100.1 FM / AM 1020 (PITTSBURGH) - Aliquippa repeats as WPIAL champions for the third time in a row and they won their 20th Championship in school history, in a 35-21 win over McKeesport.
Not only did the Quips win the title, Tiqwai Hayes broke the all-time rushing record in Aliquippa history, surpassing Dravon Askew-Henry.
After an Aliquippa punt, Garrett Tarker had the ball stripped from him by Arison Walker. Pitt recruit Cam Lindsey recovered the fumble and took it 39 yards to the end zone to give Aliquippa the lead with 17 seconds left in the quarter.
But here comes McKeesport, Ricky Beermann on the ensuing kickoff, returned the kick to the end zone tying the game 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Tarker connected with a wide open Anthony Boyd on a wheel route for a gain of 38 yards. Keith Spell would take the Tigers to the Aliquippa 2 yard line on a 24 yard run as McKeesport was knocking on the door. Tarker faked the handoff to Spell and walked into the end zone untouched giving McKeesport its first lead of the game.
The Quips converted on 4th and 8 extending the drive and it was Cam Lindsey from 2 yards out to tie the game 14-14.
QuaLil Goode would intercept the pass from Tarker at the Aliquippa 40 and returned it 20 yards to the McKeesport 40. A few plays later, Quentin Goode connected on a screen pass to DeMarcus Walker for 20 yards to give the Quips the lead back, 21-14.
In the third quarter, Quentin Goode found Qualil Goode for a gain of 41 yards to the McKeesport 25. Cam Lindsey would score his third touchdown of the game on a 12 yard run. The extra point was botched.
McKeesport put together a 12 play 78 yard drive that resulted in a Tarker 28 yard touchdown pass to Kemon Spell cutting the Quips lead to six.
Aliquippa responded with an eleven play drive that went 55 yards. Goode connected with Michael Gaskins for a 9 yard touchdown. The Quips converted on the two-point conversion making it a 14 point lead.
It is the third year in a row Aliquippa won the 4A championship.
"I'm very excited and proud of the kids," said head coach Mike Warfield. "How they responded to going down for a minute. That's what life is about. You just keep fighting, keep fighting. They had their run, we had our run, and that's what life is all about. You keep fighting and good things are going to happen."
