(Wharton, N.J.)—SportsLink and Football University recently announced that Dontae Broadus, an eighth-grader from Turtle Creek has been selected to play in the second annual “Football University Youth All-American Bowl” taking place in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 10 The game will be broadcast live on the Web. The bowl honors the top seventh- and eighth-graders in the nation, bringing them together to play in an all-star format on a national stage. It is modeled after the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and will be held in the same city during the same week. Both games are produced by SportsLink.
There are ugly wins and hideous losses. The Pittsburgh Steelers were ambushed by the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday in K.C. This defeat was sort of “Freddy Kruggerish.” Now let’s get right to the ugly. Special teams, special ed teams or irregular teams, whatever words you wish to describe this area, were again the Achilles heel that did the Black and Gold in. Another kickoff was returned for a TD and an ill-advised throw from Big Ben with at least four red jerseys hanging out in the end zone also played a significant part in the unraveling of the defending world champions. Linebacker Andy Studebaker made his debut as a starter for the Chiefs. He was not under the baptism of fire that everyone expected but instead was the arsonist with the torch who almost singlehandedly burned the post-season chances of the Steelers to cinders. AUBREY BRUCE
It was the biggest game of the year and it, rightfully so, had the biggest finish. The Schenley Spartans outlasted Oliver, 34-32, in a double OT marathon to take their second title since 1950. “It’s good for the kids,” said Schenley’s head coach Jason Bell. “When we were in the stretch run, especially in the double overtime, the team wasn’t nervous at all. It was by far our worst performance of the season but our guys came through beautifully.” 2009 CITY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS—Schenley players and cheerleaders celebrate winning the City League title Nov. 13 after defeating Oliver 34-32 in two overtimes at Cupples Stadium. See page C-4 for story and more photos. Schenley will play Punxsutawney in a PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) Class AAA play-in round matchup at Dubois, Pa., Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. “We’re going to try to use our speed up there,” said Bell. “We have our big play guys in Jerome Mathews and DeAndre Black. With their skills and speed, I’m confident that they will make some things happen for us.”
Unless the Cincinnati Bengals completely fall apart, the Steelers will be battling for a wild card spot in order to make the playoffs. The Bengals put themselves in the driver’s seat Sunday with an 18-12 victory over Pittsburgh. After playing their best game of the season against the Denver Broncos last week, the Steeler offense played their worst game against the Bengals, and the only reason it wasn’t a blowout was the outstanding play of the defense once again that kept them in the game. TOUGH YARDAGE—Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall found it tough going against the Bengals as he was held to just 36 yards rushing.
PITTSBURGH (AP)—Whenever Pitt seemed ready to turn the corner and return to national prominence in the last five years, the last 10, even the last 25, a game like this always seemed to ruin it. No longer. By learning how not to lose the kind of games that perplexed coach Dave Wannstedt for several years, and Walt Harris and his predecessors before him, the No. 8 Panthers are winning like no Pitt team has done since Dan Marino and Bill Fralic were pulling on those old-style blue and gold uniforms back in the early ’80s. WPIAL STARS ON DISPLAY —Pitt’s Jonathan Baldwin from Aliquippa makes a diving 36-yard touchdown catch against Notre Dame’s Darrin Walls, who starred at Woodland Hills. Baldwin had five catches for 142 yards in the Panthers 27-22 win.
PITTSBURGH (AP)—Mean Joe Greene already had his four Super Bowl rings. Now, 30 years later, he also has his CLIO for one of TV’s most famous commercials. Greene earned the award, given annually for excellence in advertising, for his role in the 1979 commercial in which he flipped his game jersey to a young fan who handed him a cold Coke as the weary Steelers’ lineman limped to the locker room following a game. REUNITED—Steelers hall of fame defensive tackle “Mean” Joe Greene, left, is reunited with actor Tommy Okon at Heinz Field Nov. 15. It was the 30th anniversary of the iconic “Mean Joe” TV ad for Coca-Cola that featured Greene and a then nine-year-old Okon.
“It’s a great day for hockey” was the favorite saying of legendary late Penguins coach “Badger” Bob Johnson. That sentiment sort of echoed the sentiments of Chicago Cubs hall-of-fame infielder Ernie Banks who would, if left up to him, play a doubleheader every day. As I settled into the press box at Mellon Arena to cover my first Penguins game of the 2009-10 season, I ran into colleague Josh Yohe. Josh said, “Aubrey I’m not sure if you know it or not but the Devils have two players of color on their roster, Mark Fraser and Bryce Salvador. AUBREY BRUCE
The Steelers put together their best second half of the season and by far their best fourth quarter to hand the Denver Broncos their second loss, setting up their biggest game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Broncos controlled the first half but still trailed 7-3 as a result of a Tyrone Carter 48-yard interception for a touchdown. AGELESS—Hines Ward celebrates with offensive tackle Willie Colon after Ward caught a touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ 28-10 victory in Denver. Then came the second half and an entirely new Steelers offense took the field, well, after Ben Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass to the wrong team to give Denver a 10-7 lead. But then he came back in just four plays to get that touchdown back, passing for 56 yards, with Rashard Mendenhall adding 24 on the ground leading to a 3-yard touchdown reception by Hines Ward to take a 14-10 lead. The Steelers never looked back from that point as the defense, behind James Harrison and Troy Polamalu, dominated the Broncos, holding them to three and out while picking up two interceptions, one by Polamalu and a second by Carter.
by Carla Crawford Many patrons poured into Arts, a popular bar located on the corner of 29th and 10th in the Strip District on the night of Nov. 4, for their usual midweek social gathering. For the family and friends of Anthony Rivers, AKA Greyhound, whose life was abruptly taken violently on the streets of Garfield in the early morning of Aug. 5, 2008, the night was all but usual. ANTHONY RIVERS After leading his team to victory in the 2008 Connie Hawkins League Championship Game, Anthony Rivers was robbed and brutally murdered. Jason and Vaughn Rivers, Anthony’s brothers, spearheaded this gathering in order to celebrate what would’ve been their brother’s 28th birthday. In past years, the three Rivers brothers had always celebrated together in this manor, and in Anthony’s absence have vowed to continue to do so in his memory.
Schenley (8-1) avenged the Brashear (7-3) team that put a 30-point victory against them back on Sept.18. With the 14-2 victory over the Bulls Nov. 6, they now advance to the City League finals to face Oliver (8-1) Nov. 13. In the wake of such a successful year for the Spartans, they had to face some adversity to get there. DEFENSIVE STANDOUT— Shane Phillips of Oliver grabs Perry quarterback Greg McGhee before he can release a pass as the Bears defeated the Commodores 10-6 to earn a spot in the title game this Friday. “Over the span of four years, with the announcing of the closing of the school, these kids have had to endure so much,” said Schenley’s head coach Jason Bell. “There have been so many negatives that our kids have had to face. This has forced them to come together and that is exactly what they’ve done. Our kids are a group. They mesh really well and really care about on another.”
