Steel Valley offense having success running downhill

Steel Valley senior linebacker Todd Hill is known as a punishing linebacker — two games into the season and he has tallied 42 tackles.

He’s also known as a blocking fullback, paving the way for the Ironmen’s offense.

This year, though, he has also got the ball in his hands.

Hill, a 5-foot-10, 205pounder, has stepped in at running back, rushing for 352 yards on 17 carries through Steel Valley’s first two games, wins against East Allegheny and Avonworth. He has added four rushing touchdowns and caught a pass for a 2-point conversion in the Avonworth win.

It’s not a totally new experience for Hill, who played in the backfield growing up.

“That was my primary position growing up, but my ninth grade year, I played linebacker because that’s the spot that was needed, and I just got better at it every year,” Hill said. “We have different personnel, different formations, we switch on and off. It’s my senior year, so I’ve got to have the ball in my hands sometimes, and our other running back, Kameron Williams, has the ball in his hands, too. So it’s split.”

Defense and pursuit comes naturally to Hill, who will play linebacker at Howard University, so getting some carries his senior year is just added fun and a way to help the Ironmen win.

“I want to break 1,000 yards, so that’s what I’m aiming for right now,” Hill said.

Steel Valley, which went 11-1 last year and lost to Washington in the WPIAL Class 2A championship, faces a tough game 7 p.m. Friday at Shady Side Academy, which has posted two blowout wins against Brownsville and Valley.

“We’re playing pretty well,” Hill said. “We have to just get used to each other a little bit more, and connect the pieces and we’ll just be on a roll. “

Aliquippa

The Aliquippa defense never gave up more than 12 points to an opponent last season, in which the Quips went 12-1, their lone setback a 2-0 loss to Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 3A championship. They held opponents to 3.4 points per game, on average.

Under new leadership, with Mike Zmijanac now at Ringgold and Mike Warfield leading the charge, Aliquippa’s back at it, with the Quips defense giving up just six total points through the team’s first three games.

Aliquippa, which tallied six shutouts last year, shut out McKinley Tech and Waynesburg to start the season, and beat Quaker Valley, 59-6, Sept. 7. The Quips returned eight defensive starters, including senior defensive back M.J. Devonshire, who anchors the secondary.

Gold Star game

When Avonworth plays at New Brighton 7 p.m. Friday, 15 players from each squad will play in honor of a fallen soldier from Western Pa.

The Gold Star ceremony will begin at 6:15 p.m.