Trib HSSN football team of the week for Nov. 10, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, November 10, 2024 | 10:29 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week: Avonworth Antelopes

Coach: Duke Johncour (14th season)

Result: Avonworth 42, Beaver 21

Record: 9-3 overall

#Earned: Since losing to Thomas Jefferson in a nonconference Week 2 game, Avonworth had won five straight games coming into a Week 9 showdown at Beaver. Win and the Antelopes were outright 3A Western Hills Conference champions, lose and they fall into the three-way tie for the conference crown. The Bobcats put it to the ‘Lopes, 34-14, forcing Avonworth to play a first-round game last week while Beaver and Central Valley enjoyed byes. Following a victory over Greensburg Salem last week, the Antelopes headed back to Beaver for a No. 4 vs. No. 5-seed battle in the quarterfinals. The rematch was all Antelopes as they jumped out to a quick lead after one quarter, 14-0, and then extended it with three second-quarter touchdowns to put the game away by halftime, 35-0. The host Bobcats scored three touchdowns in the second half, but the outcome was never in doubt by that time as Avonworth advanced to the WPIAL semifinals for the fourth straight season and the fifth time in the last six years.

Statistical standouts: Two weeks ago, Avonworth lost at the line of scrimmage against Beaver and paid the price. In the rematch, the ‘Lopes line made sure history would not repeat itself. The Antelopes line work and the monster effort by senior running back Nico Neal was a deadly combination for the Bobcats. Neal carried the ball 21 times and gained 260 yards, with most of the damage coming in the first half when he ran for 195 yards and scored three touchdowns on runs of 8, 14 and 15 yards. He also scored on a 60-yard run in the third quarter and even threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Jackson Krul. Younger brother Luca Neal also scored, finishing with 92 yards on 11 carries and scoring on a 26-yard run in the opening quarter.

Last year: A year ago, Avonworth was perfect until the end. The Antelopes began the district playoffs with a 10-0 record in which they had two shutouts and scored fewer than 33 points once all season, in a win over Central Valley, 28-20. In the playoffs following a first round bye, the Antelopes outslugged Beaver in the quarterfinals, 41-21, then stopped Elizabeth Forward in the semifinals, 21-10. Avonworth returned to the WPIAL 3A championship game for the second straight season, only to come home with silver again after a loss to defending champion Belle Vernon, 26-0.

Remember when: Avonworth has come close the last two seasons and several times over the decades, but they have been able to win a title only twice in the WPIAL playoffs. It was 65 years ago when the Antelopes hoisted gold for the first time when they tied Union in the 1959 Class A championship game, finishing as co-champions with the Scotties following the 13-13 tie. Then, 60 years later, the No. 2-seed Antelopes blanked Southmoreland, 41-0, rolled past New Brighton, 38-13, and defeated Riverside, 41-14, to reach the finals. In the 2A title game at Norwin, Avonworth shut down top-seed Washington to win 2019 Class 2A gold, 28-6. In their first taste of the PIAA football playoffs, the ‘Lopes beat District 10 champion Wilmington in the state semifinals, 33-21, before falling big in the PIAA title game to perennial power Southern Columbia.

WPIAL Week 11 Honorable Mention

Peters Township

In the second week of the WPIAL playoffs, Avonworth in 3A and Jeannette in Class A got some sweet revenge in the quarterfinals on teams that beat them in the regular season. Peters Township hopes that cold dish will continue to be served in week three of the district postseason. Junior quarterback Nolan DiLucia hit on 10 of 17 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns on tosses of 73 and 25 yards to senior wide receiver Nick McCullough and of 20 yards to senior Eli Prado, plus he scored on a 5-yard run. Senior linebacker Mickey Vaccarello supplied the dagger with a 50-yard pick-six as the Indians won the battle of P-T vs. PT with a 5A quarterfinals win over Penn-Trafford, 42-13.

Ellwood City

Our Trib HSSN Team of the Week five weeks ago continues to shine, win and advance. Senior quarterback Chris Smiley connected on 13 of 20 passes for 165 yards and had what proved to be the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter on a 34-yard scoring connection to senior running back Elijah Palmer-McCane. Senior kicker Caitlin Kreitzer booted the extra point that proved to be the difference in the Ellwood City victory, 13-12. Palmer-McCane rushed for 90 yards and scored the Wolverines’ first touchdown on a 4-yard run. It was the first playoff victory for Ellwood City since they eliminated Freeport in the first round of the 2011 postseason.

Clairton

Lee Qualk has had quite a season. The California senior running back led the WPIAL in rushing with 2,130 yards in 10 games, averaging 9.5 yards on his 225 carries and rushing for more than 200 yards in a game five times. He also was No. 1 in scoring in the district with 36 touchdowns. While those are mind- blowing numbers, you can color the Trojans quarterfinals opponent, Clairton, unimpressed. The top-ranked Clairton defense limited Qualk to 13 yards on 17 carries in picking up its ninth shutout in 12 games. On offense, senior Drahcir Jones rushed for 100 yards and scored three TDs, and juniors Michael Ruffin and Donte Wright scored twice each as the Bears crushed the Trojans, 54-0.

2024 HSSN Teams of the Week

Week 10: Highlands Golden Rams

Week 9: Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Week 8: Montour Spartans

Week 7: Woodland Hills Wolverines

Week 6: Ellwood City Wolverines

Week 5: Central Catholic Vikings

Week 4: Central Valley Warriors

Week 3: South Allegheny Gladiators

Week 2: Jefferson-Morgan Rockets

Week 1: Bethel Park Black Hawks

Week Zero: Blackhawk Cougars

Tags: Avonworth