Football: WPIAL Class AA - Quarterfinal Preview
The WPIAL playoffs move onto the quarterfinal round Friday night. Let’s take a look at the matchups in Class AA.
(All games are at 7:30 p.m.)
No. 1 Aliquippa (10-0) vs. No. 9 Mount Pleasant (8-2) at Peters Township -- Defending champion Aliquippa began the playoffs by rolling to a 55-0 win against Steel Valley. Dravon Henry ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns. In addition to being the highest-scoring team in the WPIAL, the Quips have allowed only 36 points. Mount Pleasant won its first-round game, 48-28, at Burrell. Tyler Mellors (185) and Taylor Allison (108) each rushed for more than 100 yards. The Vikings have scored a total of 154 points in their past three games.
No. 4 Jeannette (9-1) vs. No. 5 Beaver (9-1) at Hampton -- Jeannette, which lost to Aliquippa in last year’s final, blasted South Allegheny, 40-7, in its playoff opener. Four players scored rushing touchdowns for the Jayhawks, including Jordan Edmunds, who rushed for a team-high 113 yards. The Jayhawks have won five in a row since suffering their lone loss. Beaver earned a spot in the quarterfinals by beating Valley, 28-14, last week. Anthony Keriotis ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns. It marked just the third time the Bobcats have scored less than 34 points.
No. 2 South Fayette (10-0) vs. No. 10 Beaver Falls (8-2) at Moon -- South Fayette topped Freedom, 49-13, in the first round. The Lions, who average more than 50 points per game, got three touchdown runs from Grant Fetchet. Brett Brumbaugh completed 5 of 12 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown toss to Justin Watson. Beaver Falls stormed back from a 14-0 third-quarter deficit to defeat host Freeport, 28-14, in the first round. Damian Rawl rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Beaver Falls outgained Freeport, 445-186.
No. 3 Washington (10-0) vs. No. 6 Seton-LaSalle (9-1) at Canon-McMillan -- Washington got another big game from Shai McKenzie in a 47-12 first-round win against Shady Side Academy. The WPIAL’s leading rusher ran for 260 yards and six touchdowns. The Little Prexies have won all but one game by at least 20 points. Seton-LaSalle scored three second-quarter touchdowns en route to a 28-10 first-round win against Greensburg C.C. Nick Sywyj (122) and Tom Rizza (120) rushed for more than 100 yards apiece. The Rebels defense picked off three passes.
(All games are at 7:30 p.m.)
No. 1 Aliquippa (10-0) vs. No. 9 Mount Pleasant (8-2) at Peters Township -- Defending champion Aliquippa began the playoffs by rolling to a 55-0 win against Steel Valley. Dravon Henry ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns. In addition to being the highest-scoring team in the WPIAL, the Quips have allowed only 36 points. Mount Pleasant won its first-round game, 48-28, at Burrell. Tyler Mellors (185) and Taylor Allison (108) each rushed for more than 100 yards. The Vikings have scored a total of 154 points in their past three games.
No. 4 Jeannette (9-1) vs. No. 5 Beaver (9-1) at Hampton -- Jeannette, which lost to Aliquippa in last year’s final, blasted South Allegheny, 40-7, in its playoff opener. Four players scored rushing touchdowns for the Jayhawks, including Jordan Edmunds, who rushed for a team-high 113 yards. The Jayhawks have won five in a row since suffering their lone loss. Beaver earned a spot in the quarterfinals by beating Valley, 28-14, last week. Anthony Keriotis ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns. It marked just the third time the Bobcats have scored less than 34 points.
No. 2 South Fayette (10-0) vs. No. 10 Beaver Falls (8-2) at Moon -- South Fayette topped Freedom, 49-13, in the first round. The Lions, who average more than 50 points per game, got three touchdown runs from Grant Fetchet. Brett Brumbaugh completed 5 of 12 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown toss to Justin Watson. Beaver Falls stormed back from a 14-0 third-quarter deficit to defeat host Freeport, 28-14, in the first round. Damian Rawl rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Beaver Falls outgained Freeport, 445-186.
No. 3 Washington (10-0) vs. No. 6 Seton-LaSalle (9-1) at Canon-McMillan -- Washington got another big game from Shai McKenzie in a 47-12 first-round win against Shady Side Academy. The WPIAL’s leading rusher ran for 260 yards and six touchdowns. The Little Prexies have won all but one game by at least 20 points. Seton-LaSalle scored three second-quarter touchdowns en route to a 28-10 first-round win against Greensburg C.C. Nick Sywyj (122) and Tom Rizza (120) rushed for more than 100 yards apiece. The Rebels defense picked off three passes.
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