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It's the most wonderful time of year. No, it's not Christmas. It's the WPIAL football championships, with finals in Class 4A and Class 6A slated for Saturday at Pine-Richland. After analyzing the ramifications of the PIAA biennial realignment on football conferences, our Post-Gazette High School insiders Keith Barnes and Mike White delve into the matchups as McKeesport and running back Kemon Spell, who have been to the finals each of the last two years, hope to avenge a 2023 finals loss to the Quips, who have been bolstered by the return of quarterback Marques Council. In the Class 6A final, familiar foes meet as defending champion Central Catholic once again squares off with North Allegheny. They then look deeply at the Friday slate of eight semifinal matchups in Class 1A, Class 2A, Class 3A and Class 5A, featuring rematches from the regular season from Western Hills Conference foes Avonworth-North Catholic and Peters Township-Upper St. Clair from the Allegheny Six. As a bonus, they look at the PIAA Class 1A game featuring Westinghouse and District 5 champion Meyersdale Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Monmouth-Roseville Titans travel to Bloomington to take on the Bloomington Central Catholic Saints in a Class 3A Round 2 Playoff game.
Hunter Carley rushed for two touchdowns and caught one, as No. 1 seed Richmond-Burton rolled to a 57-7 win over host Aurora Central Catholic in a Class 3A second-round playoff game Friday night.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
The powerhouses will look to keep rolling through the bracket as big-time matchups loom. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2025 IHSA Class 3A Playoffs.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Chris Evans is back with a look at some of last week's scores and the Week 10 Class 3A rankings!
Nate Lang threw five touchdown passes to four different receivers, two of them to Grant Bowen, and IC Catholic Prep scored touchdowns on five straight possessions in the second quarter and went on to beat Hope Academy 42-13 in a Class 3A first-round game in Chicago.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
A touchdown with 59.5 seconds to play was the difference in DuPec's 18-13 Class 3A playoff victory over host Johnsburg.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Valshon Powe scored five touchdowns and rushing for 243 yards to lead Bloomington Central Catholic to a 41-20 victory over Princeton in a Class 3A playoffs opener.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Monmouth-Roseville hosts Manteno for a class 3A playoff game at Coach Dobry Field.
Hunter Carley rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns, the defense set the tone early, and Richmond-Burton's football team beat visiting North Boone 49-0 in a Class 3A playoff opener Friday night. The game was called in the third quarter after a North Boone player was injured.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Caden Considine rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns and Byron scored 36 straight points in the second quarter and went on to a 56-15 win over Oregon in a Class 3A first-round game Friday.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Herscher drove down and struck first in Friday's Class 3A first round playoff game at Bishop McNamara, but the Fightin' Irish scored five unanswered touchdowns to down the Tigers and move on.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
A Roxana High School proposal that would expand the playoffs and provide a regional schedule model has released regional mockups for Class 3A and Class 4A. See the proposed regions here.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Class 3A's North Bracket is chock full of impressive programs setting up some very early titanic matchups. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 3A Playoffs.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.
Chris Evans is back with a look at some of last week's scores and the Week 9 Class 3A rankings!
Chris Evans is back with a look at some of last week's scores and the Week 8 Class 3A rankings!
Chris Evans is back with a look at some of last week's scores and the Week 7 Class 3A rankings!
Chris Evans is back with a look at some of last week's scores and the Week 5 Class 3A rankings!
Chris Evans is back with a look at some of last week's scores and the Week 4 Class 3A rankings!
Post-Gazette high school sports insider Keith Barnes interviews Beaver Area quarterback Travis Clear, who was named the PG's WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League athlete of the week for his standout performance again Hopewell. Travis explains how he passed for a WPIAL-leading 391 yards and a pair of touchdowns to life his team a thrilling 51-50 victory that kept it in the mix in Class 3A. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Chris Evans is back with a look at some of last week's scores and the Week 2 Class 3A rankings!
Chris Evans is back with a look at some of last week's scores and the Week 2 Class 3A rankings!
MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about the Douglas county fair, efforts to host Hockey Day Minnesota in Alexandria in 2028, an active shooter training exercise in Osakis and the Douglas County Commission's efforts to balance funding requests with some less-than-idea budget news. Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute. Check out the top headlines from August 20 and August 22 below: August 20, 2025: More than 60,000 attend 2025 Douglas County Fair Alexandria's new assistant superintendent wants to hear from parents, students More than 170 Icelanders visit Runestone Museum in 1 day City of Alexandria supports hosting Hockey Day Minnesota 2028 Alexandria native earns Fulbright award to research in Japan Volleyball: New year, new challenge for Alexandria after winning 2024 Class 3A state title August 22, 2025: Local law enforcement, first responders, stage active shooter drill at Osakis Public School $10,000 reward offered for information about missing woman Douglas County Commissioners approve $861,918 in funding requests, $21,000 in raises for 2026 Alexandria School Board learns about Extended School Year program, district's operational plan Football: Fresh challenges ahead in 2025 for Alexandria Opinion
We're back! The Prep Rally Podcast kicks off a brand-new season with our Football Season Preview, breaking down everything you need to know before Friday night lights return across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. This week, Sydney and the crew are joined by special guest Walter Woodie to huddle up on all things high school football—conference by conference. From 2A battles to the heavyweights in 7A, we're spotlighting the teams, players, and storylines to watch this fall. Here's what we cover in this episode: 2A: Magazine, Mountainburg, Johnson County Westside, Subiaco Academy 3A: Booneville, Charleston, Mansfield + who else could shake things up 4A: Can Elkins repeat? Will Ozark break through in a tough league? 5A: Farmington vs. the field—can Alma or Harrison make a run? 6A: Greenwood and Shiloh lead the pack, but who's next in line? 7A: Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville… and new coaches to watch We also bring you our “Gimme 5” segment, featuring the biggest questions in the River Valley and the top 5 players to watch in NWA this season. We also bring you our “Gimme 5” segment, featuring the biggest questions in the River Valley and the top 5 players to watch in NWA this season. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction(00:01:50) - Class 2A(00:04:58) - Class 3A(00:10:44) - Class 4A(00:15:56) - Road Trip Trailer(00:17:50) - Class 5A(00:22:42) - Class 6A(00:27:57) - Class 7A(00:34:15) - Leland's Top 5 Questions of the Season(00:37:30) - Graham's Top 5 Players to Watch(00:39:58) - Sydney's Top 5 Things to Look Forward To
As he prepares to begin his 16th season as the only varsity head football coach Oakdale High School has ever known, Kurt Stein is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast. Stein chats with host Greg Swatek about his longevity with the program and how it has evolved over the years into the perennial power that it is today. Aided by a talented group of returning players, including quarterback Alex Rodriguez, and a stellar group of newcomers, some of whom transferred in, Oakdale might have one of its most talented teams this season. Stein explains why Rodriguez is in the rare position of being a second-year starter for the Bears at QB. He also talks about what it will take for Oakdale to maximize its talent and make a run at a second Class 3A state title in three years and third in program history. He also addresses why so many players have transferred to Oakdale during the offseason. Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss the start of fall sports practice across Frederick County and preview the upcoming season for girls flag football.
As he prepares to begin his 40th season of coaching high school football, Rick Conner is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast. The longtime coach at Linganore High School chats with host Greg Swatek about the upcoming season and how his team expects to maintain its typically high standard. The Lancers have reached the Class 3A in six of the last eight years. But with only one championship to show for it during that span in 2017, how tired are Conner and the Lancers of falling short in that game? Conner talks about what he still enjoys about the job and how much longer he might be doing it. Plus, he discusses what he likes about this particular Linganore team and outlines what it might take to break through for a seventh state title in school history this fall. Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about expectations for the Lancers this season, the return of affiliated professional baseball in Frederick with the Keys becoming the Orioles High-A minor league team again and recent summer outings to see Paul Skenes, the young superstar pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
On this episode of the Dubuque Area Sports Podcast, your host — Everybody's Favorite Coach, Coach Maneman — sits down with one of the biggest names in Iowa high school softball: Julia Roth from Wahlert Catholic!She's just a sophomore, but she's already making headlines with dominant pitching, clutch hitting, and leadership well beyond her years. From her walk-off home runs to shutouts in the state tournament, Julia is showing the entire state why she's one of the most feared players in Class 3A.We talk about her breakout season, her mindset on the mound, what drives her success at the plate, and what the future holds as she sets her sights on Division I softball at the University of Iowa.Tune in for a powerful conversation with one of Dubuque's brightest young stars.
What happens when two brothers, both pumping 90+ on the radar gun, take the mound for the #1 ranked team in Class 3A? You get dominance — and a whole lot of fun.In this episode, Coach Maneman sits down with Wahlert Catholic's ace senior Will Pierro and his freshman phenom brother Jacob, fresh off a pair of electric outings to start the high school season. Will notched 12 Ks and a complete game gem, while Jacob picked up his first varsity win in his first start, silencing crosstown rival Dubuque Senior.From their backyard battles to leading one of Iowa's top programs, the Pierro brothers open up about:Life as teammates and siblings on a title-contending squadThe moment Will knew Jacob was varsity-readyWho throws harder, who eats more, and who's secretly funnierWhat makes Wahlert Catholic's clubhouse specialThe legend of Carter Brant's arm sleeve
Winning the first boys basketball state title in school history is nice but winning it with your son and nephew in your starting five is extra special. That was the case for Alexandria head coach Forrest Witt as his Cardinals secured the first state title in program history. Forrest has the pleasure of coaching his son Mason and nephew Talan as well. Along with those two the team was led by their biggest star Chase Thompson who was selected as Mr. Basketball in Minnesota and is headed to play for the Clemson Tigers. Alexandira came out on top in Class 3A with a bracket that was absolutely loaded with top teams. The other cool thing about this episode is hearing that one of your guests has listened to most of our podcast episode, so thank you to Forrest for that.