PIAA champion Aliquippa well-represented on Class 4A all-state list, including player, coach of the year
By:
Friday, December 29, 2023 | 10:00 AM
Aliquippa completed its first undefeated season with a 60-14 victory over Dallas in the PIAA Class 4A championship game earlier this month.
On Friday, the Quips added a cherry to the top of the best season in program history.
Four players were honored by the Pa. Football Writers with selection to the Class 4A all-state team, junior running back Tiqwai “Tikey” Hayes was named co-player of the year, and coach Mike Warfield earned coach of the year recognition. Hayes and Warfield also were tabbed player and coach of the year in 2021.
Hayes shared the co-player of the year honor with last year’s winner, Bishop McDevitt quarterback Stone Saunders, a Kentucky recruit who led the Crusaders to the state semifinals and threw for 3,522 yards and 56 touchdowns.
Hayes (6-1, 195), who has verbally committed to Penn State, ranks among the top 10 rushers in WPIAL history. This year, he ran for 2,129 yards and 23 touchdowns as Aliquippa won the program’s third straight WPIAL title and second state title in three years. In the PIAA title game against Dallas, he gained 222 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Warfield improved to 74-6 in his sixth year leading the Quips, who play in Class 4A via the PIAA’s competitive balance rule despite having a Class A enrollment. Aliquippa has played in four straight WPIAL championship games and reached three straight state finals.
Fellow Quips picked to the all-state team were senior quarterback Quentin Goode, senior linebacker Cam Lindsey and junior defensive back Arison Walker.
Lindsey (6-2, 210), a Pitt recruit, is a three-time all-state pick who had 118 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one interception and two defensive TDs. He scored nine times on offense. Lindsey was co-defensive MVP in the Parkway Conference.
Goode (5-9, 182) became the all-time leading passer in Aliquippa history with 5,826 yards. This season, he completed 109 of 185 passes for 1,964 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was the offensive MVP in the Parkway Conference.
Walker (5-9, 171) led the Quips secondary with seven interceptions and 55 tackles. He also was the team’s leading receiver with 24 catches for 299 yards.
Montour senior quarterback Jake Wolfe, Latrobe junior linebacker Alex Tatsch and McKeesport senior offensive lineman Courtney Dunn Jr. were also selected to the all-state team.
Wolfe (6-2, 195) passed for 2,662 yards and 31 touchdowns and rushed for 861 yards and 14 scores as Montour reached the WPIAL semifinals.
Tatsch (6-3, 210) is a sought-after college prospect with numerous Power Five offers. He led Latrobe with 79 tackles, along with four sacks and four interceptions. He also rushed for 374 yards and scored nine touchdowns.
Dunn (6-3, 260), a Cal (Pa.) commit, was named the Bill Fralic Memorial Award winner as the WPIAL’s top senior interior lineman. He had 27 pancake blocks on offense and 51 solo tackles and five sacks on defense. McKeesport, which finished as the WPIAL runner-up, averaged 335 yards per game, 272 rushing.
The all-state team was chosen by a statewide vote of sportswriters. The Class A, 2A and 3A teams were released Thursday. Class 4A, 5A and 6A were revealed Friday.
2023 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 4A all-state team
Co-Players of the Year: Tiqwai Hayes, Aliquippa; Stone Saunders, Bishop McDevitt
Coach of the Year: Mike Warfield, Aliquippa
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Quentin Goode, Aliquippa – 5-9, 182 senior
Stone Saunders, Bishop McDevitt – 6-2, 215 junior
Zac Hahn, Manheim Central – 6-0, 190 senior
Jake Wolfe, Montour – 6-1, 185 senior
Running back
Tiqwai “Tikey” Hayes, Aliquippa – 6-0, 197 junior
Tucker Teats, Selinsgrove – 5-10, 194 senior
Aaron Crossley, Wyoming Area – 5-11, 210 senior
Jake Williams, ELCO – 5-11, 180 senior
Boyd Skarbek, Pope John Paul II – 5-11, 195 senior
Wide receiver
Aaron Enterline, Manheim Central – 6-3, 180 senior
Lex Cyrus, Susquehanna Township – 5-10, 165 junior
Zach Paczewski, Dallas – 5-8, 175 senior
Braden Reed, Pope John Paul II – 5-10, 165 junior
Rico Scott, Bishop McDevitt – 6-1, 190 senior
Tight end
Ean Winchester, Twin Valley – 6-2, 265 senior
Offensive line
Kevin Heywood, Pope John Paul II – 6-8, 305 senior
Paul McClune, Twin Valley – 6-4, 295 senior
Collin Melhorn, Selinsgrove – 6-3, 307 senior
Courtney Dunn, McKeesport – 6-3, 260 senior
Dyson Delaney, Jersey Shore – 6-3, 290 senior
Athlete
Elijah Jordan, Jersey Shore – 5-8, 180 junior
Zack Fox, Nanticoke Area – 5-8, 185 senior
Brycen Armold, Manheim Central – 5-8, 185 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive line
TJ Boccella, Pope John Paul II – 6-1, 210 senior
Jaidyn Johnson, Nanticoke Area – 6-3, 220 senior
Zach Mell, Big Spring – 6-3, 225 senior
Blake Hockenbroch, Shamokin Area – 6-2, 230 junior
Linebacker
Cam Lindsey, Aliquippa – 6-2, 210 senior
Bo Sechrist, Jersey Shore – 5-10, 182 sophomore
Ethan Miller, Selinsgrove – 5-10, 175 junior
Alex Tatsch, Latrobe – 6-3, 210 junior
Gianni Marino, Valley View – 6-2, 210 junior
Defensive back
Arison Walker, Aliquippa – 5-9, 171 junior
Caleb Hicks, Selinsgrove – 6-1, 185 senior
Chase Pensyl, Shamokin Area – 5-8, 150 junior
Bode Sipel, Manheim Central – 5-11, 185 senior
Specialist
Brady Mapes, North Pocono – 5-6, 150 senior
Rowan Laubach, Dallas – 5-7, 160 junior
Athlete
Chase Regan, Bishop McDevitt – 6-0, 185 senior
Jasper Shepps, Juniata – 6-1, 170 sophomore
Keith Oates III, East Pennsboro – 6-0, 205 senior
Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.
Tags: Aliquippa, Latrobe, McKeesport, Montour
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