Early agate
ON THIS DATE
Nov. 12
1892 – William “Pudge” Heffelfinger becomes the first pro football player by getting $500 to play for the Allegheny Athletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. Heffelfinger doesn’t disappoint his bosses as he returns a fumble for a touchdown to give Allegheny a 4-0 victory.
1949 – Ed Slosky runs for two touchdowns and California High School, coached by John Underwood, defeats Clark 19-6 in the regular-season finale. The win sends the undefeated Trojans to the WPIAL Class A football championship game against Dormont.
1960 – California State College caps a 7-1 season under coach Ted Nemeth with a 21-13 victory at Edinboro.
1965 – Ray Gillian runs for three touchdowns and Wilfred Minor returns an interception 103 yards for a score as Uniontown defeats Trinity 32-6 in a battle of undefeated teams at College Field.
1970 – Pittsburgh’s John Brisker scores 53 points but the Condors lose 135-132 to the Indiana Pacers in an ABA game at the Civic Arena.
1976 – Taylor Erwin rushes for 117 yards and two short touchdowns, and Jim Gross returns and interception 28 yards for a touchdown, as Peters Township defeats Greensburg Central Catholic in the first round of the WPIAL football playoffs at Monessen.
1984 – David Mack runs for 188 yards on 34 carries as Fort Cherry defeats host Monessen 21-14 in the first round of the WPIAL Class A football playoffs. It’s the 200th career win for Fort Cherry coach Jim Garry.
1986 – The Pittsburgh Penguins trade Mike Bullard to Calgary for Dan Quinn.
1988 – The Buffalo Sabres trade goaltender Tom Barrasso and a third-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Doug Bodger and Darrin Shannon.
1999 – Fort Cherry’s Mike Vernillo rushes for 254 yards and scores on runs of 6, 6 and 68 yards as the Rangers defeat Farrell 34-16 in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals at Blackhawk High School.
2011 – In the first game of the post-Joe Paterno era, 12th-ranked Penn State can’t overcome a 17-point deficit and is stopped short on a fourth-and-1 late in a 17-14 loss to No. 19 Nebraska.
Nov. 13
1958 – The WPIAL Class A football championship game is postponed one week because it was determined that Crafton used an ineligible player for six games. Crafton, which was to play Waynesburg for the title, was removed from the game.
1959 – Paul Strelick scores on a three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and Charleroi defeats Redstone 7-6 to gain a berth in the WPIAL Class AA playoff game at Pitt Stadium.
1970 – Pittsburgh’s John Brisker scores 50 points – his second 50-point game in as many nights – as the Condors defeat the host Texas Chaparrals 156-150 in overtime in an ABA game.
1971 – Reggie Knapper’s 70-yard punt return in the fourth quarter sets up Rich Davis’ go-ahead touchdown run and Chartiers-Houston defeats Midland 15-6 in the WPIAL Class B championship game at Bethel Park. It’s the second WPIAL title for the Bucs in four years.
1971 – Carmichaels’ Fred Stuvek runs for a touchown and throws a fourth-quarter TD pass to lead Navy to a 17-14 win over Syracuse.
1979 – Pittsburgh first baseman Willie Stargell and New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez are named co-MVPs in the National League. Stargell was left off the ballot of four voters.
1981 – Pat Mondock resigns after nine seasons as head football coach at Washington & Jefferson. His teams had a 29-50-1 record.
1981 – Fred Fallenstein kicks a 24-yard field goal with one second remaining to give Charleroi a 10-7 victory over visiting South Park in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA football playoffs.
1980 – Hal Hunter is fired after four seasons as football coach at California State. The Vulcans were 9-30 overall and 3-20 in PSAC West Division games under Hunter.
1998 – John Luckhardt, the arcchitect of one of the most successful NCAA Division III football programs, resigns as head coach at Washington & Jefferson. He remains the Presidents’ athletic director.
1998 – Jason Ellis returns an interception 51 yards for a touchdown and Washington shuts out Charleroi over the final three quarters for a 24-7 victory in the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals at Ringgold High School.
1999 – John Turman throws two touchdown passes to Antonio Bryant and Kevan Barlow runs for two scores as Pitt defeats Notre Dame 37-27 in the final game at Pitt Stadium.
2012 – Veronica Latsko and Olivia Roberson score goals six minutes part in the first half and Peters Township goes on to rout Wilson 5-0 in the PIAA Class AAA girls soccer semifinals at Chambersburg.