Latrobe faces stiff challenge from Aliquippa in WPIAL quarterfinals
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Wednesday, November 8, 2023 | 5:57 PM
Latrobe’s John Wetzel runs against West Allegheny in the first half during WPIAL Class 4A first-round playoff action Friday at West Allegheny High School.
Latrobe’s Ben Statton pulls in a second-quarter catch against West Allegheny’s Roman Police during WPIAL Class 4A first-round playoff action Friday at West Allegheny High School.
Latrobe quarterback John Wetzel races down the sideline to set up a first-quarter touchdown during WPIAL Class 4A first-round playoff action Friday at West Allegheny High School.
Latrobe’s Ja’Tawn Williams pulls in a catch past West Allegheny’s Scott Macher in the first quarter during WPIAL Class 4A first-round playoff action Friday at West Allegheny High School.
Aliquippa’s John Tracy carries against Central Valley on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
Aliquippa’s Tikey Hayes celebrates after scoring against Central Valley on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
Aliquippa’s Demarkus Walker returns an interception past Central Valley’s Jaiden Underwood during the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
Latrobe surprised football fans with its dominating performance against West Allegheny in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs last week.
And that showing by the Wildcats caught the eye of quarterfinal opponent Aliquippa and its coach, Mike Warfield, who attended the game and left impressed.
“In the playoffs, everyone is good,” Warfield said. “You can’t take any team for granted. I was impressed with how their coaching staff prepared for the game. They went up-tempo, and they have some very skilled players.
“West Allegheny has taken us to the limit the past few seasons. Sometime it’s the style of a team.”
Latrobe took it to West Allegheny, winning 39-7. Quarterback John Wetzel rushed for 244 yards and four touchdowns, but the Wildcats defense that also stood strong.
They bottled up the West Allegheny offense and quarterback Brock Cornell until the junior left with an injury.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Warfield said. “Wetzel can play, and 21 (Ja’Tawn Williams), 25 (Alex Tatsch) and 44 (Braden Bronson) are also good players. We have let the players know that they are good.”
Wetzel has rushed for 1,040 yards and scored 17 touchdowns this season. He also can throw the deep ball, hitting Williams for 44 yards on the third play last week to set up the game’s first score.
Wetzel has completed 76 of 117 passes for 1,235 yards and 14 scores. Williams has 33 catches for 756 yards and 14 scores. Brady Prohovic has rushed for 598 yards and Tatsch 374 yards.
“We are looking forward to the game,” Wetzel said. “They’re a great team. We hope to get to where they’ve been.”
Aliquippa (9-0) has one of the richest football traditions in the state. It has had numerous NFL players and Hall of Famers along with the winningest program in the WPIAL, recently surpassing Jeannette.
It also has played in 15 consecutive WPIAL championship games, winning seven times. The last time the Quips didn’t reach the finals was in 2007, when Jeannette defeated Beaver Falls, 61-12. The Jayhawks toppled the Quips, 70-48, in the semifinals.
Aliquippa has the most WPIAL titles (19). The Quips are hoping to begin the journey to Acrisure Stadium (formerly Heinz Field) at the stadium now known as Heinz Field (The Pit).
“We know the big challenge that faces us,” Latrobe coach Ron Prady said. “They are good. They have a lot of playmakers. They also have a rich tradition, but we’re not playing against those NFL players and Hall of Famers.
“You can’t beat yourself against them because they’ll thrive on your mistakes. They are very athletic and run a different scheme than McKeesport.”
Aliquippa is led by Penn State commit junior Tikey Hayes, who has rushed for 1,182 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. The quarterback is Quentin Goode, who has completed 73 of 126 passes for 1,332 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The top receivers are Brandon Banks (19 catches, 441 yards), Arison Walker (15 catches, 182 yards) and Demarkus Walker (13 catches, 230 yards).
“We tackled well against West Allegheny,” Prady said. “We’ll need that same effort this week.”
Nine of the 11 starters on defense are underclassmen. Heading the defense are Wetzel, Tatsch, Bronson, defensive ends Cody Krall and Tim Myers and tackles Caleb Lehman and Hared Bailey.
“I could mention every player on defense,” Prady said. “We’ll need to possess the ball and keep it away from them. We need to create some short fields.”
Prady played for Penn-Trafford in 1988 when it faced Aliquippa. The Quips defeated the Warriors, 33-7, and went on to win the WPIAL 3A title.
“It was an amazing atmosphere,” Prady recalled. “They had a mascot ride out on a horse and toss a burning spear in front of you.
“You can’t be fearful or intimidated by them. You just have to go out and try to play your best.”
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
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