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Pennsylvania high school receives NFL Foundation grant for new football turf

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby: Lawrence Fernandez05/22/25lawandfern
Penn Hills High School - Pennsylvania high school football
The Penn Hills girls' flag football team celebrate the grant received from the NFL Foundation for a new football turf. (Photo credit: Penn Hills School District on Facebook)

A Pennsylvania high school will have a new football turf after receiving a $250,000 grant from the NFL Foundation. Penn Hills High School received that money from the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers for restoring their field.

As the only school within the team’s market to receive a grant, Steelers Senior Manager of Alumni Relations and Youth Football Mike Marchinsky attended the celebration. Penn Hills’ campus is 14 miles away from Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers’ home field.

Last May 13, Penn Hills had a ceremony at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium to celebrate the grant. The festivities started with a grant ceremony, followed by recognizing Pennsylvania high school senior girls’ flag football players.

The day ended with two girls’ flag football games as two Penn Hills teams faced Jeannette and Woodland Hills. These games are a nice preview for a sport that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association will sanction next year.

Meanwhile, the new turf will also benefit this Pennsylvania high school’s football team. Last season, the Indians finished the 2024-25 season with a 7-5 record, including a 5-1 record at home. However, they struggled on the road with only two wins in five games. Despite those losses, they finished 38th in the Pennsylvania High School Football On3 Composite Team Rankings.

After losing their first three games against Susquehanna Township, Woodland Hills, and North Allegheny, they won their next three against Fox Chapel, Aliquippa, and Shaler Area. While Penn Hills won four of their last six games, they ended the season with a loss to Upper St. Clair.

In the middle of their win streaks is a defeat against Pine-Richland. After that loss, Penn Hills defeated Mt. Lebanon, North Hills, Plum, and Moon Area. While Penn Hills had a winning record after 12 games, they did not enter the Pennsylvania high school football Class 5A state tournament.