WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Seven 2017

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 | 7:17 PM

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The seventh week of the WPIAL football season officially begins the “stretch run” of the campaign. While some teams have already punched their tickets to the postseason, several games this past week had major implications on playoff positioning. Among the notable plays were a touchdown pass that fueled an upset of the top team in 4A, a two-point conversation in the final minute that decided the outcome, a long pass that gave the top team in 3A needed insurance in its toughest test, and a prolific RB putting his team ahead with a fourth-quarter score.

1. Belle Vernon Area 21, Thomas Jefferson 17

The Jaguars have been nearly unparalleled in their regular-season dominance for more than a decade. Anytime Thomas Jefferson loses during the campaign, it must be considered an upset. That was the case on Friday, even though it came at the hands of undefeated and homestanding Belle Vernon. The Leopards led for most of the first half, and after briefly falling behind in the third quarter, BVA quickly responded. With less than two minutes left in the third, QB Jared Hartman hooked up with Hunter Ruokenen on a 46-yard connection, the final score of the contest.

The TribLive High School Sports Network’s Lanny Frattare and Sean Meyers have the call on WJAS-AM 1320, and for the video spotlight game of the week, filmed by Jess Levo:

2. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic 29, Riverside 28

The Trojans and Panthers went back and forth in their battle for first place in the 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference. The Panthers held the edge with less than 90 seconds remaining, but CWNC found the end zone on a 12-yard run by Joe Meinert to pull within one point. The Trojans wasted little time in electing to go for two, and the gamble paid off, as Meinert hauled in a pass from Zack Rocco to convert. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic later sealed the W with an interception in its own territory.

The TribLive High School Sports Networks Cory Campano and Brandon Showers provide the audio on the conversion attempt that proved to be the difference:

3. Aliquppa 22, Quaker Valley 7

Another battle of unbeatens took place in the 3A Beaver Valley Conference, as the Quips and Quakers squared off. Quaker Valley scored a third-quarter touchdown, the first score the Quips’ defense has allowed all year, to make it 14-7. Aliquippa responded in the fourth quarter, though, as the Quips went to the air on third down, and QB Will Gipson connected with MJ Devonshire for a 42-yard strike to restore the Aliquippa two-score advantage.

WMBA-AM 1450’s Bob Barrickman and Bruce Frey detail the big play that assured the Quips remained undefeated:

4. Seton-LaSalle 21, Freeport 10

Neither the Rebels nor the Yellowjackets had tasted defeat in section play, and for the first 40+ minutes, both defenses dominated. Late in the fourth quarter, though, the Rebels’ star running back Lionel Deanes made an impact. Deanes scored a pair of touchdowns, including the go-ahead points with just less than four minutes left on a 12-yard run.

The TribLive High School Sports Networks Sam Hall and Ed Troup have the call on the decisive touchdown:

Tags: Aliquippa, Belle Vernon, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Freeport, North Catholic