PIAA 3A Semi-Final Preview: A Look at Hickory

Tagged under: District 10, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

Shane Lux | November 29, 2023

Hickory vs. Belle Vernon, Friday, December 1st, @ North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium

How they got here:

District 10 3A Playoffs

44-12 win vs. General McLane

38-7 win vs. Grove City

14-6 win vs. Sharon

PIAA Playoffs

26-13 win vs. Central

About the Hickory Hornets

Schedule

Hickory won their second District 10 title under Bill Dungee and their first since 2020 with a 14-6 victory over Sharon. The Hornets then advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 2014 with a 26-13 victory over Central High School in the quarterfinals. The game marked the first time since 2018 that the District 10 AAA champion defeated the District 6 AAA champion.

Hickory’s Semifinal History

The Hornets currently sport a 1-2 record in semifinal contests, winning in 1989 before falling to South Fayette in back-to-back semifinals in 2013 and 2014. Hickory won the 1989 state title at Middletown 30-22 against Montoursville.

1989 – Hickory 17 Steel Valley 7

2013 – South Fayette 23 Hickory 20

2014 – South Fayette 44 Hickory 14

Quarterfinal Recap

Hickory 26 Central 13

The Hornets rushed for 298 yards and built a 17-0 lead in the third quarter en route to victory. Quarterback Zander Telesz rushed for 101 yards while completing 5-of-8 passes for 95 yards, scoring two total touchdowns. On special teams, kicker Lukas Jones opened and closed the scoring with 27 and 30-yard field goals, respectively. Telesz then scored on a 40-yard run, giving Hickory a 10-0 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, freshman Kelvin Morrison caught a 58-yard touchdown from Telesz before the Scarlet Dragons got on the board with a 6-yard pass from Eli Muthler to Jack Dunn. Keenan Scullin added a 6-yard run to close the third stanza; Scullin rushed for 30 yards while catching two passes for 29 yards. Morrison added the one catch for 58 yards and rushed for 35. Sean Kennedy chipped in with 99 yards on the ground. Central scored their second touchdown in the fourth quarter when Hunter Smith scored on a 1-yard run following a 12-play 85-yard drive. Smith rushed for a game-high 135 yards on 20 carries.

About the Belle Vernon Leopards

Belle Vernon won their second consecutive WPIAL AAA crown with a convincing 26-0 victory over previously unbeaten Avonworth. The Leopards returned many players from their state championship-winning team a year ago. Including 5-star Penn State recruit Quinton Martin. Martin leads Belle Vernon in both rushing and receiving, as he’s rushed for 958 yards and 14 touchdowns while catching 44 passes for 649 yards and 10 scores. Quarterback Braden Laux has passed for 1477 yards with 17 touchdowns while rushing for 172 yards and five scores. Junior running back Kole Doppelheuer has 706 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Tanner Moody leads the Leopards with 72 tackles, while Aiden Johnson, Cameren Jenka, and Braden Laux have four sacks.

Coach Comments

“Belle Vernon is a complete team – big, fast, physical, and well-coached. They’re good in all three phases of the game. They have a dynamic player in all-purpose back, Quinton Martin. This is a really good team. It’s going to be a major challenge for us. I believe we will be ready. Making this far is huge for this group of seniors and the program as a whole. Our goal is to get to the point where this is the norm. So advancing this far and building the confidence and expectations of our underclassmen are major steps for the program. Overall, I’m just really proud of this group, their fight, their focus, and their brotherhood,” said Bill Dungee.

Player Comment

“I feel it was just trusting in our players and coaching staff,” said Hickory senior Sean Kennedy. “Taking that negativity from the internet and people in public and using it for motivation. Being this far feels great. They thought we couldn’t do it, but we beat the odds.”

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