PIAA Plays of the Week – Semifinals

By: Bruce Markey
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 | 3:55 PM

After both Clairton and Thomas Jefferson were bounced for the PIAA postseason in the quarterfinals, the Central Catholic Vikings and Aliquippa Quips represented the remaining hopes for the WPIAL to capture gold in Hershey. Following the semifinals contests this past week, both of those teams are still alive, as they advanced to the state championships. The victories in the semis nearly mirrored the quarterfinals triumphs for the teams, as the Quips overcame a fourth quarter deficit, while the Vikings turned in a dominant defensive performance and won comfortably. With all of the great action from which to choose, this week’s edition will feature two plays from each of the victories.

1. Aliquippa 30, Martinsburg Central 21

Kaezon Pugh was great throughout the regular season for the Quips, but in the WPIAL and PIAA postseasons, he has been unstoppable. With the Quips facing a six-point deficit with less than six minutes left in regulation, Aliquippa staged a methodical drive that culminated with a Pugh 9-yard touchdown. On the ensuing two-point conversion, Pugh came up big again, as he hauled in a pass from Sheldon Jeter to give Aliquippa the game-winning points.

WBVP-AM 1230 and WMBA-AM 1460’s Bob Barrickman and Tom Hays provide the call of Pugh’s touchdown run and conversion reception:

Pugh wasn’t the only player who came up with big plays on offense, however. Long before Aliquippa staged a fourth-quarter comeback, the Quips took an early lead in the contest. Less than one minute into the game, Jeter connected with Antwan Brooks on a 61-yard strike for the first points of the game:

2. Central Catholic 24, Cumberland Valley 7

For the second consecutive week, the story for Central Catholic in its victory was the suffocating defense. However, the offense looked explosive, at times, including an impressive four-play scoring drive on the Vikings’ first possession to set the tone. The touchdown with less than three minutes remaining in the first half really put the Vikings in command, however, as it provided them with a three-score advantage. To cap off the drive, Ronnie Jones, a Toledo recruit, showed his power on a 5-yard run to make it 17-0.

MSA Sports’ Bob Orkwis and Sean Meyers have the call of the crucial score:

As highlighted previously, the defense was paramount to Central Catholic’s success against the Eagles. Although the Vikings held an early lead, Cumberland Valley was moving the football on its second possession, and marched to near the Vikings’ 30-yard line. On a fourth-down play, however, Central Catholic’s defense stiffened, and linebacker Tim Terry batted down a pass to give possession, and momentum, back to Central Catholic: