WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Eleven 2014

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 13, 2014 | 3:48 PM

We’ve reached the midway point of the 2014 WPIAL Football Playoffs and has the Highway To Heinz ever been better? Seeds 1, 2, 3 and 5 make up every final four in each classification as we head into the Semifinals. But before we get there, let’s take a look back at a remarkable Quarterfinal Round with the Plays of the Week:

1. Ringgold 21, Hampton 20 (OT)
The only WPIAL Quarterfinal game to reach overtime was certainly a thriller. Most thought that the 4-5 matchup in AAA would be a good one and, boy, did it live up to the hype. After reaching overtime tied 14-14, Ringgold would score on the first possession of overtime. After the Rams would make the extra point, taking a 21-14 lead, Hampton would answer with a score of their own. But the Talbots coach Jacque DeMatteo would gamble the season, electing to go for a game-winning two-point conversion. But Ringgold’s defense would stop Hampton running back Matt Rech a yard short and, in the process, sending themselves to the WPIAL Semifinals.

WJPA-FM 95.3’s Mark Uriah and Bill Dukett have the call:

2. Penn-Trafford 35, North Allegheny 31
In this week’s top play, a gutsy call backfired on a head coach. But it was a gutsy call by Penn-Trafford’s John Ruane that set up the biggest play of the season for the Warriors. After a touchdown pulled Penn-Trafford’s deficit to 31-28, Ruane would elect to go for an onside kick. The Warriors would recover and, moments later, Brett Laffoon would hit Austin Zagarelli for the game-winning touchdown. Penn-Trafford’s defense would take over, interception North Allegheny Quarterback Jeff Clemens twice on the Tigers’ final two possessions, sending the Warriors back to the WPIAL Semifinals.

WHJB-FM 107.1’s Don Conde and Jimmy Lee Santorella have the call:

3. Seton-LaSalle 28, Highlands 21
Seton-LaSalle’s highly touted offense would get the job done. But it was the Rebels’ defense that would come up with the biggest plays of their season. Backed up in the shadow of their own end zone late in the game, Highlands was in need of a big play, but it was Seton-LaSalle’s Liam Sweeney that would make the moment his, sacking Rams Quarterback Blake Leri at his own 1-yard line on first down, eventually forcing Highlands to punt the ball back to the Rebels. The Rams’ offense would not see the field again, as Seton-LaSalle would run out the clock and send themselves to the WPIAL Semifinals.

MSA Sports Matt Vandriak and Brandon Showers have the call:

4. Neshannock 46, Jeannette 32
Neshannock and Jeannette was destined to be a shootout. Two of the WPIAL’s top offenses going at it from start to finish. But, in the end, it was the Lancers’ offense that got the last laugh. On the first play of the 4th quarter and tied 32-32, Frank Antuono would hit Rocco Fazio for a 48-yard touchdown pass. The score would be all that Neshannock would need, as their defense took over and held Jeannette scoreless the rest of the way. Neshannock moves into the WPIAL Semifinals for the third straight season.

WJST-AM 1280’s Mark Schaas and Lee Mohn have the call: