WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Four 2016

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 | 1:49 PM

As the 2016 football regular season nears the halfway point, several teams have already positioned themselves in a great spot for the playoffs. Other teams, meanwhile, have begun to play with desperation as they cling to postseason aspirations. To that point, this week’s top plays feature a perennial powerhouse that used a comeback to secure a much-needed win, a controversial finish to a thriller in 6A, a historic shootout among two top teams in 3A, and the decisive score in a defensive struggle. Without further adieu, here are the plays that stood above the rest.

1. Franklin Regional 24, Armstrong 20

In a 5A tilt with major playoff ramifications, the Panthers desperately needed a victory to remain in the thick of the playoff hunt. Trailing on the road to an impressive Armstrong squad, the Panthers dug deep to secure a comeback win. The turning point came on a fourth-down play at midfield, as Franklin Regional QB Simon Behr connected with Adam Grajewski on the winning score with less than two minutes left.

MSA Sports’ Matt Vandriak and Brandon Showers provide the commentary for the clutch connection for the Panthers:

2. Peters Township 38, Hempfield 35

The Spartans snatched a victory in the waning seconds in a game earlier this season, but this time, it was Hempfield that sustained a crushing defeat. Peters Township jumped out to an early lead, and the Indians were trying to hang on as the Spartans rallied in the second half. The Spartans marched inside the 10-yard line of Peters in the closing seconds, and instead of trying a field goal, Hempfield went for the win on the final play of regulation. Spartans QB Justin Sliwoski could not locate any of his targets in the end zone, so he tucked the ball and tried to reach the goal line himself. Just before he found the end zone, though, the Indians knocked the football loose, causing a game-ending touchback.

WHJB-FM 107.1’s Mike Zappone and Jimmy Lee Santorella call the hectic final play:

3. Beaver 77, Keystone Oaks 49

The highly-anticipated nonsection clash between Class 3A powerhouses exceeded expectations, as the Bobcats and Golden Lions turned in a historic offensive performance. Paramount in the prolific contest was the play of QBs Darius Wise and Alex Smith. It was the Beaver signalcaller who took the game over in the second half, though, guiding his team to the W. Wise’s 29-yard touchdown run, his seventh rushing score of the game, was the decisive blow, as it staked Beaver to a two-score lead.

MSA Sports’ Sam Hall and Johnny Lee have the call on the play that capped Wise’s unprecedented performance:

4. Chartiers-Houston 7, Burgettstown 6

In complete contrast to the Beaver and KO shootout, Chartiers-Houston and Burgettstown engaged in a defensive battle. The Blue Devils were clinging to a 6-0 edge midway through the fourth quarter, but the Bucs found the end zone on a crucial fourth-down play. TJ Johnson reached paydirt on a 1-yard surge with just over five minutes remaining to tie the game, and the ensuing extra point gave the Bucs the narrow victory.

WJPA-FM 95.3’s Mark Uriah and Bill Dukett detail the lone Chartiers-Houston score, which gave the Bucs the victory: