Trib HSSN football player of the week for 2023 Week 15

By: Don Rebel
Monday, December 11, 2023 | 7:06 PM

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Aliquippa senior quarterback Quentin Goode has several nicknames, including “The General.”

Another one he is commonly known for is “Cheese,” although he claims he’s been called that his whole life, so he doesn’t even consider it a nickname.

After wrapping up his scholastic career with another championship, he may just want to be referred to as “Winner.”

Since winning the starting quarterback job at Aliquippa his sophomore year, Goode has lived up to his last name and has been very good.

Goode is 41-2 as the Quips starting quarterback with three WPIAL titles and now two state championships.

“I call ‘Cheese’ our GOAT,” Aliquippa head coach Mike Warfield said. “He’s the all-time leading passer in Aliquippa history in both yardage and touchdowns. I love it because his sophomore year, we weren’t quite sure he was going to be a starter, but he became the starter and ever since then, he’s been locked in and I’m so proud of him.”

Aliquippa was dominant in its third straight trip to the state championship game, wiping out the pain of losing to Bishop McDevitt in the finals a year ago.

Well, almost.

“That one still hurts,” Goode said. “We really wanted another crack at them.”

However, as the Quips were rolling past Selinsgrove in the state semifinals, defending champion Bishop McDevitt lost in double overtime to District 2 champion Dallas.

While it was the Quips’ running back dynamic duo of Tikey Hayes and John Tracy rushing for a combined 357 yards and five touchdowns against the Mountaineers on Thursday, it was Goode who got the ball rolling in the 60-14 rout.

Goode connected with Brandon Banks on a 36-yard touchdown pass on Aliquippa’s first possession and the Quips took control from there.

“That first touchdown throw, it was actually an RPO that Quentin read beautifully,” Warfield said. “As a quarterback, I like to watch the kid’s feet. If you go back and watch his feet, he sets them, then he resets them quickly and throws a 30-yard strike. It was a great play. Brandon ran a great rout and ‘Cheese’ put it where he needed to put it.”

Last month, Goode became Aliquippa’s all-time leading passer in yardage and touchdowns, breaking the records held by Eli Kosanovich.

Warfield gives credit to Goode and a couple of his assistant coaches in the quarterback’s improvement each year.

“Those are things that he and his older brother, Darrien Fields, who is our offensive coordinator, and our quarterbacks coach Maurice Cary work on constantly every day to make sure his feet are set and properly aligned. ‘Cheese’ has really good feet,” Warfield said.

Quips football is a family affair in the ‘Cheese’ household. While older brother Darrien is the OC, younger brother Qa’lil is also on the team and scored in the state title game on an 87-yard pick six.

“I was running with him the whole way on the sidelines,” Goode said.

In the last three years, several key pieces of all the Quips wins — from linemen to wide receivers to running backs — have come and gone, but the constant in Aliquippa’s success has been “The General.”

“’Cheese’ is dynamite,” Warfield said. “He’s one of my favorite kids to be around. He’s always pleasant and a joy. He’s been an absolute stud and leader for us this year.”

Week 15 honorable mention

Quinton Martin, Belle Vernon

Belle Vernon hit the golden double-double for a second straight year to cap off the great scholastic careers of several talented seniors, including Quinton Martin. The Penn State commit ended a tremendous career with 133 yards rushing on eight carries, including a backbreaking 92-yard third-quarter touchdown run. Martin rushed for 1,160 yards on the season with 28 touchdowns.

Anthony Crews – Belle Vernon

The Leopards junior only handled the ball a couple of times, but his two first-half splash plays made an incredible impact on his team’s repeat title run. Crews’ position is listed as “athlete,” and he proved why when he returned the PIAA Class 3A championship game’s opening kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown. He then fumbled a reverse handoff on BVA’s next possession, secured the ball, reversed his field and ran 62 yards for the game’s second touchdown as Belle Vernon took control early on those big plays and defeated Northwestern Lehigh, 38-7.

Logan Kushner – North Allegheny; Thomas Aspinwall – Peters Township; Khalil Green – Westinghouse; Matt Sieg – Fort Cherry

These four players were instrumental in their teams winning district championships and reaching the PIAA championship game, but while their individual performances on the Cumberland Valley big stage were admirable, their teams concluded outstanding seasons with state runner-up silver.

2023 HSSN players of the week

Week 14 – John Tracy, Aliquippa

Week 13 – Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry

Week 12 – Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township

Week 11 – Logan Kushner, North Allegheny

Week 10 – Braylon Thomas, Union

Week 9 – Anthony Boyd, McKeesport

Week 8 – Armand Hill, West Mifflin

Week 7 – Donald Barksdale, Steel Valley

Week 6 – Ethan Varesko, Beth-Center

Week 5 – Jay Wrona, Mohawk

Week 4 – Elijah Faulkner, Central Catholic

Week 3 – Jonah Williamson, Trinity

Week 2 – Jake Wolfe, Montour

Week 1 – Bruce Giles, Connellsville

Week Zero – Cameron Epps, South Allegheny

Tags: Aliquippa