September 13, 2026 7:35 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rocco Becht expected to get cheered on by hundreds of fans from the Philadelphia suburbs and other surrounding areas where most of his family and their friends are from. The Penn State quarterback was a bit more amazed at the other 40,000-plus fans in their blue-and-white gear that nearly filled an NFL stadium to root on the Nittany Lions. “When I first walked out into the stadium, there’s a lot more people than I thought there was going to be for our side,” Becht said. “We wanted to put on a better show for them.” Becht threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns, with two of those scores to tight end Benjamin Brahmer, in a game where No. 16 Penn State did just enough to send the traveling fans home happy with a 27-9 victory over Temple on Saturday. The Nittany Lions (2-0) survived a first half loaded with failed shots at the end zone and a missed field goal that kept the score close and stirred memories of one of the program’s great losses against an unranked team when former Temple coach Matt Rhule led the Owls to the upset victory in 2105 at Lincoln Financial Field.
September 13, 2026 7:40 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Mike Hawkins Jr. threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores to lead West Virginia to a 52-7 victory over UT Martin on Saturday. The Mountaineers are 2-0 for the first time since 2018 and remain unbeaten all-time against teams from the Championship Subdivision. A week ago, West Virginia looked listless on both sides of the ball after halftime of a 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina. On Saturday, the defense continued to struggle at times and remains a big concern with nothing but Power Four competition ahead the rest of the season. At least the offense was solid throughout, compiling 316 yards on the ground. Hawkins threw a 53-yard scoring toss to DJ Epps on the opening drive of the game and he had TD runs of 71 and 5 yards for a 28-0 halftime lead. Hawkins threw a 32-yard scoring toss to tight end Ryan Ward on the first drive of the third quarter. “We definitely came out hot (and) just kept that going,” Hawkins said. “It’s all about just having our guys on the same page and just knowing where they’re going to be. I felt pretty efficient as a whole. I felt way more comfortable today.” West Virginia faces No. 25 Virginia in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday night
September 13, 2026 7:11 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Alex Bregman scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3. Gregory Soto hit Nico Hoerner with a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs to drive in Bregman. Before Hoerner’s at-bat, Soto walked pinch-hitter Matt Shaw to force in Pedro Ramirez from third to tie it at 3. The Cubs win their second straight. Ryan O’Hearn hit his career-best 18th homer of the season, a three-run drive in the sixth, to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead. Pittsburgh starter Paul Skenes allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings while striking out four and walking one.
September 12, 2026 10:55 am
Officials on Saturday in Monongahela unveiled a marker honoring NFL legends Fred Cox and Joe Montana. According to published reports, a historical, 45” by 45” bronze plaque was unveiled at Fourth and Main streets in the borough to honor the NFL legends. Cox was the Minnesota Vikings’ kicker for 14 seasons and twice led the NFL in scoring. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 80. And of course, Joe Montana led Notre Dame to a national championship, won four Super Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Ringgold’s football stadium was named after him in 2006. The marker celebration was to include Mayor Greg Garry, Dutch, Jamie Taylor (a relative of Montana), and Susan Biasco, who will represent her father Fred.
September 12, 2026 10:51 am
The Roberto Clemente Foundation Annual Ambassador Reception was held at the Heinz History Center Friday Night in Pittsburgh. It was a fundraiser for the organization and a way for the Clemente family to recognize and honor friends, supporters and community leaders. Roberto Clemente Jr. said that this year’s event honored the Nutting Family. He said the owners of the Pittsburgh Pirates do a lot for the community that isn’t recognized. Scholarships are also handed out during those festivities. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will directly benefit children and families facing some of life’s toughest challenges. On Saturday, the Foundation hosts the Little Legends Day of Play for boys and girls five to 10 years of age in Munhall. Over the past few years, former big leaguers have helped teach youngsters how to correctly play the game. On Sunday, Clemente will take part in the second-annual Spanish language broadcast of Sunday’s Pirates game. And then on Monday, the Day of Giving will take Clemente, his family, Service members and others to Children’s Hospital to visit kids and families there and take in the Pirate game at PNC Park.
September 12, 2026 4:06 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Alex Bregman hit his 25th homer and doubled among three hits, Shota Imanaga tossed six effective innings and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-2 on Friday to end a four-game slide. Seiya Suzuki had three hits, including a wind-blown triple, scored three runs and drove in one as the Cubs finished with 16 hits against three Pittsburgh pitchers and ended the Pirates’ four-game winning streak. Chicago remains well behind NL Central-leading Milwaukee but is in position for a wild card. Michael Busch doubled and had three RBIs, and Carson Kelly doubled in a pair of runs. Before the game, the Pirates activated infielder/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn from the 10-day injured list and optioned outfielder Ronny Simón to Triple-A Indianapolis. The during the game, rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez left the game after injuring himself while running to first base on a grounder in the sixth inning. Valdez grabbed the back of his left leg and limped off the field with his arms draped around the shoulders of training staff. The Pirates said Valdez had left hamstring discomfort and was receiving treatment, but gave no further details. He was replaced in right field by Billy Cook, who misjudged a fly ball on the first play in the bottom half of the inning and allowed it to fall for a triple.
September 12, 2026 4:10 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Cooper Rush will be the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback on Sunday at Pittsburgh after Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out on Friday with an oblique injury suffered in Thursday’s practice. Falcons first-year coach Kevin Stefanski says undrafted rookie Jack Strand will be the backup. The late change in plans for the season opener came after Stefanski announced Monday that Tagovailoa will open the season as the starter and Michael Penix Jr. will be inactive. Penix did not play in a preseason game as he continues his recovery from a torn ligament in his left knee that ended his 2025 season.
September 12, 2026 4:15 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. (Sept. 11) – Washington got out to a lead but a pair of homers by the Florence Y’alls and a three-run eighth inning sank Washington in the second game of the 2026 Frontier League Midwest Conference Wild Card Series against Florence. A 6-5 finish forces a Game 3 tonight at 7:05 p.m. The Wild Things, with their ace on the mound, got a two-run single in the first inning by Jeff Liquori to draw first blood in the chance to advance. A solo homer by Milo Rushford was the first hit against Foster in the fifth, making it 2-1. Washington got two right back on a bases-loaded, two-out, two-run single by Liquori in the bottom half but Washington then stranded the bases full. Florence plated two in the sixth on a two-run homer by Brett Blomquist to pull within 4-3 and got their three off Mack Anglin in the eighth after he failed to retire any of three hitters he faced. Washington got a run back in the ninth on an opposite-field homer by Andrew Czech cutting the Y’alls lead to 6-5 but got no more against Aidan McEvoy.
September 11, 2026 12:01 am
High school football sprints into Week 3 Friday night, including a pair of games on the WJPA Sports Network. Canon-McMillan takes Route 19 north to face Upper St. Clair. The Big Macs will look to rebound from their loss to Trinity when they kickoff on WJPA-FM (95.3). Meanwhile, on WJPA-AM (1450), we’ll get our first look at Wash High as the Little Prexies visit California. Wash High is 2-0 and top ranked in Class 1A. The Trojans are 1-1 coming into this match-up of returning WPIAL playoff teams. Both games on the WJPA Sports Network will include audio & video, on-air and online, including our YouTube channel. Watch/Listen Here!
Week 3 Schedule (7 pm unless noted)
Avella at Charleroi
Keystone Oaks at Bentworth
Leechburg at Beth-Center
Rochester at Burgettstown
Wash High at California, 6:30 pm, WJPA-AM (1450) Watch/Listen Here
Canon-McMillan at Upper St. Clair, 6:30 pm, WJPA-FM (95.3) Watch/Listen Here
Jeff-Morgan at Chartiers-Houston
Fort Cherry at Laurel
West Greene at McGuffey
Mt. Lebanon at Peters Township
Hampton at Ringgold
Trinity at Hempfield
Greensburg Central Catholic at Carmichaels
Mapletown at Serra Catholic
Waynesburg at Albert Gallatin
September 11, 2026 5:29 pm
CHICAGO (AP) — Alex Bregman hit his 25th homer and doubled among three hits, Shota Imanaga tossed six effective innings and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-2 on Friday to end a four-game slide. Seiya Suzuki had three hits, including a wind-blown triple, scored three runs and drove in one as the Cubs finished with 16 hits against three Pittsburgh pitchers and ended the Pirates’ four-game winning streak. Chicago remains well behind NL Central-leading Milwaukee but is in position for a wild card. Michael Busch doubled and had three RBIs, and Carson Kelly doubled in a pair of runs.
