PIAA Class 3A semifinals primer: Quaker Valley vs. Sharon

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 30, 2017 | 4:48 PM

Class 3A

Quaker Valley (12-1) vs. Sharon (10-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Martorelli Stadium, North Hills

On the air: Tribhssn.triblive.com; 1230-AM, 1460-AM

Coaches: Quaker Valley, Jerry Veshio; Sharon, Jim Wildman

How they got here: Quaker Valley defeated Aliquippa, 2-0, to win the WPIAL championship and had a bye in the PIAA quarterfinals. District 10 champion Sharon defeated District 6 champ Forest Hills, 45-25, in the quarterfinals.

Winner plays: The winner of District 12 champion Conwell-Egan (7-6) and District 3 champion Middletown (13-0) in the PIAA Class 3A championship game at noon Dec. 9 at Hersheypark Stadium.

Players to watch

• Ricky Guss, Quaker Valley: The senior quarterback has completed 112 of 234 passes for 1,942 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also has run for 1,076 yards and 26 touchdowns. Guss also has 14 sacks from his linebacker position.

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• Isaiah McNair, Quaker Valley: McNair leads the Quakers with 43 catches for 806 yards and also has rushed for 282 yards, with a total of 14 touchdowns.

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• Lane Voytik, Sharon: The quarterback is the only sophomore to ever throw for 2,000 yards in Mercer County history. He has thrown for 2,481 yards and 28 TDs. He needs 221 yards to break a school and county single-season passing record. His father Brian was the offensive MVP in the MAC when Sharon played in the WPIAL in 1981.

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• Ziyon Strickland, Sharon: The senior wide receiver is a two-time all-state selection and has 82 catches for 1,335 yards.

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Did you know?

• After capturing its first WPIAL title, Quaker Valley is in the PIAA playoffs for the first time.

• Quaker Valley has averaged 37.4 points this season, but it was the Quakers’ defense on display in the WPIAL title game, shutting out Aliquippa. The QV defense has allowed just 12.1 ppg.

• Sharon junior RB Jordan Wilson is 34 rushing yards from 3,000 for his career.

Prediction

Quaker Valley, 21-14

Tags: Quaker Valley