFFLIN 21

MARS 17  INDIANA 14

DERRY 28  ALBERT GALLATIN 14

GREENSBURG-SALEM 42  LAUREL HIGHLANDS 6

KNOCH 35  HIGHLANDS 21

BLACKHAWK 14  MOON 12

CHARTIERS VALLEY 31  ELIZABETH FORWARD 17

NEW CASTLE 35  AMBRIDGE 18

FRANKLIN REGIONAL 35  HAMPTON 34

WPIAL CLASS AA

CENTER 21  BEAVER FALLS 7

MOUNT PLEASANT 13  JEANNETTE 0

BISHOP CANEVIN 13  CORNELL 6

EAST ALLEGHENY 42  BROWNSVILLE 0

WASHINGTON 20  CHARLEROI 18

MCGUFFEY 34  WAYNESBURG 0

FORD CITY 26  BURRELL 14

ALIQUIPPA 27  RIVERSIDE 7

SOUTH PARK 15  SETON-LASALLE 0

SHADY SIDE ACADEMY 48  WEST SHAMOKIN 0

BEAVER AREA 49  MOHAWK 7

ELLWOOD CITY 33  NEW BRIGHTON 21

NORTHGATE 14  QUAKER VALLEY 8

APOLLO-RIDGE 14  VALLEY 13

WPIAL CLASS A

LAUREL 27  WESTERN BEAVER 6

NORTH CATHOLIC 41  CARLYNTON 13

SHENANGO 35  UNION 0

CLAIRTON 59  AVELLA 0

SERRA 25  FRAZIER 0

MONESSEN 41  CARMICHAELS 7

GEIBEL 28  MAPLETOWN 14

MONACA 35  NESHANNOCK 0

AVONWORTH 41  RIVERVIEW 8

FORT CHERRY 21  BURGETTSTOWN 19

CHARTIERS-HOUSTON 21  BENTWORTH 0

BETH-CENTER 61  WEST GREENE 0

JEFFERSON-MORGAN 21  CALIFORNIA 20

SPRINGDALE 48  WILKINSBURG 12

NON-CONFERENCE

WEST ALLEGHENY 41  FREEDOM 0

TRINITY 41  YOUGH 21

Channel 4 Action Sports anchor John Meyer described this meeting between Keystone Oaks and Sto-Rox and as "the Big Ten against the speed of the SEC," and he was right. Keystone Oaks has built its success off the running game, featuring the "Thunder & Lightning" duo of junior running backs Matt McCann and Jordan Maddox.

Meanwhile, Sto-Rox's multi-faceted offense is headlined by two Division I recruits in senior quarterback Paul Jones (Penn State) and receiver Andrew Carswell (Pitt). But Jones would be a non-factor in the second half after leaving with an injury, and McCann ran the Golden Eagles all the way to a 27-20 victory.

 WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS

McCann rushed for 272 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, giving him 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season, both numbers among the best in the WPIAL.

This game was littered with mistakes and miscues, as Carswell missed the ball on an attempted punt in the first quarter, and was downed at the Sto-Rox 18. It only took two plays for McCann to strike first with a touchdown run, and the Golden Eagles had the early 7-0 lead.

Sto-Rox answered on their next possession with a touchdown by Dontae Gilmore, capping off a drive that was kept alive by a 4th down and 10 conversion on a run by Jones. The two-point conversion failed, however, and Keystone Oaks maintained the lead, 7-6.

On Keystone Oaks' next possession, it was "Thunder & Lightning" that got them another score. McCann thundered through the line and broke a 69-yard run, and then Maddox flashed off left tackle in to the end zone for a 13-6 halftime lead with a missed extra point.

Early in the fourth quarter, after another McCann touchdown run made the score 20-6, Jones was sacked and left the game with an injury, and it appeared that Sto-Rox's hopes of winning were fading. But sophomore Jordan Latimer, who stepped in and led the Vikings to two wins to start the season while Jones was recovering from a broken ankle, stepped in as he did before and kept the Vikings alive.

On Latimer's first play from scrimmage, he launched a deep pass into the end zone that was deflected into the hands of receiver DeJuan Reddix for a touchdown, making the score 20-12.

On the Vikings' next possession, Latimer stepped up again and avoided the rush to lob a high-arching screen pass to running back Joshuae Beverly, who ran through the Keystone Oaks defense for a 31-yard score to cut their deficit to two. On the point attempt, Gilmore took a direct snap and threw a pass into the back of the end zone and Carswell made a diving catch to tie the game with 1:50 left in regulation.

Although Sto-Rox battled back with 14 points in the fourth quarter to give them momentum to possibly force the game into overgame, Keystone Oaks would not be denied. McCann broke a 53-yard touchdown run with just over a minute to go to take a 27-20 lead.

Sto-Rox made one last-ditch attempt to stay in the game, but a 4th and goal pass fell incomplete with nine seconds left to end it.

Keystone Oaks (7-1) clinched second place and will face across-the-road rival Seton-LaSalle in Dormont for their season finale, while Sto-Rox (6-2) will face Northgate at home.

More Eat 'n Park Game of the Week:

Week 7: West Allegheny at Hopewell

Week 6: Aliquippa at Center

Week 5: Springdale at Avonworth

Week 4: Chartiers Valley at West Mifflin

Week 3: Upper St. Clair at North Allegheny

Week 2: Central Catholic at Canon-McMillan

Week 1: Gateway at Penn Hills

More Keystone Oaks:

Playbook's Josh Taylor with Keystone Oaks Head Coach Nick Kamberis

Nick Kamberis

Keystone Oaks practice

Keystone Oaks practice

Keystone Oaks practice

Keystone Oaks practice

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Two-A-Days '09: Keystone Oaks' Alex Demczak

Two-A-Days '09: Keystone Oaks' Max Kielbasa

Two-A-Days '09: Keystone Oaks' Nick Kamberis

Student-Athlete of the Week: Dion Wiegand

Band of the Week: Keystone Oaks

Week 8: Keystone Oaks vs. Sto-Rox

Eat 'n Park Game Of The Week

Eat 'n Park Game of the Week Preview

Sto Rox versus Keystone Oaks

Two-A-Days '09: Eagles Eye Landing At Heinz Field

Shot Of The Week: Week 8

Clearview Student-Athlete Of The Week