What to watch for in high school sports on Sept. 26, 2024: Westinghouse, Allderdice set for City showdown | Trib HSSN

By: Don Rebel

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 | 10:30 PM

The Week 5 weekend of high school football begins Thursday with what is expected to be one of the top regular season contests in the City League this season.

First place in District 8 is at stake at Cupples Stadium on Thursday when two-time defending champion Westinghouse squares off against Allderdice.

The teams enter this showdown with identical records, 2-0 in the City League and 4-1 overall.

Neither team has allowed a point in the two district wins.

The Bulldogs outscored Brashear and Perry by a combined 132-0. The Dragons defeated those same two teams by a combined 74-0.

Westinghouse has won four straight games since a Week Zero loss to Beaver, 28-26, while Allderdice has won three in a row since being shut out by Hollidaysburg, 42-0, in Week 1.

In the last seven seasons, these two longtime rivals have played each 14 times, including one in each of the last seven City League playoffs.

They have met in four District 8 championship games and three semifinals contests since 2017, with Westinghouse winning four times and Allderdice three.

However, the regular season has been a different animal.

The Bulldogs have won eight straight times over the Dragons in the regular season since the ‘Dice won, 49-13, in the final week of the 2015 regular season.

These teams squared off for the first time 94 years ago. Westinghouse crushed Allderdice, 52-7, in the fall of 1930.

Boys 3A logjams

While all four sections in Class 3A WPIAL boys soccer are heating up for a frantic finish with two weeks left, two sections are jammed with traffic at the top with four teams separated by only a game and a half.

In Section 2-3A, Bethel Park is 7-1 in the section, followed by Thomas Jefferson at 5-1-2, Ringgold at 5-1-1 and Trinity at 4-2-1.

While all four look good for the postseason, the fight for first place and a high seed has little room for error.

Two of those teams meet Thursday when the Black Hawks battle the Jaguars at Bethel Park.

Ringgold visits Laurel Highlands (3-5) on Thursday and Trinity is on the road at Albert Gallatin (1-7).

Section 3-3A is just as tight at the top.

Three teams only have one section loss: Latrobe is 6-1, Franklin Regional is 5-1 and Allderdice is 4-1-1. Penn-Trafford currently is in fourth place with a section mark of 4-2-1.

On Thursday, The Panthers take on the Warriors at Franklin Regional in a match you can watch here on Trib HSSN.

Latrobe hosts Uniontown (0-7) and Allderdice is home to West Mifflin (2-5).

Two to watch

Thursday once again is a busy night of WPIAL girls volleyball with a mix of section and nonsection matches.

There are two battles for first place in Class 2A.

In Section 1-2A, Quaker Valley hosts Hopewell. The Quakers are in first place with a perfect 7-0 record, one game ahead of the 6-1 Vikings.

In Section 3-2A, Charleroi visits Waynesburg. The Cougars are 6-1 and in second place, one game behind the 7-0 Raiders.

In Class A, first place is at stake in a Section 4-A match as Frazier is home to Greensburg Central Catholic. The Commodores are currently alone in first with a section record of 4-0, one game up on the Centurions at 3-1.

Sectional doubles delays

Because of the wet weather Wednesday, several WPIAL girls tennis doubles sectionals were postponed until Thursday.

The top four duos in each section from Class 3A and the top three finishers in each section from Class 2A will qualify for the WPIAL girls doubles tennis championships next week.

Here are the girls tennis doubles sectional sites that are now set for Thursday afternoon.

Section 1-3A: Franklin Regional

Section 2-3A: North Allegheny

Section 3-3A: Fox Chapel

Section 4-3A: Bethel Park

Section 1-2A: Valley

Section 2-2A: South Park Courts

Section 5-2A: Sewickley Academy