January 16, 2025 4:35 am
Viewer audiences for the first weekend of the NFL playoffs were down 9.3% from last year, a bigger decline than what the league experienced during the regular season. According to the league and Nielsen, the six wild-card round games averaged 28.3 million viewers on television and digital platforms, compared to 31.2 million last year. The two Saturday games held steady while the Sunday and Monday matchups saw declines.
January 14, 2025 3:00 pm
Most teams first trip through section play will end Monday/Tuesday, though a handful of weather-forced cancellations will take place later in the season. Tuesday night, we’ll get our first look at the top-ranked Peters Township girls team as they host Bethel Park in the opening game of a girls/boys doubleheader. Airtime is 5:50 pm on WJPA-AM (1450) and online. Here’s the two-day schedule with notes of interest.
Tuesday, Jan. 14
Girls
6A Canon-McMillan 59, Connellsville 22, Big Macs alone in 3rd place
5A Peters Township 55, Bethel Park 35, #1 Indians now 13-1
1A Serra Catholic 68, West Greene 50, Pioneers fall into tie for 4th place with Bishop Canevin
Boys
6ACanon-McMillan 65, Connellsville 54, first section win for Big Macs
5A Peters Township 61, Bethel Park 60 OT, Indians share 1st place with South Fayette & Baldwin
5A Trinity 67, Ringgold 63, Trinity moves into tie for final playoff spot
3A Wash High 57, McGuffey 55, Highlanders tied for 2nd place, WHS tied for 4th
3A Ligonier Valley 56, Charleroi 52, Cougars fall into tie for 3rd place with Brownsville
3A Waynesburg 87, Mt. Pleasant 67, Raiders in 2nd, a game back of Southmoreland
2A Bentworth 56, Frazier 37, Bearcats sit two games out of playoffs
2A Riverview 50, California 47, Trojans are winless in the section
2A Chartiers-Houston 55, Jeff-Morgan 38
2A Fort Cherry 60, Carmichaels 41
2A West Greene 59, Beth-Center 55
Bucs alone in 1st place. Rangers, Rockets & Pioneers tied for 2nd. Beth-Center sits in 5th, followed by Carmichaels
2A Burgettstown 77, Mapletown 50, Blue Devils first victory, Maples remain winless in section play
1A Beaver County Christian 60, Avella 46, Eagles now in 4th place
Monday, Jan. 13
Girls
5A Trinity 73, Uniontown 18
4A Mt. Pleasant 51, Ringgold 32, Rams remain winless in section
3A Waynesburg 55, Charleroi 33
3A Seton-La Salle 54, McGuffey 38, Rebels take two game lead on Highlanders
3A Keystone Oaks 65, Wash High 32, Little Prexies fall two games back of final playoff spot
2A Burgettstown 43, Carlynton 22, Blue Devils move into tie for final playoff spot
2A Fort Cherry 50, South Side Beaver 45, Rangers rally from 12 points down with six minutes to play to take sole possession of first place
2A Chartiers-Houston 48, Bentworth 21, Bucs alone atop standings, Bearcats drop two games back
2A Beth-Center 45, California 28, Bulldogs stay within one game of CHHS
2A Carmichaels 38, Jeff-Morgan 32, First section win for Mikes
1A West Greene 72, Avella 41, Eagles fall two games back of Pioneers for 4th place
1A Bishop Canevin 53, Mapletown 26, Maples remain winless in section
January 15, 2025 4:37 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jamie Oleksiak and Eeli Tolvanen scored 49 seconds apart in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit and rally the Seattle Kraken past the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2. Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots and assisted on Chandler Stephenson’s short-handed goal and Kaapo Kakko added an empty-netter as Seattle won for just the second time in seven games. Bryan Rust scored his 17th goal of the season for Pittsburgh. Philip Tomasino also scored but the Penguins lost in regulation for the first time this season when leading after two periods thanks to a couple of defensive breakdowns that let the Kraken surge ahead.
January 15, 2025 4:32 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin believes he’s still capable of leading the team back to prominence. Tomlin says he’s disappointed in how Pittsburgh’s season ended after they were drubbed in the opening round by the Baltimore Ravens, their third first-round exit in four years. While there will likely be changes on the coaching staff, Tomlin doesn’t not think the franchise is “stuck.” The Steelers will have plenty of questions to answer during the offseason, most notably at quarterback. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will be free agents in March. While Tomlin said the team is open to bringing them back, he added the Steelers will explore all options before moving forward.
January 15, 2025 4:39 am
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans have waived Diontae Johnson after the beleaguered receiver played just two games for them. Johnson had one reception for 12 yards in Houston’s wild-card playoff win over the Chargers on Saturday. He played four games for Baltimore after a trade from Carolina before being suspended for refusing to enter a game and then being released on Dec. 20. He has 4,726 yards receiving in a six-year career that started in Pittsburgh. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t provide any details about why the Texans let him go, simply saying “it didn’t work out.”
January 14, 2025 4:25 am
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Rams overwhelmed the Minnesota Vikings, sacking Sam Darnold an NFL playoff record-tying nine times to win 27-9 Monday night. The NFC wild-card game was moved out of Southern California because of devastating wildfires. Rookie Jared Verse returned a fumble for a 57-yard score for the Rams, who looked comfortable in their adopted home of State Farm Stadium from the first snap. LA drove for a touchdown on the opening drive and built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The game was played in Glendale, Arizona, nearly 400 miles east of the Rams’ home stadium.
January 14, 2025 4:36 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers head into the offseason with plenty of questions to answer after another quick playoff exit. While coach Mike Tomlin is expected to return for his 19th year with the club in the fall, there could be substantial changes to the coaching staff and on the roster. Pittsburgh currently doesn’t have a quarterback under contract for next season. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have both indicated they hope to return but the Steelers could go in a different direction after their playoff victory drought extended to eight years. You can hear Mike Tomlin’s news conference today at 12:30 p.m on 1450AM.
January 13, 2025 2:16 am
PennWest California announced Monday that long-time softball head coach Rick Bertagnolli has retired, effective immediately, ending a more than 30 year run. The Vulcans won 972 games under Bertagnolli’s leadership (972-389, .714), including back-to-back national championships in 1997-1998. Cal U made 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, won six regional championships and seven PSAC titles. “Rick Bertagnolli built a legacy in the softball program as one of the most dominating teams within the PSAC each year and a national powerhouse in the sport. He built champions on the field while stressing academic success in the classroom,” California Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe was quoted in the release. “He was a true teacher of the game and developed the skills of the players in his program. His passion for the sport showed in the countless hours of dedication to his team.”
The University announced that assistant coach Nikki Yanchak will serve as interim head coach for the upcoming season, due to begin Feb. 25, and that a nationwide search for Bertagnolli’s replacement will begin in the coming months. (Photo, courtesy of PennWest California website)
January 14, 2025 4:31 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — The running backs want to run it back at Penn State. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen both announced Monday on social media that they plan to return to the Nittany Lions for the 2025 season. The duo each topped 1,000 yards rushing this season for Penn State, which went 13-3 and lost to Notre Dame in a College Football Playoff semifinal. Quarterback Drew Allar also is returning to Penn State, though star defensive end Abdul Carter signed with an agent and is expected to enter the NFL draft.
January 13, 2025 4:33 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nikita Kucherov had two goals and an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, and Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul had empty-net goals. Tampa Bay recorded points in both halves of back-to-back games for the first time this season. It lost in overtime against New Jersey on Saturday. Rickard Rakell scored his 22nd goal of the season for Pittsburgh.
