100.1 FM / AM 1020 (PITTSBURGH) - The 10-seed, Beaver Falls knocks off 1-seed Steel Valley 14-12 in the WPIAL 2A Championship.
The Tigers had the lead for 44 seconds in the entire championship game, but it was the final 44 seconds that mattered the most.
After a Beaver Falls punt, Steel Valley drove 53 yards on seven plays and the drive would be capped off by a 13 yard Donald Barksdale touchdown, giving Steel Valley a 6-0 lead. The extra point was blocked.
At the half Steel Valley led Beaver Falls 6-0. Beaver Falls was held to just 45 yards of offense in the first half. Steel Valley had 102 in the half.
Beaver Falls responded in the third quarter after a short punt from Steel Valley, the Tigers moved the ball 38 yards on 9 plays and tied the game with a Kadin Brickner touchdown pass on 4th down, to Da'Sean Anderson from 10 yards out. The game would be 6-6 headed to the fourth quarter.
With under six minutes to play in the game, Beaver Falls had the ball at the Steel Valley 24 yard line. The handoff went to Da'Talian Beauford, the ball was stripped out of his hands and recovered in the air by Rashaun Huff, Huff returned the fumble recovery 74 yards to the house to give the Ironmen the lead, 12-6. The extra point was blocked.
Faced with a 4th and 9 at their own 39, Brickner connected with Anderson for 14 yards to extend the drive. Brickford connected again on 4th down to Anderson again. On first and goal from the 4 yard line, Beauford scored the tying touchdown. And then Beauford punched it in for the two-point conversion to give the Tigers their first lead of the game, with 44 seconds to play.
At the 41 yard line, Tyson Barrian connected to Delmario Shields to the Beaver Falls 23, with 15 seconds to play in the game.
Barrian threw a pass to the end zone intended for Barksdale and the pass was intercepted by Anderson, sealing the championship win for the Tigers.
Beaver Falls is now tied with Steel Valley in WPIAL Championships with six.
"They're strongminded kids," said head coach Nick Nardone. "They have overcome so much, I keep saying every week, they don't quit."
