WPIAL Class 3A final preview capsule: Aliquippa vs. Derry

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 16, 2018 | 1:39 PM

WPIAL Class 3A championship

No. 1 Aliquippa (11-1) vs. No. 2 Derry (11-1)

2 p.m. Saturday, Heinz Field

On the air: Pittsburgh the CW-TV; 1230 AM, 1460 AM, 107.1 FM, 97.3 FM, 1480 AM; TribHSSN.triblive.com

Coaches: Mike Warfield, Aliquippa; Tim Sweeney, Derry

Winner plays: The winner gets a bye in the PIAA quarterfinals and will play the District 5, 6 or 10 champion in the PIAA semifinals Nov. 30 or Dec. 1.

WPIAL titles: Aliquippa 16 (1952, ’55, ’64, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’96, 2000, ’03, ’08, ’11, ’12, ’15); Derry 0

How they got here: Tri-County West Conference co-champion Aliquippa defeated No. 8 Freeport, 40-17, in the first round and No. 4 Beaver Falls, 42-14, in the semifinals. Big East co-champion Derry beat No. 7 Central Valley, 46-0, in the first round and No. 3 North Catholic, 36-29, in the semifinals.

Statistical leaders

Passing: A: Eli Kosanovich, 119-184, 2,471 yards, 31 TDs, 2 INTs; D: Paul Koontz, 34-100, 606 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs

Rushing: A: Avante McKenzie, 161-1,396 yards, 30 TDs; D: Justin Flack, 154-1,240 yards, 35 TDs

Receiving: A: William Gipson, 46-1,329 yards, 15 TDs; D: Flack, 10-275 yards

Notable: Aliquippa’s undefeated season was thwarted by Central Valley in the final week of the regular season. The next week, Derry blanked Central Valley, 46-0, in the opening round of the playoffs. … Aliquippa has played in the championship game the past 10 seasons, winning four times. The Quips lost 2-0 to Quaker Valley last year at Heinz Field. … Gipson is the WPIAL’s third-leading receiver through Week 11. … Aliquippa features three players who have made Division I commitments — Gipson (Ball State), lineman Solvauhn Moreland (Ball State) and wide receiver Deoveon Crute (Duquesne). Receiver/defensive back M.J. Devonshire, who returned eight punts for touchdowns this season, also is an elite Division I recruit with offers from Ohio State, West Virginia, Michigan State, Pitt and Penn State, among others. … The Quips have reached the WPIAL final 28 times. … Derry is making its first WPIAL championship game appearance. … Flack has scored 35 touchdowns this season, including eight in one game. … The Derry rushing attack is bolstered by Onreey Stewart (984 yards, 7 TDs), Colton Nemcheck (452 yards, 4 TDs), Dom DeLuca (262 yards, 4 TDs), Hunter Hebenthal (245 yards, 5 TDs) and Justin Huss (123 yards, 4 TDs). … Derry rallied from a three-touchdown deficit late in the third quarter last week to defeat North Catholic. Flack’s 30-yard interception return for a touchdown secured the win late in the game. … Since a Week 5 loss to Elizabeth Forward, the Trojans have won six straight games and outscored opponents 270-83.

Probable lineups

Aliquippa

STARTING OFFENSE

LT, 72, Elijah Mike, 6-1, 305, so.

LG, 75, Solvauhn Moreland, 6-3, 305, sr.

C, 56, Thomas Shaw, 5-6, 265, sr.

RG, 53, Izayah King, 5-9, 212, sr.

RT, 74, Tarquinn Greene, 6-2, 3-6, jr.

TE, 18, Zuriah Fisher, 6-2, 220, jr.

WR, 8, Deoveon Crute, 6-1, 190, sr.

WR, 6, Will Gipson, 6-3, 190, sr.

WR, 9, MJ Devonshire, 5-11, 180, sr.

WR, 15, Chinua Soloman, 6-0, 175, jr.

QB, 11, Eli Kosanovich, 6-2, 220, sr.

RB, 4, Avante McKenzie, 5-6, 185, sr.

K, 34, Daniel Elmore, 5-8, 155, jr.

STARTING DEFENSE

DE, 3, Karl McBride, 5-9, 185, so.

DT, 72, Elijah Mike, 6-1, 305, so.

DT, 74, Tarquinn Greene, 6-2, 3-6, jr.

DT, 75, Solvauhn Moreland, 6-3, 305, sr.

DE, 81, Gevod Tyson, 5-10, 175, sr.

LB, 18, Zuriah Fisher, 6-2, 220, sr.

LB, Izayah King, 5-9, 210, sr.

CB, 6, Will Gipson, 6-3, 190, sr.

CB, 9, MJ Devonshire, 5-11, 180, sr.

S, 14, Larry Walker, 5-10, 180, sr.

S, 10, Isaiah Towler, 5-9, 175, so.

Derry

STARTING OFFENSE

LT, 77, Gavin Adams, 6-4, 260, jr.

LG, 65, Seth Loughner, 5-11, 210, jr.

C, 73, Cullen Shawley, 6-1, 250, sr.

RG, 76, Lucas Ciocco, 5-11, 230, jr.

RT, 55, Jordan Baum, 6-2, 180, sr.

WR, 88, Jason Geary, 6-4, 160, sr.

WR, 17, Tanner Nicely, 6-0, 165, jr.

SL, 21, Justin Huss, 5-9, 155, jr.

QB, 16, Paul Koontz, 5-10, 155, so.

RB, 42, Justin Flack, 5-8, 160, sr.

RB, 4, Onreey Stewart, 5-8, 155, sr.

FB, 12, Dom DeLuca, 6-5, 255, sr.

K, 33, Robert Boyer, 6-0, 155, sr.

STARTING DEFENSE

DE, 56, Max Malis, 6-2, 240, jr.

NG, 54, Justin Fallat, 6-4, 255, jr.

DE, 77, Gavin Adams, 6-4, 260, jr.

OLB, 12, Dom DeLuca, 6-5, 255, sr.

ILB, 1, Bastien Anderson, 5-10, 160, sr.

ILB, 37, Colton Nemcheck, 6-0, 185, sr.

OLB, 23, Hunter Hebenthal, 6-1, 180, sr.

DB, 4, Onreey Stewart, 5-8, 155, sr.

DB, 22, Matt McDowell, 5-9, 160, so.

SS, 42, Justin Flack, 5-8, 160, sr.

FS, 21, Justin Huss, 5-9, 155, jr.

P, 33, Robert Boyer, 6-0, 155, sr.

*Check out a preview feature on the WPIAL Class A championship game and also tune in to Trib HSSN for a live audio broadcast.

Bill Hartlep is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bhartlep@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TribHSInsider.

Tags: Aliquippa, Derry Area