Live blog from Friday night's Woodland Hills at Upper St. Clair game. We'll also have updates from other games around the area. You can "tweet" score updates with #wpial. Or tweet me @mwhiteburgh. To send scores via email, send to mwhite@post-gazette.com
11:07 p.m. - More notes and thoughts early tomorrow morning.
West Allegheny comes back to win, 31-27.
Go to Post-Gazette high school web site for final scores as they come in.
FINAL SCORE: UPPER ST. CLAIR 31, WOODLAND HILLS 12
31 unanswered points for USC. More later.
9:53 p.m. - 80-yard pass from WH McClelland to Tom Greene put ball at 19. Another pass puts ball at 8 with first down. But four incomplete passes and Woody High turns over with 59 seconds left. USC leads, 31-12.
Luke Merhaut 36-yard TD reception for Pine-Richland from Ben DiNucci. Pine-Richland leads, 14-6, over Fox Chapel.
9:49 p.m. - Upper St. Clair scores again. 1-yard TD run by Pete Coughlin. PAT good and it's now 31-12 USC. It's total domination this half by USC. What did Jim Render say to this team at halftime? USC looks totally different.
Steel Valley wins, 35-7
End of third: Pine-Richland 6, Fox Chapel 3
9:41 p.m. - 5:51 left. USC's Robert Plummer strips QB on sack. Ben Huss recovers for USC at Woodland Hills 44. That might be last straw for Woodland Hills.
9:39 p.m. - First time to see the new rule this year. Player loses his helmet. Must leave the game for a play.
NO. 1 GOES DOWN
Mars has defeated Franklin Regional, 21-17. Franklin Regional was No. 1-ranked team in Class AAA of WPIAL.
Central Valley leading New Castle, 21-7, end of third.
9:33 p.m. - USC scores again. Good defensive stand after kickoff. Good punt return and Panthers take over at Woodland Hills 19. After 17-yard pass, QB Pete Coughlin runs 2 yards for TD. PAT failed. It's 24-12 Upper St. Clair.
Mars has ball and lead with three minutes left in game against Franklin Regional. First upset of the year, although Mars has a good team. Lot of kids back from a decent team last year.
North Allegheny has opened up 25-14 lead on Mt. Lebanon.
9:24 p.m. - Woodland Hills went offside on third-and-4 play. Then USC's Nick Trancredi ran 23 yards to the 16. Two plays later USC QB Pete Coughlin runs up the middle for TD from 10 yards out. Coughln runs for 2-point conversion.
Upper St. Clair leads, 18-12, with 11:21 left in the game.
Mars has gone back ahead of Franklin Regional, 21-17, with 5:44 left on Josh Schultheis TD.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: WOODLAND HILLS 12, UPPER ST. CLAIR 10
But USC moving ball again. Facing third-and-4 at Woodland Hills 44.
Long INT return for TD gives Trinity 12-7 lead on Eliz. Forward
Penn-Trafford has tied North Hills, 7-7. Steve Richey reports 1-yard TD run for Devin Austin.
Central Valley takes 21-0 lead on New Castle.
North Allegheny leading Mt. Lebanon, 17-14. A lot closer than thought. But someone told me NA defense wasn't spectacular in scrimmages.
Franklin Regional goes ahead of Mars, 17-14, on a field goal. Nine minutes left.
9:07 p.m. - Upper St. Clair QB Coughlin fumbles snap on first play of drive. WH recovers.
From Kristy Ochs: Belle Vernon leads Uniontown, 27-13.
Seneca Valley leading Butler, 17-9. Maybe Butler is improved this season.
9:03 p.m. - I say USC is going to win this game. Outplaying Woodland Hills now. Winning battle on lines early this half.
Hempfield scores again, returning McKeesport fumble 56 yards for TD.
North Hills' Jordan Blackmon returns second-half KO for 99-yard TD, but it's called back because of penalty.
8:58 p.m. - USC drives 54 yards on first possession of second half for TD. Mac Pope runs 6 yards to goal line, fumbles and teammate Austin Park recovers in end zone. PAT good and it's 12-10.
8:56 p.m. - By the way, Woody High RB who transferred to Imani Christian
8:54 p.m. - USC has a little pep in its step to start this half. Moved to WH 33.
8:52 p.m. - USC good kickoff return. Starts at own 46.
Field goal by West Allegheny's Graziani cuts Blackhawk lead to 21-17.
Seton-LaSalle leads South Allegheny, 14-0, at half.
From Brad Everett: Nico Lodovico 52-yard TD pass to Colin Jonov. Franklin Regional ties Mars, 14-14.
How about this one? Clairton in a struggle. Leading Char-Houston, 14-13.
DeFlorida 64-yard TD pass and Hempfield goes on top of McKeesport, 27-12.
Vincentian started a football program this year. Let's just say the Royals have a ways to go. They are losing to Avella, 51-6.
McKeesport scores on first drive of second half, misses PAT. Slices Hempfield lead to 20-12.
From a coach: Pine-Richland leading Fox Chapel, 6-3, at half. Colin Jackson a TD for P-R. Fox Chapel has 43-yard field goal.
From another coach: Bishop Canevin leading Imani Christian, 14-6, at half.
Is Rich Bowen going to work his coaching magic at another school? First year at Hempfield and Spartans are leading McKeesport, 20-6, in third quarter. This one somewhat of a surprise. What's up with McKeesport passing game?
From "Big Shot" Bob Natale: Central Valley leads New Castle, 14-0, at half.
Gateway 26, Latrobe 6
Belle Vernon 13, Uniontown 6
Thomas Jefferson 14, Ringgold 0
Clairton is only ahead of Chartiers-Houston, 12-7. A little bit of tough going for the Bears. Maybe those few players out with grade issues and attendance problems from last year are having an effect.
8:32 p.m. - Some just tweeted #WPIAL is trending on Twitter right now. Huh.
HALFTIME: WOODLAND HILLS 12, UPPER ST. CLAIR 3
Difference in game is two long pass plays for Woodland Hills. 68-yarder to Trevon Mathis and 39-yarder to Tom Greene.
Upper St. Clair QB Pete Coughlin a good runner, but finding nowhere to run. Minus 4 yards offense in first half. Has 31 yards passing. Overall, USC only 66 yards offense.
Woodland Hills started freshman Miles Sanders at tailback. Tough going for him. 15 yards on 11 carries. Woodland Hills has only 19 yards rushing. Woodland Hills three first downs and USC four.
Jeannette leading Southmoreland, 42-0. Seth Miller having a big game.
From Po: North Hills takes 7-0 lead on Penn-Trafford. Jordan Blackmon 2-yard TD run.
8:19 p.m. - USC got to Woodland Hills 1-yard line, but procedure penalty brought ball back to 16. After a sack, USC's Ben Stalnaker makes 38-yard field goal with 1:37 left in half to get USC on board. Woodland Hills leads, 12-3.
Blackhawk's Chandler Kincade (Pitt recruit) 208 passing yards in first half. Blackhawk leads West Allegheny, 21-14. Kincade 3 TD passes.
New Castle has some injuries at QB. Playing QB tonight is Anthony Richards. He's been a tough guard on New Castle's basketball team. But this is his first year in high school football. He's a junior and did not play past two seasons.
Central Valley leading New Castle, 14-0, in second
16-play, 88-yard drive by Franklin Regional slices Mars lead to 14-7, late in the first half.
Canon-McMillan leading Penn Hills, 7-6
8:07 p.m. - Problem when USC's Coughlin passes is getting time. Just got sacked for second time. USC punts again. 12-0 Woodland Hills with 6:36 left in half.
Seneca Valley ahead of Butler, 7-6, on Jordan Brown TD run.
Pine-Richland and Fox Chapel scoreless after first.
From Swannie, Hempfield ahead, 20-0.
8:04 p.m. - Upper St. Clair can't run. Starting to throw it a little on this drive. Two completions in a row.
Central Catholic leading Shaler, 14-0
Mt. Lebanon took 7-0 lead on North Allegheny, but NA has tied it, 7-7.
From DWhite: North Hills and Penn-Trafford scoreless after first quarter. Corey Bopp with INT for North Hills.
7:56 p.m. - Woodland Hills scores again through the air!!!! On first play after USC fumbled the ball away, Cody McClelland hits Tom Greene on 39-yard TD pass with 10:39 left in the second quarter. Woodland Hills went for two and missed. It is 12-0. Not 13-0. Woodland Hills missed first PAT.
Could the No. 1 AAA team be going down? Mars has taken 14-0 lead on Franklin Regional
Washington leading Greensburg Central Catholic, 14-0.
7:50 p.m. - This game was drab -- and then this: On third-and-8 a 68-yard TD pass from Woody High QB Cody McClelland to Trevon Mathis. Caught the ball at the 35 and ran into end zone. Seemed to be mixup in USC secondary. Mathis was wide open.
Another TD pass for Chandler Kincade and Blackhawk goes on top of West Allegheny, 14-7
7:44 p.m. - More scores. Bethel Park beating Plum, 21-0. Knoch over Greensburg Salem, 13-7.
7:41 p.m. - Not much going on at this game. USC winning battle of field position, though. 0-0.
7:41 p.m. - West Mifflin returned opening kicoff for TD.
7:39 p.m. - Mars leads Franklin Regional, 7-0, after one. Dane Brown 54 yards on 5 carries for FR.
7:37 p.m. - GGoga reports Steel Valley leading Keystone Oaks, 7-0, after the first quarter
7:35 p.m. - West Allegheny has tied Blackhawk, 7-7, on Tony Delmonico 24-yard TD run.
7:32 p.m. - Woodland Hills starting a freshman at tailback. Miles Sanders. 5-11, 163.
7:26 p.m. - Reports in press box here that one of Woodland Hills' top running backs transferred to Imani Christian yesterday. We'll check it out.
7:24 p.m. - From colleague Brad Everett of PG: Mars jumps on AAA No. 1 Franklin Regional, 7-0. Owen Nearhoof 38-yard TD pass to Alex Smith on third and 19.
PREGAME
7:13 p.m. - You could boil hot dogs in this Upper St. Clair press box, it's so hot.
7:10 p.m. - First score update of the night from PG colleague Craig Meyer. Craig is new to our high school coverage at the PG. Welcome. He reports Pitt QB recruit Chandler Kincade of Blackhawk throws 66-yard TD pass to Caratelli to put Blackhawk ahead, 6-0, with less than two minutes gone in the game.
7:00 p.m. - A lot of media here. Lanny Frattare and Bob Orkwis doing the game on KDKA radio. John Fedko with "Skylights" here. Channel 4 truck here.
And now it's officially a big night because Upper St. Clair basketball coach Danny Holzer has entered the press box. USC actually lets him run the clock for football games.
6:59 p.m. - How bout this: A sign on the fence behind USC fans says "Renderville."
- USC stat keepers are hoping that a new stats program will give live updates on Twitter @USCstats
6:57 p.m. - 33 minutes until kickoff. Remember, this one is for real. Conference game. Southeastern Conference opener.
Well, it's here. High school football season again - and wouldn't you know it's about 120 degrees. But hey, football in a lot of southern states started a week ago.
At least Upper St. Clair coach Jim Render dressed for the heat - LONG PANTS, LONG-SLEEVE SHIRT, ALL IN BLACK!!!!
This was before coach Render got the "studious" look. He wears glasses now a lot during games.
Full uniforms for the first time - and pregame warmups in those uniforms for the first time. Below, it's Woodland Hills -- "reaching" for a win?
Hey, gott a give a shoutout to the cheerleaders, right? They are apart of the whole atmosphere, right?
The Upper St. Clair midget leaguers got here early, too.
