A.Q. Shipley discusses a high school career at Moon that led to a decade in the NFL

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, January 7, 2021 | 10:37 PM

In May and June, the TribLive High School Sports Network held a fan vote to determine the Best of the Century among the district’s top male and female athletes.

We also had a chance to visit with some of the participants — interviews that have yet to be seen.

So as we prepare to crank up the high school sports coverage again later this week, join us for a nostalgic look back as we visit with athletes who starred in various sports in the WPIAL from 2000-2020.

Fifteen years ago, he was dominating the line of scrimmage at Moon. Now he hopes to be a Super Bowl champion.

A.Q. Shipley has bounced around the NFL and is currently on injured reserve with his sixth team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he has been able to battle his way to a decade-plus of playing professional football in the NFL.

As Shipley hopes for a Bucs super run and the big ring this year, his first championship run came in his senior year on the basketball court, helping the Tigers win both a WPIAL and a PIAA hoops title.

Rebel Yell Podcast with Don Rebel, James Dotson and A.Q. Shipley.

Allan Quay Shipley – Moon Class of 2004

(Football, basketball, wrestling)

• 2004 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 all-star

• Four-year starter for Moon at center and also saw action at tackle

• Helped Moon qualify for the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs all four years as the Tigers reached the quarterfinals in his sophomore season and made trips to the semifinals in his junior and senior seasons

• In his senior year, Moon finished 10-2 overall and won nine in a row before falling to Thomas Jefferson in the semifinals

• Three-year starter at center/forward for the Moon basketball team

• Helped Moon to a 29-3 record his senior year in basketball as the Tigers beat Knoch to win the WPIAL Class AAA championship and Holy Ghost Prep to win PIAA state gold three weeks later

• Member of the Moon wrestling team for one year as a heavyweight and in his first varsity match, pinned the defending state champion

• Inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame in 2018

• Played his college football at Penn State and has played in the NFL as an offensive lineman for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Arizona and Tampa Bay

Tags: Moon