Aliquippa outlasts McKeesport, wins third straight 4A WPIAL title
Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs
Ethan Spozarski | November 25, 2023
Aliquippa would start the game with the ball and punt away as their first drive only lasted one minute and fifty-eight seconds. McKeesport’s first drive lasted six minutes and fifty-three, but ended in a missed field goal.
The Quips on their second drive was another short one as they only ran four plays before punting the ball back to McKeesport. However on the second play for the Tigers, they fumbled and Cameron Lindsey got the 39-yard scoop and score.
Scoop and score for @cx_lindsey gives the Quips a 7-0 lead over @McKTigersFB 1Q 0:17 @footballquips @PaFootballNews @Sykotyk @AJWPIAL @gingeryinzer09 @AJWPIAL @SpozarskiEthan pic.twitter.com/yEFYNvdmCW
— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) November 25, 2023
McKeesport did not stay down long as Richard Beermann returned the kickoff for 73 yards and with the extra point, the game was tied at 7. Both of these scores came within 20 seconds leaving just five seconds remaining in the first quarter.
On the kickoff @McKTigersFB takes it to the house and were knotted at 7-7 @footballquips 1Q 0:05 @PaFootballNews @AJWPIAL @gingeryinzer09 @SpozarskiEthan @Sykotyk pic.twitter.com/3wOeZsPELL
— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) November 25, 2023
Aliquippa punted once again, but the Tigers struck again as Garrett Tarker ran it in for three yards and took the lead, making it 14-7.
The Quips found themselves back into the endzone off a 11 play drive as Lindsey ran it in for 2-yards. The extra point was good, and for the second time the game was tied.
The tide continued to shift for the Quips after McKeesport threw an interception and Quentin Goode threw a 23-yard TD pass to Demarkus Walker for the lead. The turnovers wouldn’t stop there as Tarker again threw an interception this time to Arison Walker. Luckily for the Tigers, Aliquippa would not score before the half and it would remain a 21-14 game.
McKeesport received the opening kickoff and punted. The Quips got into the endzone again with Lindsey on a 12-yard rushing TD. The extra point was no good, so Aliquippa’s lead stayed at 13.
The @1aliquippa goes up 27-14 on a @cx_lindsey TD jaunt (xp failed). 3Q 5:11 @PaFootballNews @McKTigersFB @SpozarskiEthan @gingeryinzer09 @Sykotyk @AJWPIAL pic.twitter.com/yVlveweZzm
— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) November 25, 2023
Lindsay explained how Aliquippa is able to play on the big stage.
“Games like this and moments like this are just something we strive for”, he said.
Lindsey also commented on his three touchdown performance and how he is able to do it.
“I don’t think I ever had three touchdowns in high school,” Lindsey said. “For a big stage it is a big moment…just letting the game come to me and doing what I do.”
The Tigers would end the third quarter with the ball driving down the field in help to a running into the kicker penalty helping set up a 4th and short. The drive ended with a 28-yard TD catch from Karker to Kemon Spell. After the extra point McKeesport only trailed 27-21.
The Tigers attempted a surprise onside kick, but after an offsides call on themselves, the Tigers would kick it off to the Quips. Aliquippa again finished the drive with a 9-yard TD catch from Michael Gaskins. The Quips would convert their two-point conversion and now lead the game 35-21.
Tarker threw his third interception of the night to Tiqwai Hayes on their final drive of the night as Aliquippa would hold onto the ball for the three minutes and forty-one seconds.
4A WPIAL Champions Aliquippa 35-21 final over @McKTigersFB @1aliquippa @PaFootballNews @AJWPIAL @SpozarskiEthan @gingeryinzer09 @Sykotyk pic.twitter.com/wwU3xTgiJ0
— CC Hastings (@CCHastings1863) November 25, 2023
“Coach Mike always tells us that this isn’t good enough. We are shooting for the state championship, but we know we gotta take it one game at a time,” Lindsay said.
The Quips now will face Selinsgrove on either December 1st or 2nd at 7 PM.
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