Small-school Aliquippa shows big-play ability in victory over Chartiers Valley
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Friday, October 9, 2020 | 10:21 PM
Aliquippa’s Vernon Redd returns the opening kick-off for a touchdown against Chartiers Valley on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Aliquippa’s Vernon Redd carries for a touchdown past Chartiers Valley’s Lamont Payne Jr. during the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Aliquippa’s Cyair Clark intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Chartiers Valley’s Socrates Boulis during the first quarter on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit. Clark returned the interception for a touchdown.
Aliquippa’s Cyair Clark returns an interception 100 yards for a touchdown past Chartiers Valley quarterback Anthony Mackey during the first quarter on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Aliquippa’s Vernon Redd carries for a touchdown past Chartiers Valley defenders during the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Chartiers Valley quarterback Anthony Mackey is sacked by Aliquippa’s Isaiah Gilbert during their game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Aliquippa’s Donovan Walker (21) and Antonyo Anderson break up a pass intended for Chartiers Valley’s Jason Bui during the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Chartiers Valley’s Anthony Collura catches a touchdown pass, as Aliquippa’s Brandon Banks defends during their game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Aliquippa’s Isaiah Gilbert tackles Chartiers Valley’s Jordan Demus for a loss during their game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Aliquippa’s Vernon Redd returns the opening kick-off for a touchdown against Chartiers Valley on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Aliquippa’s Vernon Redd carries past Chartiers Valley’s Jacob Adwar during the third quarter on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Chartiers Valley’s Jordan Demus carries against Aliquippa’s Isaiah Gilbert on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Chartiers Valley’s Jordan Demus carries against Aliquippa on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Chartiers Valley’s Jason Bui carries against Aliquippa during the fourth quarter on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at The Pit.
Aliquippa is a small school known for its big plays.
Chartiers Valley came to Aschman Stadium determined to limit them Friday night, but that strategy ran into trouble after just 13 seconds. Vernon Redd returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and Aliquippa added to its big-play reputation with a 35-6 victory.
Redd, a senior, has a knack for leaving opponents a little stunned.
“First play, I took my shot,” he said. “I showed them why they should stop kicking it to me.”
But the Quips weren’t done.
In fact, Redd’s return wasn’t even the longest touchdown of the first quarter. That honor went to teammate Cyair Clark, who tipped an interception to himself in the end zone and returned it 102 yards for another score.
With images of former stars Darrelle Revis and Ty Law hanging beyond the end zone, this generation is carrying on a well-established Quips tradition of ruining game plans with unpredictable moments.
They’d already celebrated touchdowns of 70, 78 and 96 yards this season.
“It’s frustrating,” CV coach Dan Knause said. “We preached splash plays (at practice). The kickoff return. The pick-six. … You can’t do that versus a team like that because it’s just too much to overcome.”
The Quips finished the first quarter with negative yards of offense, a credit to Chartiers Valley’s defense, yet the Colts already trailed by two touchdowns.
“Our design was to not give up splash plays and to make them work,” Knause said. “We made things a little too easy at times tonight.”
The win leaves Aliquippa (5-0, 3-0) alone atop the Parkway standings.
That shouldn’t be surprising for a team that’s reached the WPIAL finals 12 years in a row. But it’s easy to forget the second-ranked Quips have a Class A enrollment and are playing up three classifications for the first time.
Third-ranked Chartiers Valley (4-1, 2-1) was seeking its first 5-0 start since 2009.
“That was a fast start,” Aliquippa coach Mike Warfield said, crediting Redd’s kickoff return. “That gave us some energy and some life. I was impressed with that.”
Redd added 188 rushing yards on 16 carries and scored on runs of 55 and 46 yards. Karl McBride, also a senior, added 105 rushing yards and an eight-yard touchdown. They ran behind a young offensive line that started three sophomores and two juniors but averages over 300 pounds.
Their early development has allowed the Quips’ success.
“I’m pleased with how the young guys are playing,” Warfield said. “The guys up front, they’re starting to get it. These guys are 15 years old. That’s impressive.”
Redd’s 55-yard touchdown run gave Aliquippa a 21-0 lead the second quarter. McBride scored his 8-yard touchdown run in the third, and Redd added his 46-yarder with about 5 minutes left in the fourth.
Chartiers Valley scored its lone touchdown just before half when quarterback Anthony Mackey connected with Anthony Collura for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Mackey completed 17 of 28 attempts for 204 yards and two interceptions.
Aliquippa led 21-6 at halftime.
The Colts offense had chances. Seven possessions ended in Aliquippa territory including three drives that stalled within 10 yards of the end zone.
“When things like this happen you’re either going to pout or respond,” Knause said. “You’ve got to respond.”
Listen to an archived version of this game on Trib HSSN.
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, Chartiers Valley
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