Trib HSSN rewind: A look back at the 2018 football season

By: Chris Harlan
Monday, July 1, 2019 | 11:54 PM

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Fifteen years had passed since Darrelle Revis last played WPIAL football, but his name came up often last December in Hershey.

Penn Hills senior Daequan Hardy had a four-touchdown, three-interception effort in the PIAA Class 5A football championship that drew comparisons to the former Aliquippa great. A day later, Revis’ alma mater won the Class 3A title, which was the Quips’ first since the future NFL star was a senior in 2003.

Those two state titles capped a 2018 football season that included farewells, some surprises and a little smoke.

The lasting image from Penn Hills’ 36-31 victory over Manheim Central was Hardy’s 100-yard interception return as the cornerback sprinted from goal line to goal line. The title was Penn Hills’ first in 23 years.

PICK SIX: @phqbclub intercepts @manheimcentral and takes it back 100 yards to the house.

There is still a lot of football left. Tune in on cable and stream on the PCN App. pic.twitter.com/nqYcRGumdQ

— PCNTV (@pcntv) December 8, 2018

Penn Hills coach Jon LeDonne on Daequan Hardy’s “Revis-like” performance in Hershey #TribHSSN #PIAA pic.twitter.com/S0P3Y0Pd5f

— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) December 8, 2018

Final: Penn Hills 36, Manheim Central 31 #TribHSSN pic.twitter.com/KrDeLoQfOJ

— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) December 8, 2018

Aliquippa used four touchdowns and 198 yards from running back Avante McKenzie to defeat Middletown, 35-0. The Quips celebrated under first-year coach Mike Warfield, who took over the program after longtime coach Mike Zmijanac was ousted by the school board.

The state title was Aliquippa’s third joining wins in 1991 and 2003.

#4 scores 4. Aliquippa’s Avante McKenzie (@UnderRatedGoat) scores four touchdowns to lead the Quips to a 35-0 victory in the #PIAA Class 3A state championship today in Hershey. #TribHSSN @TribLiveHSSN ?: @Hornerfoto1 pic.twitter.com/um5xxAkQo5

— Trib HS Insider (@TribHSInsider) December 8, 2018

I think this is a #PIAA first. ⁦@UnderRatedGoat⁩ and ⁦@Eliquip2⁩ climbed the stairs all the way to the Hersheypark Stadium pressbox and talked with Bob Barrickman, Tom Hays and Bruce Frey on the ⁦@TribLiveHSSN⁩ broadcast.

That’s awesome. #TribHSSN pic.twitter.com/v7LEc2QGek

— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) December 8, 2018

An Aug. 31 victory over Peters Township made Upper St. Clair’s Jim Render the first coach in WPIAL football history with 400 wins. His Panthers took an early 16-point lead and then held on for a 16-14 victory.

Render retired after the season, his 49th overall and his 41st at USC.

Here's a look at The (Dover, Ohio) Daily Reporter from June 24, 1970, when Carrollton High School hired a first-year head football coach named Jim Render. Now in his 49th season, Render could celebrate his 400th career win Friday night. #TribHSSN

LINK: https://t.co/FqDELh1rv8 pic.twitter.com/PCiG7WlV1X

— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) August 30, 2018

West Allegheny coach Bob Palko took what felt like a farewell lap around the WPIAL last season and led the Indians to the WPIAL finals, but his retirement lasted only three months. Palko is now coach at Mt. Lebanon.

“Nothing prepares you for that feeling of ‘I shouldn’t have left. I shouldn’t have retired.' You’re used to getting up in the morning and going to work at 5:30 or 6, and getting home at 8 or 10 at night for the last 37 years.”

— Bob Palko#TribHSSNhttps://t.co/re2mAydVlp

— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) February 12, 2019

Winning WPIAL titles were Pine-Richland in Class 6A, Penn Hills in 5A, South Fayette in 4A, Aliquippa in 3A, Steel Valley in 2A and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in A.

Four championships were played at Heinz Field. The Class 5A and 2A games were held a week later at alternate venues.

Robert Morris hosted the Class 2A final. Norwin was host for Class 5A, but that game wasn’t without controversy.

A pregame smoke grenade by Penn Hills players drew ire from the WPIAL.

Penn Hills sets off smoke bomb before #WPIAL Class 5A final at Norwin. West A sideline not amused. #TribHSSN pic.twitter.com/oJT5g5sdy3

— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) November 24, 2018

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Aliquippa, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland, South Fayette, Steel Valley, Upper St. Clair