The WPIAL postseason was split between two days this weekend, with Class 1A-4A semifinals Friday night, and the 5A and 6A Championships Saturday.
Pine-Richland and North Allegheny took home WPIAL gold, adding to their impressive football histories. Meanwhile, eight other teams achieved their goals of reaching Acrisure Stadium.
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 new additions to the KDKA Super 7 Watch List for Week 12:
Naquan Crowder, Aliquippa
The big man in the middle of the Quips’ dominant defense had a run for the ages Friday night.
Crowder, all 6-foot-3, 341 pounds of him, returned a fumble 88 yards in the fourth quarter, capping a 42-7 runaway win for Aliquippa over McKeesport in the WPIAL 4A semifinals.
The nose guard was escorted to the end zone by a convoy of Aliquippa blockers, who gave the senior plenty of room to run.
This season, Crowder has anchored the middle of Aliquippa’s defensive line, a group that has allowed nearly nine points per game. Crowder has offers from Walsh and Fairmont State.
Jayvin Thompson, Central Valley
Aliquippa advanced to the WPIAL 4A title game, where it will meet Central Valley Friday at Acrisure Stadium.
The Warriors are looking to four-peat thanks, in large part, to Thompson.
The senior caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, and also intercepted a pass late in the first half, returning the ball to the one-yard line to set up Central Valley’s second score of the night, as the Warriors beat Thomas Jefferson 19-0.
Thompson now has 20 career interceptions, including four in last year’s WPIAL Championship win. He has offers from Youngstown State, Bowling Green and several others.
Joe Perry, Pine-Richland
The Rams are back on top in Class 5A. Pine-Richland downed Upper St. Clair, 34-3, to take the title Saturday at Norwin High School.
Perry led the defensive effort for Pine-Richland, which has now won eight district crowns.
The senior made 9 tackles, including three sacks, in the dominant win. The Rams defense had 11 tackles-for-losses as a whole and held the Panthers to minus-26 rushing yards.
Pine-Richland hosts Cathedral Prep Friday in the PIAA quarterfinals.
Logan Kushner, North Allegheny
When North Allegheny and Central Catholic met earlier this season, the two teams combined for just ten points. Saturday, in the WPIAL 6A Championship, it was a much different story.
The Tigers beat the Vikings, 35-21, taking home their first title in a decade.
Kushner, a junior, paced the offense. He completed only three passes, but racked up 130 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 184 yards and scored on a 45-yard run.
North Allegheny will face the District 3 Champion on ether December 2 or 3 in the PIAA 6A semifinals.
The high school football season continues Friday, as KDKA Radio will once again provide award-winning broadcast coverage of the region’s biggest game of the week. This week, you can hear all four WPIAL title games Friday on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on Twitter for updates throughout the night.