Latest Pine Grove News

Must-win situation for Tri-Valley  While Jeff Sampson’s Tri-Valley outfit (4-1, 1-0) received little or no resistance last weekend from Colonial-Schuylkill Blue playmate Marian Catholic, the Bulldogs’ next league adversary should provide a much-larger challenge. Since Nativity (4-2, 2-0) is making the journey to the Hegins-Valley View Metroplex, make your reservations now for some hamburgers and… Read more: Schuylkill League News and Notes

Vikings looking to sustain early momentum With its ground game humming behind sophomore feature back Alex Achenbach — 400-plus rushing yards and four running touchdowns the past two weeks in wins over Pine Grove and Schuylkill haven — unbeaten Williams Valley (3-0) will try to make it four straight when the Vikings visit Minersville. Junior… Read more: News and Notes: Schuylkill League

They may play in different divisions these days — instead of the Twin Valley Conference and/or Tri-Valley League — but that doesn’t mean Tri-Valley (2-0) and Pine Grove (0-2) plan to take it easy on one another.

Neighboring rivals Williams Valley, Pine Grove square off While reigning District 11 Class 1A co-champion Williams Valley (1-0) needed to rely on its aggressive defensive unit to squeeze past Mahanoy Area 6-0, Pine Grove (0-1) flashed plenty of D before tumbling to Northern Lebanon 13-7. So, we’re probably in for a 42-41 thriller decided at… Read more: News and Notes: Schuylkill League

Even though the Cardinals watched a trio of terrific skill people walk during graduation exercises, fourth-year skipper Frank Gaffney really is excited since his O-Line returns intact and having a strong front fits snugly into his program’s philosophy about controlling the line of scrimmage and winning the box.

OFFENSE Quarterback Michael Henwood, Hickory — 6-2, 175 seniorK.J. Riley, Danville — 6-1, 195 seniorJeff Hoenstine, Central Martinsburg — 5-10, 171 sophomoreJake Hall, North Schuylkill — 6-0, 215 juniorAmeer Dudley, Central Valley — 6-2, 196 senior Running Back Zane Janiszewski, Western Wayne — 5-11, 195 seniorMatt Frauen, Notre Dame-Green Pond — 6-1, 190 seniorRocco Pulizzi,… Read more: 2020 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 3A All-State Team

By Michael Bullock:  Pine Grove trio bounces off with record haul While Pine Grove closed out its 10-game schedule last weekend with a 25-0 conquest of Columbia, the Cardinals dispatched a trio of seniors to the next level or elsewhere, their arms stuffed with an assortment of school records. We’ll start with wide receiver/defensive back… Read more: News and Notes: Schuylkill League

By Michael Bullock:  Williams Valley and Tri-Valley hoping to battle: For the fourth consecutive postseason, Williams Valley (8-1) and Tri-Valley (5-1) are hoping to duke it out in a backyard scrap that will double as the District 11 Class 1A title game. Right now, however, this match-up is postponed. More information on the status of… Read more: News and Notes: Schuylkill League

By Michael Bullock:  1. Hectic pace continues for Williams Valley’s Vikings Playing for the third time in eight days — after spending some time sidelined by a COVID-19 flare-up — Williams Valley (1-1, 1-0 Schuylkill 2) will travel to Saint Clair on Friday night to take on Nativity (2-0, 1-0) in a Schuylkill 2 clash… Read more: News and Notes: Schuylkill League

By Michael Bullock:  Pine Grove hoping to even early-season mark Following last weekend’s season-opening 36-20 reversal to an explosive Notre Dame-Green Pond side at home, Pine Grove (0-1) will dive into Schuylkill League play Friday night at perennial hammer North Schuylkill (1-0). It’s the same North Schuylkill program that brought an end to the Cardinals’… Read more: News and Notes: Schuylkill League

By Michael Bullock:  Only Pine Grove slated to open up this weekend With its regular-season schedule juggled yet again just last week by COVID-19, Frank Gaffney’s Pine Grove Cardinals will begin their 2020 campaign Friday night at home against Notre Dame-Green Pond instead of traveling to former Tri-Valley League playmate Williams Valley. And while this… Read more: News and Notes: Schuylkill League

By Michael Bullock:  Coach: Frank Gaffney, 3rd season (12-9) Classification: 3A League/Division: Schuylkill League 2019 record: 8-3 (7-2 Tri-Valley League) Postseason: Lost to North Schuylkill 42-20 in District 11 Class 3A first round.                                             RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TDs Josh Leininger: 17-49, 340, 4 Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TDs Josh Leininger: 33-314, 9.5, 7 Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TDs Shea Morgan: 24-402, 16.8,… Read more: 2020 Preview: Pine Grove Cardinals