December 11, 2023 4:46 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pitt has hired Kade Bell as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Bell replaces Frank Cignetti, who was fired two weeks ago following the program’s worst season in 25 years. Bell comes to Pitt from Western Carolina, where he held the same position while helping the Catamounts become one of the most dynamic offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision. Western Carolina led the FCS in total offense this season while finishing third in passing yards and fourth in scoring. Pitt went 3-9 in 2023, its first nine-loss season since 1998. The offense was a major issue. The Panthers finished last in the 14-team ACC in points and scoring.
December 10, 2023 8:26 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed star outside linebacker T.J. Watt in concussion protocol. The perennial All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year candidate reported concussion-like symptoms to team doctors the day after a 21-18 loss to New England. Watt briefly exited the game in the first quarter after taking an inadvertent knee to the facemask from New England running back Ezekiel Elliott. Watt spent a brief period on the sideline before returning, recording five tackles while playing 51 of Pittsburgh’s 57 defensive snaps. He was held without a sack for the third time in 13 games.
December 10, 2023 5:00 am
Peters Township came up short in its bid for a state championship. The Indians fell to Imhotep Charter 38-13 in the 5A title game at Cumberland Valley. Peters Township’s defense had allowed only one team to score more than 20 points all season, but the Panthers did that by halftime. Quarterback Mikal Davis, who is an Army recruit, scored on three touchdown runs and threw for another. Peter Township finishes the season 15-1.
December 9, 2023 10:28 am
Just what the struggling Steelers didn’t need. More bad injury news. Reports say linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are in concussion protocol. Watt reported symptoms when he reported to the team facility for meetings and film study on Friday. The Steelers don’t play again until Saturday when they visit Indianapolis. Watt was injured on the first play of Thursday nights game with New England when he was hit under the chin by the knee of Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott. He returned after missing just a few plays and ended up playing 52 of 57 defensive snaps. Highsmith also left that game in the first quarter with what was reported as a neck injury and did not return.
December 9, 2023 4:44 am
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots, Eetu Luostarinen got the go-ahead goal in the third period and the Florida Panthers topped the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 on Friday night. Oliver Ekman-Larsson also scored a goal and Anton Lundell had two assists for the Panthers, who have won three of their last four games. Aleksander Barkov got an empty-netter to seal the win for Florida. Former Panthers forward Reilly Smith scored for Pittsburgh, which has dropped a season-high four straight to fall to 11-12-4. Tristan Jarry stopped 30 shots for the Penguins.
December 10, 2023 5:00 am
NCAA President Charlie Baker’s call for sweeping changes in compensating athletes comes with the organization facing a series of high-profile lawsuits. Baker says some schools should be required to pay their athletes at least $30,000 a year, Tulane law professor Gabe Feldman says the plan is unlikely to protect the NCAA from ongoing lawsuits. Some of those cases could cost the NCAA and its member schools billions in payouts to current and former athletes.
December 9, 2023 4:47 am
GENEVA (AP) — The International Olympic Committee says some Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The decision removes the option of a blanket ban due to the invasion of Ukraine. It confirms moves the IOC started one year ago to reintegrate Russia and its military ally Belarus into global sports. In March, the IOC urged sports governing bodies to look at ways to let individual athletes compete. The IOC says eight Russians and three from Belarus in individual sports have so far qualified for Paris.
December 8, 2023 2:07 am
Steelton-Highspire scored on five of six first-half possessions on the way to a dominant 42-8 win over Fort Cherry in the PIAA 1A championship game. The Rollers Alex Erby, who is heading to the Naval Academy, completed 28 of 37 passes for 335 yards and five touchdowns. Steel-High has now three of the last four state titles and remains perfect in the finals, winning its fifth overall championship. Fort Cherry sophomore quarterback Matt Sieg ran 30 times for 153 yards and the Rangers only touchdown, his 40th rushing score of the season.
Friday night, Peters Township looks to win its first-ever PIAA championship, taking on District 12 champion Imhotep Charter. The Indians’ best-ever season includes the school’s first WPIAL championship and their first two PIAA playoff wins. We’ll have the Peters Township game live on-air and online.
Thursday, PIAA 1A Championship
Steelton-Highspire 42, Fort Cherry 8
Friday, 6:30 pm: PIAA Football 5A Championship at Cumberland Valley
Peters Township vs. Imhotep Charter, WJPA-FM (95.3) or Listen Here
December 8, 2023 4:37 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bailey Zappe threw three first-half touchdown passes, and the New England Patriots snapped a five-game skid while damaging the playoff hopes of the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 21-18 victory. Zappe passed for 240 yards in his second start for the Patriots, who became the second two-win team in five days to hand the Steelers a potentially season-altering loss at home. Hunter Henry had two touchdown catches for New England. Ezekiel Elliott had 140 yards from scrimmage and caught a TD for the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense. Mitch Trubisky had a touchdown pass and a rushing TD for Pittsburgh but made some questionable throws in place of the injured Kenny Pickett.
December 8, 2023 4:39 am
Jon Rahm is now part of Saudi-funded LIV Golf. The shocking news was confirmed when Rahm donned a black LIV Golf jacket during an appearance on Fox News. Rahm leaves right as the PGA Tour and the Saudi backers of LIV Golf are racing to finalize an agreement to become commercial partners. Those talks now are in jeopardy. One of golf’s best players and the current Masters champion going to the rival league is certain to deepen the divide in golf. The deal is reported to be in the $500 million range, which likely includes equity in his new team.
