WPIAL Class 3A final preview capsule: Aliquippa vs. Derry

By:
Friday, November 16, 2018 | 1:39 PM


WPIAL Class 3A championship

No. 1 Aliquippa (11-1) vs. No. 2 Derry (11-1)

2 p.m. Saturday, Heinz Field

On the air: Pittsburgh the CW-TV; 1230 AM, 1460 AM, 107.1 FM, 97.3 FM, 1480 AM; TribHSSN.triblive.com

Coaches: Mike Warfield, Aliquippa; Tim Sweeney, Derry

Winner plays: The winner gets a bye in the PIAA quarterfinals and will play the District 5, 6 or 10 champion in the PIAA semifinals Nov. 30 or Dec. 1.

WPIAL titles: Aliquippa 16 (1952, ’55, ’64, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’96, 2000, ’03, ’08, ’11, ’12, ’15); Derry 0

How they got here: Tri-County West Conference co-champion Aliquippa defeated No. 8 Freeport, 40-17, in the first round and No. 4 Beaver Falls, 42-14, in the semifinals. Big East co-champion Derry beat No. 7 Central Valley, 46-0, in the first round and No. 3 North Catholic, 36-29, in the semifinals.

Statistical leaders

Passing: A: Eli Kosanovich, 119-184, 2,471 yards, 31 TDs, 2 INTs; D: Paul Koontz, 34-100, 606 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs

Rushing: A: Avante McKenzie, 161-1,396 yards, 30 TDs; D: Justin Flack, 154-1,240 yards, 35 TDs

Receiving: A: William Gipson, 46-1,329 yards, 15 TDs; D: Flack, 10-275 yards

Notable: Aliquippa’s undefeated season was thwarted by Central Valley in the final week of the regular season. The next week, Derry blanked Central Valley, 46-0, in the opening round of the playoffs. … Aliquippa has played in the championship game the past 10 seasons, winning four times. The Quips lost 2-0 to Quaker Valley last year at Heinz Field. … Gipson is the WPIAL’s third-leading receiver through Week 11. … Aliquippa features three players who have made Division I commitments — Gipson (Ball State), lineman Solvauhn Moreland (Ball State) and wide receiver Deoveon Crute (Duquesne). Receiver/defensive back M.J. Devonshire, who returned eight punts for touchdowns this season, also is an elite Division I recruit with offers from Ohio State, West Virginia, Michigan State, Pitt and Penn State, among others. … The Quips have reached the WPIAL final 28 times. … Derry is making its first WPIAL championship game appearance. … Flack has scored 35 touchdowns this season, including eight in one game. … The Derry rushing attack is bolstered by Onreey Stewart (984 yards, 7 TDs), Colton Nemcheck (452 yards, 4 TDs), Dom DeLuca (262 yards, 4 TDs), Hunter Hebenthal (245 yards, 5 TDs) and Justin Huss (123 yards, 4 TDs). … Derry rallied from a three-touchdown deficit late in the third quarter last week to defeat North Catholic. Flack’s 30-yard interception return for a touchdown secured the win late in the game. … Since a Week 5 loss to Elizabeth Forward, the Trojans have won six straight games and outscored opponents 270-83.

Probable lineups

Aliquippa

STARTING OFFENSE

LT, 72, Elijah Mike, 6-1, 305, so.

LG, 75, Solvauhn Moreland, 6-3, 305, sr.

C, 56, Thomas Shaw, 5-6, 265, sr.

RG, 53, Izayah King, 5-9, 212, sr.

RT, 74, Tarquinn Greene, 6-2, 3-6, jr.

TE, 18, Zuriah Fisher, 6-2, 220, jr.

WR, 8, Deoveon Crute, 6-1, 190, sr.

WR, 6, Will Gipson, 6-3, 190, sr.

WR, 9, MJ Devonshire, 5-11, 180, sr.

WR, 15, Chinua Soloman, 6-0, 175, jr.

QB, 11, Eli Kosanovich, 6-2, 220, sr.

RB, 4, Avante McKenzie, 5-6, 185, sr.

K, 34, Daniel Elmore, 5-8, 155, jr.

STARTING DEFENSE

DE, 3, Karl McBride, 5-9, 185, so.

DT, 72, Elijah Mike, 6-1, 305, so.

DT, 74, Tarquinn Greene, 6-2, 3-6, jr.

DT, 75, Solvauhn Moreland, 6-3, 305, sr.

DE, 81, Gevod Tyson, 5-10, 175, sr.

LB, 18, Zuriah Fisher, 6-2, 220, sr.

LB, Izayah King, 5-9, 210, sr.

CB, 6, Will Gipson, 6-3, 190, sr.

CB, 9, MJ Devonshire, 5-11, 180, sr.

S, 14, Larry Walker, 5-10, 180, sr.

S, 10, Isaiah Towler, 5-9, 175, so.

Derry

STARTING OFFENSE

LT, 77, Gavin Adams, 6-4, 260, jr.

LG, 65, Seth Loughner, 5-11, 210, jr.

C, 73, Cullen Shawley, 6-1, 250, sr.

RG, 76, Lucas Ciocco, 5-11, 230, jr.

RT, 55, Jordan Baum, 6-2, 180, sr.

WR, 88, Jason Geary, 6-4, 160, sr.

WR, 17, Tanner Nicely, 6-0, 165, jr.

SL, 21, Justin Huss, 5-9, 155, jr.

QB, 16, Paul Koontz, 5-10, 155, so.

RB, 42, Justin Flack, 5-8, 160, sr.

RB, 4, Onreey Stewart, 5-8, 155, sr.

FB, 12, Dom DeLuca, 6-5, 255, sr.

K, 33, Robert Boyer, 6-0, 155, sr.

STARTING DEFENSE

DE, 56, Max Malis, 6-2, 240, jr.

NG, 54, Justin Fallat, 6-4, 255, jr.

DE, 77, Gavin Adams, 6-4, 260, jr.

OLB, 12, Dom DeLuca, 6-5, 255, sr.

ILB, 1, Bastien Anderson, 5-10, 160, sr.

ILB, 37, Colton Nemcheck, 6-0, 185, sr.

OLB, 23, Hunter Hebenthal, 6-1, 180, sr.

DB, 4, Onreey Stewart, 5-8, 155, sr.

DB, 22, Matt McDowell, 5-9, 160, so.

SS, 42, Justin Flack, 5-8, 160, sr.

FS, 21, Justin Huss, 5-9, 155, jr.

P, 33, Robert Boyer, 6-0, 155, sr.

*Check out a preview feature on the WPIAL Class A championship game and also tune in to Trib HSSN for a live audio broadcast.

Bill Hartlep is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bhartlep@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TribHSInsider.

Tags: ,

More High School Football

Seneca Valley football coach Ron Butschle steps down after ‘difficult year’
Trib HSSN Pennsylvania high school football rankings for Nov. 12, 2024
Trib HSSN high school football player of the week for Nov. 11, 2024
Trib HSSN football team of the week for Nov. 10, 2024
This week on Trib HSSN for week of Nov. 11, 2024