Sto-Rox football will celebrate its 50th anniversary this week, a half-century that started with a WPIAL championship in its first season.

The school formed when Stowe Township and McKees Rocks merged in 1966, and the Vikings won a WPIAL title that fall. In celebration, the school has invited its football alumni to attend Friday's home game with Vincentian Academy.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.

“The alumni are going to follow our tradition of coming down through the gate, and they're going to escort the players onto the field,” Sto-Rox coach Jason Ruscitto said. “The alumni are composed of former players, coaches and anybody who was associated with the football program in past years. We're excited for our kids to meet these alumni because we talk a lot about tradition.”

Sto-Rox also won a WPIAL title 1987 with Michigan State recruit Jody Dickerson at quarterback. The Vikings were finalists in 2003 with Temple recruit Adam DiMichele at quarterback, and again in 2011, '12 and '13 with Lenny Williams, who's a sophomore at IUP.

DiMichele and Williams each graduated as the WPIAL's all-time leading passer. Sto-Rox also produced QB Chuck Fusina, a Heisman Trophy runner-up with Penn State in 1978.

Ruscitto said he wasn't certain which alumni would attend Friday, but those who come will be introduced at halftime.

OLSH transfer ineligible

OLSH transfer Romnn Shell, an all-conference defensive back last season, remains ineligible to play football this fall.

The PIAA heard Shell's appeal Wednesday and upheld the WPIAL's earlier decision, said WPIAL president Scott Seltzer, an assistant superintendent at Chartiers Valley. The WPIAL board ruled in July that Shell's move from Ambridge to OLSH was motivated by athletics.

Ambridge's former football coach, Dan Bradley, now coaches OLSH. Shell is eligible in all other sports.

In a related matter, the WPIAL received paperwork from OLSH this month for five more football players who transferred there this summer, WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley said Wednesday. As a result, the WPIAL has scheduled an Aug. 31 meeting with school administrators.

TV timeout

WPNT and Xfinity will televise WPIAL football games this season starting next week.

WPNT's broadcast schedule includes: North Hills at Upper St. Clair on Sept. 2, North Allegheny at Central Catholic on Sept. 9, Montour at Mars on Sept. 16, Franklin Regional at Armstrong on Sept. 23, Thomas Jefferson at Ringgold on Sept. 30, Aliquippa at Clairton on Oct. 7, Beaver Falls at Central Valley on Oct. 14, Penn Hills at Mt. Lebanon on Oct. 21, and North Hills at Pine-Richland on Oct. 28.

Xfinity will televise via its on-demand service: Chartiers Valley at Hampton on Sept. 2, Indiana at Montour on Sept. 9, Yough at Hopewell on Sept. 16, Beaver at Keystone Oaks on Sept. 23, Penn-Trafford at Gateway on Sept. 30, West Allegheny at Upper St. Clair on Oct. 7, Washington at Chartiers-Houston on Oct. 14, Aliquippa at Central Valley on Oct. 21, and TJ at West Mifflin on Oct. 28.

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