WPIAL Class 3A final notebook: A rare shutout for Aliquippa in title game

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, November 18, 2017 | 4:30 PM

Not only was a 2-0 final the rarest of rarities, shutting out Aliquippa doesn't happen too often, either.

The last time the Quips were shut out was on Oct. 28, 2005, a 7-0 loss to Washington in the opening round of the Class AA playoffs.

Saturday's 2-0 decision was the lowest scoring WPIAL title game since 1986 when Burrell defeated Beth-Center, 3-0.

A year earlier, North Hills and Gateway played to a 0-0 stalemate in an era that preceded overtime in championship games.

Beaver County streaks on

For the 20th consecutive season, a school from Beaver County has played in a WPIAL final either at Three Rivers Stadium or Heinz Field. The last time a Beaver County team failed to make the finals was in 1997.

First time success

While it was the first time Quaker Valley was in the finals, Aliquippa made its 28th WPIAL title game appearance. The Quips are 16-12 all time and have made the finals a WPIAL-record 10 straight seasons..

Pipkins on staff

Valley High School graduate and the WPIAL's all-time leading basketball scorer, Tom Pipkins, was on the sidelines as a Quaker Valley assistant coach. Pipkins scored 2,838 points from 1989-93, a WPIAL mark that hasn't been approached since.

Pipkins teaches in the Quaker Valley School District.

Launching the laundry

Flags were flying at the Class 3A title game — mostly against the Quips.

Aliquippa was charged with 20 penalties for 190 yards, nearly the length of two football fields.

The Quakers weren't charged with a penalty until the 8:14 mark of the third quarter and committed just four penalties for 40 yards.

Falling behind

Even though only two points were scored, the game took nearly three hours to complete.

The contest began several minutes later than the advertised starting time of 11:07 a.m. Because of all the stoppages of play with 24 penalties, 19 incomplete passes, eight turnovers, TV time outs, team time outs and other delays, the game didn't end until about 1:55 p.m.

Up next

The Quakers get a week off from action, with the way the PIAA bracket is set up. Quaker Valley get a bye to the state semifinals against the winner of next week's Sharon-Forest Hills game sometime during the weekend of Dec. 1-2.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Quaker Valley