PIAA football playoffs: 30 years in 30 days — Aliquippa claims ’91 state title

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 16, 2018 | 2:24 PM

The PIAA had been hosting state playoffs in all but one fall high school sport since 1976. Soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, cross country and field hockey all crowned state champions once the district playoffs concluded.

The lone exception to the fall state playoff slate was high school football.

It wasn’t until 1988 when PIAA officials finally pulled the trigger on the idea of having a yearly state football playoff.

From George Novak and Woodland Hills losing in a mud pit to Bob Palko and West Allegheny finding the third time really was the charm to Neil Walker and Pine-Richland competing in a heartbreaking overtime loss in a snowstorm and to Tyler Boyd and the golden Bears of Clairton winning four straight state championships.

There have been a lot of thrills and heartbreak in three decades of state championship football. Leading up to the 2018 state finals, the TribLIVE High School Sports Network will look back at how WPIAL teams have fared in the PIAA championships with 30 years in 30 days.

The Year: 1991

The Site: Mansion Park in Altoona, Lackawanna County Stadium in Moosic, South Stadium in Pittsburgh, Memorial Stadium in Wilkes-Barre

The Champs: Central Bucks West, Strong Vincent, Aliquippa, Schuylkill Haven

The Headline: Aliquippa wins lone Pittsburgh state title game while Rochester falls out east

The Lowdown: The year 1991 marked the fourth season of PIAA football championships and the second time the four titles games were all separated. It would also be the last year the state title games would not be held at one site.

Two of the finals were held in Northeast Pa. in Wilkes-Barre and Moosic, near Scranton. The other two title games were held in Southwestern Pa. at Mansion Park in Altoona and at George Cupples Stadium, known then as South Stadium on the South Side of Pittsburgh.

Aliquippa said thank you very much for the close 2A site and turned some home cooking into its first of two state championships.

Defending champion Hanover brought a 30-game winning streak into the title game, but on the first play of the game Hanover kicked away from the Law and the Law still won.

Future NFL star defensive back Ty Law picked up teammate Dorian Jackson’s fumble on the opening kick and raced 61 yards to put the Quips up early, 7-0.

The story of the game was the Aliquippa defense.

Hanover quarterback Erik Pearson came into the game with more than 2,000 passing yards but was held to 5 of 19 passing for 38 yards. He was sacked three times and threw three interceptions.

Ed Dawson picked off a Pearson pass and returned it 30 yards to the Hanover 38-yard line. On the next play, Chico Williams burst off the left side and broke two tackles on his way to the end zone.

Quips coach Frank Marocco decided to go for two and quarterback Ed Thornton scored to make it 15-0.

Just over two minutes later, Micah Hall picked off another Pearson pass at midfield and returned it 50 yards for a pick-6 and a 21-0 Aliquippa lead.

Williams led the Quips with 170 yards on 31 carries and capped off the scoring in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard run to secure the 27-0 win.

Law said after the game: “We were just much quicker than they were, and they couldn’t get open, plus we were getting good pressure on their quarterback. We knew they wouldn’t be able to move the ball on us. Nobody has lately.”

• Meanwhile on the other side of the state, Rochester fell short in its first state title game.

The Rams could not slow down Schuylkill Haven running back Jason Killian, who rushed for 149 yards on 18 carries, four of which ended up in the end zone in the Hurricanes’ 28-18 win.

The ‘Canes jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter when they recovered a Rams fumble on the second play of the game, and Killian raced 40 yards for a touchdown on the third play.

Another turnover led to the second score when Rochester lineman Jim Verrico recovered a fumble at the Schuylkill Haven 28, and the Rams’ Essex Law scored on a 8-yard run to tie the game 6-6.

Killian ended a 12-play, 61-yard drive with a 1-yard run to put the Hurricanes back on top, 13-6, late in the opening quarter.

The first quarter ended and second quarter started with the Rams driving down the field 69 yards, ending with Law’s second touchdown on a 14-yard run. The half ended with Schuykill Haven up 13-12.

Rochester took its only lead midway through the third quarter when Andre Boyd blocked a punt, and the Rams recovered deep in Hurricanes territory. Three plays later, Law scored on a 15-yard run to make it 18-13 Rochester.

Schuylkill Haven took control when Killian scored on runs of 59 and 8 yards to win 28-18.

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at .

Tags: Aliquippa, Rochester