First PIAA Crown for Beaver Falls in Win Over Middletown

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, December 10, 2016 | 10:16 PM

Beaver Falls (13-1) forced six turnovers and held District 3 Champion Middletown (14-1) to negative rushing yards, claiming the PIAA 3A Championship, 30-13, at Hersheypark Stadium Saturday.

The Tigers intercepted Blue Raiders Quarterback Chase Snavely five times and sacked him five additional times, surrendering just 118 total yards in the game.

“It’s exciting, it’s history,” Tigers coach Ryan Matsook said. “The history isn’t happening to a more deserving group of kids than the kids I’ve got. “

After Middletown pulled the score to 16-13 late in the third quarter, Beaver Falls responded with a 53-yard touchdown run by Derrell Carter, breaking the game open. The Tigers then closed the door by intercepting Snavely on Middletown’s final three drives, with Malik Shepherd capping the score with a 42-yard return, his second pick of the night.

“We talked to the kids about how (Middletown) have been in one close game all year long, one fourth quarter game all year long,” Matsook said. “This is what we do.”

Shepherd, who missed Beaver Falls’ lone loss while recovering from foot surgery, was also a force on the offensive side of the ball at the Quarterback position. Despite completing just one pass, Shepherd ran for a game-high 115 yards and scored Beaver Falls’ second touchdown of the game on a 34-yard run.

After Carter intercepted Snavely on Middletown’s first offensive possession, Beaver Falls mounted a 6-play, 23-yard drive that Neshaud Akins completed with a 2-yard touchdown plunge.

But Middletown answered on their ensuing series, as Snavely found Brady Fox on a throwback screen pass for a 33-yard score. The point after failed, keeping Beaver Falls in front at 7-6, a score that held until halftime.

After Shepherd’s run, the final minutes of the third quarter belonged to Cody Long. Long, a middle linebacker and kicker for Beaver Falls, ripped the ball out of the hands of Blue Raiders running back Jaelen Thompson, recovering the fumble himself. Long would knock through a 20-yard field goal on the Tigers’ ensuing drive, extending their lead to 16-6.

Middletown again responded, as Snavely found Tyreer Mills on a 69-yard wheel route on the next offensive snap. The gain of 69 yards was more than the 67 yards of offense the Blue Raiders had managed to that point.

In the game, Middletown finished 1-of-9 on third down and 0-of-2 on fourth down conversions. Beaver Falls struggled on conversion downs also, going 3-of-12 on third and 1-of-5 on fourth downs. 

In addition to Shepherd and Long’s efforts on defense, Beaver Falls was also paced by Michigan recruit Donovan Jeter who, despite separating his shoulder during the game, was able to return to lead the Tigers with five tackles, two sacks and two passes broken up.

“I’ve been to some of the best camps in the country and those dudes couldn’t block me, so coming here, nobody was going to see me one-on-one,” Jeter said. “Our front three… we’re relentless and we might not get there every time, but if we do, we’re going to punish you.”

Beaver Falls, coming from the WPIAL’s best conference, one in which the State’s top-ranked 3A team failed to reach the district playoffs, certainly seemed prepared for the bright lights of Hershey.

“Nothing against Middletown, but they didn’t play the schedule we played or had the fights that we did,” said Matsook, who joins his father, Dan, and Uncle, Gene, as PIAA Champion Coaches.

“As the game waned and the pressure became higher, I felt better about our chances because our kids step up in those moments.”

Score By Quarter
Middletown  6 – 0 – 7 – 0 = 13
Beaver Falls  7 – 0 – 13 – 14 = 30

Score By Quarter

1st Quarter
7:01 – BF – Neshaud Akins 2-yard run (Cody Long kick)
4:45 – M – Brady Fox 3-yard pass from Chase Snavely (Donovan Brady kick failed)

2nd Quarter
No Scoring

3rd Quarter
8:59 – BF – Malik Shepherd 34-yard run (Long kick failed)
1:03 – BF – Long 20-yard field goal
0:45 – M – Tyreer Mills 69-yard pass from Snavely (Brady kick)

4th Quarter
9:29 – BF – Derrel Carter 53-yard run (Long kick)
4:50 – BF – Shepherd 42-yard interception return (Long kick)