Dec 19, 2022 2 min read

ON THIS DATE

Dec. 20

1957 – Ollie Payne scores a layup in the “sudden death” period to give Charleroi High School a 75-73 victory over visiting Bethlehem Joint, the last Washington County basketball team to suffer a loss in the season. Payne scores a game-high 33 points. The game was tied 69-69 after regulation and 73-73 after one overtime.

1968 – Waynesburg High School’s wrestling teams defeats host West Greene 29-17, giving Raiders head coach Ernie Closser his 100th victory.

1970 – Pittsburgh’s John “Frenchy” Fuqua sets the team rushing record with 218 yards on 20 carries, including touchdowns of 72 and 85 yards, but the Steelers lose to the Philadelphia Eagles 30-20.

1975 – Trinity, with four individual champions, wins the team title over runner-up Canon-McMillan at the Western Conference wrestling tournament at Chartiers Valley. The Hillers’ winners are Tom Sams (105 pounds), Tony Gallo (112), Bob Piatt (138) and Gary Sams (155).

1985 – Waynesburg College’s basketball team improves to 7-0 with an 88-77 victory over visiting Salem. The Yellow Jackets, however, lose leading scorer Harold Hamlin to season-ending knee injury.

1985 – Waynesburg High School’s Tammy McIntire scores 34 points as the Raiders’ girls basketball team wins at Mon Valley Catholic, 63-42.

1988 – Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky turns down an offer to become Temple’s head football coach.

1989 – Washington High School defensive tackle Marvin Merriweather is named to the Associated Press Small School All-State football first team.

1993 – Adam Sarson scores 30 points and grabs 18 rebounds to lead Peters Township to a 55-53 upset of visiting Uniontown.

1999 – Defensive lineman Brandon Doppelheuer and linebacker Lanfer Simpson of Waynesburg, along with South Fayette quarterback Niel Loebig and Fort Cherry running back Mike Vernillo, are named to the Associated Press Small School All-State Football first team.

2003 – St. John’s (Minn.) provides a perfect ending for coach John Gagliardi’s record-breaking season, snapping Mount Union’s NCAA-record 55-game winning streak with a 24-6 victory in the Division III football championship game.

2003 – Trinity plays two boys basketball games in one day as part of the Tri-State Hoopfest. The Hillers defeat California 68-48 in a game that starts at 10:30 a.m. Then, nine hours later, the Hillers fall to Wheeling Park 77-71.

2005 – Beth-Center linebacker Matt Stay is named to the Associated Press Class A All-State first team defense.?

2009 – Ben Roethlisberger passes for a team-record 503 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown to rookie Mike Wallace on the game’s final play as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Green Bay Packers 37-36 at Heinz Field.