Pittsburg, PA
Live update summary: De La Salle wins 33rd straight North Coast Section title (Nov. 21, 2025)
De La Salle’s 33rd straight North Coast Section title championship game win might very well have been it’s toughest.
And those who watching Pittsburg run up and down the field most of the night, would say the Pirates outplayed the Spartans.
No matter.
Though De La Salle got three long touchdown runs from Brady Smith, Jaden Jefferson and Brayden Knight, it was the defense that made a couple of big plays late to help pull out a 24-17 NCS Open Division title win at Diablo Valley College Friday on a clear, crisp night in Pleasant Hill.
Though last year’s title game was closer — De La Salle won 10-7 on a rainy night — this one was well more in Pittsburg’s favor with a 396-338 advantage in yards and a 24-10 edge in first downs. The Pirates, behind a superlative game from sophomore quarterback Javale Jones (32 completions in 47 attempts, 309 yards), also ran off 76 plays to 39 for De La Salle.
But the Spartans improved to 12-0 and all but assuredly will advance to the CIF Open Division California title game to represent Northern California in two weeks to face the Southern California champion.
Wow. De La Salle holds on 4D play. Jones stopped short. 2:44 4Q. De La Salle leads Pittsburgh 24-17. HUGE PLAY. One first down should end it. pic.twitter.com/xFXwRQ50rW
— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) November 22, 2025
Pittsburg (10-2) will drop down to the Division 1 bracket and face Cardinal Newman in the D1 title game. The Pirates will go for its fifth straight D1 title.
Pittsburg missed two chip shot field goals and missed on two other red zone chances. It never punted the ball.
It’s hard to believe the Pirates scored just two touchdowns, on a 16-yard pass from Jones to Kenneth Ward and a TD run by Siotame Finau. De La Salle scored on runs of 26 yards by Smith, 50 yards by Jefferson and 57 by Knight. The Spartans settled for a 21-yard field goal by Justin Uribarri with 7:11 to play.
The Pirates, like they had all night. rattled off a couple first downs, including a fifth fourth-down conversion. But on 4th-and-1 from its own 44, the Spartans stopped Jones for no gain on a keeper. Then ran out the clock, keyed by a 17-yard run by Duece Jones-Drew on a 3rd-and-15 play.
HUGE PLAY. this should do it. 3rd-and-15, Duece Jones-Drew goes for 17. 2:00 left. De La Salle 24, Pittsburg 17. De La Salle can run it out. To win 33rd straight NCS title. pic.twitter.com/0WPanK7tpg
— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) November 22, 2025
It’s been since 1991 since De La Salle’s juggernaut football team lost to North Coast Section team, a span heading into Friday’s game at Diablo Valley College of 283 games (282-0-1), 32 have been championship games.
The Spartans go for numbers 284 and 33 in Friday’s Open Division title game at Diablo Valley College as the Spartans (11-0), the state’s No. 4 team according to High School On SI, takes on No. 17 Pittsburg (10-1).
The loser of this game advances to the Division I championship game next week against the winner of Cardinal Newman versus Acalanes.
Pittsburg gave De La Salle all it could handle in last year’s title game under pouring rain, also at DVC. De La Salle won the game 10-7, its 32nd straight NCS crown, but then lost two weeks later to Mater Dei in the state Open Division title game.
Pittsburg advanced to the Division I title game last season and won its fourth straight championship.
FIRST QUARTER
* Pittsburg misses short field goal. After a De La Salle three and out, the Pirates missed a 32-yard field goal.
Touchdown De La Salle. A 49-yard scamper from Jaden Jefferson set up a 26-yard touchdown burst by Brady Smith giving De La Salle a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Brady Smith 26-yard TD run after Jaden Jefferson 49-yard scamper. De La Salle 7, Pittsburg 0. Middle 1Q. Pitt missed chip shot FG on first possession. pic.twitter.com/GnpwaOOzoX
— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) November 22, 2025
Pittsburg turns ball over on downs. Pirates motor right down field again, only on 4th-and-goal from the 5, a 4-yard pass from Jones to Mosley is one yard short of touchdown. De La Salle takes over on downs.
SECOND QUARTER
Touchdown run. The Pirates drive right down field, capped by a touchdown run by Siotame Finau tying the game at 7-7 with 8:15 left in second quarter.
De La Salle touchdown. Brayden Knight with spectacular 57-yard touchdown scamper after an inside handoff fake. Knight was caught at the 10-yard-line but held off the defender and was tackle halfway into the end zone. De La Salle 14, Pittsburg 7.
Brayden Knight with determined spectacular 47-yard TD run gives De La Salle a 14-7 lead 7:34 2Q. pic.twitter.com/67MTREX5VE
— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) November 22, 2025
Pittsburg touchdown: Javale Jones with beautiful 16-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Ward. 4:55 2Q. Great drive keyed by 22-yard completion from Jones to Mosley on fourth down. De La Salle 14, Pittsburg 14.
Wow! This Jones is putting ball just where he should be pinpoint passing. 16-yard touchdown to Ward ties game at 14-14 for Pirates with De La Salle. 4:55 2Q. Pittsburg has reached red zone 4 straight times. Probably should be leading. pic.twitter.com/OKl5nEKsxg
— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) November 22, 2025
De La Salle touchdown. Takes two plays, Jaden Jefferson 50-yard touchdown sprint, Spartans back up by a touchdown. De La Salle 21, Pittsburg 14.
Officially a shootout – athletically speaking. Jaden Jefferson 50-yard TD run gives De La Salle 21-14 4:06 2Q. Great game thus far. pic.twitter.com/c7bhtrwGiZ
— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) November 22, 2025
Halftime score/stats: According to Damin Esper of DeLaSalleSportsTV, Pittsburg with 295 yards of offense compared to 253 for De La Salle. No one has moved the ball like this against the Spartans. Jones is 17 of 27 for 217 yards and one TD. Jefferson has six carried for 116 yards and Smith 7 carries for 69 yards for De La Salle. Mosley, the Arizona State bound receiver, has 5 catches for 64 yards, Ward 4 for 58. Great half. De La Salle 21, Pittsburg 14.
THIRD QUARTER
Pittsburg FG: The Pirates pick up where they left off in first half, drive 74 yards, but have to settle for a FG, a 24-yarder by Luis Rodriguez. More importantly they chew up half the quarter time wise. De La Salle 21, Pittsburg 17. 5:15 3Q.
Pittsburg, which piled up 295 yards in first half against the vaunted are La Salle defense, March 74 yards to open second half but have to settle for a FG. De Pa Salle 21, Pittsburg 17. 5:06 3Q. pic.twitter.com/wBW6XZgI0J
— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) November 22, 2025
Fumble De La Salle: Smith never gets clean exchange. Fumbles. Pittsburg recovers near midfield.
FG fails: A second chip shot FG misses, this one from 33-yards that clanks off left upright. A sack by Bubba Vargas forces the FG try.
Bubba Vargas with sack keeps Pirates out of end zone. FG pending. pic.twitter.com/5Kq9uF5txO
— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) November 22, 2025
FOURTH QUARTER
DE LA SALLE FG: Justin Uribarri 22-yard FG. 7:11 left. Big catch by Jefferson for 41 yards and 20-yard run by Knight sets up FG. De La Salle 24, Pittsburg 17 7:11 4Q
DE LA SALLE STOP: On 4th-and-1 from own 44, Pittsburg stopped short on Jones keeper. De La Salle takes over at 44. 2:44 remaining. De La Salle 24, Pittsburg 17 2:44
JONES-DREW FIRST DOWN: On 3rd-and-15, Duece Jones-Drew goes for 17 yards to clinch win. Three knees and De La Salle will win 33rd straight title.
FINAL SCORE: De La Salle 24, Pittsburg 17
Pittsburg softball improved to 16-4 on the season by sweeping host Kansas City Piper 17-1 in five innings and 15-3 in six innings Saturday afternoon.
Breck Slaughter earned the win in both games. She allowed one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks over five innings during the opener. Then, she allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks over three innings.
AnnaLynn Hudson pitched the last three innings of the day for the Purple Dragons.
Offensively, Pittsburg scored 17 runs on 20 hits during the opener and all nine Dragons reached the hit column. Kenleigh Warford led with four hits, Breck Slaughter and Micah Gomez each had three and Brecken Campbell, Brette Pasteur, Laney Trisler and Emily Shriver each had two. Slaughter, Trisler and Gomez each doubled twice and Pasteur and Shriver also recorded two-baggers. Brilee Mantooth homered. Gomez led the Dragons with four RBI, Campbell had three and Trisler, Mantooth and Shriver drove in two each.
The Dragons closed out their sweep with 15 runs on just 11 hits. Pasteur had a monster performance at the plate with four runs scored, three hits in three at-bats, two home runs and five RBI; she also worked a pair of walks and proved to be an utter pain for Piper pitchers Reagan Asbury and Harper Cordill.
Campbell also homered and finished with three hits for the Dragons. Slaughter and Shriver both finished with two hits and both seniors doubled.
Pittsburg won four games during the week and outscored Labette County, Independence and Piper by a combined 59-11. The Dragons return to Southeast Kansas League play on the road Monday against Independence; the Dragons beat the Bulldogs 14-1 in five innings last Thursday in Pittsburg.
The Dragons are looking to wrap up at least a share of the SEK League title.
Pittsburg 612 44 — 17 20 0
KC Piper 000 01 — 1 2 5
Breck Slaughter and Peyton Morey; Stella Utter and Ginny Garcia. W: Slaughter. L: Utter. 2B—PHS: Slaughter 2, Brette Pasteur, Emily Shriver, Laney Trisler 2, Micah Gomez 2; KCP: Faith Flournoy. HR—PHS: Brilee Mantooth.
——
Pittsburg 225 105 — 15 7 2
KC Piper 100 101 — 3 6 6
Breck Slaughter, AnnaLynn Hudson (4) and Peyton Morey; Reagan Asbury, Harper Cordill (5) and Faith Flournoy. W: Slaughter. L: Asbury. 2B—PHS: Slaughter. HR—PHs: Brecken Campbell, Brette Pasteur 2; KCP: Ginny Garcia.
This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund/
Pittsburg, PA
Steelers insider just poured gasoline on the Aaron Rodgers fire following latest report of what he was doing in Pittsburgh
Aaron Rodgers was supposed to be in Pittsburgh over the weekend, with the thought that a deal would get done. One Steelers insider backs the report, but adds details that only compound a messy situation.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
At this point, the events of the past two seasons between Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers could probably be a book or movie. Everything from walks on the beach, to him throwing with DK Metcalf before signing, to someone capturing him driving a rental car into Pittsburgh has made waves.
This offseason was supposed to be different, and a decision from Rodgers was supposed to come much earlier. However, the Steelers remain in a holding pattern, and one that many believed would end over the weekend, after it was reported that Rodgers would be in town to sign a contract. Well, that seems to be true, but like much of this saga over the past two years, there seems to be a holdup.
Aaron Rodgers 2025 stats
- 3.4 TD to INT ratio.
- 3,322 passing yards.
- 65.7% completion percentage.
Aaron Rodgers visited Pittsburgh, but not the Steelers over the weekend
“Aaron Rodgers has been in town for a couple days, but the Steelers have not met with him yet and instead have been talking with his agent. Rodgers has stayed away from the team’s South Side facility while the three-day rookie minicamp has been going on.” – Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The news from Dulac comes on the heels of the report from 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh that Rodgers would be visiting the Steelers over the weekend, with the intention to sign his deal.
That report was backed up nationally by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, but some in Steelers media (Mark Kaboly) said that if Rodgers was going to be in town, that was news to the team.
Omar Khan said as much during a radio hit after the reports surfaced, saying that he didn’t know where Rodgers was, but that talks remained fluid. Of course, general managers, including Omar Khan, have been known to bend the truth, which seems to lie somewhere in the middle here.
The bottom line with Aaron Rodgers
It’s obvious to me that the Steelers and Rodgers are held up over money. I know that it was said to not be the case, but you don’t intentionally avoid meeting with a team and have your agent talk to them, just days after they use a tender that determines your 2026 salary, if you’re just going to sign.
I would be surprised if Rodgers doesn’t sign at this point, but it doesn’t change the monetary situation that needs to be worked out here.
Kennywood honored two longtime employees Saturday who together have worked at the park for a combined 100 years.
Larry Russ and Bobby Trygar started working at Kennywood in 1976.
Russ began his Kennywood career as a games employee, working at the Big Apple dart game. In 1980, Russ applied to the security team and has held positions there ever since, including roles as a corporal, lieutenant, chief, and captain, according to a press release provided by the park.
Trygar began his time at Kennywood by working in the Parkside Café. Since he joined Kennywood, he has helped to maintain some of the park’s most iconic attractions, including the Racer, Log Jammer, and Merry Go Round.
“This is something you dream about. It’s so amazing,” Trygar said. “One of the best things when I worked out here was when I met my wife on the Racer. I was the mechanic. It’s just a great feeling to come here every day, see smiles on people’s faces, it’s tremendous. It gives you that extra boost and happiness.”
“I was planning on going into the mill, like everyone else was during my era,” Russ said. “Of course, the mill shut down. My father told me, ‘You don’t want to [work at the mill]. This place isn’t going to be here that much longer,’ and he was right, so I stuck it out here. I got a full-time position in 1980, and the rest is history.”
The park also dedicated two benches in their honor.
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