This weekend saw four new WPIAL champions crowned at Acrisure Stadium, as Fort Cherry, Beaver Falls, Belle Vernon and Aliquippa claimed district gold. Four players shined brightest in those wins on the North Shore, and have earned a spot on this week’s Super 7 Watch List.
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 13:
Cameron Lindsey, Aliquippa
Once again, the Quips are the kings of the WPIAL.
Aliquippa took down McKeesport, 35-21, to claim the Class 4A title Friday. And Lindsey, a Pitt recruit, played a major role on his future home field.
The senior returned a fumble 39 yards for the game’s opening score, ran for 36 yards and two touchdowns, and caught a pass for eight yards. He also made three tackles on defense.
Unbeaten Aliquippa, which won its record 20th WPIAL title, next faces Selinsgrove in Friday’s PIAA Semifinals.
Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry
Sieg burst onto the scene last year as a freshman, racking up huge passing and rushing numbers and eventually earning Division I offers.
His sophomore year has been even better, highlighted by a 42-28 win over South Side in Friday’s WPIAL Class 1A title game.
Sieg rushed for 179 yards on 32 carries, scoring two touchdowns. He passed for 166 more yards and two more scores. He also had two punts that averaged 45 yards each, including a 51-yard bomb, and he had an interception on defense.
He has picked up offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Syracuse and Nebraska. The Rangers face Redbank Valley in Friday’s PIAA Semifinals.
Braden Laux, Belle Vernon
Belle Vernon ran away with its second-straight WPIAL title by topping Avonworth Friday, 26-0, at Acrisure Stadium.
Laux, the Leopards’ senior quarterback, got it done on the ground, through the air and defensively. He rushed for 53 yards and two touchdowns, passed for 155 yards and another score, and had three tackles and a sack on defense.
The Eastern Michigan recruit has passed for over 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns, and has rushed for five touchdowns this year.
Belle Vernon meets Hickory in Friday’s Class 3A PIAA Semifinals.
Da’talian Beauford, Beaver Falls
In the most dramatic finish in Friday’s WPIAL Championships, Beaver Falls completed a Cinderella run to its sixth district title, doing so as the No. 10 seed.
Beauford capped off the thrilling finish, scoring the game-tying touchdown with 44 seconds to play, and running in the winning two-point conversion. He rushed for 105 yards on 29 carries, caught two passes for 19 yards and made a tackle on defense.
Two weeks ago, Beauford picked up his first collegiate offer, from Westminster.