Dec 6, 2022 3 min read

ON THIS DATE

Dec. 8

1923 -George Drury scores five touchdowns, including an 80-yard fumble return, as Washington High School defeats Allegheny 60-0 at College Field and wins the Syracuse Cup, given to the WPIAL football champion. Washington (9-0) outscores its opponents 429-0 on the season.

1940 – The Chicago Bears beat the Washington Redskins 73-0 for the most one-sided victory in NFL Championship play.

1951 – Six members of the County Soccer League are chosen by the West Penn Olympic Soccer League for the Olympic Trials. The players are fullbacks Roscoe Padgalek of Bishop and Martin Strnisha of Lincoln Hill, halfback Victor Bout of Bishop, and forwards Harry Smith of Roscoe, and Edward Cheroke and Joe Gonzalez of Bishop.

1964 – Bob Haley scores 42 points to lead Fort Cherry’s undefeated basketball team to a 71-66 victory at Chartiers Valley.

1967 – Ken Griffey scores 27 points and Donora remains undefeated with an 85-74 victory over Canevin.

1972 – Kip McLane scores 18 points to lead Duquesne to a 67-61 victory over Pitt in the first round of the Steel Bowl at the Civic Arena.

1973 – Billy Knight scores 23 points and Pitt uses its fast-break offense to run past Florida State 82-60 and win the Steel Bowl.

1979 – Michigan assistant Don Nehlen is hired as head football coach at West Virginia.

1987 – Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers becomes the first NHL goaltender to shoot a puck into the opposing goal in a 5-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.

1989 – Terry Vaughn makes a 22-foot three-pointer with five seconds remaining that gives Washington a 72-70 win over West Mifflin in the opening round of the Thomas Jefferson Tip-Off Tournament.

1989 – Steve Cooper scores 58 points as George Junior Republic defeats two-time defending PIAA Class A champion Monessen 97-85 in the season opener.

1990 – Pitt sees a 21-point lead dwindle to one in the second half before pulling out a 96-87 victory over visiting West Virginia. Sean Miller leads Pitt with 21 points.

1992 – Only three days before the start of the season, Jim Hoy resigns as boys basketball coach at Waynesburg High School.

1998 – Rich Tranquill makes a 15-foot jump shot as time expires to give Avella a 58-56 victory over Burgettstown.

2000 – Shaquille O’Neal sets an NBA record by going 0-for-11 from the free-throw line as the Seattle SuperSonics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 103-95.

2001 – J.R. Ward’s one-yard touchdown run with 6:33 remaining gives Washington a 19-12 victory over Penn Argyl at rain-soaked Hersheypark Stadium in the PIAA Class AA football championship game. It’s the first state football title for any school from Washington County.

2005 – The Pittsburgh Pirates make two trades, acquiring first baseman and Upper St. Clair native Sean Casey from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for pitcher Dave Williams, and getting pitcher Damaso Marte from the Chicago White Sox for utility player Rob Mackowiak.