Category: Sports

2026 WPIAL high school football playoff brackets revealed

(File Photo of the WPIAL Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The 2026 WPIAL high school football playoff brackets were revealed on Saturday after this year’s regular season ended and seven Beaver County teams will begin their quest for a state championship.

The first-round games from Classes 1A-5A will begin this Friday, November 6th and the Class 6A semifinals will begin on Friday, November 13th, with every game starting at 7 p.m.

According to a report from the Beaver County Times, here are the 2026 WPIAL playoff bracket matchups and where they will be played, with the Beaver County/Beaver Valley teams in bold:

Class 6A Bracket

No. 4 Hempfield at No. 1 Central Catholic

No. 3 North Allegheny at No. 2 Canon-McMillan

 

Class 5A Bracket

No. 1 Pine-Richland (Bye)

No. 9 Greater Latrobe at No. 8 Trinity

No. 4 North Hills (Bye)

No. 12 Gateway at No. 5 West Allegheny 

No. 2 Penn-Trafford (Bye)

No. 10 Moon Area at No. 7 Thomas Jefferson

No. 3 Upper St. Clair (Bye)

No. 11 Armstrong at No. 6 Woodland Hills

 

Class 4A Bracket

No. 8 Kiski Area at No. 1 South Fayette

No. 5 Chartiers Valley at No. 4 New Castle

No. 7 Shaler at No. 2 Montour

No. 6 Blackhawk at No. 3 McKeesport

 

Class 3A

No. 16 Deer Lakes at No. 1 Avonworth

No. 9 West Mifflin at No. 8 Freeport

No. 13 Shady Side Academy at No. 4 Belle Vernon

No. 12 Highlands at No. 5 Elizabeth Forward

No. 15 Burrell at No. 2 Propel Braddock Hills

No. 10 Waynesburg Central at No. 7 Aliquippa

No. 14 Mt. Pleasant at No. 3 Hopewell

No. 11 Beaver Area at No. 6 North Catholic, at Mars Athletic Complex

 

Class 2A

No. 1 Bishop Canevin (Bye)

No. 9 Beaver Falls at No. 8 McGuffey

No. 13 Freedom Area at No. 4 Steel Valley

No. 12 Chartiers-Houston at No. 5 Western Beaver

No. 2 Seton LaSalle (Bye)

No. 10 Riverside at No. 7 Ligonier Valley

No. 3 Apollo-Ridge (Bye)

No. 11 South Allegheny at No. 6 Neshannock

 

Class 1A Bracket

No. 16 Frazier at No. 1 Washington

No. 9 Burgettstown at No. 8 Beth-Center

No. 13 Avella at No. 4 Fort Cherry

No. 12 Greensburg Central Catholic at No. 5 Laurel

No. 15 Serra Catholic at No. 2 Shenango

No. 10 Monnessen at No. 7 Jeannette

No. 14 Union at No. 3 Clairton

No. 11 Northgate at No. 6 California

Penguins center Sidney Crosby breaks NHL record for most assists recorded with one NHL franchise

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby looks on during a break in Game 6 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series, April 29, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby broke an NHL record for the most assists recorded with one NHL franchise.

Crosby’s assist on defenseman Erik Karlsson’s power play goal in the first period of the Penguins’ game on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal gave him 1,112 assists recorded while playing for the Penguins.

Crosby got one more assist later in the game, which gives him 1,113 for his career.

He passed former Boston Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque to get this record, and Bourque recorded 1,111 assists while playing for the Bruins. 

Canadiens beat the Penguins 5-4 for their 5th straight victory

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Montreal Canadiens’ Owen Beck (62) and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Blake Lizotte (46) fight during second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

MONTREAL (AP) — Josh Anderson had two goals and an assist and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory.

Chris Kreider added a one goal and an assist, and Oliver Kapanen and Alexandre Texier also scored as Montreal (9-3-2) returned home from an undefeated four-game Western trip. Lane Hutson had two assists.

Jacob Fowler made 25 saves and became the third Canadiens rookie goalie in the past 40 years to win seven consecutive games.

Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson each had a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, and Tommy Novak and Rickard Rakell each had a goal and an assist. Sergei Murashov stopped 22 shots.

Anderson gave Montreal a two-goal lead with 6:54 left on a deflection. Crosby pulled one back with 3:11 remaining with Murashov off for an extra attacker.

Earlier, with his 1,112th career assist, Crosby passed Boston Bruins great Ray Bourque for the most with one franchise in NHL history. The 39-year-old center also tied Marcel Dionne for sixth on the scoring list with 1,771.

Up next

Penguins: Host Vegas on Tuesday night.

Canadiens: Host Winnipeg on Tuesday night.

Little Brown Jug stays in Beaver Falls with win against New Brighton

Story by Keith Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published October 30, 2026 1:19 A.M.

(Beaver Falls, Pa) Not only the little brown jug was on the line, Rosalind Candies and Oram’s donuts were also at stake.

For the coin toss, the Beaver Falls Tigers sent out 7 players and the New Brighton Lions sent 5 players. New Brighton eon and elected to receive, the Lions started at the 20 yard line and went to their star running back Heath Lewis and he picked up 5 for the lions. The lions were got the ball right up to the sticks for a fourth and 1 at their own 29 and went for it with a pass to a wide reciever which was broke up by the Tigers and turned it over on downs.

The Tigers start with a full house back field, the New Brighton defense keeps Beaver Falls in check but a 3rd and 17 turned into points. Rodney Slappy to Keyshawn Jamison wide open at the 12 yard line, scampered into the endzone for 6. With 7:13 left in the 1st quarter they get the 2 points, the Tigers on top 8 Lions 0.

The Lions were able to squeak out a first down after a Mike Cleckley run for a few yards to get them to 4th and one for Heath Lewis to plow into the line to barely make it to the sticks. 4:52 left in the first, Carter Jackson connects with Joey Kennedy for a short gain to make it 2nd and 10, Carter Jackson pass to Cleckley gets picked by Keyshawn Jamision.

The Tigers go into the full house back field first down Scott off the left side, Slappy gets into the action and takes for a few yards to make it 3rd an eight then Isaiah Sellers up the middle for 25 yards. The first quarter comes to an end with the score Tigers 8 Lions 0.

The Tigers keep the lions off balance between the full house and the pass, hand it to Xavier Clark who fights his way all the way to the endzone and they went back to him for the 2 point conversion.

Joey Kennedy takes the kickoff back to the their 45 but the drive stalls and and the Lions kick it after appearing to be in the shotgun. A Tiger gets a paw on it and it falls 8 yards down field.

Slappy hands the ball to Sellers, he takes it 8 yards the next play Slappy fakes a pitch and goes up the middle down to the New Brighton 2 yard line. They then hand it off Anthony Scott for the T.D.,

On the 2 point conversion the Tigers line up and all but two players stay in formation, they shifted to the student body left and tried a short pass but the lions were not fooled and the try failed.

On the kick the Tigers Reshawn Jamision came up with a big stop at the 28 of New Brighton. The Lions go 3 and out and Anthony Scott goes outside for 60 yards to the 27. Then slappy pitches the ball to Xavier Clark who takes it 25 yards to pay dirt, the 2 points were no good Tigers 28 lions 0.

After a nice pass from Mike Cleckley to Joey Kennedy for a good completion, the Lions get into penalty trouble, at 4th and 15 they are forced to punt.

The Lions were able to keep the Tigers out of the endzone just before half. Joey Kennedy comes up with a interception on his back at the goal line as he and the receiver both went up for the ball at the same time and he caught it on the ground Tigers 28 Lions 0.

The Brighton Music Center Strike up the Band show was good as always, some real good saxophone notes were being pumped out by the Tigers Bands sax player, it was something to hear. Credit to both bands for fine performances.

The Lions try an onside kick to open up 2nd half but it was recovered by the Tigers at the 50 yard line. The Lions completed a pass for 1st down, Heath Lewis takes a hand off and rolls out like he’s going to pass but runs instead picking up some good yards down to the 10 but some big plays by the Tigers like Big Terrance Banks batting a pass down. The Lions throw to the endzone and it gets swatted away by Zykell Hopple. The Lions fumble and Isaiah Sellers picks it up and runs for a touchdown.

On the kick off Joey Kennedy who was handling all off the kickoff returns for the Lions 75 yards for the Lions first points, out running many players right down the field. Tigers 34 Lions 6.

At the end of 3rd quarter, Sellers picks up another first down for the Tigers then Scott picks up a first down, a bad snap puts the Tigers in a 2nd and 20. With 8:30 left in game Makai Kassell makes a big stop for the lions, but the next play it was Slappy to Jamision to the 20 and Isaiah Sellers on a dive play straight into the endzone Tigers 40 Lions 6.

The next series for New Brighton uses their last time out at 5:35 left in game. The Lions mix it up with Haines taking 3 carries for some nice yards and then back to Lewis on a nice gain down to the 6 and then a nice reverse with Kennedy for a touchdown and 2 point conversion. Beaver Falls Tigers 40 New Brighton Lions 14.

Marshawn Williams-Smith returns the ball all the way down to the Lions 20 yard line to end the game on a nice return.

Final score: Beaver Falls Tigers 40 New Brighton Lions 14.

Scores From Across the Valley: 10/30/26

Friday, October 30, 2026:

 

               Pond-Lehocky Beaver County Radio Broadcast Game 

New Brighton
Beaver Falls

 14
40 Final
     
                        WPIAL Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference      
USC
West Allegheny		 45
13 Final
                        WPIAL Class 5A NorthEast Conference      
North  Hills
Moon		 45
21 Final
                        WPIAL Class 4A Parkway Conference      
Mars
Central Valley		 21
41 Final
Montour
Blackhawk		 33
16 Final
                        WPIAL Class 3A Western Hills      
Hopewell
Aliquippa		 42
10 Final
Beaver
Ellwood City		 56
26  Final
OLSH
Ambridge		 29
14 Final
                        WPIAL Class 2A Mac Conference      
Western Beaver
Neshannock		 27
24 Final
Riverside
Mohawk		 29
22 Final/OT
     
                        WPIAL Class 1A Big Seven Conference      
Cornell
Northgate		 0
7 final
Rochester
Southside		 26
14 Final
Laurel
Shenango		 19
21 Final
                                                   Non-Conference                
Freedom
Greenville		 0
43 Final
Seneca Valley
New Castle		 28
50  Final

Beaver Area High School football quarterback Jaivin Peel ruled ineligible for the 2026 PIAA postseason

(Caption for Photo: Beaver’s Jaivin Peel (7) reacts after a 1-yard touchdown against Highlands on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. Credit for Photo: (Antonio Rossetti | For TribLive)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The PIAA made a ruling yesterday that Beaver Area High School senior quarterback Jaivin Peel is ineligible for the 2026 postseason.

This was recently confirmed by Beaver Area athletic director Kevin Krzeczowski.

This comes after months of appeals and hearings occurred regarding Peel, who transferred from Western Beaver.

The WPIAL granted Peel partial eligibility on July 28th, which allowed him to compete in the regular season, but deemed him ineligible for competition in the postseason.

Peel appealed this postseason eligibility with the WPIAL.

However, it was not approved.

Student-athletes who transfer after the beginning their sophomore year are restricted from playing in the district or state postseason for one year under PIAA guidelines.

Beaver Area will finish the regular season at 7 p.m. tonight on the road against Ellwood City at Helling Stadium.

Pitt linebacker and Aliquippa alumnus Cameron Lindsey out for season after noncontact leg injury

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pitt college football head coach Pat Narduzzi announced yesterday that Pitt linebacker Cameron Lindsey is out for the rest of the season because of an injury.

Lindsey is a junior in college and he suffered an apparent noncontact leg injury in the Panthers’ 52-23 loss at No. 1 Miami (Florida) in Miami Gardens, Florida on Saturday.

Lindsey made six tackles with an interception in a reserve role at linebacker this season for the Panthers and he is a former four-star recruit who went to Aliquippa High School.

Fixer pleads guilty to bribery and wire fraud charges in NCAA basketball point-shaving scheme that involved colleges like Robert Morris University

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Information is displayed during a news conference to announce charges against several people including former college basketball players, in what prosecutors called a betting scheme to rig NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games, Jan. 15, 2026 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa, File)

(Philadelphia, PA) Thirty-two-year-old Rodrick Winkler of Little Rock, Arkansas pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and wire fraud on Monday for his role in a point-shaving scheme that involved NCAA Division I basketball games and involved colleges like Robert Morris University.

Winkler pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to bribery in sporting contests, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud charges for scheming to influence some games from September of 2022 to February of 2025.

This guilty plea stems from an indictment on January 15th, 2026 that ensnared 26 people, which included more than a dozen college basketball players who tried to fix games.

Winkler was a “fixer” in that scheme to recruit and bribe college basketball players to underperform and help to ensure their team did not cover the spread, according to court filings.

The scheme involved 39 players over 17 different teams who fixed or tried to fix 29 NCAA games.

The court confirmed that it resulted in over $3 million in fraudulent wagers placed on the games and over $1.1 million in financial losses to sportsbooks throughout the country.

Winkler and other fixers offered the players bribe payments that usually ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.

Those schemers also profited from fixing Chinese Basketball Association games before they turned to NCAA games.

Winkler is scheduled to be sentenced on February 8th, 2027 and he faces a maximum possible term of 45 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine.

Cooley completes hat trick against hometown team with a second left, Mammoth stun Penguins 4-3

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Utah Mammoth’s Logan Cooley (92) celebrates after his goal with Mikhail Sergachev (98) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Logan Cooley completed a hat trick against his hometown team with a second left, Mikhail Sergachev scored at 3:27 of overtime and the Utah Mammoth stunned the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Thursday night.

After Ben Kindel put Pittsburgh ahead 3-2 with 25 seconds left, Cooley — playing his third NHL game in Pittsburgh — batted the puck in from the left side of the net for sixth goal in four games and seventh of the season.

Cooley became the third Pittsburgh native with a hat trick against the Penguins, joining Brandon Saad and R.J. Umberger. At age 5, Cooley took part in Sidney Crosby’s first Little Penguins Learn to Play Hockey program.

Cooley scored for the first time in seven games against Pittsburgh. He had two first-period goals to give the Mammoth an early 2-0 lead, and scored in the third for his third career hat trick.

In overtime, Sergachev beat Arturs Silovs off a rebound in front.

Sebastian Cossa stopped 31 shots for the Mammoth, who have won three of their last five games overall. Utah is 5-0-0 after a loss and 8-0-0 when leading after two periods.

Rickard Rakell had a short-handed goal, and Erik Karlsson also scored for Pittsburgh. Silovs made 30 saves.

Up next

Mammoth: At Philadelphia on Sunday.

Penguins: At Montreal on Saturday night.