Aliquippa Comes Up Short in State Title Game to Southern Columbia

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, December 19, 2015 | 4:34 PM

Doomed by seven turnovers, Aliquippa’s pursuit of perfection came up short, as the Quips fell to Southern Columbia 49-14 in the PIAA Class AA Championship at Hersheypark Stadium.

With the triumph, District 4’s Southern Columbia captured its seventh state title, but the first for the Tigers in Class AA, as the previous championships came in Class A. The Quips were playing in their sixth PIAA title game, including victories in 1991 and 2003.

Aliquippa (15-1) had the upper hand in the early stages of the contest, as the Quips took the opening drive 66 yards for a score. Jassir Jordan made the biggest play of the drive, as he hauled in a 41-yard pass from Quips’ quarterback Sheldon Jeter. On the following play, running back Kaezon Pugh scored on a 1-yard run.

On the ensuing kickoff, Aliquippa’s special teams forced a fumble, and Robert Anzio recovered at the Tigers’ 37-yard line. Aliquippa appeared poised to take a two-score lead, but Jeter’s pass intended for Jordan was intercepted at the goal line by Billy Marzeski.

Following the turnover, the Tigers (16-0) methodically worked down the field, and converted a pair of fourth downs to keep the drive alive. Southern Columbia capped it off with a 4-yard touchdown run by Jared Torres.

Trailing 7-6 in the second quarter, Aliquippa went to the air, but Jeter just misfired on a deep pass to Jordan that could’ve resulted in a 79-yard score. On the next play, Jeter was again intercepted, which allowed the Tigers’ to start at the Quips’ 19-yard line. It took Southern Columbia just three plays to capitalize, as quarterback Nick Becker raced 15 yards into the end zone.

Just 11 seconds later, Southern Columbia’s defense forced another crucial turnover, as Marzeski stepped in front of a Jeter pass and returned it for a 41-yard touchdown.

With less than two minutes remaining in the half, the Quips found life on a trick play that they executed perfectly. Jeter connected with Canard Tates on a short pass, and Tates then pitched the ball to Jordan, who raced down the sideline for the score. The hook-and-lateral play spanned 44 yards, and allowed the Quips to pull within seven after Jeter successfully converted the two-point attempt.

The Tigers managed to restore their two-score lead before halftime, though, as they produced a 60-yard drive, culminating with a Becker 30-yard run with just 23 seconds remaining.

In the second half, the Quips’ offense could not find any traction, while the Southern Columbia rushing attack looked nearly unstoppable. Aliquippa’s first drive of the third quarter ended when Jeter was crushed on a blindside sack and fumbled for the second time in the contest. Much like in the first half, the Tigers capitalized on the turnover, as Torres scored on a 1-yard run.

Southern Columbia added two more rushing touchdowns in the final stanza, both by Hunter Thomas, to enact to mercy rule in the final two minutes.

In the defeat for Aliquippa, Pugh rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries, while Jordan contributed 86 receiving yards.

Although Southern Columbia had no one surpass 100 yards rushing or receiving, the Tigers featured three players who all topped 50 yards rushing, led by Becker’s 88 yards.

Score By Quarter:
Southern Columbia       7 – 21 – 7 – 14 = 49
Aliquippa                      6 – 8 – 0 – 0 = 14

Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter
A: Kaezon Pugh 1 run (run failed) 10:10
SC: Jared Torres 4 run (Tyler Keiser kick) 2:09

2nd Quarter
SC: Nick Becker 15 run (Keiser kick) 7:44
SC: Billy Marzeski 41 interception return (Keiser kick) 7:33
A: Jassir Jordan 41 after Canard Tates 3 pass from Sheldon Jeter (Jeter run) 1:39
SC: Becker 30 run (Keiser kick) :23

3rd Quarter
SC: Torres 1 run (Keiser kick) 1:49

4th Quarter
SC: Hunter Thomas 1 run (Keiser kick) 7:41
SC: Thomas 10 run (Keiser kick) 1:58