WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Five 2017

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 | 3:32 AM

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The 2017 WPIAL football regular season is already more than halfway complete, and as always, the campaign has included a number of surprising teams and fantastic finishes. This past week was no exception, Many of the key matchups occurred in the 3A classification, in part because playoff spots are at a premium with 23 teams battling for just eight bids. Specifically, the Allegheny Conference had two pivotal matchups that are featured in the top plays, while another came from the ultra-competitive Beaver Valley Conference. The other top play this week occurred in 1A, as a legendary program was upset. Without further ado, here are the very best plays from Week Five.

1. Shady Side Academy 35, Keystone Oaks 28

Last year, Shady Side Academy was winless, and could not even field a team for a late-season matchup. What a difference a year has made, and the Indians must now feel like the Skyy is the limit. Their QB, Skyy Moore, has been among the most electric players in the district, and he showed that again by hooking up with Billy Frolich to break a 28-28 tie late in the fourth quarter against Keystone Oaks. Moore’s TD pass from 39 yards proved to be the winning play, as SSA moved into third place, leapfrogging its opponent.

MSA Sports powered by TribLive.com’s Sam Hall and Kyle Dawson have the call:

2. Beaver 24, Central Valley 22

Last year, Beaver was shockingly left out of the playoffs, while the Warriors snuck in as a wild card. In 2017, the Bobcats wanted to make sure history will not repeat itself, as they edged their Beaver Valley Conference adversary. Trailing by a point with approximately three minutes left in regulation, the Bobcats called upon kicker Will Connelly. Connelly delivered from 31 yards to stake his team to the lead, and ultimately the victory.

WMBA-AM 1460’s Tom Hays and Bruce Frey provide the audio for the decisive kick:

3. Imani Christian 18, Clairton 6

With the loss of superstar Lamont Wade, the Clairton Bears were expected to take a slightly step back this season. Still, the three-time defending WPIAL champions were the favorite in 1A, until proven otherwise. On Friday, Imani Christian did just that, as the short-handed Saints stunned the Bears. Holding a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Saints faced a fourth-and-goal scenario, and went for the deathblow. That decision paid off, as Israel Reed hooked up with Sam Fairley on a 5-yard score to seal the outcome.

MSA Sports powered by TribLive.com’s Sean Saputo and Greg Kuntz detail the gutsy call that secured the upset victory for the upstart Saints:

4. Seton-LaSalle 35, Apollo-Ridge 21

The second Allegheny Conference tilt featured the Rebels and the Vikings, two other teams with playoff aspirations. Seton-LaSalle scored a big road victory to solidify its lead atop the section, while the setback for the Vikings puts them behind the eight-ball for a postseason bid. The teams played even for the first half, but after the intermission, the Rebels relied upon prolific running back Lionel Deanes. “The train” delivered for Seton-LaSalle, as he totaled 285 yards rushing. His most significant run came in the third quarter, as he found paydirt from 51 yards to put his team ahead 14-7, a lead the Rebels would not relinquish.

MSA Sports powered by TribLive.com’s Josh Rowntree and Brandon Showers have the call of Deanes’ explosive scamper to put his team in command:

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Beaver, Central Valley, Clairton, Imani Christian, Keystone Oaks