Two WPIAL have been crowned with four more to come this weekend. Congratulations to Aliquippa and Central Catholic on once again bringing home district gold. Up next, a quartet of title games at Acrisure Stadium Saturday, which can all be heard on KDKA Radio.
This season, KDKA Radio will again nominate players each week to join the KDKA Radio Super 7 Awards watch list. Every Monday, a new crop of players will be unveiled based on their efforts that previous Friday night. At the end of the year, KDKA Radio will announce the winners of the award for each WPIAL classification, as well as the Pittsburgh City League.
Here are the top performances from Week 12:
Reston Lehman, Peters Township
Lehman will get an early taste of his future stomping grounds this weekend thanks in large part to his efforts Friday night.
The Pitt recruit dominated on both sides of the ball in a 31-6 win over rival Upper St. Clair in the Class 5A semifinals.
On offense, he snagged four catches for 106 yards and touchdown, including a massive catch for 55 yards that broke open a one-score game. On defense, the four-star recruit tallied three sacks, with six more coming from his Indians teammates.
Lehman and Peters Township will meet Pine-Richland for a third straight season in Saturday’s 5A Championship, which can be heard on KDKA Radio.
Dimitri Velisaris, Avonworth
Avonworth has been one of the WPIAL’s most dominant and versatile teams over the last couple of seasons, with numerous players emerging each week.
On Friday, it was Velisaris’ turn, as he ran for 122 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-24 win over North Catholic in the Class 3A semifinals.
Velisaris has now run for nearly 1,500 yards and has scored 24 touchdowns this season.
The Antelopes will put their 12-0 record to the test Saturday in the 3A title game against Imani Christian, which can be heard on KDKA Radio.
Marques Council Jr., Aliquippa
Aliquippa, even when underdogs on paper, never truly are when on the field.
The Quips proved that once again Saturday, winning a record 21st WPIAL title as a 7-seed, knocking off top-ranked McKeesport 21-12 in the Class 4A Championship.
Council led the way, passing for 123 yards and two touchdowns — including a late heave to the end zone on 4th down to clinch the win — and rushing for 45 yards and another score on a 4th down in the victory.
Making Council’s efforts even more impressive, he was initially ruled out for the season due to injury, but return at the start of the postseason.
Aliquippa will next face Oil City Friday in the PIAA quarterfinals.
Jack Miles, Laurel
No result was as surprising as the Class 1A semifinal between Laurel and Fort Cherry.
The Spartans pulled off the WPIAL upset of the season, dropping unbeaten Fort Cherry and standout Matt Sieg with a 24-14 victory.
Miles carried the load offensively, rushing 15 times for 103 yards and a touchdown, while anchoring the Spartans' defense in the win.
Laurel will take on 2-seed Clairton Saturday in the 1A title game, which can be heard on KDKA Radio.