Nico Neal scores two touchdowns and rushes for 102 yards in a 17-0 Avonworth win over Central Valley in the 3A Championship.
Avonworth opened the game with the ground and pound offense with the wild cat offense. The 12-play 49 yard drive was capped off with a Nico Neal 2-yard touchdown.
Central Valley ran a fake punt and came up empty, giving Avonworth the ball at the Warriors 43. The Antelopes found the end zone but it was called back for a holding penalty. Calder Mahan connected from 32 yards out on a field goal to extend the Antelopes lead, 10-0.
Central Valley's offense had been silent in the first half, until a big connection from Steven Rutherford to Quinn Connelly for a 34 yard gain to the Avonworth 30. The Antelopes defense denied the Warriors on 4th and 1 at the Avonworth 21.
With under 5:00 to play in the game, Nico Neal punched in his second touchdown of the game, extending the Avonworth lead 17-0.
The Avonworth defense held Central Valley to just 160 yards of total offense.
It's the 3rd WPIAL Championship for the Avonworth Antelopes. The first time since 2019.
They finished runner up the past two years to Belle Vernon.
"Third time's the charm! Great win, great win!" said head coach Duke Johncour to KDKA Radio's Paul Alexander. "We did enough to win."
The Antelopes face Penn Cambria next week in the PIAA 3A semifinals.
