PLAYOFFS: The football team fought their hearts out to make it into playoffs for the first time in eight years. The boys won big in the two Friday night games previous to the playoffs, even breaking a whopping score of 50. Going into the playoff game, held Nov. 2, the team had high hopes. According to Senior Captain Jonny Fiscus, the team’s goal was to “go in and win the game” and to “try and get to [the championship game].” The athletes put up a fight against the South Fayette Lions, getting their first touchdown during the second quarter. Their second score was made in the final quarter. In the end, the team lost with a final score of 49-13. Sophomore Lucas Yeck plans to keep the team heading to playoffs in the following years. “My first playoff game was an awesome experience, even though we didn’t win. I want to have a successful season and make playoffs again, but that will only happen with hard work, and all my teammates know what it takes now,” Yeck said. On another note, Fiscus feels as though the team accomplished something. “We gave [the South Fayette team] their toughest game of the year, and we roughed them up some. They weren’t expecting to get hit the way we hit them.” Senior Captain Branden Heckman said he was happy with this season. “I’m really proud of how they changed their practice habits toward the end of the season.” “I think we proved ourselves during the Hopewell and Riverside games by winning big. I think it showed how we could have played when we were on the same page,” Heckman said. “Shock the nation” was the team’s motto, and that is something the boys did. STATES: Out of over 200 Pennsylvania cross country runners, Seniors Jake DeWeese, Wes Roberts and DeeDee Adams made it into the PIAA State Championships. The runners finished big at this meet Nov. 3, all three finishing in the top 10. “My entire body was numb from the pain and being cold. The feeling didn’t stay long after I knew how I finished,” Adams said after her big win of tenth place. She finished with a time of 20:08. DeWeese came out of the race in 10 place with a time of 16:43. “I felt amazing. Even though I just ran myself to death, I felt a second win after knowing I finished tenth,” DeWeese said. After a lot of running, Roberts finished in ninth place. “Immediately after [running] I thought there was a chance I might die; there are a couple seconds after you finish where it hurts worse than when you’re running. But I was happy to have done well,” Roberts said. He crossed the finish line at 16:39. Not only did these three do well at states, but they had amazing performances. Adams finished sixth at the WPIAL race, DeWeese in fifth and Roberts sixth. Overall, the boys finished eighth. Unfortunately, the girls weren’t able to conjure up enough runners to make a team, but they’re hoping next year that will change.