(Pine-Richland, Gibsonia PA) - 7-seeded Aliquippa knocks off the 1-seed McKeesport Tigers 21-12 in the 4A WPIAL Championship.
The Quips had to go through 2-seeded Trinity, 3-seeded New Castle and 1-seeded McKeesport to hoist their 21st title. They did just that.
Kemon Spell opened the scoring on the Tigers first play from scrimmage. Spell took the handoff 68 yards for the touchdown. Aliquippa blocked the extra point. 6-0 McKeesport.
Late in the quarter, Aliquippa quarterback Marques Council called his own number for a 22 yard touchdown to tie the game. The extra point was good to give the Quips the one point lead.
At the end of the first quarter, 7-6 Quips.
Opening play of the second quarter, McKeesport coughed up the football and Aliquippa recovered.
Council hit Cleaster Longmire for 54 yards to the McKeesport 10 yard-line. The Quips went for it on 4th and goal from the 3 yard-line, Council found Josh Lay in the end zone for the touchdown, extending the Quips lead to 14-6.
On the ensuing kickoff, Akeem Cochran with the return to the Aliquippa 26 yard-line. A couple of plays later, Spell with his second touchdown of the game, this one from 6-yards out. The Tigers went for 2 and were denied, keeping the score 14-12 Aliquippa.
Aliquippa ran a fake punt on 4th down and converts for a 14 yard gain to extend their drive. Later in the drive, Council’s pass got deflected and intercepted by Taier Swindle.
McKeesport then goes trick play, Kemon Spell threw a deep pass to Javien Robinson for 38 yards. KDKA Radio’s Donny Chedrick noted in the broadcast that Spell very sneakily slipped his glove off before the play.
The Tigers would go for it on 4th and 4 with the ball inside the Quips 10 yard-line and be denied by the Aliquippa defense.
At the half, 14-12 Aliquippa.
The Quips got a takeaway on the Tigers opening possession of the third quarter, then Akiva Woods took a carry for 34 yards to the McKeesport 17 yard-line. Nick Beerman got a big third down sack on Council. Aliquippa would go for it on 4th down and be stopped.
The Quips stopped McKeesport deep in their own territory and after a punt had fantastic field position inside the Tigers 30 yard-line. They moved the ball into the red zone as the third quarter came to a close.
On 3rd and goal, a costly false start moved Aliquippa back from the 2 yard-line to the 7. McKeesport’s defense stuffed J.J. Work on a carry and then a 15-yard personal foul on the Quips moved the ball back to the 21. 4th and goal the Quips went for it and were denied by the McKeesport defense.
On 4th down, Council evades blitzes and throws a lob pass from the McKeesport 39 yard-line into the back of the end zone to Qa’Lil Goode for the touchdown. The important extra point was up and good to make it a two possession game, 21-12 Quips with 2:15 in the game.
Aliquippa ran 57 plays and held McKeesport to just 37.
Council was 9 for 14, 123 yards and 2 passing touchdowns. He ran for another.
Spell rushed for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns. After his 68 yard touchdown, Aliquippa’s defense held him to just 74 yards on 18 carries.
Aliquippa will face Oil City in the PIAA quarterfinals.