Quips surge past New Castle
Regular-season winning streak hits 61 after erasing big deficit, 44-28
Sixty-one and counting. The Aliquippa Quips spotted New Castle a two-touchdown lead in the Tri County Classic Saturday night at New Castle’s Taggart Stadium, but came on strong to win, 44-28.
The season-opening win stretched Aliquippa’s regular-season winning streak to 61 games. The Quips haven’t lost a regular-season game since being defeated by Beaver Falls in the second contest of the 2009 season. Aliquippa plays Beaver Falls Friday.
New Castle scored on the first play of the game and went on to take a 21-6 lead in the first quarter. Two of the Red Hurricanes’ firstquarter touchdowns were scored by junior Marcus Hooker on an 87-yard reception and a 96-yard fumble recovery return. But sparked by the running of Avante McKenzie, Aliquippa came back and took a 24-21 halftime lead. The Quips took a 38-21 lead in the third quarter.
McKenzie finished with 171 yards on 16 carries
Other games
McGuffey 38, Frazier 28: Marcus Czulewicz had 358 yards offense as McGuffey turned back the Commodores in the Western Pennsylvania Football Classic at North Allegheny. Czulewicz ran for 227 yards on 26 carries and scored three touchdowns and also completed 3 of 6 passes for 131 yards.
McGuffey led, 17-13, at halftime, but Frazier took the lead in the third quarter on Chris Pierce’s 1-yard run. McGuffey went ahead when Czulewicz hit Christian Clutter on a 46-yard scoring strike, but Frazier took the lead again, 2824, on Georgie Smith’s 1yard scoring run. But Czulewicz scored twice in the fourth quarter on runs of 10 and 52 yards to put the game away.
Neshannock 42, Farrell 14: Frank Antuono had 274 yards offense as the Lancers rolled to the win in the Tri-County Classic. Antuono completed 8 of 17 for 162 yards and also rushed for 112 yards on 18 carries. Farrell scored first on Braxton Chapman’s 54-yard run. But Neshannock to the lead for good on Antuono’s 75-yard TD pass to Danny Welker with 5:45 left in the half. Chapman finished with 112 yards rushing on 13 carries for Farrell.