WPIAL Plays of the Week – Week Seven 2014

What a memorable week seven of this 2014 WPIAL football season. With nine games decided by a touchdown or less, the Stretch Run was kicked off with a bang. Now it’s time for playoff clinchings, playoff positioning and conference titles to be won. With only two weeks left of the regular season, let’s take a look back at the top plays from week seven:

1. West Allegheny 42, Woodland Hills 41 (OT)

Sometimes massively hyped games just do not live up to the expectations. That was not the case on Friday night in Imperial. The #1 ranked team in AAAA against the #1 ranked team in AAA. In the end, it was the lower classification powerhouse that got the final laugh, as West Allegheny prevailed 42-41 in overtime. With all the buildup, high-profile players and coaching legends involved, isn’t it a bit funny that the game came down to… kickers? After a missed Woodland Hills extra point on the first possession of overtime, West Allegheny would get a final shot at the win. Chayse Dillon would tie the game on a one-yard touchdown plunge, setting up D.J. Opsatnik for game-winning extra point. Opsatnik nailed the kick, giving the Indians the non-conference victory. Opsatnik was 4-for-4 on extra points and hit 41-yard and 34-yard fields goal as well.

MSA Sports’ and KQV-AM 1410’s Lanny Frattare and Bob Orkwis on the call:

2. Bethel Park 31, Penn Hills 28

A back-and-forth regular season for Bethel Park eventually resulted in their biggest win of the season on Friday night in Penn Hills. After building a 28-6 lead, the Blackhawks would see it nearly slip away. Penn Hills outscored Bethel Park 22-3 the rest of the way, but just ran out of time. Late in the game, Penn Hills’ explosive offense would get the ball back for one last chance at the tie or win, but Bethel Park’s defense got their biggest stop of 2014.

MSA Sports’ Paul Paterra and Lou Rood on the call:

3. Gateway 29, Indiana 28 (OT)

Another week seven overtime game that came down to kickers. Who’da thunk it? After Gateway took a 29-22 lead on an Adam White 10-yard touchdown run, Indiana would take possession and get a quick score of their own on a 10-yard touchdown from Riley Stapleton to Jacob Zilinskas. But Gateway’s special teams would make their biggest play of the year, blocking John Gatti’s extra point and lifting the Gators to a massive home win in AAA’s Greater Allegheny Conference. The win was Gateway’s third is their last four games and could help the Gators reach the AAA playoffs.

WDAD-AM 1450’s Jack Benedict, Bill Otto and Bruce Weber on the call:

4. Baldwin 24, Peters Township 17

More special teams come into play in our fourth best play of week seven. After Peters Township ties the game at 17-17 with 1:23 left, Baldwin would get a massive 67-yard kick return on the ensuing kickoff. After a pair of penalties moved the ball to the 21-yard line, Baldwin’s Doug Altavilla would throw a bomb to Josh Zinsmeister, giving the Highlanders a big Southeastern Conference victory, 24-17.

MSA Sports’ Nick Farrell and Greg Kuntz on the call:

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