The chase for WPIAL titles kicked into high gear Friday, with four semifinals between Classes 5A and 6A, as well as quarterfinal action in the other classifications. It was also a night that featured dazzling showings by four players in the district.
Throughout the season, KDKA Radio will put together a watch list of some of the best players in the region. At the end of the year, the top performer from each WPIAL classification, and one member of the Pittsburgh City League, will receive the prestigious KDKA Super 7 Award.
Here are the top showings from Week 11:
Tiqwai Hayes, Aliquippa
One of the top recruits in the state powered his team through a potentially historic upset bid Friday, as the Quips reached the WPIAL 4A semifinals with a 37-29 win over Latrobe.
Hayes ran for 243 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard scoring run, in the victory.
The junior has already committed to Penn State, and will look to put Aliquippa into a WPIAL Championship game for the 16th consecutive season when the Quips face Mars Friday night.
Michael Cahill, East Allegheny
A strong season for East Allegheny took a turn for the great Friday, as the Wildcats advanced to the WPIAL semifinals for the first time since 1992 with a 28-21 win over South Park.
Cahill, also a strong baseball player, completed 16 of 18 passes along the way, racking up 254 yards and a pair of scores.
East Allegheny, now 9-2 on the year, faces top-seeded and defending WPIAL champion Belle Vernon Friday at Norwin High School.
AJ Alston, Montour
Since a Week 3 loss to Aliquippa, Montour has turned into one of the WPIAL's hottest teams, particularly in the last couple of weeks.
After finishing the regular season with a 49-17 blowout of West Allegheny, the Spartans rolled over perennial power Thomas Jefferson, 51-21, in Friday's Class 4A quarterfinals.
Alston, a junior who also plays basketball, couldn't be stopped, running freely through the Jaguars' secondary. He caught nine passes for 247 yards and five touchdowns from Montour quarterback Jake Wolfe.
The Spartans battle McKeesport Friday in the semifinals.
Elijah Faulkner, Central Catholic
A dominant year for Central Catholic will result in another chance at a title.
The Vikings rolled over Mt. Lebanon, 42-7, in Friday's WPIAL 6A semifinal.
Faulkner couldn't be stopped on the ground, rushing for 192 yards and five touchdowns.
The junior now has 1,350 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, and will lead the Vikings against rival North Allegheny in Saturday night's WPIAL 6A Championship Game, which can be heard on KDKA Radio.
The high school football season continues Friday and Saturday, as KDKA Radio will once again provide award-winning broadcast coverage of the region's biggest games of the week. This week, you can hear the McKeesport vs Montour Class 4A Semifinal on Friday, and both the Class 5A and 6A Championship Games Saturday on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates throughout the night.
