West Allegheny rallies to beat McKeesport
PITTSBURGH – Nick Ross had two touchdown passes and scored on a two-point conversion run in overtime to lift West Allegheny past McKeesport, 38-37, in the WPIAL Class 5-A championship game at Heinz Field Friday.
The WPIAL title is the eighth for West Allegheny (12-0) in nine tries and eighth for head coach Bob Palko.
Ross completed 26 of 39 passes for 257 yards, while Kenny White had 97 yards on 13 carries for the Indians, who trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter before recovering two onside kicks in the final 12 minutes.
West Allegheny attempted a 50-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter trailing 30-27 but the kick fell short. McKeesport (9-3), however, was penalized for roughing the kicker and D.J. Opsatnik nailed the 35-yard attempt to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Ray Zellars scored on a 1-yard run for McKeesport, which then kicked the PAT to go ahead 37-30.
Will Webber answered with a 2-yard score for the Indians, who went for the win instead of attempting a potential game-tying PAT.
Beaver Falls 35, Aliquippa 22: Derrell Carter had 190 yards of total offense with two touchdowns and Torian Leak also scored twice as Beaver Falls won its first WPIAL title since 1984, beating rival Aliquippa in the Class AAA championship.
Beaver Falls (11-1), which had lost eight consecutive games to the Quips (10-3), including a 44-13 loss Sept. 2 this season, had 246 rushing yards in the game, building a 28-6 lead.
But Aliquippa (10-3) got a touchdown pass from Kwantel Raines to to Deoveon Crute and a Tariq Jones touchdown run to close the gap to 28-22 with 1:34 remaining in the game.
The Tigers recovered an onside kick and Carter scored on a 49-yard run to put the game away.
Thomas Jefferson 42, New Castle 0: Quinton Hill had 251 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns on 40 carries as Thomas Jefferson ripped New Castle, 42-0, in the Class AAAA championship game.
The title was the seventh for the Jaguars (12-0) under head coach Bill Cherpak.
New Castle (8-5) had just five first downs and had three passes intercepted.