Aliquippa’s defense stands tall in avenging loss to New Castle, seals return to WPIAL final
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Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 12:41 AM
Aliquippa’s Cleaster Longmire celebrates after scoring the Quips’ second touchdown against New Castle during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s Mylez Greene tackles New Castle’s Kai Cox for a loss during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s Mylez Greene celebrates with Justus Starks after a tackle for loss against New Castle during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s J.J. Work fends off New Castle’s Jermaine Walker during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s J.J. Work carries for the Quips’ first touchdown past New Castle defenders during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s J.J. Work (6) celebrates with Zion Simmons after scoring against New Castle during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s Akiva Woods carries for a long gain through the New Castle defense during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s Cleaster Longmire scores the Quips’ second touchdown against New Castle during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s Cleaster Longmire celebrates his touchdown next to Mylez Greene during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against New Castle on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s Justus Starks eyes up a fumble by New Castle’s Marino Graham during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s Kalion Lynn-Wright recovers a New Castle fumble during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s J.J. Work picks up extra yards against New Castle during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s Akiva Woods carries through the New Castle defense during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s QaLil Goode intercepts a pass intended for New Castle’s Chase Lemmon during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s QaLil Goode celebrates his interception with J.J. Work during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against New Castle on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
Aliquippa’s Cleaster Longmire celebrates his touchdown next to Mylez Greene during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal against New Castle on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City.
When Aliquippa went back and watched film of a Week 5 loss to New Castle, the Quips made a point to count their missed tackles.
That wasn’t much fun since they counted more than 50.
“It was terrible,” senior linebacker Lester Longmire said. “But at the same time, it’s good because you’re learning from your mistakes.”
In Friday’s rematch, the Quips wrapped up a trip to the WPIAL finals by wrapping up on tackles. The defense surrendered only one play longer than 20 yards as seventh-seeded Aliquippa shut out No. 3 New Castle, 14-0, in a WPIAL Class 4A semifinal at Ellwood City’s Helling Stadium.
New Castle has a dynamic freshman quarterback, but the Red Hurricanes’ longest play gained just 24 yards.
“We rallied to the ball more,” Longmire said. “All 11 hats to the ball. We played with more energy. Last game, we didn’t show enough effort. It wasn’t championship football.”
And Aliquippa knows championships.
The Quips — owners of a WPIAL-record 20 titles — are headed to the finals for the 17th time in 18 years. They fell one round short last season, a semifinal loss that snapped their record streak of 16 straight.
Aliquippa (8-3) plays No. 1 McKeesport (9-3) in the finals at 12:05 p.m. Nov. 15 at Pine-Richland.
“Last year, when I watched my seniors walk off that field crying, it gave me fuel in my body to go win it all,” Longmire said. “So, for me, it means a lot. For the community, it means everything.”
They got back to the finals by avenging an 18-12 loss at New Castle in Week 5.
This time, Red Hurricanes quarterback Marino Graham completed 17 of 29 passes for 123 yards and rushed for 47 yards on 10 carries but didn’t find the end zone.
“He still got some yards,” Aliquippa coach Mike Warfield said. “But the most important thing was that if he did break out, if they did catch a pass, just tackle them. We’re good. Play the next play.”
Scoreless at half
Aliquippa’s defense denies New Castle on the last play of the first half, a pass from the 5-yard line #HSSN #WPIAL pic.twitter.com/udQRmZ90l1
— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) November 8, 2025
Aliquippa’s defense made a key last-second stand before halftime, and senior running back J.J. Work rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Work’s 39-yard touchdown run broke a scoreless tie early in the third quarter.
Longmire extended Aliquippa’s lead with a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth. But otherwise, the game was dominated largely by defense, turnovers and penalties.
Each team had two possessions end with failed fourth-down tries. Aliquippa’s Marques Council Jr., who missed the first matchup with New Castle, completed just 3 of 8 passes for 33 yards but had a touchdown negated by penalty.
The teams combined for four fumbles, an interception and 23 penalties. Both of Aliquippa’s touchdowns came quickly after New Castle miscues.
Work scored his touchdown one play after the Red Hurricanes were flagged for roughing the punter, an infraction that extended an Aliquippa drive. Longmire’s TD capped a short 3-yard drive set up by a botched New Castle punt. The Red Hurricanes’ usual long snapper was out with an elbow injury.
“We definitely didn’t play our best game, but that happens,” New Castle coach Fred Mozzocio said. “Any time you step out on the field to compete, sometimes things don’t go your way.”
New Castle’s best scoring chance came just before halftime. But a contested pass from the 5-yard line by Graham fell incomplete as time expired.
It was New Castle’s only possession that reached the red zone.
“If we could have got in there, I felt we were going to gain control of the game,” Mozzocio said. “We wanted to get up on them so they couldn’t grind the ball at us.”
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Aliquippa, New Castle
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