West Allegheny Wins First WPIAL 5-A Title in OT Thriller

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 18, 2016 | 8:09 PM

The West Allegheny Indians made sure there was no miracle for McKeesport on Friday at Heinz Field, but the Indians may be the team believing in magic after defeating the Tigers 38-37 in dramatic fashion in overtime at Heinz Field in a thrilling game to become the first 5A WPIAL Champion.

Any championship win is special for any team, but the special teams play for both McKeesport and West Allegheny played a huge part in shaping this title game.

After a short opening kickoff, it didn’t take McKeesport long to get the flex bone working. Senior quarterback Jayvaun Shears ripped off a 38-yard run to get the Tigers into the red zone. Fullback Ray Zellars then ran three consecutive times to get the ball to the one-yard line before Shears snuck into the end zone to give McKeesport the lead 1:37 into the game. Caleb Schork added the extra point to make the score 7-0 Tigers.

West Allegheny was able to tie the game late in the first quarter with a big play to cap off a two-play, 85-yard drive. Junior running back Kenny White took a handoff and basically ran untouched off left tackle and down the sideline for a 70-yard touchdown. DJ Opsatnik added the point after and the score was 7-7 with 1:57 left.

White, who would lead the Indians with 97-yards on 13 carries, would leave the game after being injured on the final play of the third quarter.

The Tigers regained the lead at 9:01 of the second quarter and again the running attack was at the center of a 10-play, 77-yard scoring drive for McKeesport. Junior running back Carlinos Acie ran and cut to the outside for a 22-yard scoring run. Schork was good again on the extra-point and the Tigers were back in front 14-7.

The back-and-forth first half continued when White struck again, capping off another 10-play, 77-yard drive by hauling in a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Nick Ross. The drive however, was defined by two fourth down conversions for the Indians. West Allegheny faked a punt and Anthony Dellovade ran for 18-yards and a first down.

Later in the drive, White picked up a first down on a fourth-and-two which led to the TD reception and a tie game with 3:48 left before halftime.

West Allegheny had a chance to take the lead late in the first half after Matt Holmes forced Acie to fumble the football which was recovered at the Indians 42-yard line by Connor Johnson. But Opsatnik’s 46-yard field goal attempt with 0:31 just missed, and the game was tied 14-14 at halftime.

The McKeesport special teams set-up the Tigers go-ahead score in the third quarter. Layton Jordan returned a punt 64-yards to the West Allegheny 11-yard line. Three plays later, senior fullback Ray Zellars plowed into the end zone from three yards out and after Shears ran in the two-point conversion off of a fake extra point kick. McKeesport was back in front 22-14 at the 6:20 mark of the third quarter.

It was another special teams’ play that worked in McKeesport’s favor early in the fourth quarter. With Opsatnik back in punt formation, the snap from the Indians 30-yard line sailed over his head and the Tigers tackled the senior in the end zone for a safety that put McKeesport in front 24-14 with 10:23 left in the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Indians pulled off a successful onside kick by Opsatnik that was recovered by Kolbe Stout. West Allegheny turned that into a touchdown with 5:23 remaining  when Ross found sophomore tight end Mateo Vandamia at the near pylon for a 23-yard TD pass to make the score 24-20. But the Opsatnik extra point attempt was blocked by McKeesport’s Jehrod Gregory. On the touchdown catch by Vandamia, the Tigers were flagged for pass interference which was enforced on the ensuing kickoff.

Once again, the Indians went for the onside kick. This time Stout kicked the ball forward and it was Stout who again recovered the kick. Once again, West Allegheny turned the special teams play into a touchdown. The big play of the drive came on fourth down and three. Acie intercepted a Ross pass in the end zone, but the Tigers were called for defensive holding on the play, which set up the Indians with a first and goal from the three-yard line. Two plays later, junior running back Willy Weber found the end zone from a yard out and West Allegheny had its first lead of the game. Opsatnik’s extra point was partially blocked but snuck through the uprights to give the Indians a 27-24 lead with 3:03 left in the fourth quarter.

The drama continued on the next drive after a squib kick by West Allegheny. Shears began the series with a spectacular 28-yard run to the West Allegheny eight-yard line. Shears would end the drive with his second touchdown run of the game with: 58 left and McKeesport regained the lead. But, on the extra point attempt, the snap was high and the pass for the two-point conversion failed and the score was 30-27 McKeesport.

But the excitement was far from done.  West Allegheny drove to the Tigers 33-yard line and spiked the football with: 01 remaining. Opsatnik, who had 33 career field goals before the attempt, came up short on a 50-yard attempt as time expired. However, McKeesport was flagged for roughing the kicker and the Indians had another chance. This time, Opsatnik was perfect from 34-yards out and the game was tied 30-30 at the end of regulation.

The game headed to overtime, where the rollercoaster ride continued. McKeesport got the ball first and relied on Zellars, who carried the ball on three of the four plays. On fourth down from the one-yard line, the fullback bulled into the end zone for his second touchdown run of the game. Schork added the extra point to give the Tigers a 37-30 lead. It took West Allegheny three plays on their possession to score. After Ross ran for five-yards, Weber picked up three yards and then scored his second touchdown of the game from two-yards to pull the Indians to within a point. West Allegheny decided to go for the win and after a timeout, Ross rolled right and danced into the end zone for the two-point conversion to give West Allegheny the 38-37 win.

Third-seeded McKeesport finished the game with 315 yards rushing. Zellars led the Tigers with 21 carries, 111-yards and two touchdowns. Acie added 96 yards and a score, while quarterback Shears finished with 89-yards and two scores on the ground. The senior Ross paced the Indians, completing 26-of-39 passes for 257-yards and a pair of touchdowns to go with his championship winning two-point conversion run. Vandamia had 8 receptions for 84-yards and a touchdown for West Allegheny. McKeesport, who was trying to win its first WPIAL title in 11 years, finishes the season (9-3) under first-year head coach Matt Miller. West Allegheny, which made its fourth championship game appearance in the last five seasons, remained unbeaten in 2016, improving to (12-0) with the win.

Additionally, with the victory, West Allegheny head coach Bob Palko captured his eighth WPIAL title as the head coach at West Allegheny. Palko becomes the only coach in the history of the league with eight championships, passing Phil Bridenbaugh from New Castle who captured seven titles.

The Indians move onto the next round of the state playoffs where they will face either Meadville or Hollidaysburg in the PIAA quarterfinals.

Scoring Summary             1              2              3              4              OT                          F

McKeesport                       7              7              8              8              7              =             37

West Allegheny                                7              7              0              16           8              =             38

1^st Quarter

McKeesport                       (10:23)                  Jayvaun Shears 1-Yard Run (Caleb Schork Kick)

West Allegheny                                (1:57)                    Kenny White 70-Yard Run (DJ Opsatnik Kick)

2^nd  Quarter

McKeesport                       (9:01)                    Carlinos Acie 22-Yard Run (Schork Kick)

West Allegheny                                (3:48)                    White 37-Yard Pass from Nick Ross (Opsatnik Kick)

3^rd Quarter

McKeesport                       (6:20)                    Ray Zellars 3-Yard Run (Shears Run)

4^th Quarter

McKeesport                       (10:23)                  Safety – Breon Green Tackled Opsatnik in End Zone

West Allegheny                                (5:38)                    Mateo Vandamia 23-Yard Pass from Ross (Kicked Blocked)

West Allegheny                                (3:03)                    Willy Weber 1-Yard Run (Opsatnik Kick)

McKeesport                       (:58)                       Shears 1-Yard Run (Pass Failed)

West Allegheny                                (:00)                       Opsatnik 34-Yard Field Goal

Overtime

McKeesport                                                       Zellars 1-Yard Run (Schork Kick)

West Allegheny                                                                Weber 2-Yard Run (Ross Run)

Tags: McKeesport, West Allegheny