Aliquippa’s Jason McBride wore a sweatshirt after Friday’s game that read “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
McKeesport surely had a plan when it played Aliquippa. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Quips punched the Tigers in the face repeatedly … and never stopped.
The most-hyped matchup of the WPIAL semifinals turned out to be all hype Friday, this after top seed and defending champion Aliquippa bulldozed McKeesport, 42-7, in a WPIAL Class 4A semifinal at Canon-McMillan.
McBride and teammate Naquan Crowder not only helped anchor Aliquippa’s outstanding defensive effort, but they also scored points themselves. McBride began the scoring by finding the end zone on a 15-yard interception return in the first quarter and Crowder scored Aliquippa’s final touchdown when he returned a fumble 88 yards for a score in the final quarter.
But Aliquippa (11-0) got a big performance offensively, too. That came courtesy of sophomore running back Tiqwai Hayes, who rushed for 202 yards and scored on runs of 38, 10 and 64 yards.
McKeesport (11-2) scored its only points when Jahmil Perryman connected with Bobbie Boyd for a 36-yard touchdown with 6:48 left.
Next up for the Quips? A rematch with rival Central Valley next Friday at Acrisure Stadium. Aliquippa defeated Central Valley, 35-24, last month to end the Warriors’ 36-game win streak.
Be sure to check the PUP on Saturday for analysis from the game by the PUP’s Steve Rotstein, in addition to full coverage from WPIAL Class 6A and 5A championships.
NO. 1 STEEL VALLEY RALLIES FOR WIN
Just when it looked like a second-half spurt would propel Neshannock to an upset of a No. 1 seed, Steel Valley used a flurry of counter punches to slip past the Lancers, 32-17, in a Class 2A semifinal at Montour. In what was a quick change of events, Steel Valley saw its 13-0 halftime lead come unraveled when Neshannock scored 17 unanswered points — Johnny Huff’s 50-yard touchdown run, Carter DeVivo’s 27-yard field goal and Huff’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie DeMase early in the fourth quarter. But on the ensuing possession, Steel Valley sophomore Donald Barksdale ran 75 yards for a touchdown to put the Ironmen back in front. Cruce Brookins added a touchdown run and Barksdale another insurance touchdown. Brookins finished the night with two touchdown runs and a touchdown pass.
UNION ADVANCES TO FIRST FINAL SINCE ‘73
The last time Union played for a WPIAL football championship, Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” sat near the top of the Billboard charts. Well, the Scotties (10-3), guided by first-year coach Kim Niedbala, will “get it on” for the first time in 49 years next Friday after topping conference rival Rochester, 18-16, in a Class 1A semifinal at Freedom. In a battle of Cinderella teams — Union is the No. 10 seed, Rochester the No. 14 seed — Rochester (7-5) took the lead on Antonio Laure’s second touchdown run of the game and ensuing 2-point run with 7:16 left. But Union quickly responded, scoring the winning points on Braylon Thomas’ 58-yard touchdown run with 5:24 remaining. Thomas also passed for two scores for Union, which beat Rochester, 6-0, on Oct. 7.
FALLS POURS IT ON STO-ROX
A showdown between teams that feature quarterbacks with more than 5,000 career passing yards turned out to be a one-sided affair. Beaver Falls punched its ticket to the final for the third year in a row by thumping Sto-Rox, 54-16, in the Class 2A semifinals. Sto-Rox held an 8-6 lead after one quarter and trailed, 26-16, in the third before Beaver Falls closed the game by scoring 28 unanswered points. Trey Singleton scored four touchdowns for Beaver Falls, three on runs and one on an interception return. Beaver Falls quarterback Jaren Brickner threw for two touchdowns, while Sto-Rox quarterback Josh Jenkins passed and ran for scores. Beaver Falls beat Sto-Rox to win the title in 2020 before losing to Serra Catholic in last year’s final.
HOUSE WINS PIAA OPENER
While eight local teams were fighting for district championship game bids Friday, another local team was beginning its state championship run. And it was a highly successful opener for City League champion Westinghouse, which rolled to a 44-8 win against Central Clarion in a PIAA Class 2A first-round game at Cupples Stadium. Keyshawn Morsillo scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Davon Jones for Westinghouse, which led, 20-0, at halftime. The mercy rule went into effect late in the third quarter. Westinghouse (12-0) advances to the quarterfinals to take on the winner of Saturday’s game between Farrell and Sharpsville.
THREE STARS
*** — Jason Cross, Bishop Canevin. Cross was a boss Friday, completing 9 of 9 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns and also rushing for a 74-yard touchdown — all of the scores came in the first half, too — in leading defending champion Canevin to a 49-21 romp of South Side in the Class 1A semifinals. Two of the touchdown passes went to Xavier Nelson and the other two to Lesae Lacks.
** — Quinton Martin, Belle Vernon. One of the nation’s top juniors showed off his versatility in helping Belle Vernon beat Freeport, 42-0, in the Class 3A semifinals. Martin had 16 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown, six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown, and also had an interception on defense, one of four by Belle Vernon on the night. His cousin, Alonzo Wade, had two of the others.
* — Donald Barksdale, Steel Valley. Just a 5-foot-8, 160-pound sophomore, Barksdale was gigantic for Steel Valley, his 75-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter helping the Ironmen retake the lead for good after his team had blown a 13-0 halftime lead. Barksdale went on to add another touchdown for the No. 1-seeded Ironmen in their 32-17 win against Neshannock in the Class 2A semifinals.
PUP BITES
* Central Valley, which saw its 36-game win streak snapped a few weeks ago, ran its new win streak to two games while also advancing to the Class 4A final after beating Thomas Jefferson, 21-0, at North Allegheny. Antwon Johnson accounted for all three Central Valley touchdowns. Johnson threw touchdown passes to Deniro Simpson and Jayvin Thompson, and he also ran for a short touchdown. Central Valley standout running back Bret FitzSimmons did not score, but he did have a strong night, finishing with 125 yards on the ground.
* Bishop Canevin went 31 years in between its first two WPIAL titles, claiming trophies in 1990 and 2021. The Crusaders might have a third this time next week. The top-seeded Crusaders (12-1) rolled to a 49-21 win against South Side (11-2) in a Class 1A semifinal at Peters Township. Among the stars were Jason Cross (four touchdown passes, one touchdown run), Xavier Nelson (two touchdown catches, one pick-6) and Lesae Lacks (two touchdown catches).
* Belle Vernon will get another opportunity to end its long title drought next Friday, this after the Leopards rolled past Freeport, 42-0, in a Class 3A semifinal at Freeport. Quinton Martin, Braden Laux and Jake Gedekoh each scored two touchdowns for Belle Vernon (9-2), which forced five turnovers. Laux finished 10 of 16 for 139 yards, including a 45-yard scoring pass to Martin. It will be the third championship appearance in four years for Belle Vernon, which won its only WPIAL title in 1995.
* After upsetting No. 3 Elizabeth Forward in the Class 3A quarterfinals, Shady Side Academy hoped to take down No. 2 Avonworth in a semifinal at Fox Chapel. But the Bulldogs had little bite against Avonworth, which used a strong rushing attack to claim a 35-0 win. Brandon Biagiarelli scored on runs of 1 and 8 yards, Luke Hilyard on runs of 2 and 33 yards, and Peyton Faulkner on a 26-yard run that opened the scoring. Avonworth won the Class 2A title in 2019.
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD
WPIAL Class 4A
Semifinals
Aliquippa 42, McKeesport 7
Central Valley 19, Thomas Jefferson 0
WPIAL Class 3A
Semifinals
Avonworth 35, Shady Side Academy 0
Belle Vernon 42, Freeport 0
WPIAL Class 2A
Semifinals
Beaver Falls 54, Sto-Rox 16
Steel Valley 32, Neshannock 17
WPIAL Class 1A
Semifinals
Bishop Canevin 49, South Side 21
Union 18, Rochester 16
PIAA Class 2A
First Round
Westinghouse 44, Central Clarion 8
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
WPIAL Class 6A championship
Saturday — North Allegheny (10-1) vs. Central Catholic (7-4), 6 p.m. at Norwin
WPIAL Class 5A championship
Saturday — Upper St. Clair (10-2) vs. Pine-Richland (9-3), noon at Norwin
WPIAL Class 4A championship
Friday — Aliquippa (11-0) vs. Central Valley (11-1), 8 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium
WPIAL Class 3A championship
Friday — Belle Vernon (9-2) vs. Avonworth (11-1), 5 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium
WPIAL Class 2A championship
Friday — Steel Valley (11-0) vs. Beaver Falls (11-1), 2 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium
WPIAL Class 1A championship
Friday — Bishop Canevin (12-1) vs. Union (10-3), 11 a.m. at Acrisure Stadium
PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals
Friday or Saturday — Westinghouse (12-0) vs. Farrell (9-1)-Sharpsville (9-2) winner, site and time to be determined.
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.