From: Don Rebel


Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | 10:01 p.m

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College football’s early signing period begins on Wednesday.

High school graduates can sign binding letters of intent to the school of their choice between Wednesday and Friday.

The traditional signing period is February 5th to April 1st.

The college football transfer portal opens between December 9th and 28th.

Watch HSSN throughout the day as Chris Harlan updates the official signings.

Playoff rematch

A rematch of a February WPIAL Class 3A boys basketball first-round playoff game highlights the Wednesday schedule of non-sectional high school basketball games.

Ellwood City finished third in Section 1-3A a year ago and drew the No. 9 seed in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.

Washington was co-champion with Yough in Section 4-3A last season and was seeded No. 8.

The Wolverines made the long trip south and won 53-36. EC then lost to eventual champion Deer Lakes in a quarterfinal thriller.

Ellwood City hosts Washington on Wednesday.

The Wolverines are off to a 2-1 start as they adjust to life after Joe Roth. EC lost to Union in its season opener before winning back-to-back games against Rochester and Sto-Rox.

The Little Prexies are playing their second game of the season after opening the new season on Tuesday against Chartiers-Houston.

Neighbors collide

Two schools whose football teams ended their seasons within the last week and a half collide in a small-school versus big-school contest as Thomas Jefferson hosts Clairton.

The Jaguars’ gridiron season ended with WPIAL gold and a loss in the PIAA semifinals to Lampeter-Strasburg on Friday.

The Bears’ football season was perfect until they lost to Fort Cherry in heartbreaking fashion by one point in a thriller for the WPIAL Class A title.

While Thomas Jefferson was the Section 1 champion in Class 5A a year ago, Clairton finished fourth in Section 3-2A.

Now these Mon Valley neighbors are colliding on the hardwood.

The Jaguars split their two games in the MVI Shootout Classic, defeating Belle Vernon and losing in overtime to Elizabeth Forward. TJ was in Uniontown on Tuesday.

This is the season opener for the Bears.

More neighbors collide

Some high schools have neighboring school districts that border their own, while others have schools literally right next door.

This is the case in Natrona Heights with Highlands and St. Joseph.

The schools will meet on Wednesday for a girls basketball game without groups.

Both the Golden Rams and Spartans are coming off strong seasons in 2023-2024.

Highlands was the No. 4 seed in the Class 4A playoffs but lost to Laurel Highlands in the district quarterfinals.

St. Joseph was the No. 3 seed in Class A and eliminated Bishop Canevin and Aquinas Academy before losing to Union 50-43 in overtime in the WPIAL championship game.

This season, the Golden Rams are 0-1 after a loss to Armstrong, while the Spartans are 1-0 after a win over Apollo-Ridge.