WPIAL Plays of the Week – WPIAL Championships 2014

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, November 26, 2014 | 1:57 PM

On Friday, four WPIAL Champions were crowned at Heinz Field on the North Shore. Rivalries, big plays, late scores and massive individual performances highlighted a stellar day for District 7 at Heinz Field. Congratulations to Central Valley, Pine-Richland, South Fayette and Clairton on winning WPIAL crowns. Next up is the Road to Hershey. But first, let’s take one last look back at the top plays from the WPIAL Football Championships.

1. Central Valley 35, West Allegheny 28    
In one of the most memorable WPIAL Championship Games in Heinz Field history, Central Valley got one of the most memorable plays in the short history of the school. After blowing an early 21-0 lead to rival West Allegheny, the Warriors would exchange touchdowns with the Indians thanks to a dazzling 55-yard catch and run by CV’s Jordan Whitehead and a 2-yard plunge by West A’s Terrence Stephens. But the biggest play of the Championships came just two minutes after Stephens’ score. With 19 seconds left in the game, Warriors quarterback John George would hit receiver BJ Powell on a fade route in the front corner of the end zone, lifting Central Valley to a dramatic 35-28 win and their second WPIAL Football Championship in just the school’s fifth year.

MSA Sports’ Sam Hall and Mike Azadian on the call:

2. Pine-Richland 21, Central Catholic 13   
It will go down as the play that followed one of the most controversial plays in WPIAL Championship history. “Controversial” may not adequately describe the inadvertent whistle that negated a huge drive-stopping fumble recovery by the Vikings. “Wrong” may be a little closer. But regardless, Pine-Richland ran a gadget play on the following play, resulting in the biggest touchdown of their season. Rams’ running back Connor Slomka would take a direct snap, pitch the ball to wide receiver D’ondre Gastion, who would then toss the pigskin to a wide open Ben DiNucci, the talented quarterback of the Rams, in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. The score pushed Pine-Richland’s lead to 14-0, a lead they would not relinquish as they went on to claim their second WPIAL title in school history.

MSA Sports’ Lanny Frattare and Bob Orkwis on the call:

3. South Fayette 31, Aliquippa 22      
For the second season in a row, South Fayette’s passing attack was able to shred the Aliquippa secondary at Heinz Field. And once again, it was Brett Brumbaugh, the WPIAL’s all-time leading passer, who got the job done. Brumbaugh added to his impressive high school career, throwing for a WPIAL Championship Game record 352 yards in South Fayette’s fifth District title. His longest throw was one of his easiest and was the score that broke the AA title game open. Deep in their own end and up just 14-6, Brumbaugh would hit wideout Nick Ponikvar on a route to the sideline. Ponikvar would take over from there, breaking a pair of tackles and racing 87 yards for the touchdown, giving the Lions a 21-6 lead and helping them secure back-to-back titles.

MSA Sports’ Josh Rowntree and Adam Hoerner on the call:

4. Clairton 46, Avonworth 14           
It could have been any of Lamont Wade’s four interceptions. It could also have been either of his impressive touchdowns. It could have been a variety of big passes from Ryan Williams as well, as the Bears’ quarterback threw five. But only one of Williams’ passes can be the top play. Up just 12-7 late in the first half of the Class A title game, Williams would throw a 26-yard strike to the back of the end zone. James Hines would do the rest, leaping for a massive touchdown that put the Bears up 20-7. They would tack on another late score and head into halftime with a three touchdown advantage, which was all the Bears would need. Clairton rolled the rest of the way, picking up their 11th WPIAL Championship and sixth in seven years.

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