Class AA
Aliquippa 15-0-Southern Columbia 15-0……..1.00 Aliquippa
Aliquippa got a game from Martinsburg Central winning 30-21 while Southern Columbia and West Catholic locked horns in a good one with Southern pulling away in the 4th quarter for a 34-19 win. Aliquippa jumped out to a 14-0 1st quarter with Central (13-2) coming back for a 21-14 lead largely on the strength of QB Noah Benton’s (11/26/210) 3 touchdowns. Despite 14 penalties for 140 yards, the Quips came back behind star running back Kaezon Pugh’s 16 points (6-1, 185, sr, 2332ry, Pitt commit), all in the last 8 minutes of the game. Other Quip weapons are QB Sheldon Jeter with 1532 yards passing and 19 Tds primarily to Jassir Jordan who caught 43 passes for 912 yards. So make that two 4th quarter rallies in the last two games allowing them to get past Karns City and Martinsburg Central. That might be a bad idea against this week’s opponent.
Southern Columbia relied on an explosive 4th quarter where they scored 20 unanswered points, rallying from a 19-14 deficit to beat West Catholic 34-19. The rally was aided in part with a unusual number of penalties called against the Burrs (10-5), 13 for 127 yards. 5 interceptions two fumbles and numerous injuries to key personnel also took a toll. QB Josh Evans completed 18 of 29 for 238 yards and 2 Tds with WR Amadou Barry’s 120 yards in receptions and 2 Tds. In the end, Southern had too much as evidenced by their rushing for 314 yards, led by Hunter Thomas’s 115 yards and Blake Marks’s 98 yards. QB Nick Becker was also instrumental, completing 6 of 12 passes for 98 yards and a score while running for 50 yards and 3 more scores. The final pits two of the most storied programs in the state against one another. It also marks Southern’s 14th state title game appearance, their first since 2011. Aliquippa has 4 appearances, winning gold in ‘91 and ‘03, and silver in ‘00 and ‘12. Schedule wise they played a representative Wpial schedule with highly competitive games their last three, beating defending AA champ South Fayette, then a really good Karns City team and Martinsburg Central last week. Meanwhile Southern is battle tested against Selinsgrove, Montoursville, Berks Catholic and West Catholic.
Class A
Bishop Guilfoyle 15-0-Farrell 14-1……..24.57 Bishop Guilfoyle
Defending Single-A champion Bishop Guilfoyle won their 31st straight game bowling over Old Forge 43-13. After falling behind 13-3, they erupted for 40 unanswered points while pounding out 232 rushing yards and 251 through the air. The score was surprising knowing Old Forge (13-2) came in with pedigree, winning their 5th straight Lackawanna Conference Division-3 crown and 3rd straight District-2 title. But Guilfoyle is a monster team, holding them to 158 total yards with quarterback Josh Trybus throwing three touchdowns and running for another. They are big and play physical with a sizeable DL; Logan McGeary (6-2, 315, jr, 95 tackles), Zach Colyer (6-0, 265, sr, 50), Ken Brumbaugh (6-0, 245, jr, 12), Nick Learner (6-1, 310, so, 50). The DEs are Dakota Learner (6-1, 215, sr, 92 tackles) and Andrew Irwin (6-2, 210, jr, 155 tackles). Nice corps of linebackers in Josh Yasulitis (5-11, 205, so, 57 tackles), brother Aaron (5-10, 210, sr, 174 tackles!) and Nathan Callahan (5-10, 195, jr, 34 tackles). Aaron is also the second leading rusher with 1054 yards. Evan Chadbourne leads with 2145 yards. QB Josh Trybus (5-11, 170, jr) completed 64 of 91 passes for 1315 yards, or 20.54 yards per pass completion. Evan Chadbourne from the wildcat slips in there with 22 completions on 18 attempts for 555 yards, a 30.83 yppc! So for a big, physical team, the gang from Altoona can light up the sky, scoring 46ppg. Their defense is breaking records allowing 70 points all year, a 5ppg average.
Meanwhile Farrell was in a war with Berlin Brothersvalley’s best ever team, prevailing narrowly after previous test against Bishop Kearney-NY, Kane and Sharpsville, their only loss that was reversed in the playoffs. Berlin (13-1) gave up a ton of yardage but were fierce in the red zone, holding a 21-12 lead with 4:40 to go. But the Steelers are resilient and explosive, totaling 537 total yards and scoring the last 14 points. The decisive score came on a 76-yd strike to Marcus McCoy from quarterback Alex Myers (180 total yds) who got behind the secondary with :44 to go to seal the 26-21 win. Farrell as always has breakaway speed at multiple positions with running back Braxton Chapman at 1342 yards and Malachi Newell at 668. He is also the leading receiver with 33 catches for 470 yards. The entire team can catch and Alex Myers (5-10, 170, sr-118/208/2044/56%) can get it out there inaccurately with a 19 to 14 Td to Interception ratio. He’s a duel threat with 920 rush yards making them an offensive load at 37ppg. The defense is supported by a line as large as Guilfoyle’s; Tyrese Somerville (6-0, 275, sr, 38 tackles), Wandell Murray (6-4, 285, jr, 67 tackles), Jacob Jackson (6-5, 280, sr, 63) and Romeo Jackson (6-1, 225, sr, 28). It’s a big athletic team that has been just out of sight in Clairton’s shadow more recently although they won gold in 95 and 96 with a silver medal in 1990.
Aliquippa 15-0-Southern Columbia 15-0……..1.00 Aliquippa
Aliquippa got a game from Martinsburg Central winning 30-21 while Southern Columbia and West Catholic locked horns in a good one with Southern pulling away in the 4th quarter for a 34-19 win. Aliquippa jumped out to a 14-0 1st quarter with Central (13-2) coming back for a 21-14 lead largely on the strength of QB Noah Benton’s (11/26/210) 3 touchdowns. Despite 14 penalties for 140 yards, the Quips came back behind star running back Kaezon Pugh’s 16 points (6-1, 185, sr, 2332ry, Pitt commit), all in the last 8 minutes of the game. Other Quip weapons are QB Sheldon Jeter with 1532 yards passing and 19 Tds primarily to Jassir Jordan who caught 43 passes for 912 yards. So make that two 4th quarter rallies in the last two games allowing them to get past Karns City and Martinsburg Central. That might be a bad idea against this week’s opponent.
Southern Columbia relied on an explosive 4th quarter where they scored 20 unanswered points, rallying from a 19-14 deficit to beat West Catholic 34-19. The rally was aided in part with a unusual number of penalties called against the Burrs (10-5), 13 for 127 yards. 5 interceptions two fumbles and numerous injuries to key personnel also took a toll. QB Josh Evans completed 18 of 29 for 238 yards and 2 Tds with WR Amadou Barry’s 120 yards in receptions and 2 Tds. In the end, Southern had too much as evidenced by their rushing for 314 yards, led by Hunter Thomas’s 115 yards and Blake Marks’s 98 yards. QB Nick Becker was also instrumental, completing 6 of 12 passes for 98 yards and a score while running for 50 yards and 3 more scores. The final pits two of the most storied programs in the state against one another. It also marks Southern’s 14th state title game appearance, their first since 2011. Aliquippa has 4 appearances, winning gold in ‘91 and ‘03, and silver in ‘00 and ‘12. Schedule wise they played a representative Wpial schedule with highly competitive games their last three, beating defending AA champ South Fayette, then a really good Karns City team and Martinsburg Central last week. Meanwhile Southern is battle tested against Selinsgrove, Montoursville, Berks Catholic and West Catholic.
Class A
Bishop Guilfoyle 15-0-Farrell 14-1……..24.57 Bishop Guilfoyle
Defending Single-A champion Bishop Guilfoyle won their 31st straight game bowling over Old Forge 43-13. After falling behind 13-3, they erupted for 40 unanswered points while pounding out 232 rushing yards and 251 through the air. The score was surprising knowing Old Forge (13-2) came in with pedigree, winning their 5th straight Lackawanna Conference Division-3 crown and 3rd straight District-2 title. But Guilfoyle is a monster team, holding them to 158 total yards with quarterback Josh Trybus throwing three touchdowns and running for another. They are big and play physical with a sizeable DL; Logan McGeary (6-2, 315, jr, 95 tackles), Zach Colyer (6-0, 265, sr, 50), Ken Brumbaugh (6-0, 245, jr, 12), Nick Learner (6-1, 310, so, 50). The DEs are Dakota Learner (6-1, 215, sr, 92 tackles) and Andrew Irwin (6-2, 210, jr, 155 tackles). Nice corps of linebackers in Josh Yasulitis (5-11, 205, so, 57 tackles), brother Aaron (5-10, 210, sr, 174 tackles!) and Nathan Callahan (5-10, 195, jr, 34 tackles). Aaron is also the second leading rusher with 1054 yards. Evan Chadbourne leads with 2145 yards. QB Josh Trybus (5-11, 170, jr) completed 64 of 91 passes for 1315 yards, or 20.54 yards per pass completion. Evan Chadbourne from the wildcat slips in there with 22 completions on 18 attempts for 555 yards, a 30.83 yppc! So for a big, physical team, the gang from Altoona can light up the sky, scoring 46ppg. Their defense is breaking records allowing 70 points all year, a 5ppg average.
Meanwhile Farrell was in a war with Berlin Brothersvalley’s best ever team, prevailing narrowly after previous test against Bishop Kearney-NY, Kane and Sharpsville, their only loss that was reversed in the playoffs. Berlin (13-1) gave up a ton of yardage but were fierce in the red zone, holding a 21-12 lead with 4:40 to go. But the Steelers are resilient and explosive, totaling 537 total yards and scoring the last 14 points. The decisive score came on a 76-yd strike to Marcus McCoy from quarterback Alex Myers (180 total yds) who got behind the secondary with :44 to go to seal the 26-21 win. Farrell as always has breakaway speed at multiple positions with running back Braxton Chapman at 1342 yards and Malachi Newell at 668. He is also the leading receiver with 33 catches for 470 yards. The entire team can catch and Alex Myers (5-10, 170, sr-118/208/2044/56%) can get it out there inaccurately with a 19 to 14 Td to Interception ratio. He’s a duel threat with 920 rush yards making them an offensive load at 37ppg. The defense is supported by a line as large as Guilfoyle’s; Tyrese Somerville (6-0, 275, sr, 38 tackles), Wandell Murray (6-4, 285, jr, 67 tackles), Jacob Jackson (6-5, 280, sr, 63) and Romeo Jackson (6-1, 225, sr, 28). It’s a big athletic team that has been just out of sight in Clairton’s shadow more recently although they won gold in 95 and 96 with a silver medal in 1990.
