WPIAL Plays of the Week – PIAA Championships

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 | 12:00 AM

Put the helmets and pads away, another football season is done…With the help of 16 weeks of Plays of the Week, I hope you had some fun…South Fayette with silver, while North Allegheny and Clairton brought home gold so bright…Congrats to all and thanks for logging on to the network, now I bid you good night!

2010 PIAA CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
North Allegheny Tigers 21 – LaSalle College Explorers 0
The North Allegheny Sports Networks Randy Gore and Rick Meister on the call

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the schools only other PIAA football title, North Allegheny used a strong running game and five LaSalle turnovers to dominate the defending state Quad A champs. Both were on display in the first quarter when after LaSalle's Tim Wade fumbled a reception away to NA's Kevin Cope, the Tigers ran the ball nine times before quarterback Mike Buchert scored the only touchdown the 'cats' would need from four-yards out for the games first score in what would be a 21-0 whitewash for the Tigers over the Explorers.

2010 PIAA CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
Philadelphia West Catholic Burrs 50 – South Fayette Lions 14
WJPA-FM 95.3's Bob Gregg and Mark Uriah with the call

A potent offense filled with big plays helped South Fayette win a WPIAL championship and all of its first 15 games. However it was the Philadelphia Class AA champs that turned the tables 180 degrees Saturday at Hershey. After both teams exchanged touchdowns in the opening quarter, a big pass play from West Catholic quarterback Anthony Reid to Jaelen Strong-Rankin covering 75-yards put the Burrs up to stay in what would be a 30-point second quarter en route to a 50-14 victory over the Lions.

2010 PIAA CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
Clairton Bears 36 – Taylor Riverside Vikings 30
ESPN Radio in Scranton's Steve Young and Glenn Moskosky with the call

It was hard to believe. A team that was so dominant on defense all year had just surrendered 24 unanswered points in the first quarter plus. But midway through the second quarter, the defending Class A champs were down 24-0. Then the biggest comeback in state finals history began to unfold. Clairton pulled to within 24-20 by halftime with three scores in the final four and a half minutes of quarter number two. Then when Desimon Green hit Tyler Boyd on an 83-yard touchdown pass seconds into the third quarter, the Bears took the lead for good as they captured a second consecutive PIAA title and their 31st straight win in a memorable 36-30 victory over the Taylor Riverside Vikings.

Tags: Clairton, North Allegheny, South Fayette