Beaver Falls takes down McGuffey in the 2A first round playoffs

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Collin Matthews | November 7, 2026

They say besides Christmas and you’re birthday that the PIAA WPIAL Playoffs is the best time of the year!

The 2A WPIAL Playoffs kicked off Friday night with the eight seeded McGuffey Highlanders hosting the nine seeded Beaver Falls Tigers. It was expected to be a great game and it lived up to the hype.

The Highlanders received  the ball to start the game off and the Tiger defense stood tall and forced a punt. The Highlanders did the same! That is how the first quarter played out. Each team getting a shot and the other team playing lockdown defense

It would only be a matter of time until someone drew first blood and it would be McGuffey! with nine seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter Dante Gadani rolled out and connected with Dennis Furmanek for the touchdown!! The extra point was good and going into half gave the Highlanders the seven to zero advantage.

The Highlanders received the ball coming out of half, but the Tigers defense stopped them in quick fashion. Beaver Falls was abele to turn the punt from McGuffeyinto six, the tigers offense ran the ball right down the field and punched the highlanders in the mouth with a short touchdown run from Xavier Clark put the tigers on the board. Beaver falls took a gamble and went for two and it paid off a short pass from Rodney Slappy to high tight end would put the Tigers up by one.

The 3rd quarter ended and it was time for what I think is the most exciting quarter in all of sports. The 4th quarter and in the 4th the Tigers took over and in a big way!

Both teams went back and fourth. with McGuffey stuffing Beaver falls on 4th down, then the Tigers made the Highlanders punt!

They say in big moments that you should learn on your pass game to help you out and that just what Beaver Falls did , because on 4th down Slappy went deep and connected with Reshawn Hazzard to extend the Tigers lead, they would go for 2 but be unsuccessful

A good punt from from Beaver Falls backed the Highlanders offense up. McGuffey made a mistake that ultimately ended the game and their season, a crucial end zone fumble that the tigers would get and turn into six with an Anthony Scott run. Just to add insult to injury Gandani’s pass would be off the hands of his receiver and right into the Beaver Falls defenders which they took back for a pick six

The Tigers walked into McGuffey’s home and snatched their chain and punched their ticket to the next round of the 2a WPIAL Playoffs with a 28-7 victory.

Beaver Falls will face off against the one seeded Bishop Caniven next week! Once again a highly anticipated matchup!